There are precious few features that differentiate what goes into a bag, and other than what they are made out of (hard or soft material) they pretty much only vary in size and aesthetics, so I’m not going to add in superfluous recommendations, only the stuff I’ve used and loved.
SOFT SIDED:
I’ve got 4 main soft bags here, and they each offer something different. I’ll start with the smallest, the cheapest, the LoweproToploader Zoom 50. This little guy was something I bought because I had a gift card to a camera store and it wasn’t enough to get me a 1DX, so I settled for a bag that I kind of didn’t need, but I didn’t have something small to carry around. If you have one camera and one lens, or perceive that you might want to take only one camera and one lens on adventures, or maybe a trip on a bike, this would be a good case to buy. That said, it’s small and doesn’t fit longer lenses like my 70-200 2.8 IS in it with a body, so I use this guy pretty rarely, but when I need it specifically, I love it.
I bought the little guy because my main go-to bag is the Lowepro Stealth Reporter 300 I showcased in a different post that listed all of my past and present gear – it’s the same Lowepro quality, just more of it. I don’t remember who turned me on to Lowepro bags, but they get the job done, and look simple, classy, and professional. This, although it’s a heavier bag when it’s full because it’s bigger, has a delightfully padded shoulder strap, and I carry a full bag of two full frame bodies and 4 lenses with spare batteries and two Canon 600 EX-RT II flashes for 12 hour wedding days, and it’s really no problem at all. It’s heavy – but not uncomfortable even at great length.
Another style of soft bag I’ve dabbled with is the backpack, and the Lowepro Flipside 500 AW II would be my recommendation if you’re into backpacks. I will say that I am not totally into backpacks, because they lack an ease of access that shoulder bags have, but, I can’t say that without saying that if you’re looking for comfort, there is no greater way to get your camera from A to B than with a backpack set up. This evenly distributes weight and holds a respectable amount of gear, almost the same as the Stealth Reporter 300. If you’re hiking or traveling in a way that involves a lot of walking, the Flipside 500 AW II is the way to go for sure.
And finally, the oft-loved, ZLYC Messenger Bag. This is like your happy medium between the Toploader and the Stealth Reporter. It looks a little more discreet, too – anything could be in there. This makes a great day bag for anyone who is looking for a little more storage in their bag without any real added complexity. It has the ease of access of the other shoulder bags, which I like a lot, for the occasion I need to grab my camera or a lens while I’m in the mix of whatever I’m doing.
HARD SIDED:
The other category, Hard Sides, I have far less experience with, but I do use a Pelican 1510 and I think anyone who uses a hard case does, too. It’s kind of a staple. There are bigger ones and smaller ones out there, but this could fit a body or two and two or three lenses, depending on their size. These are super protective cases and have hard foam on the inside that you tear out strips of to make a HIGHLY form-fitting space for your gear. If you need something rugged, this is probably your safest bet, and they even roll.
Keep your gear protected with any of these cases, and make sure to pick one that suits your needs, be it comfort with a backpack, accessibility with a shoulder bag, or rugged protection with a hard-sider.
