The Perfect Camera Bag For Any Traveling Photographer

Three of my favorite things: being a mom, travel and photography. I’m not claiming to be good at any of them, but I enjoy them all.

Often, they go together perfectly. Photographing my kids as we travel for example. Other times, it can be disastrous. Traveling with a big camera and kids is not only a lot of work, but a recipe for damaged equipment. Until now, I’ve always chanced it and used the insecure bags I had on hand. It was too easy to just throw my gear in one big bag with ALL the other traveling necessities kids need. It was time. I needed to get serious and find something that would securely transport my equipement.

So what would the right camera bag look like for a parent with a camera and family in tow? I started my search by listing the features that were a must for me:

– securely hold a camera and lens
– securely hold a laptop with easy removal of at security.
– have a significant amount of room for ‘traveling with kids’ necessities
– large in size, but qualify as an airline carry on
– be easy to manipulate (wheels, telescoping handle, potentially a strap or backpack option)
– have pockets (I love pockets!)

Known for their quality bags, Lowepro seemed like the way to go and their Pro Runner RL x450 AW II appeared to offer everything I wanted. So did it? Follow me through my check list:

Securely hold a camera and lens:

When I first opened the bag, my Type A personality was totally geeking! I loved it’s large size and all the extra storage spaces. The padded dividers are removable to create the perfect configuration for me. Traveling with kids, I don’t have the time to worry about my camera and equipment. I needed a bag that I can put my equipment in and forget about it. Being able to adjust the padded dividers as needed created such a snug fit I didn’t give protection another thought.

Have pockets (I love pockets!) & Securely hold a laptop with easy removal of at security:

And then there are the pockets (remember how I love pockets)! All the pockets and dedicated spaces are this organization lover’s dream come true. They make this bag truly travel friendly. All my equipment and cords fit perfectly into their own spots in the main compartment. The outside pockets allowed for easy access to passports, boarding passes, etc. The best pocket feature though: the laptop area. When juggling kids, removing shoes, emptying pockets, etc through airport security, being able to easily slide my laptop in and out of the bag made for one less hassle.

Large in size, but qualify as an airline carry on:

The bag size is just about the biggest a carry on can be on most airlines. Out of the last 11 planes I was on, 8 of them were smaller and the airlines told me I would need to check my bag plane side. I refused. I explained that I had camera equipment in the bag and would not check it. Most were accommodating and found room on board for it. A few were fussy, but in the end, we found a way to make it fit on board. The size is exactly what I wanted, just take note if you often travel on small planes, it’s bigger size may be an issue.

Be easy to manipulate (wheels, telescoping handle, potentially a strap or backpack option):

The bag converts easily from backpack to roller. I used it mostly as a roller. It was easy to roll but my son rarely gave me the chance to roll it. He insisted on on being the “bag puller”. The bag glided so smoothly that I didn’t fear damage to equipment (even with a 10 year old at the wheel).

The bottom line is Lowepro‘s Pro Runner RL x450 AW II camera bag wins big in my book! The quality surpassed my expectations and it offered everything I was looking for in a camera bag. It’s obvious Lowepro didn’t miss a detail to ensure secure transport of the this bag’s contents. As a bonus, this bag can also be used to store my equipment or re-purposed for non-camera gear. It really can’t get any better! Whether you have a camera bag or not, you need to check out Lowepro’s complete line. You won’t be disappointed!

Disclosure: A Lowepro camera bag was received for review purposes. All opinions expressed above are those of the writer and are in no way influenced by companies or brands mentioned within. Lowepro logo and images are owned and copyrighted by them. All rights and credit belong to them on original images used within. Post and page may contain affiliate links and advertising. Thank you for clicking through them! It helps keep 4 The Love Of Family here for you