Why an insert is the best camera bag
A year ago I bought a backpack insert for packing my photography gear while undergoing a long distance move but quickly found why these inserts are the best camera bags for everyday carry.
One year ago I was planning a move abroad and thinking how I would bring my photography gear with me. I usually avoid taking a lot of camera equipment when traveling. Even when the cameras are lightweight, chargers, lenses, batteries, all take up space. I tend to take one small/mid sized camera on a holiday at most. This journey, however, was a long term move with a side-purpose that involved doing much more photo shoots than in my previous location. My hands were tied, the cameras had to come.
I had to think of the best way to transport cameras and lenses without breaking my back with too much weight and efficiently using all of the space in my carry-on. I decided I needed a different way of packing gear into my carry-on other than loading two or three shoulder bags that I already owned into my luggage.
After trying, and failing, to make good use of space in my largest shoulder bag I settled on buying a camera insert that could fit all my equipment and slide that in my carry-on backpack. The insert that I bought is the Tenba BYOB DSLR backpack insert, size 10.
In the process of using the insert and preparing for my move I found there were other benefits of using it instead of the shoulder camera bags I'd used before.
I'd previously used two shoulder bags from Lowepro (a small and large) and one from PGYtech, the OneGo solo 6L, 1st version. They are all good shoulder bags. The Lowepro ones have lasted me a long time and are still in good condition. While I've had the OneGo solo for less time the quality of materials feels really good.
The problem is when packing my luggage I found it difficult to maximize the use of space using these bags. When two of these shoulder bags are packed in my carry-on together they take up a lot more room than the backpack insert, they are heavier, and are a more awkward shape to fit in luggage. They also hold less gear for the space they take up due to the way cameras and lenses are packed in a shoulder bag versus the insert.
I found it a more efficient use of space packing the insert inside a backpack than trying to pack my two shoulder bags. The only time I would consider taking a shoulder bag traveling now is if I am only taking one camera and I'd use the smallest shoulder bag I have. Any bigger and it's better to use the insert.
On to the Tenba BYOB backpack DSLR insert. The size 10 measures 12 x 9 x 5 inches or 30.5 x 22.9 x 12.7 cm. It has a soft interior, features a YKK zipper, and has dividers to organize your gear. It slides easily into a 40L carry-on backpack when I took it on an overseas trip. It’s a little tighter sliding inside my North Face vault backpack but it can be done easier than my shoulder bags can due to the inserts block shape. I can use it in my North Face backpack when carrying camera gear around town and just have less gear inside the insert at these times.
The Tenba backpack camera insert comes in Two design variations. The ‘camera’ insert which is more of a shoulder bag shaped insert in order to be placed into another bag, like a tote bag or similar and the ‘backpack’ insert, which is the style I bought, designed to side into a backpack. Within the backpack design there are are two sizes (size 9 and size 10) and within size 9 there is a version for DSLRs and a slimmer size 9 insert made for mirrorless cameras.
In my PGYtech shoulder bag I can fit 2 cameras plus one to two lenses depending on the size of said lenses; with the addition of batteries, filters, and other small accessories. In the Tenba insert I can fit my Fuji camera with pancake lens, Nikon F3, 55mm lens, lens adapter, Sony action camera, and still have room for another lens and some small accessories (batteries, filters, etc). This is the larger size DSLR insert so it is slightly larger than my PGYtech 6L but the block shape of the insert is much easier to fit into a backpack or carry on suitcase if that's your preference.
There is a 'slim' version of this insert I think in the size below. I could fit all my current cameras in the slimmer design if I wanted. I bought the DSLR sized insert as I might buy one in the future.
Why not carry a shoulder bag separately on the plane or around town? I have done this before and wouldn't do it again. A camera bag over the shoulder, backpack, and suitcase to pull is just too much stuff. My previous experiences carrying camera gear while traveling has well put me off this approach. Airlines, even full service, have also become stricter about extra bags above your carry-on allowance in recent times.
What about around town when I'm transporting photo gear somewhere? This is another major plus in favor of an insert as it's much more discrete. An obvious camera bag over your shoulder screams "expensive stuff in here"! Maybe that doesn't matter too much if you're walking through the streets of Singapore but in most places it's better not to advertise the fact your carrying a few thousand dollars, or maybe more, of equipment over your shoulder.
Photographers have always had to be careful carrying high cost camera equipment in places like the UK & Western European cities but this seems to have got worse in recent years. To be fair, I've never had a problem carrying my lowepro shoulder bag in London when I lived there but that was a few years ago, I'd probably be more careful now. Carrying the insert inside a standard backpack no one would even know there's camera equipment inside.
My camera insert has all room to carry all the photo gear I need plus a bit extra for new equipment down the road. The Tenba insert just happens to be the one I bought. Peak Design, PGYtech, and many others make inserts too. All these brands inserts have good reviews on sites like B&H so they're probably good too. Buy whatever brand you've had good experiences with in the past. I just found this style of camera bag the most convenient, most safe, and most space efficient. I still like my old Lowepro adventura 120 shoulder bag as it's small enough to use just like an insert. so I'll use that when only need to carry a small setup.
These are just the reasons I think an insert is more convenient and safer than carrying expensive camera gear in an obvious camera bag. I bought it for more efficient packing while traveling but quickly found it far better for carrying photo gear around town too.
