The best messenger bags for photographers in 2025: carry your camera gear in style

There's a reason why messenger bags are one of the most popular styles of camera bags for photographers. They offer instant access to your kit, without having to remove it first like a backpack. Inside, you'll find customizable interior dividers that can be shaped around the needs of your gear, and many have extra features like rain covers, tripod holders, and even laptop pouches.

Slinging across one shoulder, messenger bags are as useful for a daily commute as they are for photo gear, which makes them a great choice if you plan to use the bag for multiple purposes. Generally speaking, their slim profile makes them great for city breaks and day trips, but that's not to say they aren't roomy.

If you're looking for a bag for a long photo hike or outdoor trip, it might be worth taking a look at our roundup of the best camera backpacks instead. And if you're packing a lot of professional camera gear, check out the best roller bags.

I've handpicked the best messenger bags based on a number of factors: capacity, waterproofing, comfort, design, and price. No matter what your camera setup or your budget is, there should be something on this list to suit you.

Rod Lawton

Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews Editor. He has used – and carried – practically every interchangeable-lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium-format cameras, so he knows what makes a good camera bag.

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Best messenger bags for photographers

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Best messenger bag for style

Sleek and light, the Peak Design Everyday Messenger has become an icon in the world of camera bag design – but it’s not just a pretty face. With a myriad of smart design touches, it’s able to accommodate as much gear as larger bags. Its FlexFold dividers make the main compartment store cameras and lenses efficiently, plus well-placed pockets for smaller items.

While the design is undoubtedly clever, the main compartment is covered only by the lid – there's no zipper – and the internal dividers seem designed for larger cameras and lenses, so smaller items may rattle around. All the same, this is a bag that delivers both style and substance.

Read more: Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2 review

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Best premium messenger bag

Billingham specializes in custom-made, hand-crafted bags that offer function as well as beauty, and the Eventer MKII is one of its flagship products. Available in five color schemes, it’s highly durable and weather-resistant, so it’s not just about the looks. The straps are for height adjustment; it’s actually quite easy to get into the main compartment, and the strong base means the bag can support itself and stand up, so you won’t get frustrated when you have to get an item out quickly.

Inside is a set of well-padded dividers, although the bag’s tall proportions mean that double-stacking is usually necessary. If you use a pro camera with a built-in grip, or prefer to have a grip attached, you might find the inside is too tight. The front pockets can hold a surprising amount of gear between them: I put a DJI Mini drone and controller in a single pocket without causing a bulge.

This is unquestionably a premium investment, but its design and functionality mean that isn’t just indulgence based on style alone.

Read more: Billingham Eventer MKII review

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Best messenger bag for street photography

This stylish bag has proven particularly popular among YouTubers and other reviewers, being described as one of the best bags you can buy for street photography. Naturally, I had to give it a try, and came away impressed. The Bellroy Venture 10L Camera Edition is a pretty minimalist affair, with no laptop sleeve to speak of. Plus, in what some consider sacrilege for a camera bag, the internal dividers are sewn in rather than velcro, meaning the space can't be customized.

For street photographers, however, this makes a lot of sense, as street setups tend to be fairly uniform in size. You have three areas in the 10L internal space to make use of, and they're more malleable and adaptable than they appear, as the memory foam can be bent and compressed to suit the specific contours of your kit. I found it to be a comfortable and versatile bag, robustly made to high standards. If you're looking for an understated photo bag for street shoots, this is my best buy.

Read more: Bellroy Venture 10L Camera Edition review

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Best double-deck messenger bag

The Veo Range 36M and its slightly larger 38M stablemate feature a split interior, with top and bottom halves. The bottom has enough space for a compact travel tripod (about 33cm long in the 36M, or 44cm in the 38M), or you can use it to add to the selection of gear stored in the top. You can use a zip in the lid to pull out a camera or lens from the top section, or pull the lid open to reach the bottom section. There’s also a section for a 13-inch laptop (15-inch in the 38M), and plenty of pockets for small accessories, so you can fit a good amount in without feeling like the bag is crammed.

The Veo Range 36M would be ideal for smaller mirrorless camera systems (though it will take an enthusiast-level DSLR), while the 38M would be better for those with bigger camera and lens setups.

Read more: Vanguard Veo Range 36M review

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Best hybrid messenger bag

Morally Toxic is a subbrand of the well-known tripod maker 3 Legged Thing, bringing the company’s progressive sensibilities to camera bags. It’s one of the few bags that doesn’t come in black, with distinctive onyx, emerald and sapphire color schemes you’ll either love or hate. But it’s not just about fashion: there’s a lot of practicality in the Wraith’s design. There are plenty of dividers, including a folding divider so you can stack small lenses or flashguns. For the smallest items, there are pockets with organizer sections, plus a larger pocket for a digital tablet.

With a detachable carrying strap and two distinct sets of fastening loops, the Wraith can function equally well as a messenger bag or a sling bag. The exterior is water-resistant, and the protection extends to some inner pockets too. If the rain gets really hard, there’s also a storm cover. It’s a bag that’s really easy to live with.

Read more: Morally Toxic Wraith review

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Best messenger bag for city breaks

The S30 comes from a range designed for photographers who favor shooting in cities. This is the smaller of two messenger bag options. Its seven-liter capacity is enough for a camera and two lenses, plus a digital tablet; if that doesn’t sound like it would be enough, the 10-liter S36 handles a camera and four lenses, plus a 13-inch laptop. Each bag comes with an extra one-liter pouch you can attach whenever you need just a bit more capacity.

The versatile design has tripod straps on the underside and two zip-expandable side pockets for quick access to water bottles. Inside the top flap is a pocket with RFID protection – handy for credit cards or car keys. It’s a pleasing design that also offers good weather resistance.

Access to the main compartment is from the back of the bag, which is good from a security perspective, but less so if you want to be able to bring out your camera at short notice. The compartment has adjustable dividers and thoughtful touches like red and green pockets, to differentiate used batteries and memory cards from unused.

Read more: Vanguard Veo City S30 review

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How to choose the best messenger bag

1. Will you need space for your laptop's charger and maybe an external drive?
2. Is the interior adaptable? It can be useful to make space for everyday items.
3. Velcro fastenings are secure, but can also be noisy when you open the bag.
4. A slimline bag will be easier to handle on buses, trains, and airplanes.
5. Don't get a bigger bag than you need. Overstuffed bags can be tiring.

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How we test camera bags

The Digital Camera World team are all camera enthusiasts, and between us we have tested hundreds of different camera bags over the years – and owned a fair few of them too!

For us, a good camera bag is one that keeps your photographic gear safe and secure when not in use – but also easily accessible for when you need to take pictures. The particular requirements of a bag will depend on its type – we'd expect quicker access from a messenger bag than with a backpack, but we'd expect the backpack to store more gear.

We test our bags in real-world scenarios – assessing how much kit you can fit into each, so we can give a clear idea of which type of photographer each is best for. The design and looks of a bag can be equally important to the photographer – so we ensure we take this into account in our assessments.

Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World

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