The best camera sling bags in 2023: half way between a backpack & a shoulder bag

Why pick one of the best camera sling bags to carry your gear? Why not one of the many other best camera bags that are available, such as backpacks, messenger bags, holsters and others?

Sling bags offer their own distinct advantages that distinguish them from these other types of bag and make them extra attractive to certain types of photographer. Sling bags are distinguished by having a single shoulder strap which the users wears diagonally across the body in the manner of a car seat belt. The bag therefore sits lightly on the back, allowing it to be swung (or 'slung') from back to front in a single movement, with its opening side facing towards the user. This allows you to access your gear within seconds without needing to put the bag down.

So sling bags give you the best of both worlds, the comfort and capacity of a camera backpack and the portability and convenience of a shoulder bag. It's no surprise that many travelling photographers find them to be the optimal camera-carrying solution: a sling bag is perfect for a day spent roaming a city with your camera, but is also suitable for longer excursions.

Of course, a sling bag still does rest on only one shoulder, which limits the amount of weight you can (or would want to) carry with one. They're best for a single camera, with two or three lenses and a few extra essential accessories like memory cards, batteries and perhaps a flashgun. A sling's compact exterior size should also mean you'll easily slip inside airline carry-on luggage limits.

Best sling bag for photographers

So what's the best camera sling bag? Right now, we think it's the Solstice Sling 10 by Tenba: it's a simple yet very effective sling that's spacious, comfy and well made, and therefore very hard to beat. Vanguard's Alta Rise 43 Sling is also a great choice if you need something bigger, while the Manfrotto Pro Light FastTrack-8 2-in-1 could be for you if you've got a smaller camera. Whichever sling bag you choose, you can be assured of streamlined yet versatile storage that's great on the go.

Here are the best camera sling bags you can buy right now...

Despite boasting a fairly small 10L capacity, and measuring a relatively narrow 24cm, the boxy shape of the Solstice makes it a practical size. It’s well suited to carrying a full-frame body with two or three lenses, and they’ll be well protected. Generous front, rear and base padding, along with substantial interior dividers, give the Solstice a tough feel, as do the quality water-resistant outer materials.

Access is via a full length side flap that gives a wide opening to the whole bag. On the opposite side is an expanding pouch suitable for a bottle, or a typical travel tripod, anchored by an additional side strap. Up front is a long slot opening revealing storage for a tablet and filters.

Speaking of anchoring, this camera sling bag also features a secondary cross-body strap for keeping things stable when you’re really on the move. The main strap sits on your left shoulder. It’s supple and well padded, and combined with the decent back padding makes the Solstice a comfortable companion.

Manfrotto’s sling bag offers some fresh thinking. Mounted on its main shoulder strap is a secondary, smaller strap that functions like a standalone camera sling strap, letting you smoothly slide your camera from its resting position by your hip up to shooting height.

When you need to slip your camera away, slide the bag under your shoulder as normal and there’s a pocket at the base that’ll swallow your camera with it still attached to the strap. Two zips then close the compartment and the zippers even attach to each other to keep the pocket closed. You get a conventional side opening which reveals a dedicated lens compartment, but accessory storage is limited to a tablet slot and a couple of stretchy side pouches.

Back padding is thick and the comfy shoulder strap is centrally mounted at both ends, so the bag can be slung from either shoulder

The only major drawback is this small sling is sized for mirrorless gear only, though entry-level APS-C DSLRs will just about fit.

This nine-litre bag aimed at urban photographers on the move has nice design flourishes and practical features that make it well worth investigating. We love the fold-out front pocket for storing batteries and SD cards, and it’s really easy to access camera equipment. The strap that secures it to the body and turns it into a small backpack is a nice touch, too, while the Niko Camera Sling 3.0’s ability to have a tripod attached to its bottom makes it useful for more than just hand-held street photography. Though able to take a full-frame DSLR at a squeeze, this sling is more suited to mirrorless and APS-C DSLR gear, with its nine-litre main compartment secured by waterproof zippers and housing a full-length waterproof pocket inside.

Read the full Chrome Niko 3.0 Camera Sling review

The McKinnon 8L Camera Sling should meet the needs of photographers who use a small DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or even a smartphone setup.  There are plenty of pouches, pockets, and dividers for you to organize your equipment to suit your preferences. The single padded sling enables you to carry it on your back or keep it close to your chest to protect your gear in crowds and the durable water-resistant material will help you keep shooting regardless of the weather.

Read our full McKinnon Sling Bag 8L review.

The Hex Range is designed to look more like a pouch bag rather than a backpack, and as such is one of the most understated designs for you to carry around - if you don't want to brag about the amount of camera gear you are carrying around. Made of cordura nylon, and with a supplied rain hood, this is a sling back that is designed to help your gear survive adverse weather conditions. Space is tight however, so don't expect to take lots of gear with you in the 8 litre compartment. There are accessory pockets of a phone, spare battery and such - plus straps at the bottom to attach a travel tripod.

Read the full Hex Ranger DSLR Sling review

Camera sling bags are designed for active photography, so it makes sense that the PhotoCross 13 is finished in a durable, water-resistant material that beads rain away very effectively. High quality rain-resistant zips and a durable base add extra protection, so much so that the included raincover seems almost unnecessary.

The overall shape is relatively wide, making it versatile enough to carry an ungripped DSLR and lenses including a 70-200mm f/2.8, along with a compact 13” ultrabook. There are even mounting points on the front and included straps to attach a travel tripod. It’s just a pity the internal dividers are rather floppy, making the bag feel squashy and less substantial than some.

With the ability to carry so much kit, it’s surprising the shoulder strap is only lightly padded, but it is very wide, well ventilated and surprisingly comfy. There’s also a waist strap that provides extra support and stability, and the back padding is dense enough to insulate you from feeling the bag’s contents.

The TurnStyle V2.0 is available in three sizes, the 20 being the largest. Its main compartment is sized for full-frame gear, though a taller full-frame DSLR such as a Canon EOS 5D IV is a bit of a squeeze. Up front you get a versatile pocket for storing accessories like a flashgun or filters.

Externally the TurnStyle feels very durable, with tightly woven nylon materials that easily cope in wet weather. This is also a comfy camera sling bag on long shoots thanks to its wide, well padded strap. Though this sits on your left shoulder, like many sling designs, the top is actually attached to the centre of the bag, making it feel more stable. If you need extra support, there’s a basic waist strap, too.

Downsides? The internal dividers are thin and too flexible, compromising the bag’s overall rigidity. The main compartment opening is more of a slot than a flap and doesn’t afford the most unobstructed access. Finally, there are no side pouches or mounting points to carry a bottle or tripod.

Here’s a camera sling bag that shouldn’t break the bank, or your back, as it weighs in at a featherweight 482g. This is in part due to the bag’s fairly small size, but there’s enough depth to house an ungripped full-frame DSLR with attached 24-70mm, plus another mid-sized lens and a flashgun alongside. 

The top portion of the bag is separated by a removable divider and is intended as a space for storing smaller accessories or personal effects, but the tapering front panel does restrict this area’s practicality.

You can’t have it all at such a low price, and the Jazz’s outer materials feel scratchy and less finessed than more expensive rival bags. The shoulder strap is also basic and lacks some flexibility, but is quite well padded, as is the back panel. Inside this is a small compartment large enough for an 8” tablet, plus there’s a mesh pouch on the side that could house a bottle, or at a push, a very compact tripod.

5 things to look for in a camera sling bag

1. Size it up

Most of the slings in this round-up are capable of carrying a full-frame DSLR body and at least two small lenses, which should give you an idea of the size you'll be working with. Many such bags also come in smaller sizes, and are designed for mirrorless kit.

2. Essential extras

Though a camera sling bag is meant to carry just the essentials, most have room for a tablet, or possibly a small laptop. Some also have mounting points for a tripod, and even a compact drone. Figure out what you're going to be carrying most days and plan your bag accordingly.

3. Weather the storm

Easy-access camera sling bags are well suited to life off the beaten track, but if you’re out in all weathers, ensure your chosen bag is weatherproof and has a separate rain cover. The last thing you want is to find your camera gear damaged because your bag didn't provide adequate protection.

4. Strap in

Some sling straps rest on your right shoulder, and some the left. This dictates which way you swing your sling to get access, and one direction may feel more natural than the other. If you have a backpack at home, you can wear it on one shoulder and experiment with swinging it back and forth to get a feel for which way feels more comfortable.

5. Stabilizing influence

With only a single strap, a sling bag can feel less secure on your back than a normal backpack. An additional waist or stabilising strap will keep everything securely anchored, and can also be a helpful extra layer of security against bag-snatchers and thieves.

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