Best Camera Laptop Backpack for Travel

Are you traveling or on location to take some great photos for an assignment and need a backpack to carry your laptop and camera gear securely? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The best camera laptop backpack for travel ensures that all your valuable gear is protected and easily transported whether on a plane or on a picture taking walk in a gorgeous locale.

Since most professional photographers these days need to immediately edit and publish or send their digital photos, it’s a must to carry their laptop with them so that they can do during their trip rather than wait until they get home. A dedicated laptop compartment or sleeve in the same backpack that carries camera gear is the most practical solution.

Of course, not everyone needs a bulky camera while traveling. If a compact camera is enough but your laptop and other tech gadgets are still a must, then check out some great laptop backpacks for travel.

There is a plethora of camera and lens configurations available, not to mention the flash and all the photo storage devices that you have to take with you. A camera section with configurable separators lets you fit in a lot while keeping each piece snug. Large and small pockets can take care of the flash drives, SD cards, chargers, batteries, etc. Don’t forget about a place to secure your tripod too. If there’s any chance at all of rain, then a rain cover is necessary to protect the equipment.

Lastly, a Dslr camera backpack with laptop compartment should be lightweight but durable and should be easy to carry for at least a few hours at a time. Our laptop and camera backpack reviews have narrowed your choices down to eight highly rated ones so you should be able to find one to suit your needs. They are unisex types and large enough to hold DSLR cameras and be considered as a carry on bag. If you want something a bit smaller and more feminine, check out our reviews of some of the best camera backpacks designed for women.

Case Logic SLRC-206 SLR Camera and 15.4-Inch Laptop Backpack

The best selling Case Logic SLRC-206 is excellent for travel and most users say that it fits under an airplane seat unless the front pocket pushes out too much. The bottom of the bag is EVA molded and waterproof so that it can be set down anywhere. The padded shoulder straps are adjustable and the top grab handle is lightly padded as well. It is comfortable to carry, as the back panel is ventilated for proper air flow. The bag’s external dimensions are 13.6 x 18.1 x 9.7 inches.

The laptop compartment is at the back with a top opening zipper. It measures 15.4″ x 10.4″ x 1″ and can hold any 16″ laptop or a 17″ MacBook Pro. Memory foam backing protects it well from impact.

Inside the camera compartment is more than enough space for an SLR camera body with a lens attached, plus several more lenses, an extra camera body and other accessories. The camera body with even a long zoom lens attached can be quickly accessed by just opening the the zipper right at the top of the compartment. If you want to access anything else from here, only then do you have to open the whole compartment by first unfastening the side velcro fasteners and unzipping the flap to fold it down completely. The cushioned dividers here are moveable and secured by velcro so that you can customize the size and shape of each section to snugly secure each piece of equipment.

The bottom of the camera compartment features a hammock system that ensures the camera never touches the bottom of the bag, so you don’t have to worry about damage in case of impact. The inside of the compartment’s flap features pockets for cords and the top of the flap is also padded so that when you close the compartment, there is protection even on the top.

There is one vertical zipped side pocket to carry your phone, small point and shoot camera, etc.,and on the other side is a set of slash straps to secure a tripod or monopod. A front organizer pocket is good for more cords and other small accessories.

This backpack for camera and laptop is well designed for air travel in particular because it forces you to not end up with a bulky equipment bag. There is enough rigidity that a very large diameter attached lens or a camera with a hood will be a bit difficult to squeeze in. You also won’t be able to fill the inside flap pockets with much if the camera attachments take up all the space inside. However, if you’re looking for a well made and lightweight backpack that will keep your equipment properly protected, you can’t go wrong with this one.

AmazonBasics DSLR and Laptop Backpack

For perhaps the least expensive of all the well made laptop camera backpacks, choose the AmazonBasics DSLR and Laptop Backpack. It won’t win you any style points with its basic black look, but when it comes to functionality at this price point, it beats out a lot of other options. The only color you’ll find here is on the inside where you have a choice between bright orange and staid grey. It comes with a rain cover to add to the value of this bag.

The pack measures 13.4″ x 8.8″ x 17.7″ overall and has a very roomy interior. It is divided into three compartments for organization. The rear compartment is well padded and can house a 17″ laptop. It can slide in through the zippered opening at the top.

The middle and largest compartment is where you store all your camera gear. This compartment opens completely via zippers and can lie flat on its front if you want to access all your equipment. The space is sectioned off by customizable cushioned dividers and can hold 2 SLR camera bodies, up to 4 lenses and chargers, etc.

The front compartment is where the large organizer is with several pockets. It can hold more chargers, cords, pens, a phone and keys. On one side of the bag is a velcro flap opening pocket and on the other side are straps to secure a tripod.

There is a top grab handle with a rigid grip but should not be used to carry the pack for long periods of time. The pack’s shoulder straps and suspension system is great, with the shoulder straps, waist straps and chest straps all being padded and adjustable, so the load is stabilized and feels comfortable at all times.

Almost every customer says that this is a great bag for the price, so as long as you don’t mind the utilitarian look, this is the best camera and laptop backpack for those on a budget.

USA Gear Digital SLR Camera Backpack with Laptop Compartment and Rain Cover for Nikon DSLR

If you like having lots of different compartments and pockets for all your photography and laptop gear then this may be the bag for you. Although this USA Gear DSLR Camera Backpack with Laptop Compartment is meant especially for Nikon DSLRs, many other brands will work quite well here.

The padded laptop compartment at the back can fit up to a 15.6″ laptop along with a tablet.

The front of the bag is divided into several compartments for organization. The top compartment opens through a flap, the inside of which has a zippered mesh pocket. This top compartment is meant for large accessories other than lenses. Right below that is a small zippered compartment with a main pocket and a another one on the inside of its flap. These can hold memory cards, flash drives, small cords or batteries. Right below that is the main camera and lens storage compartment that opens via a flap like a front door. It is sectioned off by customizable cushioned dividers. There is also a side access door here so that you can quickly grab the camera with a lens attached. The camera and lens has to be positioned correctly within the compartment for this to work. The inside of the flap opening has a large pocket for more small accessories.

There are two zippered pockets on one side of the pack. The top one is a quarter circle pocket for small chargers and the bottom is a long pocket for a laptop charger or anything similarly sized. The other side of the pack has a drawstring top pocket below an adjustable snap buckle strap. You can use this either as a water bottle holder or a tripod holder.

The shoulder straps are padded and adjustable and there is an adjustable waist strap and sternum strap. You can use all of these to carry the pack as normal or use just a single shoulder strap to carry it like a sling bag. In this case, you would tuck away the other shoulder strap and sternum strap and use the waist strap to secure the pack in position.

This backpack comes with a rain cover to keep everything dry in case it rains.

The overall padding is not the greatest with this bag so you do need to be careful handling it. However, most customers are very happy with large number of pockets and good value for money.
 

Victoriatourist V6022 Laptop Backpack for SLR Camera and 15 Inch Laptops with Waterproof Rain Cover

This is another well organized backpack and it gives you some versatility in use as well. The Victoriatourist V6022 Laptop Backpack for SLR Cameras has a removable SLR camera section from the bottom compartment so you can also use the pack as a regular backpack if you want.

This removable compartment can hold an SLR camera with lens attached and two extra lenses and charger or flash in sections created by movable dividers. When you want to use it, it fits neatly at the bottom of the pack with the open sections facing the front. These can be accessed by the front zippered u-shaped flap. The bottom features a mesh wall to prevent your lenses from falling out if you open the flap when the bag is standing up.

Above the camera compartment is the organizer compartment. This is part of the main space within the pack so it is roomy enough to store large accessories and a tablet here. The inside of the zippered flap features several organizer pockets, loops and a key fob. You can store your smartphone, pens, flash drives and memory cards here. There is a earphone port at the top of this compartment so that you can listen to music if connected to your phone or tablet without needing to keep the zipper open. A smaller zipped pocket lies on top of this compartment.

The laptop compartment that can fit a 15″ laptop brings up the rear of the bag and is well padded.

Both sides of the bag feature an elastic top mesh pocket below adjustable straps so you can carry a tripod and water bottle.

A rain cover is included and is stored in a pouch at the bottom of the bag.

There is no waist or sternum strap but the shoulder straps are adjustable and well padded to keep you comfortable even if you carry the pack for a few hours. There is also a padded grab handle on the top. The back panel allows for air flow to keep you from sweating.

While this pack is not suited for more than 2 extra lenses, that’s enough for most photographers going on a trip. One complaint is that the zippers on the laptop compartment tend to slide open when the compartment is full. A zip tie or even a safety pin is enough to solve this problem.
 

BAGSMART Camera Backpack for SLR/DSLR Cameras & 15″ Macbook Pro

We now come to some choices that are more stylish than the ones above. The BAGSMART Camera Backpack comes with a rain cover tucked into a bottom zippered compartment to keep everything protected.

There are plenty of pockets and a tripod attachment point to allow you to carry gear big and small. The shoulder straps are padded and adjustable. There is also a grab handle on the top.

The padded laptop sleeve at the back can be accessed via a quick access side zipper pocket. This compartment can hold a 14″ laptop or even an ultra-thin 15″ one.

The front of the bag is divided into two separate compartments. The main compartment lies above the camera compartment and is meant to hold a few large accessories or clothes. Access to this is from the top via a drawstring closure, and the front flap of the pack folds over it for extra security. The outside of this flap features two faux leather straps with faux buckles that actually close with magnetic snap buttons.

Below the main compartment is the zippered camera compartment that can hold a DSLR camera and 3-4 lenses between movable padded dividers. The u-shaped opening of this compartment folds downwards and the outside of the flap features another zippered pouch with a flap covering it and also featuring the same magnetic snap closure buckled straps. This is good for small accessories.

There is an adjustable holder on the bottom of the backpack to hold a tripod. The sides of the pack feature vertical zippered door pockets for a water bottle or more small accessories. The top and bottom compartments of the pack can become a single large compartment for school use if you unzip the middle section.

While this laptop and camera backpack is both nice looking and functional, the tripod holder and the magnetic snaps are a bit weak.

Caden Professional Fashion Multifunction DSLR SLR Camera Bag Travel Outdoor Tablet Laptop Bag

This Caden DSLR camera and laptop backpack looks more professional than the others and you have more choices in color: black, blue, rose red, grey and light grey. Its form is more rigid and sleek and the material used is high density nylon that is durable and water resistant. However, it is quite light on its own. This pack also comes with a rain cover.

The padded laptop sleeve at the back of the pack extends all the way down and can hold up to a 15″ Macbook Pro. The main compartment is divided into two sections. The top one is accessed by a u-shaped zipper and it can hold 2 paperback sized books and some accessories. There are two slip pockets here to provide some organization. Below is the camera section that holds a slide out walled tray with removable padded dividers. This can hold any DSLR camera body and two lenses. This section is accessed via a zippered side door through which you can completely remove the camera tray if you want to use the backpack as a regular laptop pack. The inside of this side door holds two slip pockets for SD cards and flash drives. On the opposite side is another zippered door that reveals a large smartphone pocket with a protective top flap.

There is another zipped pocket that you can use for your phone. That one lies horizontally at the back of the pack so it’s safe from pickpockets. The front of the bag features a large and snug drop pocket. Two adjustable straps on the bottom of the pack is meant for securing a tripod.

The adjustable shoulder straps are padded and comfortable and the adjustable waist strap is completely detachable but useful for balancing the load. Two lightly padded grab handles on the top can be snapped together, ensuring that they won’t slowly start to tear at the seams.

Sony LCSBP3 DSLR System Backpack with Laptop Storage

If you’re looking for the best backpack for camera and laptop without a thought to cost then the Sony LCSBP3 DSLR System Backpack with Laptop Storage should certainly be considered. After all, if it’s meant to protect your precious laptop and camera equipment, cost should be secondary. Besides, this backpack is constructed to be able to withstand years of use.

While the outside of the bag is black, the inside is orange, which helps you locate everything even when it’s dark. There is very good padding all around the bag so that everything is protected.

The laptop compartment with zipper top is right at the back and can house a 15″ laptop if you pack the rest of the bag full. If you don’t pack bulky camera gear then even a 16 or 17 inch laptop will fit in here.

The front of the bag has two sections. The bottom section is where the camera, lenses and flash go. It is very roomy and can fit even a huge zoom lens. The padded dividers are movable so that you get the perfect fit around each piece. There are two ways to access this compartment. The front opening zipped door that opens downwards reveals the entire section and is best accessed when the pack is lying on its back. The side zipped opening can be accessed even when you’re still wearing the pack by one strap. You can swing the bag forward and quickly remove just the camera with a lens attached.

The compartment on top of the camera section opens via a top lid and is where you can store all your other accessories.

One side of the pack features a water bottle holder and the other side features adjustable tripod straps. There is a rain cover in a pouch at the bottom of the backpack.

The pack has very strong padded and adjustable shoulder straps and adjustable sternum and waist straps for load balancing. There is a grab handle as well on the top.

This backpack is very roomy and though it fits in the overhead bin on any plane, it won’t fit under the plane seat. Although it can withstand a heavy load, be careful not to do it or it will get quite heavy.

Best Anti-theft Camera and Laptop Backpack

Pacsafe Camsafe V25 Anti-Theft Camera Backpack

If you’re all concerned about theft of your valuable equipment while traveling, then choose the Pacsafe Camsafe V25 Anti-Theft Camera Backpack.

It has zippers that can be locked to D-ring points to prevent anyone from reaching in to steal stuff. Exomesh Slashguard stainless steel mesh is embedded in the fabric and in the shoulder straps to prevent anyone from trying to cut through the fabric or grabbing the pack from you. There is RFID blocking in the top front zippered compartment that can be used for your credit cards, phone, flash drive, SD cards, etc. to prevent identity theft.

The 15″ compatible laptop compartment in the rear is well padded. If you want to use this backpack for hiking, a hydration pack can replace a laptop here. There is a hole in the top of this compartment for the hydration pack’s tube to exit, and the shoulder straps have holders to let the tube run through.

The main compartment opens in two ways. The top opening is via a u-shaped zipper. Halfway down this compartment starts the camera storage section that is protected by a drawstring closure. While you can pack your camera gear through this opening and then fill the rest of the compartment with your other gear, you can also use the front zippered door for easier access. This door flap zips up the front as well as one side so that you can quickly grab your camera with the attached lens by opening the zips just enough while still wearing the pack on one shoulder. The other lenses are left behind safely covered until you fully unzip this section. The zips cannot be pulled completely open unless you unbuckle the two small straps securing these points. The camera section features padded movable dividers to house the camera and attached lens as well as 2 extra lenses and a flash. If you want to use this pack like a regular backpack, then you can just remove the dividers so that you have one big main compartment.

There is a rain cover at the bottom of the bag to protect it if it rains. On one side of the bag is a deep elastic top pocket and a compression strap above that. You can use this set up to hold a tripod or a large water bottle.

In addition to the padded shoulder straps, you also have a sternum strap and waist strap and all are adjustable.