Hiking with a Camera in Comfort AND Being Ready for Quick Shots…

Hiking with a Camera

A common question you hear about in the hiking community is whether or not hiking with a camera is worth it, as smartphone cameras are quite decent these days. Whilst point and shot cameras used to be the go to when smartphone cameras were bad, they are becoming less popular. It is certainly noticeable that DSLR cameras are becoming more and more popular with hikers. Probably for the reason that we all strive for quality shots with a growing accessible and competitive market through social media.

I ditched the point and shoot, and started carrying a DSLR camera whilst hiking back in 2016. This was done hiking with it around my neck or stuffed in my pack. These were the only two ways I knew how to hike with the DSLR camera. As a result, i found myself in discomfort, and missing out on shots when it was stowed away.

Camera Support Straps

The issue above was somewhat solved with some online research. Prior to a New Zealand trip, I discovered a recommendation for the Think Tank Photo Camera Support Straps. These enabled me to suspend the weight off my shoulder straps and not have the camera pulling down on my neck – the normal way you’d wear a camera. They also offered the best access to quick photos in any option below. The downside was the slightly tedious process of clipping on and off and having to place the camera on the ground to take off the pack.

These straps worked well on shorter hikes, especially for having the camera at the ready for quick snaps on the move. In contrast, on longer multi-day hikes – the ‘bobbing‘ that occurs on your lower chest / upper abdomen is a little annoying after a few days.

Move to a Mirrorless Setup – More Compact and Light!

The decision to switch to a mirrorless setup made the hiking life much easier. Mirrorless cameras don’t have the heavy glass prism inside, but instead a flat sensor where the lens is attached. This makes them much smaller than regular DSLR cameras and far more lightweight. Furthermore, this small and lightweight ability allows you to carry such a luxury item without needing to cut back on too much essential hiking items in reducing overall weight.

Mirrorless Mover Camera Bag

Purchasing a camera bag that could fit on to my backpack hip belt or pants belt had always been a preference for me with such a light setup. The Think Tank Photo Mirrorless Mover 10 Camera Bag was perfect for just the job. It’s intended as a shoulder bag, but you can ditch the shoulder strap and slide any belt-like structure through the rear side buckle loop. It offered great protection from the elements (inc. taking falls), and enabled me to hike in quite extreme environments (e.g. snow, rain).

I’ve hiked for months on end in Patagonia, New Zealand and the length of the Pacific Crest Trail in USA using this setup. It’s super quick and easy to get on and off. If you have a small camera, you can even fit a phone and snacks in the bag too. The other major draw card for this bag is that in comes with a built-in little raincoat, so you don’t have to pack it away in light rainfall. There are larger bag options available too, but you’d need to equip them differently

Shoulder Strap Clip

The other successful setup I’ve seen (but not personally used) is the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 (see image below). This kind of setup is not what I’d personally go for, but I’ve seen people use it (or at least a similar style) and seem to be happy with it.

This setup is more suited to large DSLR cameras where a bag will add too much extra weight. Like with the support straps, it is very flexible with different camera sizes and weights. It seems like my issue with this system is that you’d need to always put the camera down somewhere when taking the pack off and the camera is quite exposed to the environment and abrasion.

At the end of the day, everyone will have different preferences and needs. I found these three options to be the best available to hikers who want to have access to an SLR camera on the move.

Carry Types Summary

Regular carry via camera strap

Pros:

• No extra cost
• Quick access to camera

Cons:

• Straining / friction on neck
• No external/rain protection
• Can only be used short-term

Think Tank Support Straps

Pros:

• Cheap
• Quick access to camera
• Nicely balanced weight distribution

Cons:

• Time consuming to take camera off / on
• Have to put camera on ground to take off pack
• No external/rain protection
• ‘Bobbing‘ on chest

Mirrorless Mover Bag

Pros:

• Relatively quick access to camera
• External protection
• Rain protection
• Extra storage space
• Nicely balanced weight distribution

Cons:

• Only suitable for lightweight point-and-shoot / mirrorless cameras and lenses
• Size restrictions for camera and lens

Shoulder Strap Clip

Pros:

• Quick access to camera
• Can fit any camera size

Cons:

• Have to put camera on ground to take off pack
• Unbalanced weight distribution with a heavy camera
• No external/rain protection

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s obvious that different people will have different needs and preferences depending on their equipment. There is no single correct choice to achieve individual goals.

Due to the nature of my hobby, I’m someone who is quite often on long distance hikes and needs a combination of most of the pros above. The Mirrorless Mover 10 camera bag does this the most effectively and is my choice at the moment. However, it is limited to small setups, such as my small Sony A6000 + Sony SEL 10-18mm wide-angle lens. Furthermore, it would be interesting to see how a larger bag would handle in a similar position if i upgraded with multiple lenses and perhaps a larger camera. That will be for a future review! 🙂

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