Wired updates guide to best camera bags for 2025
Wired has refreshed its annual roundup of top camera bags, slings, straps, and backpacks, testing over 100 options to recommend 16 favorites. The October 2025 update adds new products from brands like Wandrd, Evergreen, Brevite, PolarPro, Tenba, and Shimoda. The guide emphasizes versatile, protective carriers for photographers' gear.
In its latest edition, published with updates as of October 2025, Wired's gear team details extensive testing of camera carriers, focusing on protection, comfort, and capacity for photo and video equipment. The guide begins by noting the challenge of finding the perfect bag, as individual needs vary, with tester Julian Chokkattu recounting a two-hour trial at B&H Photo in New York City that left him unsatisfied initially.
Standouts include Wandrd's Prvke V4 backpack, updated in 2025 with zippered rolltop access, larger side openings, and improved organization. The 31-liter model fits a Nikon Z6 III with lenses and a flash in its Essential Camera Cube, plus a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Priced at $254 for the bag alone, it's made from P900-denier tarpaulin and ballistic nylon, handling light rain without a separate rainfly.
For slings, Wandrd's Rogue Sling V2 (9 liters, $179) accommodates essentials like a camera, lenses, and flash, with versatile carrying options including as a waistpack. It was used successfully at an Apple event. PolarPro's RoadRunner Backpack (8 liters, $100) suits street photographers with its narrow design and side access, fitting a mirrorless camera and extras, though limited for laptops.
Travel-focused picks like Wandrd's Transit Travel Backpack (35 liters, $299) expand to 40 liters and comply with airline carry-on rules, tested on trips to Montreal and Google I/O. Budget option Manfrotto Street Slim (12 liters, $110) packs surprisingly full while staying slim.
Accessories highlighted include Peak Design's Leash strap ($50) for secure neck carry and various camera cubes like Wandrd's ($74) for inserting into existing bags. The guide advises pairing bags with organizers for cables and memory cards to maintain gear safety.
No contradictions appear across the tested products, with emphasis on real-world use like rain resistance and comfort during extended carries.