Best Camera Bag Accessories for the Outdoor Photographer
If you’re ready to take your camera backpack to the next level, these accessories will turn any basic pack into the ultimate outdoor photographer bag. The items below are perfect for any adventure photographer who is always on the go.
Goal Zero Sherpa 100 AC Portable Power Bank
The Goal Zero Sherpa 100 AC Power Bank has saved me on multiple occasions when out in the wilderness. I always have it with me in my Shimoda Explore 30 when I have to edit while shooting, so I always have power for my laptop, phone, and Nikon Z6. It’s a great compact size that doesn’t take up too much room and is also the perfect solution when you’re editing at a coffee shop and there aren’t any outlets available (let’s be real, we’ve all been there!). It’s also a great emergency item to keep in your car. Cables are included in case you forget your charger, and also has Qi wireless charging. My favorite is the integrated 100W AC outlet and the two high-speed 60W USB-C ports.
Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3
For those of you who have backpacks that don’t have quick side or top access to your camera gear, the Peak Design Capture Clip is the perfect solution for you. You can attach it to your bags straps, belt, or technically anywhere on your bag for easy access to your camera at all times. And this isn’t limited to just your mirrorless or dslr camera, you can also use this device for binoculars, lenses, and GoPros!
Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir
I am a huge fan of Osprey products, and use their 3L Hydraulics Reservoir inside my pack. I like how there is a hard backing to the bladder, preventing any sort of punctures that could happen from pointy gear I may have inside my bag. It maintains a flat profile and all parts are BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free, and all materials are certified food safe according to FDA and EU regulations. It’s easy to fill and easy to drink from, a no-fuss no-brainer to have in your pack!
MindShift Gear Filter Nest Storage Case
I love this filter case! It’s a clean, simple cube design with a separate filter filer ‘nest’ inside. The cube can be attached on the outside of a bag or stored neatly away inside. You can also remove the ‘nest’ from the cube and store that directly into your ICU which is a feature I absolutely love. The slots are color-coded to help keep you organized, and it also has an additional flap with a velcro attachment to cover the nest for extra protection. Mindshift was really thoughtful in its design, allowing you to use this in multiple ways, the Filter Nest comes highly recommended!
Black Diamond Hotforge Screwgate Carabiner
Black Diamond is the industry standard for carabiners, and with adventure packs having SO MANY attachment capabilities now, it makes sense to carry a few carabiners around to attach miscellaneous gear. You can use these to hang flashlights, hand sanitizer, solar lights or chargers, tents, sleeping bags, the list is endless. Even when not in use, they’re small items and can be tucked away for a rainy day. I recommend always having these in (or on) your pack, you never know when they may come in handy.
Lowepro SleevePack 13
The Lowepro SleevePack is a surprise item on this list. At first glance, it looks like a basic, no-fuss laptop sleeve (which if your pack doesn’t have a designated laptop sleeve, is something you should have) but what the SleevePack can also do is convert into a mini backpack! This is the perfect lightweight item to have in your pack if you are traveling and don’t want to carry your 50L camera backpack around, you can toss your wallet and a few essentials and be on your way. This is the perfect item that works double duty, and I recommend it for anyones camera bag.
Shimoda Explore Accessory Case
Speaking of a multi-functional bag, the Shimoda Explore Accessory Case is a great companion to any adventure pack. If your bag lacks additional internal pockets, this accessory case is perfect for storing batteries, SD cards, hard drives, you name it. It has two scratch-resistant translucent windows so you can see what you have packed in there at all times. It also comes with a carrying strap if you want to rock it like a sling and ditch your bulky backpack, and a hook to use as a stabilizer weight for your tripod.
Pelican Go G10 Waterproof Case
This is the perfect solution if you’re looking for a waterproof case for your SD cards, earbuds, or any important electronics you may have that need protection from the elements. Pelican is the industry standard for hard cases whether it’s for storage or travel (or both), and here they bring us their smallest offering to keep those SD, Compact Flash, XQD, etc cards protected.
Joby GorillaPod 3K Kit Compact Tripod
I love the Joby GorillaPod because of its many uses. You can use it as a vlogging tripod or of course in a more traditional manner, a regular tripod. The reason I like the GorillaPod over the Switchpod is because of the adjustable legs that you can wrap around anything when there isn’t a flat surface available. It may not have as quick a setup as the Switchpod, but the adjustable leg option outweighs that in my opinion, making the GorillaPod one of the most handy little tripods on the market. The 3K is perfect for mirrorless setups, but if you have a heavier DSLR, opt for the 5k version.
NOMATIC McKinnon Battery Case
This no-fuss battery case comes from Peter McKinnon’s new partnership with NOMATIC. It has a magnetic flap and can hold three batteries (which is usually my magic number that I personally carry on a day trip, along with a fourth already in the camera). A fun touch is that it also comes with ‘death’ stickers to place on one side of the battery, so once one is used up, you place the battery back into the case with the death sticker facing up, so you know that battery is dead and not to grab it! (Let’s be real, why haven’t we thought of this already?) The design is simple and can handle most standard battery sizes, a top pick on this list!