My bags

The bags I carry

Every bag on Carry & Kit is one I own and use. Each suits a different kind of day, so here they are side by side, with a full review of each.

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For city days

AEST Studios Capture Large Shoulder Bag

Black leather that looks like a handbag, with padded dividers for a camera and two lenses.

For everything

Billingham Hadley Pro & Leica M Combination Bag

Weatherproof canvas and leather, made in England: a roomy satchel and a small one for a rangefinder.

For shooting fast

Domke F-3X Super Compact

Soft canvas that moulds to your hip and opens in a second. A working photographer's bag.

For bigger kits

Wotancraft Pilot 7L

Room for extra lenses and a tablet, a wraparound weather flap and a magnetic buckle.

For flight days

Alpaka Flight Satchel

A 570 g Melbourne-designed travel bag with a laptop sleeve that rides on your suitcase handle.

Side by side

Bag	Best for	Camera space	Empty weight	Weather	Looks like
AEST Capture Large	City days, cafés	Body + 2 lenses	1.2 kg	Not weatherproof	A leather handbag
Leica M Combination Bag by Billingham	A rangefinder or compact, all day	2 M bodies, or 1 body + 3 lenses	0.7 kg	Waterproof fabric	A small satchel
Billingham Hadley Pro	Travel days, fuller kits	Body + 2–4 lenses	1.23 kg	Waterproof fabric	A heritage satchel
Domke F-3X	Shooting days	Body + 2–3 lenses	about 1 kg	Water-resistant canvas	A work bag
Wotancraft Pilot 7L	Bigger kits, wild weather	Body + 2–3 lenses + tablet	0.77 kg	Water-repellent, wraparound flap	A utility messenger
Alpaka Flight Satchel	Flights, editing days	Body + lens in a padded wrap	0.57 kg	Water-resistant zips	A laptop satchel

Which one when

One for the plane, one for the streets

A setup that works well on a trip is two bags: the Alpaka Flight Satchel on the plane, with your laptop and documents, and a camera bag for shooting days once you arrive. Choose the AEST for stylish city days, a Billingham when the weather is unsettled, the Domke for long shooting days, and the Wotancraft when you're taking more lenses.

The packing list builder suggests one of these for your trip and checks the total weight.