How To Travel With Camera Gear Safely
For many people travel is a time when they let their guard down and relax because after all they are on holiday right? Only yesterday I was talking to a friend who was telling me about getting pick pocketed on her last trip. On my last trip, I also had a moment where my heart stopped for a second (more on this later).
It is one thing losing your phone or wallet but now add very expensive camera gear into the mix and it really can ruin your trip… especially if it’s a photography one. Therefore in this blog I will share with you some suggestions and ideas on how to travel better with camera gear to minimise the chances of damage and theft.
Pack Light
The first tip is the obvious one but pack light and only bring what you really think you will need. This applies to the trip in general as well as individual days out. No matter how careful one is, things can happen so it’s wise to have less on you in the first place. This will also make your bag lighter and your gear decision making more efficient. I know it is tempting to bring all the lenses just in case, but this is where less really is more.
Avoid Camera Bags
I’ve mentioned this before in an old video and about a year later purchased a Peak Design bag because I love contradicting myself. Anyway fast forward 6 months and while I was chilling in a cafe, a guy approached me and asked what camera I am using and if there are any good photo spots in the area. I was surprised because my camera was in the bag and after giving him some tips, asked how he knew I was a photographer. He replied, oh it’s easy…. Peak Design bag. Couple that with another ‘event’ that I will discuss soon, and I got rid of that and moved over to another non camera brand. My current approach is to have a generic non camera bag and a camera cube. That way you do not look like a photographer. If I was a thief targeting photographers (easy targets) then I would just learn the most common camera bag brands and go for them.
Keep It Inside
An even bigger way to attract the wrong type of attention is to have some of your camera gear strapped to the outside of your bag. The most common being tripods sticking out of the water bottle pocket. Of course I understand for some people they are required and many won’t fit inside the bag. However I personally have a small travel tripod that I made sure fit inside any of my bags. I hate having anything strapped on the outside as it makes everything more awkward and makes you an easy target.
Removable Camera Cube
So here is the story I alluded to earlier on. At the time I had the 15L Peak Design Zip with all the fancy dividers and internal shelves. I was going through an airport and they requested I open the bag and show all my camera gear before running it through the scanner again. However they also insisted that they open the bag and not me. As the security guy (who was having a very bad day) began to unzip it, you could see the lenses were starting to slide out. Of course he didn’t care and somehow nothing fell out. I then got my bag back with the lenses scattered in the tray and the bag all taken apart. It was a mess and how nothing got stolen or damaged was a miracle. From that point I ditched that system and went with a simple camera cube. That way if I need to do this again, I can just open the cube and send it through without the worry of things falling out. Finally if for whatever reason you can’t use your backpack (it ripped or you had to check it in), then you can take the cube out and just carry it by the handle.
Keep It With You
This is common sense but all your camera gear should be carried on to a flight and not checked in. However I would also suggest that your camera cube or small camera bag is kept under the seat in front of you and not in the overhead storage. I’ve lost count of how many times someone opened the storage and a bag fell out. Or someone careless was pulling their bag out and dragged something else with it. Equally if the storage above your seat is full, you would more than likely need to place it in one further back. This means you can’t see if anyone goes near it.
Sling > Backpack
This is specific to cities and any crowded locations. If you’re in the wilderness or somewhere quiet, a backpack is generally better for your neck, back and overall comfort. However in a city, I would always try to use a sling as opposed to a backpack for the simple reason that you can have it either to your side or in front of you. If I am moving through a particularly busy spot, I will slide it round to the front and keep one hand over the zips. I have never been pick pocketed (touch wood) and I partly attribute the sling to it. The two additional benefits are a sweat free back and an easier time swapping lenses in a hurry as you can simply have the sling in front of you acting like a mini table without needing to take it off and mess around.
Strap
This is obvious but a neck strap or a wrist strap is essential. Personally I prefer a wrist strap due to the smaller footprint but it is up to you. Nothing else to be said here.
Taping Up Logos
This is something I don’t personally do but I heard of many photographers taping up the camera logos. How effective this is I am not sure as it’s hard to measure however I can see the logic and might do the same for my next trip.
Put It Away
If you’re ever in doubt, put it away and get out. Your gut feeling is pretty accurate. If something doesn’t feel right, just put the camera away. This is also why I have stopped wearing my camera on a cross body sling without a bag to put it in.
Tag It
Always throw in a small tag into your camera cube, bag and sling. I use Apple AirTags but any would do. Should the worst happen, at least you can show the police where it is. The chances of getting anything back are slim but still better than nothing.
I am sure there are many more little tips and ideas however the above has served me well over the years. In general common sense and a good degree of social awareness will take you far. Thanks for reading!