Photography and hiking – Tips to make carrying your equipment easier

I often get asked how I manage to carry my camera equipment when hiking, especially for overnight/multi-day trips. Unfortunately, no matter what you do, your bag is likely going to be heavier than most hikers, but I have found a few tricks along the way that I find helpful.

Pick and Choose

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to take every piece of equipment you usually have in your camera bag. I find choosing which lens(es) is the hardest decision to make when it comes to gear. Rather than prime lenses, go for those zoom lenses. They’ll give you more variety of focal length without having to bring as many lenses. My go to is usually my 16-35, 24-105 at the very least, then maybe the 70-200, 100-400, depending on the trip.

The Right Bag

Having a bag that fits correctly makes a huge difference. You want something that fits your body and has good chest and hip straps to help take the weight. These days, there are bags that specialize in carrying camera gear, while hiking. My favourites are the Lowepro PhotoSport Outdoor Backpack BP 15L AW III – I use this one for smaller, single-day hikes. And the PhotoSport Backpack PRO 55L AW III – This is my overnight, multi-day bag.

Do you need a tripod?

It’s all about saving weight and a tripod is a BIG contributor to this. If I don’t have to take my tripod, I won’t. How I decide that is if I know there’s going to be running water or if I’m shooting the night sky. Basically, anything where I’ll need to use a long shutter speed. If not, I’ll leave it behind. If I do need to take one, I have a hiking specific tripod I like to use. It’s lighter than my regular tripod but still has all the functionality and stability I like. The Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO Carbon Tripod weighs 3.88 lbs and still has a 90-degree column for getting low to foregrounds.

The Clip

Sometimes, digging through your pack for your camera repeatedly can get annoying and even cost you the shot if you’re not ready! I like to hike with my camera mounted on my chest. This is more convenient but also helps to get some of the weight off your back. I use the Peak Design Capture Clip, which clips onto the shoulder strap of my bag.

Water

Water is surprisingly heavy and can easily add up to most of your pack weight. I like to bring a water filter with me on the trail so I don’t need to carry as much. That way when I find a stream, I can filter the water and top up my supply. I also avoid carrying heavy bottles and prefer to use a hydration reservoir. I use a 2L and only fill it up as much as I need.

Accessories

It’s easy to throw in your usual camera accessories but they quickly add up in weight. Try to limit the amount you bring. For example, It’s great to have spare batteries but do you need 3 for a day trip? I usually carry the bare minimum for batteries, memory cards and filters.

Poles

They aren’t just for old people and bad knees. Having poles while hiking with a heavy bag on is a game-changer! It can make the difference between making it that extra 5km to the viewpoint and whether you can carry that extra lense or not.

The other stuff

Clothing layers, food, rain gear, poles, headlamp, tent. You still need to leave space for the basic necessities right? You don’t want to sacrifice safety for camera gear, but you may need to leave some luxuries behind occasionally. My clothes double as my pillow, I bring only one set of the clothes I need to stay warm, no spares, I have upgraded some of my gear for lighter versions to save a few pounds and anything in a plastic bottle, container, wrapping goes in one ziplock bag. Every gram counts!

At the end of the day, you don’t want to injure yourself so it’s important to know your limits and build up your fitness and strength. It’s all about the experience first and making sure you enjoy your time outdoors!

Happy Hiking,

Kahli

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