After doing lots of re-search and comparing, I came up with a list of the Top 5 Photography Backpacks for Under $100 bucks. With so many bags to chose from these days it can be totally over whelming to find one and actually be happy with it. I know the last time I purchased a bag a did research for weeks, and still wasn’t 100% happy with what I got 
A Photography backpack really needs to be comfortable and fit all the stuff you need. Some of us don’t mind the weight of carrying equipment, but speaking from experience the weight can wear on you fast. Especially when hiking hills. Water resistance may or may not be important to you? Everyone’s needs are different, so I tried to cover some range with these 5 bags. Each being a solid bag with something unique to offer. I also know that budgets are tighter than ever this year and there are some really great camera backpacks out there for under $100 bucks
The bags that I chose are the:
- Lowepro Fastpack 100 Backpack (Black
- Canon Deluxe Backpack 200EG
- Tenba Shootout Sling Bag, Medium (Black)
- Lowepro Flipside 300 Backpack (Black)
- Tamrac 3370 Aero 70 Photo Backpack (Black).
# 1 – Lowepro Fastpack 100 Backpack
The Lowepro Fastpack 100 Backpack (Black) is a lightweight, comfortable pack made to carry a digital SLR camera, lenses, flash and accessories. It is made from a tough, water-resistant 420 denier nylon outer fabric that protects the equipment from moisture and abrasion. There are side-entry compartments that provide fast access to the 
equipment. Customize the easy-to-access main compartment with adjustable dividers. It has an ergonomic backpack harness, and a carry strap on the top.
- Tough, water-resistant 420 denier nylon backpack protects digital photo equipment from moisture and abrasion
- Side entry camera compartment provides easy access to equipment and accessories
- 180° access panel allows you to easily work from the bag while wearing it
- Adjustable dividers provide protection, and a customized fit that’s easy to load
- Security flap provides additional protection to outer compartments
- Pockets
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- Outer accessory pockets with fast access to large accessories
- Harness pocket for quick access to MP3 player or mobile phone
- Mesh side pocket keeps a water bottle or other personal items readily accessible
- Built-in memory card holder
- Uses attachment loops for optional SlipLock add-on accessories
- Carrying Options
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- Air mesh padded backpack harness provides enhanced comfort, moisture wicking and ergonomic support
- Carry strap
#2 – Canon Deluxe Backpack 200 EG
The Canon Deluxe Backpack 200EG is a water resistant back pack made to hold 1-2 Canon digital SLR cameras with 3-4 lenses, flash and accessories. It has a carry handle and detachable strap. There are front and side pockets for accessories and tripod straps on the bottom of the backpack.
- Water resistant nylon backpack
- Lash tabs with straps on the sides to hold clothing or various other lightweight items
- Keyring retainer inside exterior’s main pocket
- Comfortable waist strap, sternum strap & wicked mesh backing
- Tripod straps on the bottom of the back pack.
- Pockets
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- Zippered full size front pocket with external flap zippered pocket
- Two gusseted side pockets with Touch Fastener closures
- Compatible with;
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- Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, EOS Digital Rebel XT EF-S 18-55mm Kit (Silver)
- Canon EOS 20D, EOS 20D EF-S 18-55mm Kit
- Canon EOS 5D digital camera
- Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, EOS-1Ds Mark II digital camera
- Click Here for list of current cameras
#3 – Tenba Shootout Sling Bag, Medium
The Tenba Shootout Sling Bag, Medium (Black) is a water-resistant ripstop nylon bag that can be converted from a quick-draw shooting bag to a long lens bag. It has movable padded divider walls within the bag that allow the “quick-draw” compartment to be fitted precisely to the main camera/lens combination, and also create additional spaces for extra bodies, lenses and accessories. These walls can be completely removed, turning the sling into a vertically-oriented long lens bag. In this configuration the camera with lens is loaded straight down through the bag via the large top door. This bag can carry 1-2 digital SLR camera bodies with 3-4 lenses, flash and accessories or a digital SLR camera with long lens up to 400mm 2.8 attached.
The sling bag is carried on the back with a single, contoured padded cross-chest strap. This allows it to be swung around in front of the photographer, providing access to a camera with mounted lens, for fast shooting right out of the bag. It has a full-access back panel that can be opened to fully expose the interior for setup, loading and cleaning. The bag uses weather-sealed YKK zippers on all outside openings.
- Water-resistant dobby/diamond ripstop nylon bag made to carry a D-SLR digital camera and accessories
- Quick-draw compartment with removable padded divider walls
- Pockets
- Full-access back panel that can be opened to fully expose the interior for setup, loading and cleaning
- Weather-sealed YKK zippers on all outside openings
- Auxiliary security strap
- Monopod straps
- Fast-deploying WeatherWrap rain cover for protection
- Protective rubber bottom treads
- Carrying options
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- Carrying handle
- Single, contoured and padded cross-chest strap
#4 – Lowepro Flipside 300 Backpack
The Lowepro Flipside 300 Backpack (Black) is a tough, 600 denier water-resistant, polyester backpack that protects digital photo equipment against moisture and abrasion. The back compartment entry gives safe, easy access to camera gear, plus extra security. The outer storage pocket holds digital accessories and personal items, and the removable accessory pouch holds cables, chargers, manuals and other key accessories. It is carried by a backpack harness with a detachable waist belt. There is an adjustable sternum strap for comfort.
- Tough, 600 denier water-resistant, polyester backpack that protects equipment against moisture and abrasion
- Back entry compartment provides easy access to equipment, as well as extra security when pack is being worn
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Pockets -
- Outer storage pockets centralize digital accessories and personal gear for handy access
- Removable accessory pouch holds cables, chargers, manuals and other key accessories
- Mesh side pocket keeps a water bottle or other personal items readily accessible
- Uses attachment loops for optional SlipLock add-on accessories
- Hideaway tripod holder carries a compact tripod or monopod
- Carrying Options
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- Backpack harness
- Detachable waist belt
- Adjustable sternum strap
#5 – Tamrac 3370 Aero 70 Photo Backpack
The Tamrac 3370 Aero 70 Photo Backpack (Black) is a ballistic nylon, fully functional camera bag, daypack and computer bag in one convenient backpack. The main compartment is completely foam-padded to protect a pro digital SLR camera body with a grip and attached 4.0″ lens, 1-2 additional lenses, and accessories. The top compartment holds a book, lunch or other necessary personal items. The backpack is made from ballistic nylon with ProTek trim and adjustable, foam-padded dividers. There is a weather flap that provides protection from rain and bad weather.
The Aero 70 backpack has a zippered pocket inside the compartment flap to organizes filters, memory cards, and other accessories, a front mesh pocket, 2 mesh side pockets that provide quick access to accessories and water bottles and a mesh pocket on the inside of the flap entrance for small accessories. There are 2 lash tabs on the bottom that allow a tripod to be carried; requires optional accessory straps, Model S-113. The harness has S.A.S. (Strap Accessory System) attachment points for adding accessories. It is carried by a top handle and a foam-padded, contoured backpack harness that evenly distributes the weight.
- Construction
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- Ballistic nylon exterior with ProTek trim
- Foam padded interior
- Adjustable, foam-padded dividers
- Weather flap provides protection
- Double zippers with pulls closure
- Compartments
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- Foam-padded lower compartment protects photo equipment with foam pillars that support the camera with lens attached
- Top compartment holds a book, lunch or other necessary personal items
- Pockets
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- Zippered pocket inside compartment flap to organizes filters, memory cards, and other accessories
- Front mesh pocket
- Two mesh side pockets provide quick access to accessories and water bottles
- Mesh pocket on the inside of flap entrance for small accessories
- Two lash tabs on the bottom allow a tripod to be carried; requires optional accessory straps, Model S-113
- S.A.S. (Strap Accessory System) has attachment points for adding accessories
- Carrying options
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- Carrying handle
- Foam-padded, contoured backpack harness evenly distributes the weight
Other Bags worth mentioning, but didn’t make my Top 5 list:
Kata 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, MediumThe Kata 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium is designed to fit a digital SLR camera with a mid-range zoom lens attached, 3-4 extra lenses and accessories. It uses TST RIB structural protection for the equipment. The pack has three carrying options in one; changing from sling to “X” position to backpack and back again. It is fast and easy by using the quick release buckles. The bottom main compartment of the pack holds equipment and uses the modular dividers to custom fit the bag. The large top compartment will hold personal gear or additional gear, and it has internal pockets and a MP3 player pouch.
Two external zippered pockets allow quick access to accessories without opening the main compartments. In sling position, the bag easily swings around from back to front to achieve quick draw access to the main camera and extras lenses. In backpack position and “X” position, the equipment can be comfortably carried for long distances. The included chest belt and balancing hip strap help take the load of heavy equipment off the shoulders. The included rain cover folds neatly away into an integrated pocket and can be hung out to dry on the small buckle next to the handle, or tucked away for storage in one of the pockets.
Lowepro CompuDaypack
The Lowepro CompuDaypack (Slate Gray) is a lightweight yet spacious backpack made to carry and protect a 17″ notebook computer and files and a digital SLR camera with a lens attached (up to a 105mm f/2.8), plus 2-3 additional lenses, flash and accessories. The pack is made from water-resistant 840 and 600 denier ripstop nylon with high-density, closed-cell foam interior. There is a padded rear notebook computer compartment that protects the computer against sudden impacts, a padded camera compartment with adjustable dividers that protects the camera body and lenses from impact and a top accessory compartment that provides quick, organized access to personal and digital accessories. A No Drop gusset keeps the backpack upright.
The CompuDaypack has an audio player pocket on the front that provides quick access and LCD screen protection for an iPod or similar size audio players. There are also a see-through laminated-mesh pockets that easily locate accessories without opening a pocket, an organizer pockets in the top compartment, quick access side pockets and a large accessory pocket in the front flap. A headphone port provides both headphone cord management and audio player protection while in use. The pack Uses attachment loops for optional SlipLock add-on accessories. It is carried by a padded carrying handle or a contoured, shoulder harness with DryFlo that provides ergonomic comfort and support with breathable back and shoulder pads.
Lowepro Fastpack 250 Backpack (Black)
The Lowepro Fastpack 250 Backpack (Black) is a lightweight, comfortable pack made to carry a digital SLR camera, lenses, flash, accessories and a laptop computer with a screen up to 15.4″. It is made from a tough, water-resistant 420 denier nylon outer fabric that protects the equipment from moisture and abrasion. Side-entry compartments provide fast access to the equipment. Customize the easy-to-access main compartment with adjustable dividers. It has an ergonomic backpack harness, and a carry strap on the top.
I recently purchased the Flipside 300 and though it’s able to hold my Canon 7D, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, you will have to keep the 70-200mm attached to the camera body (as shown on the photo with the Flipside in this review).
So if you’ve been taking pictures with another lens and you want to store away your camera, you will have to put the 70-200mm lens back on again.
Also, the bag isn’t really suited to keep the lens hoods with the lenses. I *am* able to stuff it all in there with the exception of the lens hood for the 70-200mm, but it’s a tight fit. Too tight to be walking around comfortably.
I do like the bag by the way
. It’s made from nice material, is easy to carry and slim (every downside has its upside?). I bought it primarily to keep my gear protected from unwanted access when I’m walking around cities. And in reality I keep my 70-200mm in its own bag that came with it and then the bag offers enough space. However, if I had known in advance I would have probably bought another one.
Thanks for your comments and addition Hands on Input
We all greatly appreciate you sharing your experience with the Flipside 300.