Shooting on location, especially when in exotic lands, can be exciting but also cumbersome. The challenges of moving from the comfort of your studio are many, not least of which are deciding what gear to take and how to get it all from point A to B. We’ve put together a list of portable photo gear for you to consider when assignments take you on the road.

Portable Photo Gear for On Location Shoots

Portable Photo Gear: Elinchrom ELB 400

This compact but powerful portable flash system comes in four different configurations and offers a number of features that makes working on location a breeze. The Elinchrom 424 W/s ELB 400’s battery pack measures 7.3 x 6 x 3.3 inches, weighs a mere 4.4 pounds, and can output up to 350 full power flashes on a single charge. Switch to the lowest power setting and this little battery can crank out between 5,500 and 6,000 flashes (Fast Recycle and Eco modes, respectively). An integrated EL Skyport transceiver adds convenience to the setup, as does its OLED display for quick access to the ELB 400’s options, including the new Strobo, Sequence and Delayed flash functions.
Price: TBD

Nexto DI Backup ND 2901

While backing up files to an external hard drive may be faster, there are few options as convenient as the Nexto DI Backup ND 2901. This portable memory card backup device comes with CompactFlash and SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots and a 1.44-inch color LCD for accessing menus and previewing images. With 90 minutes of battery life, it’s also versatile, having the ability to directly sync data to an external USB drive for an extra backup copy. The cross-platform compatible drive is available in 500GB, 750GB and 1TB capacities and measures an easily portable 5 x 3 x 0.9 inches.
Prices: $430-$500

Think Tank Photo Production Manager 40

With room for up to three to four flash heads, two or three power packs and monoblocks (plus necessary cables and accessories), there’s never a reason to leave lighting gear at home. Smaller pieces can be organized in Think Tank‘s Production Manager 40’s interior zip pockets, while medium-sized softboxes, reflectors and light modifiers go in the outside (lockable) zippered pocket. Strap lightstands and/or tripods to the outside of the 15.7 x 40 x 12.6-inch case, and you’re good to go.
Price: $549 

ExpoImaging Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro Lighting System

When you’re traveling really light, ExpoImaging’s new Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro (13.8 ounces with its own travel bag) may be the modifier kit you need to tame your speed lights. The kit contains the largest FlashBender Pro Reflector, a Pro Strip Grid Attachment and the Pro Soft Box Diffuser Attachment. The reflector is lighter and softer than its predecessors, with improved flexibility and a revamped belt and buckle, which attaches to any flash with a circumference between 8 and 9 ¾ inches. Add the new XL Pro Strip Grid with its strip diffusion panel and fabric grid to shape your light to perfection (plus, it now has a bottom panel to prevent light leaks). The kit packs neatly into the included travel bag. FlashBender 2 reflectors are also available in small and large sizes.
Prices: $100 (Pro Lighting System); $35/$50 (small reflector/with softbox modifier); $40/$65 (large reflector/with softbox modifier)

Tenba Transport Air Case Attache

Tough enough to meet—or exceed—ATA (Air Transport Association) shipping standards, Tenba’s wheel-equipped Transport Air Cases will withstand even the harshest handling en route to your destination. Although available in a variety of sizes, the large model, which measures 21 x 17 x 9 inches (exterior), is ideal for shipping a full complement of camera gear, a small lighting kit or a 27-inch iMac. Even with its specially-designed rigid frame construction, the case is relatively lightweight at 14.3 pounds. Interior walls are lined and reinforced, and the padded dividers can be customized to protect whatever gear you pack.
Price: $567

Profoto B2

Following the success of the Profoto B1, the company recently released the B2—a smaller, cordless off- or on-camera flash. The heads are small and light enough to mount on a camera bracket or on a light stand. Unlike the B1, the B2 requires an external battery pack, but that’s a small trade-off when you consider the generator measures only 6.3 x 3.1 x 6.7 inches, weighs 3.5 pounds and fires up to 215 full-power flashes. Among its many notable features, the 250W/s B2 offers fast recycle times (1.35 seconds at full power; 0.03 seconds at lowest power), TTL metering for Canon and Nikon cameras using Profoto’s Air Remote, and flash durations as fast as 1/15,000 sec. With two available kits—the B2 To-Go and B2 Location Kit—you’ll get a battery, charger, one off-camera flash head, battery carrying bag and custom shoulder bag. The Location Kit adds two flash heads and two batteries. (See our in-depth look at the B2.)
Prices: $2,195 (B2 To-Go Kit); $2,995 (Location Kit); $395 (Air Remote)

Savage Universal Collapsible Backdrop Kit

When you bring your own backdrop to a shoot, you’re guaranteed that your location shots will have the look and feel that you want. Savage Universal’s backdrop offerings come with or without an 8-foot aluminum stand, and fold to 1/3 of their 5 x 6-foot size, neatly fitting into the supplied carrying case. Available in solid and decorative, the two-sided, non-reflective cotton backdrops complement any shoot—whether your preference is a lovely mottled pastel background (Spring Essence is pictured here) or green screen.
Prices: $149 (kit); $129 (backdrop without stand); $162 (solid collapsible backdrop, 6 x 7 feet)

LaCie Rugged 1TB SSD 

LaCie recently doubled storage capacity of its Rugged Thunderbolt SSD drive to 1TB, and with transfer speeds up to 387 MB/s, this drive is as fast as it is tough. The drive’s sealed design protects the SSD from vibrations and shock of up to a 6.6-foot drop—plus dust, dirt and water splashes. LaCie claims the drive can even be run over by a 1-ton car and survive. Its bright  orange case with tethered cable is easy to locate when you’re digging through a gear bag, and it comes with both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 interfaces. While the 1TB SSD is its newest, LaCie’s rugged Thunderbolt drives are available in both SSD and hard disk models.
Prices: $950 (1TB SSD); $500 (500GB SSD); $300 (250GB SSD); $270 (2TB hard drive); $190 (1TB hard drive)

G-Technology G-Drive ev ATC  

Protecting your precious images from water, sand, dust and drops from up to 2 meters, G-Technology’s all-terrain hard drive cases are shockproof and sealed against the elements. Granted, there are limits: the drive floats but will need to be rescued within 30 seconds from a dunk in 1 foot of water. The enclosure (which can be purchased separately) is compatible with any of the company’s Evolution Series G-Drive ev products and available with Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 connectivity. The case comes with a tethered cable, which is ideal for location shooting where accessories can easily go astray, and includes a three-year limited warranty.
Prices: $230 (1TB Thunderbolt); $180 (1TB USB 3.0); $130 (Thunderbolt case only)

FJ Westcott Omega 10-in-1 Shoot Through Reflector

Making the most of what you’ve got on location is key, and FJ Westcott’s Omega 10-in-1 Shoot Through Reflector gives you plenty of portable photo gear options (before collapsing to 14 x 14 x 2 inches for storage and transport). Not only does it include a one-stop diffusion panel throughout the frame, but you also get silver, white and sunlight reflective surfaces with a black subtractive option. Couple this with the ability to remove the center 2:3 panel to simulate beauty-dish or ring-light shooting, and you have ten discrete scenarios in which to shoot. Working with window light? No problem. Soften the natural light by positioning the diffusion panel in front of the window with the included suction cups.
Price: $120