Slings the Things The Ultimate Event Bag

Sling Bags are quickly becoming one of the most popular style of camera bags on the market. The reason is simply because photographers are discovering there is a lot more to a sling bag than meets the eye. Not only are they easy to carry, they also have ample room and are designed to provide easy access to your gear while being worn, instead of carried.

The idea of a sling bag design is to allow the photographer to get at their equipment quickly and easily, and then move it out of the way when shooting without ever having to take it off the shoulder. With this in mind, it is not surprising to hear photographers refer to sling bags as the “ideal event bag.”

With a growing number of sling bags on the market today, we’ve decided to take a look at them to see just what makes them so popular.

Domke Quick-Shot Sling Bags
Domke introduced their Quick-Shot Sling camera bags earlier this year. Currently there are two models—a Quick-Shot small and medium. The design provides a lightweight bag, but one that includes a padded interior and adjustable dividers. Quick-Shot bags are designed to distribute the weight of their contents and to stay close to the body. This makes them both comfortable to wear and easy for the photographer to move through a crowd or tight space.

An adjustable sling strap allows you to quickly move the bag from back to front in one easy motion. On top of the bag is a dual-zipper that provides instant access to your camera. Another zipper on the front allows you to open the entire face of the bag for access to all its contents. There is also a zippered pocket located in the front of the bag for carrying items such as a mobile phone, car keys or other small articles.

The Quick-Shot bags can hold a DSLR with zoom lens attached and an additional lens or flash. The Quick-Shot medium provides a bit more room, allowing you to carry an extra lens, flash and accessories. Available in Domke’s original high-quality cotton canvas or their popular brown RuggedWear waxed canvas, the bags also feature YKK Zippers.

Lowepro Slingshot
Lowepro offers several different slings bags, ranging from the their Passport Sling bag to their 300 series, the largest of which can not only carry a DSLR with 70–200mm lens attached, but also has a padded compartment that accommodates most laptops. Slingshot bags are designed for the working photojournalist and feature fast access and improved organization, space for carrying personal items and the ability to add a tripod if needed. A Lowepro AW cover is included with all SlingShot bags (except the Passport Sling) to protect the bag’s contents from inclement weather.

All SlingShot bags come with fully padded interiors and an updated divider system. The variety of styles and sizes in the SlingShot line allow the photographer to chose the bag that best fits their needs. Smaller SlingShot bags will carry a DSLR without  a grip, but with a zoom lens attached. Larger-size Slingshots will carry a larger DSLR with grip, along with several lenses, flash units and other accessories. Lowepro’s Hideaway Tripod Mount™ system is also available on larger models, allowing you to carry a tripod or monopod when needed. Additionally, Slingshot models 102, 202 and 302 have a top storage compartment for carrying a jacket, accessories or other personal items. 

All bags include memory card pockets, easy-glide zippers and a variety of zippered pockets throughout to hold a wide variety of accessories or personal items.

Tamrac Velocity Series Sling Packs
Tamrac’s Velocity Series Sling Packs are more like a low-profile backpack than a camera bag. The design allows the photographer to carry the bag as a backpack and slide it around to the front when needed. The top has a secure zippered flap that opens away from the body, providing fast and convenient access to the contents, and has a nylon pocket inside the flap for filters, etc.

Inside the main compartment are two vertical foam-padded dividers that provide support for a DSLR with lens attached. A Tuck-A-Way™ waist belt on all bags, except the 6X, allows Velocity bags to be secured when hiking or biking. Inside the front-zippered pocket are organizer pockets for personal items such as a mobile phone, MP3 player or other items. There are also memory card and battery pockets that feature Tamrac’s patented Memory & Battery Management System™ that uses red flags to identify used memory cards and batteries from ones ready for use.

All Tamrac sling packs are fully compatible with Tamrac’s Modular Accessory System™ components for added storage.

Tenba Shootout
Tenba Shootout Sling bags come in a small- and a medium-size bag. These bags are designed with a single-strap that combines the carrying comfort of a backpack and an easy means to rotate the bag to the front or back as needed. This padded sling strap features a phone/audio pouch and stowaway backup security strap. Tenba Shootout sling bags are unique in that they are designed with the ability to convert into lightweight long-lens bags for top-loading a mounted super telephoto lens (up to 300mm f/2.8) when needed.

A back panel opens the entire main compartment for easy access and cleaning. Inside the main compartment are removable and fully adjustable dividers that can be arranged as desired. A front accessory pocket provides easy and convenient access to pockets for media, note pads and other accessories.

Both Shootout Sling bags include Tenba’s exclusive WeatherWrap™ cover that can be used to protect its contents from inclement weather. Tenba Shootout medium and small are available in three color schemes: Black/Olive, Silver/Black, and Black/Black.

Think Tank Photo Sling-O-Matic
Think Tank Photo Sling-O-Matic bags are the only bags on the market with a design that allows the user to move the fully-padded shoulder strap to either side, allowing the bag to be worn on the left of right shoulder. Regardless of position or shoulder worn, Sling-O-Matic bags are designed to provide complete access to its contents when moved to the front. A “chest strap” for added stability is also included, and if preferred, it will alternate as a waist strap.

All Sling-O-Matic bags can carry a DSLR with 70–200 f/2.8 lens attached and lens hood in shooting position. In addition, the largest Sling-O-Matic 30 can also carry up to a 15.4-in. laptop in a separate, padded compartment. All bags include padded dividers that can be arranged as needed and fabric loops on the side of the bags that can be used to carry a medium-size tripod. There is a long side pocket that can carry a large water bottle or small tripod, and handles on three sides for ease of carrying and handling.

Wide-zippered pockets on front and back can hold magazines, newspapers, etc., while a small business card pocket on the top provides easy to access your business cards. There is also a small pocket on the bottom of the Sling-O-Matic designed to store any of the removable straps. A seam-sealed rain cover is provided with all Sling-O-Matic bags to protect its contents from inclement weather.

Peter Kotsinadelis is a writer/photographer living in Pleasanton, CA. He may be reached at [email protected]