The Complete Guide to Packing Camera Gear for Photography Expeditions

The Philosophy: Protection vs. Accessibility vs. Weight

Every packing decision involves trade-offs:

Protection: Fragile equipment must survive baggage handling, weather, and adventure
Accessibility: Gear you can’t reach quickly is gear you won’t use
Weight: Every kilogram matters on long hikes and airline restrictions

Choosing the Right Bag System

Camera Backpacks

Best For: Day hikes, all-in-one travel
Examples: Peak Design Travel Backpack, F-Stop Ajna, Lowepro ProTactic

Pros:
- Purpose-built organization
- Integrated rain covers
- Quick-access side panels

Cons:
- Obvious camera bag (theft target)
- Often uncomfortable for long hikes
- Limited expansion

Internal Camera Units (ICUs) in Regular Bags

Best For: Security-conscious travel, multi-day treks
Examples: F-Stop ICU, Shimoda Core Units, Peak Design Camera Cubes

Pros:
- Regular bag appearance (security)
- Choose hiking comfort separately
- Mix camera/personal gear

Cons:
- Less organized than dedicated bags
- ICU doesn’t conform to all bags

The Hybrid Approach (Recommended)

• Quality hiking pack for trek days
• ICU insert for camera protection
• Small shoulder bag for quick-access in vehicles

Packing Strategies

The Layer Approach

Bottom Layer (least accessible):
- Spare batteries
- Chargers and cables
- Filter cases
- Backup memory cards

Middle Layer:
- Secondary lenses
- Drone (if carrying)
- Weather protection gear

Top Layer (most accessible):
- Primary camera body with lens attached
- Current shooting filters
- Cleaning supplies

Lens Organization

Strategy: Pack with rear caps toward center
- Dividers between each lens
- Heaviest glass against your back
- Front caps easily removable

Using Soft Wraps vs. Hard Cases

Soft Wraps (Domke, Peak Design):
- Lighter weight
- Conforms to spaces
- Adequate protection for padded bags

Hard Cases (Pelican, Nanuk):
- Checked luggage protection
- Extreme environment survival
- Heavier, bulkier

Air Travel Essentials

Carry-On Policies

Never check irreplaceable equipment. Know airline limits:

Budget Carriers Warning: Strict enforcement. Weigh and measure before airport.

Lithium Battery Regulations

MUST be in carry-on:
- All lithium-ion batteries
- Camera batteries
- Drone batteries
- Power banks

Checked baggage prohibition: Spare lithium batteries are banned in checked luggage.

Quantity Limits:
- Under 100Wh: No limit (most camera batteries)
- 100-160Wh: 2 per passenger (large drone batteries)
- Over 160Wh: Prohibited

Security Checkpoint Procedures

TSA PreCheck/Global Entry: Equipment stays in bag
Standard Screening: May need to remove camera bodies

Pro Tip: Open bag for screeners before requested. Shows cooperation, speeds process.

Protection Against Elements

Humidity and Moisture

Silica Gel Packets:
- Include 2-3 in camera bag
- Replace when color indicates saturation
- Especially important in tropical destinations

Camera Rain Covers:
- Purpose-built covers (Peak Design Shell)
- Emergency: Plastic bag with hole for lens
- Dry bags for extreme water exposure

Cold Weather

Condensation Prevention:
1. Place camera in plastic bag before entering warm space
2. Seal bag completely
3. Allow 30+ minutes to equalize temperature
4. Open bag only when warm

Battery Warmth:
- Carry spares in inside pocket
- Rotate cold battery to body warmth
- Expect 50% capacity in extreme cold

Dust and Sand

Desert Environment Protection:
- Change lenses inside tent/vehicle only
- Rear cap on lens immediately upon removal
- Lens cloth over camera when not shooting
- Sensor cleaning after sandy environments

Security Measures

AirTags and GPS Trackers

In Checked Bags (if any equipment checked):
- AirTag in each checked bag
- Know limits: AirTag battery is lithium but under threshold

Limitation: AirTags help locate stolen gear but rarely recover it

TSA-Approved Locks

For checked bags with non-essential equipment:
- TSA can open without destroying lock
- Limited deterrent value
- Better than nothing

Travel Insurance

Essential Coverage:
- Equipment theft and damage
- Trip interruption (if equipment stolen)
- Rental replacement coverage

Providers:
- TCP (Travel Camera Protection)
- Hill & Usher
- Lloyds of London policies

Documentation: Maintain serial numbers and photos of all gear.

Memory Cards and Backup

The 3-2-1 Rule

• 3 copies of every image
• 2 different media types
• 1 copy offsite/separate location

Field Backup Strategy

Minimum:
- Dual card slots in camera (mirror mode)
- Daily backup to laptop or portable drive
- Never keep all cards together

Premium:
- Dual SD backup to separate drives
- Cloud upload when WiFi available
- Gnarbox or similar field backup device

The Minimal vs. Comprehensive Kit

Minimal Expedition Kit

• 1 camera body
• 24-105mm or 24-70mm zoom
• 5 batteries
• Tripod (travel size)
• Filter kit
• Cleaning supplies

Weight: ~4-5 kg
Best For: Multi-day treks, weight-critical travel

Comprehensive Expedition Kit

• 2 camera bodies
• 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm lenses
• Specialty lens (macro or super-tele)
• 8-10 batteries
• Full-size tripod
• Drone with batteries
• Complete filter system
• Laptop and drives

Weight: ~15-18 kg
Best For: Vehicle-supported expeditions, professional assignments

Printable Packing Checklist

Camera Gear

• [ ] Camera body (+ backup)
• [ ] Primary zoom lens
• [ ] Wide-angle lens
• [ ] Telephoto lens
• [ ] Lens caps (front and rear)
• [ ] Batteries (charged)
• [ ] Battery charger
• [ ] Memory cards (formatted)
• [ ] Card wallet

Support

• [ ] Tripod
• [ ] Tripod plate (verify attached!)
• [ ] Quick-release plates (spares)
• [ ] Remote release/intervalometer
• [ ] Bean bag (drone/vehicle work)

Filters

• [ ] Polarizer
• [ ] ND filters (3, 6, 10 stop)
• [ ] Graduated NDs
• [ ] Filter holder and rings

Protection

• [ ] Rain cover
• [ ] Microfiber cloths (3+)
• [ ] Sensor cleaning kit
• [ ] Silica gel packets
• [ ] Plastic bags (emergency protection)

Electronics

• [ ] Laptop
• [ ] Portable drive (2x)
• [ ] Card reader
• [ ] International adapters
• [ ] Power strip
• [ ] USB cables

Documentation

• [ ] Gear list with serial numbers
• [ ] Insurance documents
• [ ] Drone registration
• [ ] Permits (if required)

Conclusion

Effective packing is a learned skill. Start with comprehensive checklists, adapt to your shooting style, and develop systems through experience. The goal: arrive ready to shoot without equipment failures or security problems.