7 Tips For Packing Your Photo Gear On Long Hikes

There’s something so satisfying in hiking to a location and capturing that one amazing shot. The long walk, the tiredness, the cold and wet all become worth it. But while it might seem pretty straightforward for hikers as to what they need to pack, as a photographer there are more things to consider. For one, you will have much more equipment to carry. Not to mention the fact that you will be under a time constraint to get to your location at a specific time. So you may need to ensure you have things for potentially walking in the dark like a torch. All of this means you need to plan your hike carefully and also what to pack. To help you here are 7 tips on packing your photo gear on long hikes.

Pack what you need

This first tip is arguably the most important. What you pack is clearly very important for any photographic situation, but even more so when you are potentially going to be walking for hours before getting to your location. Because if you forget something there is no going back to get it in time for the shoot. So while I always advise people to only pack what you need, on long hikes I would advise you to be a bit more cautious and pack everything you think you may need.

For example, you may be thinking that you won’t need your telephoto lens for the shoot as you are primarily shooting landscapes. But what if you suddenly spot wildlife that you want to photograph? Obviously, there needs to be a balancing act as you don’t want to be pulling a cart worth of camera gear behind you. So plan your shoot carefully and make a list of what camera equipment you may need.

Get a good camera backpack

Like any type of photography equipment, there is a whole range of backpacks for camera gear. There are cheap ones and expensive ones. It might be tempting to go for a cheap and small backpack which will serve you well in a city. But on long hikes, your backpack is so important. Not just for keeping your equipment safe and dry if there is rain, but also for you to walk comfortably with all that weight on your back. On long hikes, you may need a much bigger bag than in a city for example. Even if you are not planning on camping overnight, you will still need room for some food in your bag warm/waterproof layers as well as your camera equipment.

You may also want to look for a bag with space for a water reservoir. This will allow you to have a drink without having to take your backpack off all the time.

Heavy stuff at the top

If you are taking multiple lenses or more camera bodies, try to pack your heavier lenses near the top of the bag. Ideally, these should be close to your body and between your shoulder blades. This will help with the weight distribution and make for a more comfortable backpack to carry. But of course, if your backpack doesn’t fully open, you don’t want to have something that might be essential like a first aid kit right at the very bottom of the bag. So keep heavy stuff near the top and essential things in pockets in the sides that are easily accessible.

Pack your camera in a top loader

This is something that I learned with experience. Rather than packing my camera in my main backpack, on long hikes, I carry it in a top loader bag. The reason is that once I have my backpack on and all of the straps tightened and clipped in, I don’t want to have to keep taking my bag off if I want to take a photo. In a city, I would normally just have my camera out over my shoulder. But on hikes where often I may be walking over slippery grounds and just for comfort it is easier to have both arms free. It also means if there is a sudden downpour or a break in the weather I can quickly get my camera out of my bag. This will also give you a bit more room in your main camera bag for extra equipment or even some other essential items like a first aid kit.

Strap your tripod to your bag securely

Most long hikes culminate in a landscape shoot which will require a tripod. So you will need to take one with you. If you took note of the tip earlier about camera bags then that will make things a lot easier if you have a backpack that you can strap your tripod onto. The way you strap your tripod to your bag is important. Try to strap it to the middle of the bag rather than the sides so that the weight evenly distributed. You don’t want a backpack that’s heavier on one side. Also, be aware of height, or in other words how much your tripod extends over the top of your bag. If possible try to strap your tripod so that the top of it isn’t higher than the top of your camera bag. The last thing you want to happen is for it to get caught when you are ducking under branches. Make sure that your tripod is strapped tightly in multiple places to stop it swinging from side to side.

Have a rain cover to hand

It’s a good idea to have a bag that can withstand some rainfall. Some camera bags also come with a rain cover stuffed somewhere (usually under the bag). If the weather forecast says there is a chance of rain, I put the cover on before I start my walk. Keep in mind that if you put a cover on you may not be able to strap your tripod to your bag. So I have cut small slits in the cover that I can feed the straps through and secure the tripod. If your camera bag doesn’t come with a rain cover, make sure whatever you are going to be using is accessible quickly in a side pocket. In other words, don’t put it somewhere which will mean having to get all your stuff out when it’s lashing down with rain.

Know where everything is

Try to pack things in the same place over and over so that instinctively you know where everything is. When it’s dark, you don’t want to be checking every nook and cranny to find the spare battery that you packed away. Try to keep things like a torch, a cloth, batteries and spare memory cards somewhere that you can easily access without having to open your entire backpack.

Everyone will have their own way of packing their camera equipment on long hikes. Over time and through experience, you will pick up your own bits of knowledge. In the meantime, the tips above will hopefully help you when packing your camera equipment on long hikes.

Photo credits: Kav Dadfar – All rights reserved. No usage without permission.