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The original was posted on /r/Ultralight by /u/LeichtmutGear on 2024-11-08 12:16:16+00:00.

TL;DR: I’ve created ultralight camera bags that offer full weather protection with a rolltop design while maintaining quick and easy access using a magnetic “quick-flip” system. These bags aim to be the lightest fully protected solution for hikers who bring their cameras on the trail—starting at 28g for compact cameras like the Sony RX100, 63g for DSLR/mirrorless cameras, and 180g for larger setups with multiple lenses. They’re made from Ultra fabric, use Evazote EV50 padding, and feature DCF as an inner liner.

Pictures over here!

Note: This topic has been approved by the mods. I had to pick a flair and figured “gear review” fits best. Although I am obviously biased since I create these bags. :)

Hey everyone! 👋

Of course, the lightest camera is the one you don’t bring at all …

… but for those like me, who travel ultralight but also carry their camera on the trail, I’ve created a set of ultralight camera bags! I developed them for myself through an MYOG journey over the past few years, and now I hope they offer a lightweight way for other ultralight photographers to carry their gear, keeping it fully protected yet quickly accessible. 😊

I’ve come up with three models to suit different camera setups:

1. The Scout (28g): Designed for compact cameras like the Sony RX100 and Ricoh GR series. It’s minimalistic, with 4mm padding for protection and bag rigidity. Comes with 4 small mitten clips to attach to your backpack, which can be clipped together in pairs to create “sleeves” for your shoulder straps. I’m planning to experiment with 2mm padding to shave off a few more grams.
2. The Ranger (63g for small, 76g for large): This is the standard version for mirrorless or DSLR cameras with a lens attached. Lighter than typical shoulder strap camera clips (which also require additional tripod plates), it offers both protection and quick access. This also uses 4mm padding and comes with two carabiners to clip onto your backpack.
3. The Roamer (180g for small, 200g for large): Designed for larger setups with multiple lenses. The increased weight comes from 8mm padding for added protection and rigidity, plus internal dividers to keep things organized. For the gear it carries and the protection it offers, it’s still super light!

… of course, fixed sizes are not perfect for everyone and may result in a tight fit or wasted space and weight. That’s why I also offer custom sizes. Also, I sew every single bag myself!

Balancing Protection and Accessibility:

One of the toughest challenges was figuring out how to make the bag both fully waterproof and quickly accessible. I wanted something that wouldn’t require me to stop and take off my pack to get to my camera but also wouldn’t leave my gear exposed to the elements. I chose against zippers to both save weight and eliminate potential failure points.

I ended up combining a rolltop design with a magnetic system to grant both constant protection and quick access:

• Rolltop Protection: The bag functions like a dry bag for your camera. The rolltop closure and taped seams keep out rain, dust, and whatever else the trail throws at you.
• Quick Access: Once you clip the bag to your backpack, you only need to unroll the rolltop once. Then, flip down the lid to the body, where it’s held in place by magnets. This allows you to quickly access the camera simply by flipping up the lid—no zippers or buckles to fuss with. With the lid secured by magnets, the bag offers sufficient protection from light rain and dust.
• Full Protection When Needed: If the weather takes a turn for the worse, you can quickly roll the top back up for complete waterproofing (designed for three rolls).

Materials and Construction:

• Fabric: I use Ultra fabrics to keep the bags ultralight, durable and waterproof. The Roamer uses Ultra 200 X. This version is a little to stiff for the smaller rolltops of the Scout and Ranger, so they currently use regular Ultra 200. But I intend to upgrade to Ultra 100X with my next fabric order.
• Seam Design: The bags are designed with as few seams as possible to simplify waterproofing. This also means the internal padding is not sewn in, as those seams would be tough to seal. Instead, an internal padding box is taped in with a DCF liner.
• Padding: For padding, I use Evazote EV50, which is pretty good at offering protection and maintaining its shape. I use 4mm for the Scout and Ranger, 8mm for the Roamer. This results in a fair balance between protection and weight. I’m planning to test thinner padding in the Scout.
• Inner Lining: The padding is lined with DCF because cameras often have rubber elements that tend to stick to open foam.
• Dividers (Roamer): The Roamer (largest version) is additionally lined with velcro-receptive fabric on the large panels. This allows you to flexibly install the dividers to separate your gear.

Flexible Attachment Options:

As is typical for toploaders, the bags have multiple attachment points, so you can adjust how and where you carry them. I usually attach mine between my shoulder straps, which keeps the camera stable and easily accessible. It also helps distribute the weight evenly. You can also attach them to your hip belt or anywhere else on your backpack.

When climbing, jumping, etc., the bags may swing a little if attached at the highest attachment point. This is why I install attachment points along the full height; just going down one step already reduces swing. You could also use additional straps to secure the lower points and fully eliminate swing.

Pictures!

I’ve put together some photos here.

If you’re interested in more specifics, you can check out my website: www.leichtmut.de

I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or any suggestions you might have! I’m just starting out, and appreciate any feedback :)