6 Lightweight Camera Backpacks Recommend Think Tank, EIRMAI, TENBA, Benro, PGYTECH & HAKUBA – Which One Is Right for You?

Choosing a camera backpack is highly subjective. After years of shooting and spending well over a thousand dollars on bags, I’ve learned that every design makes different compromises. Some have movable dividers, others are fixed. Some are tall and slim, others short and wide. Some prioritize quick access, while others focus on everyday storage. In this review, we take a close look at six lightweight dual-shoulder camera backpacks, focusing on real-world pros and cons rather than just specs.

Lightweight Camera Backpacks Recommend

1. Think Tank Trifecta 8: Triple Quick-Access & Centered Tripod Mount – Pure Photography Focus

The Think Tank has a clean, minimalist exterior with no unnecessary design flourishes. The bag is relatively structured but can still be compressed if you press it down, making it easier to pack into luggage.

Its standout feature is the three-way quick access: you can open the left side, right side, or the back panel to grab your camera without taking the backpack off. All internal dividers use hook-and-loop (Velcro), so you can completely reconfigure the layout. The middle divider between the upper and lower sections can also be removed, allowing longer lenses to run through both compartments without dismantling the upper section.

It is one of the more comfortable bags in the group. The shoulder straps use thick, bouncy foam with noticeable cushioning, and the lumbar pad is also well-padded. The tripod or water-bottle holder is placed in the center, so the weight stays balanced instead of pulling to one side—an advantage when carrying a 1–2 kg tripod all day. There are also two top straps plus an included securing strap for selfie sticks or longer rods so they don’t swing around.

This is a taller, slimmer bag. Longer lenses fit easily into the lower compartment with almost no obstruction. Overall, it is clearly designed around photography, with the best quick-access and tripod-carrying solution of the six.

Pros

• Three-way quick access for fast camera retrieval

• Fully adjustable Velcro dividers; long lenses can pass through

• Thick, cushioned straps and lumbar pad

• Centered tripod/bottle holder for better balance

• Removable tripod straps

Cons

• Relatively plain appearance with limited lifestyle appeal

• Structured design has limits on how flat it can compress

2. EIRMAI F3D Lite 10L: Rigid Metal Frame, But Several Design Issues

Unlike the Think Tank, the EIRMAI cannot be compressed. An internal metal frame keeps the bag rigid at all times. This protects gear from being crushed but reduces packing flexibility.

The top uses a magnetic closure. In theory it is convenient, but in practice it is unreliable—especially when the bag is full. You often cannot tell by sound whether it is properly closed and need to lift the bag to check, then press it shut again by hand. For a camera bag, this is not reassuring. There are also side openings that let you reach inside, but items can also slide out if the bag tips over.

The sternum strap sits unusually high and ends up around the neck—an awkward design rarely seen on camera backpacks. Both sides have stretch bottle pockets, but only one has a longer securing strap. Two elastic cords are located at the bottom for hanging a tripod or other gear.

Side access is available on only one side, and the metal frame interferes with both inserting and removing a camera. The frame position feels awkward, and the foam above also gets in the way. Although the zipper is YKK, the internal fabric is poorly finished and frequently catches, requiring two hands to open or close.

The rear panel can be fully opened, revealing Velcro on the lower section and access to the upper compartment—a relatively unique feature. The upper section can also be removed to create one large space. However, the bag is short and wide, so longer lenses will not fit in the lower compartment unless you remove the upper divider, leaving room for only one camera.

Pros

• Rigid metal frame keeps the bag structured

• Rear panel opens fully for easy access

• Bottom elastic cords for tripod

Cons

• Magnetic top is unreliable and requires double-checking

• Sternum strap sits too high (around the neck)

• Single side access clashes with the frame and feels sticky

• Zippers frequently catch on internal fabric

• Squarish internal shape is not ideal for longer lenses

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3. TENBA Fulton v2 10L: Soft Bag with Huge Top Compartment – Lifestyle Oriented

The TENBA is a classic soft bag that can be compressed and reshaped. Support comes mainly from the internal dividers—the more gear you add, the better it holds its shape. There is no side access. To reach the camera you must take the backpack off and open a small rear compartment. Opening it while wearing the bag is nearly impossible; it is best done on the ground.

The lower section can fit longer lens setups. Removing the middle divider creates one large space if you prefer vertical storage. The upper compartment is very deep and spacious but has no internal organization, so small pouches are recommended to avoid digging around. A front organizer panel with several small pockets helps keep accessories sorted.

The lumbar pad is thick and cushioned. The two sides are asymmetric: one has a stretch mesh bottle pocket, the other uses thicker fabric better suited for a tripod or pointed items. Both have top securing straps. The main zippers are water-resistant.

The biggest drawback is the very rough cordage. Adjusting the straps is stiff and uncomfortable, and the material feels abrasive on the hands. Overall, this bag leans more toward a lifestyle/travel backpack than a dedicated camera bag. The large top space is excellent for miscellaneous items, but camera access is not a priority.

Pros

• Soft and compressible with a large, deep upper compartment

• Front organizer panel

• Well-padded lumbar support

• Water-resistant zippers

• Reinforced side for tripod + securing straps

Cons

• No side access—camera retrieval is inconvenient

• Rough cords that are hard to adjust and abrasive

• Upper section is one large undivided space (pouches recommended)

4. BENRO Incognito B100: TENBA-Inspired Soft Bag with Thinner Materials

The Benro closely resembles the TENBA in overall design. It is also a soft bag with no side access and rear-only camera retrieval, though some buckle and zipper details differ. Most of the same drawbacks are present, plus noticeably thinner materials.

Padding, fabric, and cushioning throughout are reduced—giving a cost-cutting impression. The front panel is little more than a single layer of fabric, and the bottom and side mesh are thinner. The lumbar pad is extremely thin and offers almost no cushioning. The shoulder straps are the thinnest of the six, nearly paper-like, with minimal shoulder padding. The design seems to assume most weight will be carried on the waist.

It is the only bag in the group with a waist belt, which can transfer weight to the hips during longer carries—its clearest advantage. The side mesh pockets include a cinch and quick-release straps. The rear compartment opens to 90 degrees so items are less likely to spill out completely (unlike the TENBA), but the zipper still catches on fabric and requires two hands. The 90-degree design also makes camera insertion and removal more awkward.

All cords and fabric are rough and abrasive. The plastic zipper pulls feel cheap and already show signs of stickiness. Build quality and materials lag behind the others.

Pros

• Only bag with a waist belt (useful for heavier loads or long carries)

• 90-degree rear opening reduces spillage

• Side pockets with quick-release straps

Cons

• Thin fabric, padding, lumbar pad, and straps throughout

• No side access—camera access is difficult

• Zippers catch on fabric

• Rough, abrasive cords and materials

• Low-quality plastic zipper pulls that feel worn

5. PGYTECH OneGo Lite: Dual Side Access, but Awkward Main Compartment

The PGYTECH is a hybrid: soft in front with a rigid back panel. It is the only bag with no sternum strap, and only one side has attachment points, so you cannot easily add one yourself.

The single bottle pocket is quite shallow and works best with small ~250 ml cans; taller items tend to fall out while walking, even with the securing strap. Dual side access is available, which is convenient in theory, but the main camera compartment has a serious design flaw. The upper section extends downward and is rigid, so it cannot be removed. Although the middle divider can come out, a fixed fabric panel above it leaves the lower camera space extremely small. A normal compact camera (such as a Fujifilm body) fits poorly both horizontally and vertically. You are forced to use the upper area, which offers less protection. Vertical space cannot be fine-tuned—you can only remove the divider entirely.

Zippers again catch on excess internal fabric. On the positive side, the cords feel smooth and high-quality, and there is a thoughtful strap keeper so loose ends do not dangle. The top handle has a slight shock-absorbing stretch. The tablet sleeve and front organizer share a connected mesh pocket that can be accessed from both sides.

Pros

• Dual side access

• Smooth, high-quality cords with keepers

• Comfortable top handle with slight stretch

• Connected front/rear mesh pocket

Cons

• No sternum strap and difficult to add one

• Very shallow bottle pocket

• Lower camera compartment is too small for most cameras

• Cannot adjust upper/lower space independently

• Zippers catch on internal fabric

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6. HAKUBA SHELL URBAN LIGHT 02 BACKPACK: Extremely Light Without Cutting Corners – Best Balance

The HAKUBA’s biggest strength is that it is remarkably lightweight without obvious material reductions. The bottom padding is the thickest of the six, and the side walls are also well-cushioned. It is a soft bag overall, but the large back panel is rigid enough for the bag to stand on its own.

The sternum strap buckle is the smoothest and easiest to operate in the entire review. There is only one bottle pocket, secured with a Velcro strap. Camera access is available on one side only, but the zipper is exceptionally smooth—one hand is enough—and the internal fabric finishing is excellent, so nothing catches. The lining itself is also slick, making camera insertion and removal effortless.

The upper divider is not a single panel but two pieces of foam that can be angled into a triangle, expanding either the lower or upper space. This is a unique and practical design. The main drawback is the limited amount of Velcro, which restricts how freely you can rearrange dividers, and small items can disappear into the gaps in the upper section.

The shoulder-strap design is the highlight. Once the sternum strap is fastened, the straps sit closely against the ribs and waist, distributing weight more evenly instead of concentrating it on the shoulders. The straps are also smooth, with no friction when putting the bag on or taking it off. Overall ergonomics are the best of the group.

Pros

• Extremely light yet well-padded (thickest bottom cushioning)

• Exceptionally smooth zippers and fabric—easiest camera access

• Smoothest sternum buckle

• Excellent strap design that distributes weight across the torso

• Adjustable triangular divider for flexible space

• Strong balance between photography function and everyday comfort

Cons

• Side access on only one side

• Limited Velcro, so small items can shift

• More gaps in the upper section where small objects can get lost

Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

After hands-on testing, three bags can be ruled out for most people:

• Benro: Materials are too thin and the build feels rough. Only consider it if you specifically need a waist belt and are on a tight budget.

• PGYTECH: The lower camera compartment is poorly designed and too small for most cameras, and the zippers catch.

• EIRMAI: Unreliable magnetic closure, frame interference on the side access, and an awkward internal shape create too many practical issues.

The remaining three serve different needs:

If you need to grab your camera quickly and often carry a tripod, the Think Tank is the most purpose-built option.If you mainly want a bag that holds a lot of everyday items on trips and the camera is secondary, the TENBA’s large top space is more practical.If you want one bag that balances easy camera access, low weight, and all-day comfort, the HAKUBA currently offers the best overall compromise.

There is no single “best” camera backpack—only the one that matches how you actually shoot and travel. Decide how often you need instant camera access, whether you regularly carry a tripod, and how much non-camera gear you typically pack, then choose from these three.

Lightweight Camera Backpacks Recommend