The 7 Best Camera Sling Bags to Buy in 2023

With the increase of smaller mirrorless cameras, more companies have chosen to add a camera sling to their lineup. Many of these bags range from 7L to 10L, just enough to fit a body and a lens or two inside. A sling is a great option when you don’t have a ton of gear or don’t want to carry a large bag on your back.

What is a camera sling?

A camera sling is a camera bag that can be worn diagonally across the body, allowing quick access to gear while keeping it secure on the go. It typically hangs at the hip or back, providing easy reach without the need to remove the bag.

Is a sling camera bag better than a backpack?

Whether a sling camera bag is better than a backpack depends on individual preferences and needs. Sling bags offer quick access but may not distribute weight as evenly as backpacks, which are better for carrying heavier loads over longer periods. Additionally, backpacks are generally better options when you have larger loads to carry, while slings are a good option for staying agile with smaller setups.

How do you use a camera sling bag?

In general, a camera sling is carried over one shoulder and positioned diagonally across your body. The strap can be loosened for easier access to gear while working out of the bag or alternatively keep it cinched tight to retain a stable load while you’re on the move. Slings often offer an assortment of organizational options including quick-access features to keep frequently used gear within easy reach.

How do you transport a camera without a camera bag?

Transporting a camera without a camera bag can be done by wrapping it in a protective layer, such as a cloth, towel, or item of clothing to prevent scratches and bumps. Alternatively, you can use a camera strap to carry it around your neck or shoulder. Be careful to avoid damaging delicate parts such as the lens and LCD screen.

Over the past few years, we have seen some great companies get into the sling game. So we wanted to look at what is on the market and how well each one works. Specifically we looked at:

Nomatic X Peter McKinnon Sling 8L
Peak Design Everyday Sling V2 10L
Instinct Pro Camera Sling Bag 7L
Moment Rugged Camera Sling 10L
Greenroom136 Metromonger 9L
WANDRD ROGUE 9L Sling
Chrome Industries Niko Camera Sling 2.0 5L

The DJI Mavic Pro has been used with each one to illustrate the internal space. Often it is not necessarily about the liters but how said liters are laid out that makes the sling work well. Below, we’ve rounded out some of our favorites at this time, along with our thoughts and some standard features we believe are worth your consideration.

Nomatic X Peter McKinnon Sling 8L (US$159.99)

• Material: Waterproof Tarpaulin
• Zippers: Custom Waterproof
• Stabilization Strap: Yes
• Tripod Straps: Optional

Like all the camera bags that Nomatic has released, this is a well-thought-out, well-built sling, and it sits very well on the body. This sling is too small to hold a DSLR with a 70-200 lens (it is too small by just a half-inch but does fit a body with a 24-70).

One of the things I like about this bag is that it has good organization with easy access. There is no front pocket, as the interior of the front panel contains several mesh pockets. There are some nice organization pockets in this panel that are sized to fit your batteries, cardholder, or a small snack if you need some mid-shoot fuel. The construction of this front panel has some sturdiness while still being lightweight. You could use this area to hold your cardholder or filter organizers, and it will not let them flop onto the ground. 

The sling, although thin, feels very comfortable when on the body. This sling became a favorite to carry my drone in when on my bike as the strap layout and stability are stellar. 

Peak Design Everyday Sling V2 10L (US$159.95)

• Material: 400D double poly-coated DWR nylon canvas 
• Zippers: Weatherproof Ultra Zips
• Stabilization Strap: No
• Tripod Straps: Yes 

Like always, Peak Design has lived up to their industry-leading standards. The construction is beautiful, and the design is sleek and functional. Even without a stability strap, this carries well. But I found that it did move around when loaded with camera gear while hiking. The wider back panel still allows for some decent stability while on body. The nice part about this sling depends on your lens setup. I can fit a DSLR with a 70-200 lens easily within the main compartment with some room for a jacket or something else one might need. If I were to carry a 17-35 and a 24-70 on the body, I could fit all that inside easily. 

The pocketing and layout are pretty standard, with a front pocket sized for any gadgets or keys. The lid pocket is a light mesh that has some mesh battery compartments and could fit your cardholders as well. The rear panel pocket gives you enough space to carry a tablet (or a 13″ laptop in the 10L) or a notebook if you prefer. The bag looks sleek on the outside, with attachment points for a tripod strap if needed. 

Instinct Pro Camera Sling Bag 7L (US$147)

• Material: Dimension Polyant X-Pac VX21 
• Zippers: YKK AquaGuard®
• Stabilization Strap: Yes
• Tripod Straps: Yes

I was excited to try out the Instinct Pro Camera Sling as it is new to the market, and they have been doing some cool things. The overall construction of this bag is impressive. The VX21 is a solid material; it can take a beating, so you know that this bag will handle the long haul. Right away, I love the high-visibility interior. As any photographer knows, it’s easy to lose a lens cap, battery, or memory card inside your black interior bags. So the fact that this one is bright orange is a nice touch. 

This bag carries very well due to the curved back panel. The rear panel sits nicely on your back and when fully loaded does not have any awkward pressure points. As the second smallest sling, this one is pretty much limited to the mirrorless shooters. (Although I could fit my DSLR and 24-70mm lens in the bag). 

For the size, this sling provides a decent amount of organization and pockets. The front pocket is divided and has a more prominent drop area, with two pockets that are perfect for batteries and two other pockets that would work well for cardholders or cables. The lid panel pocket is split and gives you the option of carrying your batteries or cardholders in this location. There is a divider in the main compartment that is sized for a small tablet or journal. The one thing that the Instinct sling has and others do not are two mesh drop pockets on the sides. You could fit a small bottle or some snack bars in these pockets.

Moment Rugged Camera Sling 10L (US$130)

• Material: NorthPak Polyester
• Zippers: Water-Resistant YKK 
• Stabilization Strap: Yes
• Tripod Straps: Yes

Okay, just to be 100% upfront, this is the sling I have spent the most time with since the first Carryology review. So when it comes to camera slings, this was one of the first that I started using. The North Sails fabric is solid and can handle a lot. The back panel and strap are very comfortable to carry. I used this one a bit in rock scrambling and cycling to carry gear, and it sits nicely on the body and stays stable even when fully packed out.

One of the things that I like about this one is it fits a DSLR and a 70-200 lens. As someone who mainly shoots with a DSLR for photos, I like having this option to carry my setup for a small outing. The organization is well thought out. It gives you space for batteries and cardholders, with some room to spare for snacks. 

There is a front pocket that is sized for all the accessories that you might need to bring, and the lid panel pocket is a mesh that is sized for batteries and cardholders. A back panel pocket is sized for a journal or something similar but might be a bit tight for a tablet. 

Greenroom136 Metromonger 9L (US$95)

• Material: 1000D Cordura nylon outer shell
• Zippers: YKK Zippers
• Stabilization Strap: Yes
• Tripod Straps: Yes

Having never used a GR136 bag, I was super jazzed to have this one in my hands as it was a company that I had looked at but never tried. The first impression of this pack was that it would withstand a nuclear blast, which is good because who knows where the world is headed. 

The Metromonger is one of the more modular slings in this lineup. Without the insert, you can carry a camera in the bag, but you will not have as much padding. I could take my DSLR with a 70-200 in the bag, but I did not have a large enough insert to test it with that. This pack feels larger than the 9L, which is nice. My first use was a day trip to the zoo. It was hot, and I could carry my Nikon D780 with 70-200 and a 26oz Yeti Rambler. There was still room in the external pockets for a notebook or any accessories one might need and space in the rear pocket for a tablet or small laptop. 

Even with all this weight, the sling carries well. The strap reminds me of the OG Chrome seatbelt strap, but even beefier. For the weight that I was holding, the strap was perfect. If it had been thinner, it would have worn on the shoulder and dug in. One of the nice things about this sling is they built the back panel with padding and airmesh like a backpack. So even with items in the sling and no camera cube padding, there are no issues with pressure points. 

The organization in this pack is a bit more simplified. You have a front pocket with a few drop slots for pens, cardholders, or a phone. The interior of the main compartment has two journal-sized drop pockets and one larger on the back that could hold a tablet in a sleeve. The rear pocket is padded and designed for your electronics or anything you might want close to your body. The Metromonger is one of the more versatile slings that I used in the lineup, as the size lent it to being used for more than just mirrorless camera gear. 

WANDRD ROGUE 9L Sling (US$159)

• Material: Waterproof Tarpaulin and Robic 1680D Ballistic Nylon
• Zippers: Water-Resistant YKK 
• Stabilization Strap: Yes 
• Tripod Straps: Yes (Built-in pouch with straps)

At the time of this writing, this one has yet to hit the market, and it is also one of the most interesting as far as layout goes. They worked hard to make this sling versatile; it can be used as a photography sling and for people who want a small tech bag or a small EDC bag. The ROGUE has an attachment for laptops (which I did not test, so I can’t speak to) but mixed with the pocketing and tripod pouch; this is a unique sling to consider. 

The bag carries well, and the strap is easy to switch up if you prefer the bag on your left or right side. One of the parts that I enjoyed about this sling was the wider back panel. When I used this sling to carry a DSLR and a 70-200 lens, the weight sat well on my back, and I didn’t feel that lump that you can sometimes feel. The tripod pouch is an excellent addition. Most slings just have a few straps that you can use for jackets, tripods, or umbrellas. They work fine, but from time to time, I have had a coat or something come loose a bit. But with how they built out the tripod sleeve, this is not going to be an issue. The other benefit of this pouch is that it can carry a water bottle, remaining separate from any electronics. 

This sling packs a punch when it comes to pocketing and organization. The rear sleeve pocket has locations for batteries, cardholders, and even a small notebook. The zipper lid portion is large enough to hold a variety of snacks or cables. The front drop pocket is sized for a wallet, phone, and keys. The added extra on the bag is the zipper sleeve that holds the laptop attachment and has room to fit any other items you might need.  

Chrome Industries Niko Camera Sling 2.0 5L

• Material: 1000D TPE Tarpaulin
• Zippers: Weather-Resistant PU Coated 
• Stabilization Strap: No
• Tripod Straps: Yes

I have been a fan of Chrome for many years. At 5L, the Niko 2.0 is the smallest sling in this lineup. But, due to the shape, it still holds a DSLR with a 70-200, so that is saying a lot. The organization is minimal but will suffice if you are a run-and-gun type of photographer. You have a front pocket protected by a rain flap that can double as a tripod/jacket holder. You won’t be able to fit much more than a battery or two and a cardholder, but that should be enough. The rear of the bag has a small zipper pocket perfect for any small snacks or even your wallet if you don’t want that on your person. 

One nice thing about the smaller size of this sling is that you could use it as a camera cube for another camera backpack. Then you have a smaller sling to travel around with once you get to your destination. 

Despite not having a stabilization strap, the bag sits well on the body. The only downside that I found was that the Tarpaulin material causes a massive sweat patch on hot days or during strenuous activity.