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You are listening to Adorama Narrated a collection of our favorite blog posts, presented in audio format. The Best Camera Gear for Carry On Only Travel Photographers Written by Stephanie vermillion published on March 11, 2025 traveling through remote destinations is one of the best parts of my job as an adventure travel writer and photographer. That said, actually reaching those far flung corners of the earth does come with its fair share of stressors, most notably packing. From the remote shores of Lake Clark national park in Alaska to the tropical and jaguar filled wetlands of Brazil's Pantanal, remote adventure travel comes with serious luggage limitations. That means I've had to get creative with what gear I can bring and what gear I can't bring, especially if I'm packing a long lens for wildlife. In this guide to Carry On Only Packing, I'm sharing the gear I swear by to keep my adventure kit within airline weight restrictions, from luggage and backpacks to lightweight camera equipment. Mirrorless Cameras first and foremost, I'm a mirrorless photographer. Sony Alpha cameras to be exact, and that alone helps me save on luggage weight. I use the Sony A7 III and the Sony A7R4, which collectively weigh three pounds. For perspective, some of the more popular DSLR cameras weigh a little over £2 each, so I'm saving around half a pound per camera. That can really add up because every half pound counts. Travel Tripods Astrophotography is one of my favorite types of photography. In fact, I'm such a fan of the night sky I wrote a book about it for National Geographic. Given that I bring a tripod everywhere I go, and switching to the Peak Design Travel Tripod this year was quite the game changer. The Peak Design Travel tripod weighs just 2.8 pounds. That's about a pound and a half less than the Travel Tripod I was using before it. Despite its compact size, the Tripod doesn't skimp on usability. It can hold up to £20 and has a built in smartphone adapter as well as an omnidirectional ball head too. I'm also a big fan of the Joby Gorillapod as a backup tripod. When I photograph the Northern lights, I like to have two cameras going at once to get different vantage points. I packed the Joby Tripod, which weighs less than 0.5 pounds, to have this flexibility without overdoing it on weight. Camera Backpack While The Shimoda Explore V2 30 liter backpack isn't the most lightweight camera bag out there, I swear by it for its versatility. This isn't just a camera bag It's a true travel backpack. It has various pockets and only the middle portion of the bag is built for cameras. That means you have all sorts of room to add toiletries, a change of clothes, a laptop, and other odds and ends. And the backpack is compact enough to fit under the seat in front of you in most cases. Some airlines have extra small configurations my one warning this backpack starts at over 5 pounds itself, with a built in support system that helps your back when you're hiking. It's a blessing during long days on the trail, but it does mean the weight can add up quickly. Camera Cube I use the Shimoda Explorer backpack, but I'm a big fan of the Peak Design Camera Cube, so much so that I've actually started using it with my Shimoda pack. What I love about it Peak Design has added hooks around the outside of the cube so you can attach a strap and wear it like a small purse or sling. I like this option because I don't have to worry about packing another small bag. For mini excursions that don't require my complete kit, such as dinner in an already compact mess tent, I use the Peak Design leash strap with the bag so I can quickly attach the strap when I need it or remove it when I don't. Luggage When I'm taking flights with more restrictive weight limits, such as a recent Northern Lights trip where I was allowed 20 pounds for my checked bag and 20 pounds for my backpack, I'll opt for a duffel bag because these weigh less than suitcases with wheels. Does it get annoying to lug around a heavy duffel all day? Absolutely, but I need every spare pound I can get when I'm packing my camera gear and cold weather gear, in this case boots, layers and the like. Lightweight external SSD I like to back up my photos while on a trip. Waiting until I've returned home feels way too dicey, especially when traveling to destinations with challenging weather. I don't want a hefty external hard drive to add too much weight to my pack, so instead I carry a lightweight external SSD like the SanDisk Creator Series 4 Terabyte Drive. At around 0.2 pounds, this gadget adds virtually no weight to my load, and it gives me peace of mind that these once in a lifetime photos will stay safe. Portable Charger Another thing I can't skimp on in the field. A portable charger. I always bring one with me, particularly for remote escapes because you never know when or if you're going to have electricity. This option from Godox, for example, weighs less than half a pound. My advice with portable chargers? Always make sure they're charged up because nothing is worse than getting into the field, than realizing you never plugged it in. And tip two make sure you bring the right cords. Wear your heaviest clothing. This may be obvious, but it saved me in multiple situations. Wear your heaviest clothing, particularly shoes if you're worried about an airline's weight limits. I've had many instances where even just wearing my hiking boots on the plane instead of my Nikes got me within weight requirements. Luggage Scale the last thing I swear by when packing for a remote destination is a luggage scale. Nothing is worse than getting to the airport and upon checking in, realizing your bag doesn't align with the weight limits. I started using a digital luggage scale at home years ago and now charge it before any big trip. I recommend getting a scale that alternates between kilograms and pounds. Now, don't let this lengthy carry on packing list intimidate you. The luggage restrictions and hacks are well worth the headache when an exciting destination is on the other side. If you're looking for more adventure travel tips and inspiration, check out my guide on capturing content when traveling to remote locations. This has been the best camera gear for Carry On Only Travel Photographers written by Stephanie Vermillion Read for you by Nikki Haller for more posts like this, check out the 42 west blog at adorama.com blog links are in the show notes. Be sure to follow adoramannarrated on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review if you enjoy the content. Remember, create no matter what.