Naturally that will depend on the type of camera you want to put in there, the lenses and accessories you want to carry with you and where you are going to be going with it. For example, if like me, you want to take a single camera body and 3-4 prime lenses or a couple of smaller zooms and go hiking around a city or in the hills, then I’d recommend a backpack.

Alternatively, if you want to carry a couple of bodies, or a medium format kit and travel in cars, planes and trains etc, then maybe a rigid case that it pressurised, water sealed and made out of a hard plastic might be more suitable. You may also go for a soft case with a handle and wheels if you’re staying on more firmer ground like streets and pavements etc.

I currently have a large Lowepro Pro Trekker BP 450 AW II when I want to take a full Nikon DSLR kit and a MacBook Pro with some accessories for when I need to do a lot of walking to different locations. I’ve also used this on a two week trip to Sichuan Province in China.

Another bag I use is a ThinkTank Airport International wheeled case on corporate jobs going in and out of factories and offices etc. I’ve also used this when travelling abroad. Again, a great bag to use when needing a full DSLR kit and laptop.

My latest choice is the Lowepro BP350 AW Freeline. My decision for this was based on an older Lowepro backpack I’ve loved to use for the past 7+ years, the Photo Hatchback 22L AW. This bag has been awesome for carrying around a Leica M body and four prime lenses. I’ve walked around China for a couple of weeks with it, walked around the hills in Saddleworth for years with it and even used it on some commercial assignments. A great little bag that hold a lot and can be accessed through the back of the bag by swivelling the bag around your waist using the waist strap negating the need to take the camera off you completely and sit it on the floor.

After looking around over Christmas I noticed the Lowepro BP350 AW Freeline on offer at WEX Photographic and thought I’d upgrade and give it a try. I’m planning to take it out over the next month or so and will report back but I have every confidence that it will be my go-to bag when I’m out and about.