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	Introduction
	Bags by type
»	Bags by use
	Bags by brand
	What to look for
	Choosing size
	Carry-on restrictions

Each bag type has a best application. Of course you can get almost any bag to any location, but it will not be the most satisfactory situation; at times the wrong bag at the wrong place may place your equipment and even you in peril.
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Top Load type bag, Model 5605 Pro 5, for a pro body, by Tamrac®

Hard learned experience has shown Nikonians what bag types are best for what main uses as per the table below:

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Holsters & Top loaders provide a neat way of carrying a camera with lens and an extra one with relative ease and fast access. If kept clean, they even look good when on a three-piece suit, hanging from your shoulder or neck. Can be taken out of the urban scenario and be comfortable for the wilderness and for transportation, but in mountain climbing they will seldom be the best. However, when with an extra waist/chest strap attached to keep them from dangling, they can perform well for long walks in the wilderness and for cycling or skiing. At right, Nikonian Photophil keeping his F4s handy in a top load bag.

Hip/Waist/Fanny bags, when small, are the most suitable for the main recommended use because they give you all the needed freedom of arms and hands, will not be that heavy and can be worn for long periods. Sorry, they don't look good if you are wearing a suit in the city.

Vests/Harnesses: smart photo-hikers love them. Probably the most comfortable gear carrier as seen at right,  used by Nikonian Photo_Phil.  They can be custom fit to your particular gear.

The shoulder bag is the most common and more overrated of all bags. Sure, they provide easy access to the contents, however, as you become more and more enthusiastic about photography, you will want to make certain you didn't leave at home anything you might need, so you'll fall for a larger one. Typically, by the time you can afford all of the best, your bones begin to hurt and the heavy load becomes anywhere from uncomfortable to unbearable. That is why -as said before- they end up as bags for storage, especially the biggies. Now, if you are young and strong, you might love them. I did, for quite some time.

The backpack on the other hand, is the most comfortable way to carry a load. The armies of the world have made innumerable -and very expensive- studies supporting the idea that infantry can carry more and for longer when close to the body from both shoulders and waist than from one shoulder or from the waist alone. 

Furthermore, a medium or large-sized backpack will let you transport plenty of equipment as carry-on by commercial airplane , still meeting newer regulations and without having to worry about how the gear is doing in and out of the cargo area.

Strongboxes are for transporting even more equipment from location to location in a car or a truck. Somehow not much seen in airports, though.

Hard cases are the safest way to transport equipment, more so if there is danger of equipment getting wet. If large enough to be required into the luggage compartment of an airplane, try to buy one wheeled and make certain you have extra insurance. Most air carriers will not cover the contents unless the case is lost and even then there are limits on replacement cost claims. So,  when flying, use them only if you must carry more than what a carry-on backpack would allow -or a two piece soft camera bag- and cannot forward to your destination by courier. The other option is to get one that complies with carry-on size requirements.

Let's turn into what brands are out there, what characteristics one should be looking for, and how to choose if you cannot see one to try -with your own equipment- at a local store.
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