My Favorite Everyday Street Photography Backpack (Pakt Everyday 22L)
As a full-time traveler and street photographer constantly on the move, finding a bag that combines adequate camera/laptop protection, organization, comfort, and doesn’t make me look like I’m about to summit Everest is… challenging.
Today, I want to go through a bag that I believe I’ll keep in my arsenal until the seams give out and the straps fall off. Not a travel bag, mind you, unless you’re traveling very light, but an everyday bag.
Folks, I think I finally found it: The perfect coffee shop, subway, quick hike, street photography, day around the city, weekend trip companion. The Pakt Everyday 22L
Why The Pakt Everyday 22L Kicks Ass
For me, as a backpack nerd and person who spends… so much time walking around with a camera, the Pakt Everyday 22L was like finding cold, crisp, clean water after a week stranded in the Sahara.
You (Probably) Don’t Need a Camera Backpack
If you know me, you might remember I basically refuse to use a camera backpack.
Maybe one day I’ll be lugging around gear that demands something more ‘professional’ but it’s my opinion that I and most other photographers simply don’t need a camera backpack.
They’re usually bulky, ludicrously expensive, ugly, and use space REALLY inefficiently.
In my book, that means I’m paying extra to lug around foam dividers with no logical space for non-camera items- you know, the normal human things we all carry with us.
I feel I’ve perfected my system after years of living out of a suitcase and traveling with cameras all over the world as a professional photographer and filmmaker:
1x Well-Designed Travel Backpack
1x Camera Sling (For walking around and taking photos once I’ve reached my destination, and for protecting/storing camera gear when inside my backpack)
This was the thought process I took into tracking down the perfect photographer’s daypack.
Travel Backpacks vs. Everyday Backpacks
You see, travel bags are wonderful, but they also tend to be a little much for day-to-day use.
Unfortunately, one thing you do need as a photographer traveling with multiple camera bodies, extra lenses, batteries, film + film camera, cleaning kit, etc. is some space. AND enough space for your laptop, book, tech kit, hand sanitizer, snacks, headphones, and on and on and on. It gets bulky.
You know what’s not fun with a bulky, chunky, heavy backpack?
Squeezing into a coffee shop with 6 total cubic feet of standing room in New York
Getting on a subway car that was full 5 stops ago
Walking around for 9 hours looking for footage and photos for a YouTube video
Going to a brewery to drown your sorrows and walking-related foot pain from the aforementioned day of photography, and looking for all the world like you just hitchhiked to said brewery from Nepal
And yes, say what you like, aesthetics do matter to me.
I love that this bag gives me everything I need and nothing that I don’t.
I love that it’s simple and understated.
I love that it doesn’t scream “EXPENSIVE” or “CAMERA GEAR”.
I love that it’s comfortable to wear all day long, and I love that everywhere you go, it looks right at home and stays out of the way.
The Details
Like I said a second ago, this bag is unassuming. However, under the hood, it’s not your average $19.99 Amazon special. Some serious thought has been put into every single piece of it, and that’s something I can appreciate.
Sustainability & Ethics
Know what else I can appreciate?
Pakt has put thought into being a better kind of company too!
Recyclable, plastic-free packaging, recycled materials, 0 animal products, sturdy, quality construction that’s meant to last for years, not be replaced next season, neutral looks that will never not be in fashion. They even keep their product lineup small so as not to produce more than necessary.
Premium Materials & Quality
The materials aren’t only better for the planet, they’re also awesome. The outer fabric material is tough and robust enough to hold its shape without being scratchy or too stiff.
The inner lining is a light grey color to help make sure that you can see what’s inside the bag. It’s also super soft and sleek.
The webbing around the bag all looks great, and the top handle is really nicely padded.
Pakt has used, but not over-used, magnets in the design to eliminate unnecessary zips or god-forbid velcro. These keep the water bottle pockets snug to the side of the bag when not in use and fasten a larger ‘miscellaneous’ pocket in the upper admin section.
And when I took this bag out of the packaging, one thing I noticed? Not a thread out of place. Anywhere.
Storage & Organization
Inside the Pakt Everyday 22L, you'll find, in my opinion, just enough pockets for everything to have a place.
Upper Admin Pocket
The admin pocket up top has its own volume sewn in so that it doesn’t eat into the capacity of the main storage area. There are plenty of pockets, some zipped, some not, some large, some small, but nothing dictating that you’ll need to use this pocket any specific way.
All the things I want to have in there get their own space, and I get to decide exactly where everything goes. This is the only time I’ve ever test-packed a bag and NOT said “What is this pocket for??”.
It’s extremely versatile.
Lower Drop Pocket
The other pocket you’ll see on the front of the bag, below the admin pocket, is a great little catch-all spot for a book, snacks, or wet wipes. Really, any of the odds and ends you’ll want with you.
Again, this has its own depth so it won’t eat into the main compartment, and I find that it’s just enough space without creating an opportunity for those smaller items to get too lost.
Water Bottle Pocket(s)
A big win for photographers: The Everday 22L has two separate water bottle pockets meaning you can pack a compact tripod along with your favorite bottle. Or an umbrella, etc. You get the picture.
Clip-In Pouches
The representative I spoke with at Pakt also recommended- and was kind enough to include- one of Pakt’s little Clip-In Pouches. In this case, the ‘Flat’ one.
These attach to the inside of the main compartment using integrated webbing loops. This pouch offers additional storage for items like camera batteries, film canisters, or even everyday essentials such as pens and charging cables.
As a photographer, I love having this little bit of extra storage, and it’s even better that it’s optional. The pouch is a great spot for little odds and ends, but can simply be popped out when it’s not needed.
Laptop Compartment
I won’t touch a backpack that doesn’t have a completely separate laptop compartment. This one is great.
It’s suspended at the bottom of the bag (another necessity), protecting your device from hitting the ground when you set the backpack down on the ground. There’s even a slot for a tablet or some papers if necessary
Main Compartment
There really isn’t much to say about this section of the pack. Aside from the webbing loops used to attach the little clip-in pouches if you so choose, there is little else to say- and that’s just fine.
It is a blank canvas for whatever you need to pack with you. Jacket? Camera cube or sling? Book? Tech pouch? Assorted groceries from a last-minute stop? Yeah, you’ll be fine. It’s the perfect amount of space for all your EDC/daily carry items + a little extra room for the unexpected.
Traveling?
It feels a little tight if you’re really packing it, but I got surprisingly close to fitting every single thing I keep in my larger travel backpack within this bag.
If your setup is something like… camera, extra lens, batteries/accessories, laptop, book, cables/chargers, and a few other odds and ends, you could fly with this as a personal item all day long and have room to spare.
It can absolutely be done, and I could get away with it on a short trip for sure, but those of us who are not camera gear minimalists will likely need just a little more volume.
If that’s the case, Pakt does offer some larger travel backpacks as well.
Is the Price Justified?
One common point of discussion with any of Pakt’s products is the price.
I can tell you that while I received this bag from the company to review, I did purchase my Pakt One Travel Duffel with my own cash last year, and it has been worth every penny to me.
While the Everyday 22L sits on the higher end of the spectrum, the build quality and thoughtful design features justify the investment for those who are gear and carry enthusiasts.
If you are the kind of person who values premium materials, innovative organization, and design, then you will recognize the value in this bag.
However, if you’re not passionate about those kinds of details (and that’s fine!) the investment might feel understandably steep.
For what it’s worth: If I had to return the bag, I wouldn’t think twice about buying it myself.
Final Thoughts
After years of testing various bags on everything from international journeys to local outings, I can confidently say that Pakt’s Everyday 22L Backpack is among the best I’ve seen for street photography EDC.
If you have questions or comments about anything I covered here, don’t be afraid to leave a comment here or reach me on socials. I try and respond to every message I get.
Thanks as always for reading, talk soon!
