Super small point-and-shoots aside, carrying camera gear on a mountain bike sucks. However, the EVOC CP 18L backpack is, by a long shot, the best solution I’ve tried to date. The CP 18L is specifically designed to be an action sports camera bag, and its layout is especially well-tailored to be stable and secure even when heavily laden. That makes it a whole lot more pleasant to actually ride with than a number of other similarly sized camera bags I’ve tried to date.
There’s nothing too wild going on with the CP 18L’s design, but it stands out for feeling very stable and carrying well, and for having useful organization with easy access to the padded camera section of the bag. It’s also roomy enough to carry a bigger full-frame mirrorless or SLR body and a couple of substantial lenses without being so huge as to be super cumbersome on the bike.
The padded camera storage compartment sits at the bottom of the pack and can be accessed via a zippered opening on the right side of the pack, or through a separate zippered hatch on the back panel of the pack. It’s a relatively normal padded camera cube (integrated into the pack, rather than being removable) with an assortment of velcro dividers to organize it to suit your needs.
For reference, my standard bike photo kit is a Nikon Z8 body with Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 S and Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD lenses. That all fits comfortably with room for either one more small-ish lens, or to swap in a somewhat bigger one (e.g., a Nikon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S in place of the 14-24mm) if I’m taking the pack out for some non-MTB use.
The CP 18L also has a couple of zippered pockets for storing other items in the upper portion of the pack; a zippered pouch for a water bottle or smaller hydration bladder on the left side; and relatively large zippered pockets on both sides of the hip belt. A set of straps and a stowable pouch on the outer face of the pack can be used to carry a tripod, poles, or an ice axe, and an integrated rain cover is also included.
