You may think your kit is full to the brim, but if you have any more space you may want to check it against this guide. Here are 10 tools that will make your travel photography remarkably easier.
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
1. Tripod
Many photographers have a love/hate relationship with their tripod. There’s no denying it can get tiring carrying one around for a long day of travel, but the shots it makes possible more than justify the effort.
For those wanting to keep things as light as possible, a compact travel tripod is the way to go. The Manfrotto Befree Advanced and the Peak Design Travel Tripod are both excellent options — lightweight, packable, and capable of handling a full mirrorless or DSLR setup. For ultra-minimal kits, the Joby Gorillapod range offers flexible, pocket-friendly stability that works in almost any environment. If you're considering one, our GorillaPod buyer's guide covers every model in the range. See our full breakdown of the best tripods for travel photos and video in 2026 to find the right fit for your kit.
Browse our full range of tripods and monopods
2. Quality camera strap
Plenty of photographers never consider swapping the strap that came with their camera, but there are good reasons to. A plain, unbranded strap is a simple deterrent for potential thieves — no need to advertise what’s around your neck.
Beyond security, a better strap can genuinely improve how you shoot. Brands like Peak Design (with their Capture clip system) and Blackrapid offer cross-body and sling-style options that keep your camera accessible and comfortable over long days on the road.
Browse camera straps and grips
3. A well-designed camera bag
Choosing the right camera bag is one of the most personal decisions in a photographer’s kit. For travel, sling bags remain popular for their versatility and easy access — the Peak Design Everyday Sling and Lowepro Passport Sling are both well-regarded options. If you’re carrying more gear, a dedicated camera backpack like the Lowepro ProTactic or F-Stop Ajna gives you the capacity and protection you need without sacrificing comfort on long walks.
Read our Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Camera Bag
4. Filters
A solid set of filters can transform your landscape work. The essentials for travel are ND filters (for long exposures in bright conditions), a circular polariser (to reduce glare and boost colour saturation), and a UV filter for basic lens protection. Brands like Kase, NiSi, and Haida offer high-quality options at a range of price points.
5. Portable LED light
A compact LED panel or video light is increasingly useful for travel photographers who shoot in mixed or low-light conditions — whether that’s a dimly lit market, a cave, or a hotel room product shot. Small bi-colour panels from brands like Godox or Ulanzi are lightweight enough to slip into a side pocket and can make a significant difference to your results.
6. Weather protection
Many quality camera bags include built-in rain covers, but it’s worth having a dedicated camera rain cover as a backup — especially if you’re shooting in unpredictable conditions. A waterproof phone pouch and a packable rain jacket round out a sensible wet-weather kit that won’t take up much space.
7. Gaffer tape
A small roll of gaffer tape is one of the most underrated items in any travel kit. Loose battery doors, frayed straps, makeshift light blocking — the list of problems it can solve on the road is almost endless. Many experienced travel photographers also use it to cover camera branding and reduce the visual appeal of their gear to opportunistic thieves.
Photo by Jeff Hopper on Unsplash
8. Multi-port USB charger and travel adaptor
Depending on your destination, a universal travel adaptor is essential. Pair it with a multi-port USB-C charger and you can keep your camera batteries, phone, laptop, and other devices topped up from a single power point. Anker and Baseus both make compact, high-wattage options that are well suited to travel.
9. Screwdriver kit
A small jeweller’s screwdriver kit takes up almost no space and can save you in a surprising number of situations — from tightening a loose tripod plate to repairing a strap buckle. It’s one of those items you’ll rarely need, but will be very glad to have when you do.
10. Portable SSD
With RAW file sizes continuing to grow, memory cards fill up faster than ever — and unreliable internet while travelling makes cloud backup impractical. A portable SSD is the safest solution: faster, more durable, and more compact than traditional hard drives, with no moving parts to worry about if your bag takes a knock. Samsung T9 and SanDisk Extreme Pro are both reliable, travel-friendly options.
Browse memory cards and storage
Jet-setting across the globe requires plenty of planning — we hope this list makes the photographic side of things a little easier. For any of the gear mentioned above, Ted’s Cameras stocks a wide range of travel photography accessories online and in-store.
Choosing Your Lenses for Travel
One of the biggest packing decisions is whether to bring zooms, primes, or a mix. For travel, zoom lenses are almost always the smarter choice — they're more flexible, let you reframe without swapping glass, and reduce the total number of items you're carrying.
A practical two-lens strategy works well for most trips: a wide-to-standard zoom (such as a 16–35mm or 24–70mm) paired with a standard-to-telephoto (70–200mm) covers the vast majority of situations you'll encounter — landscapes, street scenes, wildlife, and portraits. For a deeper dive into which glass to pack, see our guide to the best camera lenses for travel photography. If you're shooting with a crop-sensor camera, equivalent ranges apply. Prime lenses can still earn a spot in your bag for low-light or creative work, but for pure travel versatility, zooms win.
Browse our full range of camera lenses →
Filters and Small Accessories Worth Packing
A few compact accessories can make a meaningful difference in the field without adding much weight. UV filters are worth fitting to each lens — they protect against dust, moisture, and scratches at minimal cost. Our UV filter guide explains exactly what they do and which options are worth buying. A polarising filter is particularly useful for cutting glare on water and deepening blue skies. A neutral density (ND) filter opens up long-exposure options in bright conditions, useful for waterfalls, seascapes, and any scene where you want motion blur.
One underrated tip from experienced travel photographers: carry a piece of black card (slightly smaller than A4). At dawn or dusk, when your lens hood doesn't fully cut flare from a low sun, the card can be held just out of frame to block stray light — a simple trick that saves otherwise strong shots.
Browse our full range of lens filters →
Travel Photography Packing Checklist
Use this as a final sanity-check before you leave. Not every item suits every trip — edit to your destination and shooting style.
- Camera body (plus spare if shooting professionally)
- Wide-to-standard zoom lens
- Standard-to-telephoto zoom lens
- Lightweight travel tripod or Gorillapod
- Quality camera strap (sling or cross-body)
- UV filters (one per lens)
- Polarising filter
- Neutral density filter
- Multiple memory cards (especially if shooting RAW)
- Spare batteries and charger
- Black card (for flare control at dawn/dusk)
- Camera bag or backpack with weather protection
- Lens cloths and a blower
- Laptop or tablet for backup and editing (optional depending on trip length)
The right balance between weight and capability is personal — but this list covers what most travel photographers find themselves wishing they had brought.
Gear Up for Better Travel Photography
Best Lens for Travel Photography
Choosing the best lens for travel comes down to one trade-off: versatility versus image quality. For most travellers, a high-quality zoom lens — such as a 24–105mm or 18–55mm equivalent — covers landscapes, street scenes, and portraits without the need to swap glass mid-shoot. If you can carry just one prime, a 35mm or 50mm lens strikes the ideal balance of low-light performance and compact size. Mirrorless shooters have an advantage here, with a growing range of lightweight, optically excellent lenses from Sony, Fujifilm, and Nikon Z mount. If you're heading somewhere with dramatic scenery — think New Zealand's Fiordland or Patagonia — consider adding a wide-angle lens (16–24mm) to capture the full scope of the landscape. A fast aperture (f/1.8 or f/2.8) is worth the extra weight for golden-hour and night shots.
Choosing the Right Camera Bag for Travel
Your camera bag is arguably as important as the gear inside it. A good travel camera bag protects your equipment, keeps it accessible, and doesn't attract unnecessary attention. Backpack-style bags — like those from Lowepro, F-Stop, or Peak Design — distribute weight evenly and carry onto most aircraft as cabin luggage. Look for weather-resistant materials and a lockable zip if you're visiting busy tourist areas. For day trips, a smaller shoulder bag or sling gives faster access to your camera than a full backpack. Ted's Cameras stocks a wide range of camera bags suited to every style of travel, from lightweight sling bags for city shooting to rugged packs built for multi-day hikes. Always check airline carry-on dimensions before you pack — protecting your gear in the cabin is worth planning around.
Essential Travel Camera Gear: What to Pack
Beyond your camera body and lenses, the right supporting gear separates a frustrating trip from a productive one. At a minimum, your travel camera gear checklist should include: spare batteries and a dual charger, multiple high-speed memory cards (and a backup card reader), a UV filter for lens protection, a microfibre cleaning cloth, and a rain cover for your bag and camera. If you're shooting in extreme environments — coastal, tropical, or alpine — weather sealing on your camera body matters significantly. A mirrorless camera with weather sealing, paired with sealed lenses, gives you confidence to shoot through light rain or sea spray without hesitation. Rounding out your kit with a compact LED panel and a remote shutter release adds creative flexibility at minimal weight cost.