The Best Camera Gear for Epic Travel and Adventure Photography

‘What camera do you use?’ ‘What camera gear do you use for travel and adventure photography?’ “How do you take your photos? are some of the most common questions I get asked! I’ve tested a lot of gear across different systems over the years, and I’ve just updated this post to reflect what is best.

First things first—it’s important to know that most photographers’ gear setups are curated and grow over time. I didn’t purchase everything at once, because camera gear is expensive (but a worthwhile investment). So, are you ready to take a look inside my camera bag? Let’s get into it!

Camera Body

Sony A7R V

The Sony A7R V is the best camera body for adventure and travel photography. It’s a full-frame mirrorless camera with a massive 61MP resolution, so every shot is incredibly sharp. This is especially helpful when I am taking photos on my own because I can crop or reframe photos later without losing quality.

The AI-Powered autofocus is a game-changer and helps me keep my subject in focus. Another thing that sets Sony apart from others is its incredible performance in low-light scenarios. It’s the first camera body I’ve used that I’m not afraid to pump the ISO. There’s a viewfinder, touch screen, and customizable buttons.

Buy the Sony A7R V here

Sony A7S III 

I just added the Sony A7S III to my camera gear for travel and adventure photography setup. It is designed for videographers because it has capabilities like 4K recording at 120p and a heat-dissipating system, so you can shoot for long periods. I shot this video with the A7S II (no edits).

Buy the Sony A7S III here

Sony A6100

I started my photography journey nearly a decade ago on the Sony A6000. It has been replaced by the Sony A6100, which is the true direct replacement. It adds 4K video, a selfie-flip screen, and much faster autofocus.

While I don’t own this camera anymore, I wanted to add it here because the Sony a6000 line is a great intro to photography. They are crop sensor (not full-frame) cameras, which are more affordable and compact (especially for long treks).

Despite its size, it has nearly a 25MP sensor (vs 61MP Sony A7R V). It has a fast autofocus system that is capable of capturing your adventures, especially if you’re starting to find your style and understand manual settings. The kit lens is a 16-50mm zoom lens, which has a great range for a beginner.

Buy the Sony A1000 here

Lenses

The ultimate camera gear for travel and adventure photography has the ‘holy trinity of lenses’. This usually covers a range of 16-200mm between three lenses, from wide-angle to telephoto.

16-35mm F2.8 GM II

The compact and lightweight 16-35mm f2.8 GM II is the standard ‘wide’ angle lens that still has some versatility. This is the lightest of my lenses, so it’s always easy to carry. I’ll use this when I want to show more of the landscape, if my subject, the mountains, etc. are too close, and I need to fit everything in the frame.

Buy the Sony 16-35mm here

24-70mm F2.8 GM II

The 24-70mm f.28 GM II is my absolutely favorite lens. It is so versatile—you can compress at 70mm or shoot wide at 24mm. It’s my go-to lens for adventure and travel photography, and my number 1 choice for backpacking/remote trips. I am a huge compression girl, so this stays on my Sony A7R V quite a bit.

Buy the Sony 24-70mm here

70-200mm F2.8 GM II

This 70-200mm GM II telephoto lens is not as compact as competitors, but it is one of the sharpest lenses I’ve ever used. It delivers the most beautiful bokeh (which is a soft, out-of-focus effect) and needs to be included in your camera gear for travel and adventure photography.

Buy the Sony 70-200mm here

Pocket Cameras

A pocket camera, or point-and-shoot camera, is the perfect compact camera for activities like snowboarding, packrafting, trail running, and more, where you don’t want a huge setup. I have recently started using them for the last year, and it’s been a great way to shoot more in-the-moment shots without overthinking composition.

Canon G7X Mark III

The Canon G7X Mark III is one of my favorite pocket cameras. I bring it with me on a lot of winter adventures! I love that it has a flash, optical zoom lens, and the touchscreen tilts so you can frame yourself easily. One thing to note, I found the autofocus a bit laggy, which is why I decided to invest in a different pocket camera (ps. it’s below, the Sony RX100 VII).

This is also a great option if you like to vlog, as it has uncropped 4K video recording, vertical video support, and an external microphone.

Buy the Canon G7X Mark III here

Sony RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII is my newest addition to my camera gear for travel and adventure photography. I am so excited to use this pocket camera more because it is a more elevated and premium choice (with a premium price tag).

It has a versatile 24-200m zoom lens and is really fast at continuously shooting. The autofocus is incredible (which isn’t what the previous camera could quite nail). The RX100 VII is also great for vlogging and offers 4k video, an external microphone, and real-time eye tracking.

Buy the Sony RX100 VIII here

Drone

A drone is an essential piece of camera gear for travel and adventure photography. I don’t gravitate to my drone often, but I do find it necessary for certain situations.

DJI Mini 3 Pro

The DJI Mini 3 Pro drone is great for adventure and travel photographers who want to get aerial shots without bulky and expensive equipment. The Mini is extremely lightweight (less than 249g), compact, and can fit in the palm of your hand.

It can shoot in 4K/60fps and has a 48MP camera that can physically rotate 90 degrees to capture vertical content at full resolution (instead of cropping and losing quality).

I recommend getting the Fly More Kit for more batteries, a carrying case, extra propellers, and a charging case.

Buy the DJI Mini 3 Pro here and the Fly More Kit here

MEMORY

In terms of memory and storage, I’ve tried a lot of brands. I’ve found that I prefer to invest in fewer, faster, larger memory cards. The one brand that I have chosen to invest in for the last few years is Lexar.

Buy the Lexar CFexpress card here and the Lexar 2000x card here

Buy the Lexar Armor Portable SSD here and the Lexar SL500 Portable SSD here

ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS…

SD Card Cases

To protect your SD cards from water, dust, or damage, and keep them organized in one place, I keep them in a holder. The Skoloo case holds standard SD and micro SD cards, and the other holds CFexpress and standard SD cards. I use the second, and found that I can also store micro SD cards behind the CFexpress cards, too, and they stay put!

Buy the SD/Micro SD case here and the CFexpress/SD case here

Extra Batteries

Buy the Neewer batteries here

Peak Design Travel Tripod

I use my tripod a lot because I also like to take photos of myself, so I invested in the Peak Design Travel Tripod. It’s made of carbon fiber (so it’s lighter than others on the market), is stable, tall, and can be easily set up/taken down. There is also an integrated phone attachment that is incredible for those of us who also shoot on our phones. This is a key piece of any camera gear for travel and adventure photography.

Peak Design also makes the same tripod with aluminum, which is a bit heavier and less expensive.

Buy the Peak Design tripod here

Peak Design Accessories

Buy the Peak Design Capture Clip here and Tech Pouch here

Cleaning Accessories

Buy the microfiber cloths here and air blower here

Peak Design Camera Strap

I use the Sony camera strap that came with the camera, but I just ordered this Peak Design Camera Strap for my new film camera. I like it because it’s more minimal than other options, but can still be worn as a cross-body, neck, or shoulder strap.

Buy the camera strap here

Hoya Circular Polarizer Filter

Buy the Hoya polarizer here

Computer Gear

Apple MacBook Pro

Buy an Apple MacBook here

Apple iPad Air 11-inch

Camera Bags

DB Journey 30L Hugger

The DB Journey 30L Hugger has been my tried and true camera bag for years, which is perfect for travel. I pair it with the Ramverk Camera Insert (small) to hold my camera gear well. If you have more than one camera body and 3 lenses, you may want the medium camera insert, but it is a bit of a tight squeeze.

Buy the 30L DB Journey backpack here

DB Journey 26L Ramverk Pro

The DB Journey 26L Ramverk Pro backpack is another backpack I use a lot. I bring this when I’m traveling, and it is the bag I chose to bring snowboarding. I use the same small camera insert in this backpack as the Hugger to carry my camera gear.

Buy the 26L DB Journey backpack here

Peak Design Everyday Backpack

The Peak Design Everyday Backpack is an award-winning backpack for photographers. I used it for a bit and loved all of the well-thought-out details that help while shooting, but ultimately found I appreciated a backpack that was a bit more casual, like the DB Journey options.

Buy the Peak Design backpack here

Ramvert Camera Insert

This camera insert is essential for keeping my camera gear organized and protected. I fit my Sony A7R V with the 24-70mm attached, 16-35mm fits vertically (as shown in the photo), and 70-200mm. I can fit a few extra bits, and the rest I put into my Peak Design Tech Pouch and backpack. When I want to pack my second body, I use the medium camera insert or use the small and pack the second body in a smaller pouch.

Buy the DB Journey camera insert here

Underwater Photography

GoPro HERO13 Black

While I don’t do a ton of underwater photography, I do use a hands-free camera in my kit—especially for snowboarding, packrafting and any water activities! I use the GoPro HERO11 but would recommend the newer GoPro HERO13 for sharper images and better features. You can get an underwater housing as well, which allows you to dive deep. You can also get a wide lens to make your GoPro go further.

Buy the GoPro here

JOBY SeaPal Waterproof iPhone Case

I own the earlier rendition of the Joby SeaPal Waterproof iPhone Case, and while I do love it, I don’t tend to pack it very often. It’s pretty bulky, especially with the dome (that you can get over/under shots with). I prefer to bring a GoPro since it’s much more compact and versatile.

Buy the Joby SeaPal case here