Travel gadget: Lowepro Passport Sling

Lowepro passport sling. Photo / Jim Eagles

One of the downsides of getting a good digital SLR camera is the need to lug camera body, lenses, spare cards and batteries, around with you (along with maps, guidebooks, water bottles, passport, etc).

I generally use a standard camera bag or, if I'm expecting to do a lot of walking, a backpack. But I think this new Lowepro Passport Sling is likely to become the bag of choice in future.

It's a lot easier to carry than a rectangular camera bag yet you can fit a surprising amount in.

For my test run I stuck my Canon Digital SLR, spare zoom lens, spare battery and extra memory cards into the padded compartments, added a book, slipped wallet into the inside pockets, and still had room for a book, glasses case, mobile, water bottle, sleep mask and a few other bits and pieces.

There are also a couple of outside pockets for boarding passes and passport for when you're at the airport.

The carrying strap is easy to adjust and, though I didn't go for a long walk, it felt very comfortable. And it all folds down into a compact shape if you need to pack it inside your suitcase.

* The Lowepro Passport Sling retails from around $90.