Lowepro Photo Sport BP 300 AW II

This pack’s alpine-friendly design, durability, and padded camera gear compartment make it a rare breed: good for shooting and climbing. “Most camera packs are bulky and cumbersome, but the Photo Sport made me feel balanced and nimble on the 35-degree slopes of Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba,” our tester says. Exterior gear loops provide storage for hiking poles or ice axes, and a mesh side pocket can hold a 1-liter water bottle or a small tripod. The Photo Sport’s 210-denier nylon withstood scrapes against sharp volcanic rock. Its 10-liter main packbag swallowed extra layers and lunch, while the side camera compartment, which you can access by slipping out of one shoulder strap, fit our tester’s DSLR and two lenses, including a 24-70mm. “At 18,000 feet, I appreciated how simple it was to get my camera in steep terrain,” she says.

$200; 3 lbs. 5 oz.; one size.