A Traveler's Review: Compagnon Element Camera Backpack

Quick Summary of the Compagnon Element Camera Backpack 30L

If you are short on time, here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of using the Compagnon Element Backpack 30L, based on my experience traveling with it for the past year:

Why Did I Choose the Compagnon Element Backpack 30L?

I've been solo traveling and taking photos of whatever I come across since 2013, and I've gone through a mountain of backpacks, both regular and camera backpacks. With the way I travel, I tend to push my gear to its limits. After five years of using the Langly Globetrotter, the zippers and outer shell had finally started to give way, and it was time for me to move on to a new backpack.

My needs are pretty specific but not uncommon: I need a camera backpack that can do much more than simply carry my camera. My everyday setup includes a Sony a7R V, 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II, 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II, a teleconverter, and a tripod. On top of that, I need space for a water bottle, personal belongings, and whatever clothing I need for the destination I'm traveling through.

That becomes particularly challenging when I'm traveling for months at a time across several countries. One day I might be walking around a hot and humid city, while a few weeks later I could be hiking somewhere cold enough to require several layers. I need a backpack that gives me enough capacity and flexibility to adapt without having to carry a separate bag for every situation.

That said, the backpack I need isn't meant to replace my big backpack. I still need that for carrying clothes and other essentials. What I want is a camera backpack that can work as an everyday backpack, but also has enough capacity for a short overnight trip where I don't need to bring my main backpack, say, a two-day, one-night hike up Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala, for example.

And since I also tend to hike a lot during these trips, comfort is just as important as camera protection. A backpack can have all the compartments in the world, but if it becomes uncomfortable after a few hours on the trail, it isn't going to work for me.

After using several camera backpacks over the years, I settled on the Compagnon Element 30L because it ticks all the boxes I need, from camera protection and carrying comfort to capacity, accessibility, and design. I've now put it through almost a year of serious travel, from China to Antarctica, South America, and Central America, so I've had plenty of opportunities to put it through its paces.

What I Love Most About the Compagnon Element Backpack 30L

Very Well Built, Durable, and Weather Resistant

The build quality is one of the things I love most about the Element 30L. This is easily one of the best-built camera backpacks I've ever owned. Everything feels solid and made to withstand serious use, and boy did I put it to good use during my last trip.

I backpacked with it for almost a year, taking it from China to Antarctica, through South America, and then Central America. It has been thrown into chicken buses, carried through airports, taken on countless day trips, and exposed to plenty of rough conditions, from the snow of Antarctica to the volcanic ash of Guatemala.

Despite almost a year of abuse, the backpack has little more than a few regular stains. No scratches, punctures, or anything else. It would look almost new if I gave it a good clean. The material has really held up to the elements after everything I've put it through. Maybe that's why they call it the Element 😜!

The weather resistance is another big plus for a travel photographer. I don't have to constantly worry about a little rain ruining the contents of my bag, and the included rain cover provides another layer of protection when the weather gets serious.

Very Comfortable

The Element 30L is also surprisingly comfortable, especially considering how much camera gear I typically carry. It has well-padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap, load lifters, a well-ventilated mesh back panel, and a rigid, removable padded hip belt. I didn't use the hip belt once on my trip because I never felt the need for it—the backpack is already so comfortable to carry.

I hike a lot while traveling, so this is something I really appreciate. During my trip I regularly took the Element with me on long day trips and hikes, and it remained comfortable even after hours of carrying it.

The load lifters in particular make a noticeable difference when the backpack is heavily loaded. I even took it up Mount Acatenango in Guatemala, where I pushed the backpack well beyond what I would consider its normal day-to-day load as you can see from.

Beautiful Design

Design is very important to me when choosing a travel backpack. As a travel photographer and blogger, my backpack often appears in the photos I take for my travel guides. Over the years, it has even become a somewhat recognizable part of my travel setup.

The Element manages to look beautiful without sacrificing functionality, which isn't always easy to find. It has a clean, understated design and comes in several great colors, with Desert Brown and Forest Green being my favorites, of course. At the same time, it still looks like a serious piece of outdoor gear. It doesn't scream “camera bag,” which I really appreciate when I'm traveling.

For me, it is one of those rare backpacks where the design, durability, and functionality all work together instead of having to compromise one for the other.

Dual Access and Expandability

One of my favorite features of the Element 30L is the side camera access. This might sound like a small thing, but it is surprisingly difficult to find a camera backpack that gives you convenient side access while still retaining usable side pockets on both sides.

That means I can quickly grab my camera without having to completely take the backpack off, while still having the ability to use that side pocket when I need more gear to be easily accessible. Of course, when you have something in the side pocket, you won't be able to access the camera compartment as easily, if at all. Still, I appreciate the flexibility of having both options available. That's something I haven't seen in any other camera backpack I've come across.

The 30L capacity is also very generous. I can fit all of my regular camera gear, tripod, water bottle, clothing, and other travel essentials with room to spare. I even pushed the capacity to its limit during my Acatenango hike, where I packed all my winter gear, lunch and dinner, three liters of water, and all of my camera equipment into the bag, as you can see in the photo.

Feature-Packed

Another thing I appreciate about the Element is that it comes with pretty much everything I need straight out of the box. The rain cover, padded hip belt, all the straps I need, and other useful features are included rather than being sold separately.

This is worth considering when comparing the Element with cheaper camera backpacks. A backpack might initially look significantly cheaper, but once you start adding the accessories and features you actually need, the price difference can become much smaller.

What I Hate Most About the Compagnon Element Backpack 30L

Accessing the Rear Camera and Laptop Compartment Requires an Extra Step

My biggest complaint with the Element is the way the load lifters interact with the rear camera and laptop compartment.

Because of the way the load lifters are positioned, you need to loosen or unlock them before you can properly open the rear panel and access your camera or laptop. It's not a huge problem in everyday use, but it becomes surprisingly annoying when you're constantly going through airport security.

Every time I have to take my laptop out at security, I have to stop, unlock the load lifters, open the compartment, get the laptop out, and then adjust everything again afterward. After doing this dozens of times, I definitely wish there were a more convenient solution.

I'm not entirely sure what the ideal solution would be without compromising the excellent carrying comfort of the load lifters, though. So, if you have any ideas, let me know in the comments below. This is definitely one area where the Element could be improved.

Expensive

The other obvious downside is the price. The Element 30L sits firmly in the premium camera backpack category, at around 399 EUR (465.56 USD) for the new 2.0 version, or you can get the previous version as I did at around 299 EUR (348.90 USD) and you'll need to be willing to pay for it.

Something international buyers should keep in mind is that taxes can add up depending on where you live. Thailand has some pretty hefty import taxes that can cost almost as much as the product itself, so I had to get mine while I was in Germany instead (I ordered it online and had it delivered to my hotel).

However, I don't think the price tells the whole story. The Element comes with the accessories and features you actually need, including the rain cover and hip belt. With some competing backpacks, the base price may look cheaper, but once you start buying the accessories separately, the total cost can end up surprisingly close to the Element.

Velcro Dividers Could Use More Variety

The Element comes with plenty of Velcro dividers, which is great, but I found myself wishing there were more variety in their sizes and lengths.

I eventually came up with a compartment configuration that works really well for my particular camera setup, but the included dividers didn't quite give me the flexibility I wanted to create it exactly the way I envisioned.

Having more divider sizes and shapes would make an already flexible camera compartment even better, particularly for photographers with unusual combinations of camera bodies, large lenses, and accessories.

The Top-Bottom Divider Is Too Flimsy

The top-bottom divider is another area where I think the Element could use some improvement. It's a little too flimsy to properly separate the two compartments when you put something heavy in the upper section. The weight can cause the divider to sag or expand into the camera compartment, eating into the space I need for my camera gear.

I'd love to see a stronger, more rigid divider that can properly hold its shape and keep the two compartments separated, even when the upper compartment is fully loaded. This would make the bag much more useful when you're trying to maximize its capacity without sacrificing camera storage space.

The Verdict: A Great Investment for the Very Best Camera Backpack

After almost a year of traveling with the Compagnon Element 30L, I can confidently say that it is one of the best camera backpacks I've ever used. I've taken it through some seriously demanding trips, and it has handled everything I've thrown at it.

It is extremely well-built, comfortable enough for long hikes, spacious enough for a full professional camera setup, weather-resistant, and genuinely beautiful. More importantly, it works exceptionally well for the kind of long-term, multi-country travel that I do, where I need one backpack to handle everything from city exploration to serious mountain hikes.

There are certainly things I would change. The load lifters make accessing the rear compartment more cumbersome than it needs to be, the Velcro divider system could be more flexible, and the price is undeniably high. But after using it extensively in the field, none of these issues have outweighed the things I love about the bag.

If you're looking for a premium camera backpack that you can take on long-term adventures and don't mind paying more for excellent build quality, comfort, and an all-in-one feature set, the Compagnon Element 30L is an easy recommendation from me. Think of it as an investment that will last year many years to come.

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