Insignia DSLR Camera Backpack Review: Budget Protection That Holds Up?

If you have been looking at the Insignia DSLR camera backpack, then I am sure you are aware that it is the inexpensive model, positioned alongside other brand models. Insignia is the "house" label for Best Buy, this is the same branding as their lower end TVs and HDMI cables.

The camera backpack has the same philosophy, very basic padded protection for your camera body and a couple of lenses, all at an impulse price when you buy a camera. This product will protect your equipment from banging into things.

Unfortunately, the difficult part is finding one in stock, and determining if you would be better off spending a little more money on a tried-and-true solution such as the MOSISO camera backpack.

What the Insignia Camera Backpack Actually Is

Best Buy has established a reputation for making affordable products through contracting out the manufacturing and branding them as Insignia. When you purchase an item like a camera bag under this label, it will include the bare minimum to complete your task, in other words, a padded main compartment, removable internal dividers and a plain exterior rather than anything weatherproof.

For a beginner using a DSLR and the included kit lens, these features are enough. A beginner does not need to spend a lot to protect a Rebel with an 18-55mm lens.

The issue is not with how the padding was designed or constructed. Rather, the lack of quality in an Insignia branded product lies within its ability to quickly become obsolete. Once the manufacturer decides to discontinue a particular model, they do not replace it and therefore provide no customer service for consumers who purchased that particular model.

Furthermore, because you cannot review multiple consumer opinions about an Insignia branded camera bag, you may find yourself purchasing somewhat blindly.

The catch with buying house-brand

Saving money on a bag is perfectly acceptable. However, if your bag becomes the difference between dropping your camera equipment and damaging your sensor, then it may be worth considering whether it is worth spending a little extra to ensure you have a good bag.

Additionally, since the Insignia line at Best Buy continually changes which items are available, even if you go to buy an Insignia camera bag, it is likely that it will be discontinued soon after. Therefore, you would end up going back and purchasing one of the many third party brands already available. Might as well start there.

What Actually Matters in a Budget Camera Backpack

Before the recommendations, I thought I would list some of the key items that separate a great backpack, regardless of price, from one that will be replaced quickly. Once you have addressed all of these areas, then the badge on the front of the pack won't mean anything to you.

Firstly, padding and dividers. The best bags will have good quality padding to prevent damage as well as hook-and-loop dividers that can be easily moved around to accommodate your needs. Lastly, don't settle for thin flaps that fall flat when the bag is tipped, they are useless.

Next up is the laptop sleeve. If you do any editing on location, this is a great feature because many bags designed for cameras will fit a full size laptop up to 15-to-16 inches.

And lastly, weather protection is probably the best hidden feature. Many bags include a hardshell front panel or an included rain cover. Both will protect your gear in case of bad weather.

On the other hand, a bag with neither will leave you covering everything under your jacket. If you shoot outdoors a lot, pair the bag with a dedicated camera rain cover for the body itself.

Lastly, access style is often overlooked by photographers. Most bags offer rear-panel access. This will help keep the area of the bag that comes into contact with your back free of dirt and debris while providing a small level of theft resistance.

Also, side access allows you to remove your camera without removing the entire pack. For those who plan on a run-and-gun day with their gear, side access will greatly improve how easy it is to use your gear. Finally, the tripod holder is a strap and pocket combo that lets you carry a budget fluid-head tripod on the outside of your pack so it isn't eating your interior space.

Budget Backpacks Worth Buying Instead

The following are the bags which people generally tell others to consider as affordable camera backpacks. They are also relatively easy to find, each has a large number of reviews, and they do not cost a fortune.

MOSISO Camera Backpack: hardshell protection for the money

MOSISO is the one to beat in this bracket. It's got a molded PU leather hardshell on the front that will take abuse the way a soft shell won't. On top, you'll find a two-compartment design that includes a customizable padded insert.

Underneath the top section is a laptop sleeve that accommodates machines up to 16 inches. There are also tripod and bottle pockets on either side. And located inside the bag is a hidden anti-theft pocket designed to store your wallet or phone.

As of today MOSISO has received more than 6,000 reviews averaging 4.7 stars. Reviewers consistently praise MOSISO for its ability to protect their camera gear from airline mishandling, and for the roominess of the interior that allows users to fit a single body plus two or three additional lenses and a flash.

One common complaint is that while MOSISO provides excellent protection, it does add some weight and bulk compared to a basic fabric camera bag. Some reviewers would have liked for the shoulder straps to be slightly more padded for long-term wear. However, most reviewers seem to agree that the added protection was worth the extra weight. You can check the current price on Amazon.

CADeN D6: the cheapest solid option

For those who cannot afford MOSISO, the CADeN D6 backpack offers a great alternative. CADeN is made from a high quality soft shell material weighing less than two pounds empty. The CADeN offers ample space for the camera along with approximately four lenses and a flash, yet still manages to fit a tablet and an external tripod.

The foam dividers found within the CADeN allow for rearranging the interior to meet your specific needs. Additionally, there is a side pocket for storing items such as bottles or umbrellas.

Currently, the CADeN D6 has the largest number of reviews, over 12,000, at an average rating of 4.7 stars. Based on these ratings, the majority of reviewers praised both the overall lightness of the bag and its versatility based on how many things it could hold for its price. Many new videographers stated that they used the CADeN as their first bag that did not leave them feeling ripped off.

While there were many positives, the majority of negative comments centered upon how the bag is not waterproof and therefore requires a separate rain cover, so it is a fair-weather bag. Finally, although the back padding was thinner than the more expensive options reviewed above, it still provided adequate support during extended periods of carrying.

BAGSMART: hardshell EVA plus a real laptop compartment

The BAGSMART camera bag represents a compromise between MOSISO's hardshell protection and CADeN's affordability. BAGSMART features a shock-absorbing EVA hardshell at the bottom front, water-resistant materials throughout with an included rain cover, and a dedicated laptop compartment accommodating 15 inch laptops.

Quick access to your camera through the side panels makes it possible to quickly retrieve your camera if needed. There are also tripod and bottle holders on either side of the bag.

Although BAGSMART is new enough to have only a limited amount of reviews available, initial customers appear to be pleased with their purchase and state that they appreciate both the hardshell front for protecting their equipment and the organized design. Several reviewers mentioned that they prefer using the upper clamshell compartment to keep jackets or clothing rather than keeping their valuable camera equipment inside.

Therefore, if you desire a hardshell protective case combined with a laptop sleeve but do not require excessive storage space, BAGSMART is likely an ideal choice for you.

K&F Concept 30L: most capacity for travel days

If you need to transport even more equipment than you have been able to carry with previous cases, then the K&F Concept 30L backpack is ideal for you. With it you receive a three-tiered interior design featuring an included 16-inch laptop compartment with a rain cover. In addition to being perfect for photographers traveling by air with multiple bodies, lenses and accessories including drones, it also serves perfectly for videographers requiring plenty of space for their gear.

Quick access to your camera via side panels also enables you to rapidly retrieve your camera when necessary. The case also lays flat when opened so that you can easily organize your gear into compartments and pack it neatly.

Over 1,000 customers rated it at 4.5 stars. Travelers praise its abundance of space and rapid side-panel access when retrieving your camera.

Other complaints include what would naturally occur with an increased volume bag, when completely loaded it becomes very heavy, and a few users complained that the actual dimensions exceeded expectations from reviewing images of the product online. If you are flying with a compact kit instead, our roundup of small travel video cameras pairs well with a lighter bag than this one.

Stepping Up: Lowepro Fastpack BP 250 AW III

You'll get an excellent reputation when you go for the Lowepro Fastpack BP 250 AW III. Lowepro has been creating camera bags since before many of today's photographers were born.

And their work is reflected in every detail: a QuickDoor side door, which allows you to quickly remove your camera without having to open the entire pack, a MaxFit divider system, which provides maximum flexibility as to how you organize your equipment inside the pack, a 15-inch laptop pocket so you can carry your computer along, and, of course, the built-in All Weather AW rain fly that Lowepro is so well-known for.

More information on the entire line can be found on the Lowepro site.

The cost is more than some of the other no-name bags out there. That's what makes it special. The reviewer average rating is 4.4 stars and reviewers repeatedly comment on the exceptional durability of the Fastpack and its ability to provide long-term comfort while being used as a daily driver.

The only real complaints are that the camera compartment is somewhat limited in capacity compared to some other bags this size because half the interior space is reserved for everyday-carry items. If you need one bag that will hold a modest amount of photography gear, a lunch, and a 15-inch laptop, then this is perfect.

But if you're looking to carry large amounts of photography gear, consider one of the dedicated camera packs from the list above. The Fastpack is also available at B&H if you would rather compare there.

How to Choose the Right One for You

Match the bag based upon how you are shooting. If you have one body and two lenses and they are all local shoots, the CADeN or MOSISO will give you enough protection without costing you too much money.

When you do in-location editing, look for bags that include an actual laptop sleeve, as this eliminates some of the least expensive options. The frequent traveler who has multiple bodies may find it best to purchase the K&F Concept 30L, or the Lowepro, due to the amount of space each offers along with the added protection against bad weather.

When you're just starting out, invest in your camera and don't overthink the bag. A beginner pairing a starter body with a budget video camera is probably better suited to a cheap CADeN with a rain cover, rather than spending top dollar on a high-end bag that eats the rest of the budget. You'll likely be able to buy a new bag later once you figure out how you carry your gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Insignia camera backpack worth buying?

For a first DSLR and a kit lens, an Insignia-style budget bag protects your gear fine. The catch is spotty availability and almost no review history, so many buyers end up choosing a third-party bag with a track record anyway. A MOSISO or CADeN costs about the same and is easier to actually find in stock.

What size camera backpack do I need?

Count your gear. One body with two or three lenses fits a compact 15-to-16-inch bag like the MOSISO or CADeN. A second body, a drone, or a travel kit calls for a larger 30-liter pack like the K&F Concept. Buy for the kit you have, not the one you might build someday, because a half-empty bag lets gear shift around.

Do budget camera backpacks actually protect your gear?

Yes, within reason. The padded dividers and foam walls on these bags handle normal bumps and short drops. A hardshell model like the MOSISO or BAGSMART adds real crush resistance for airline travel. What budget bags skimp on is weather sealing, so add a rain cover if you shoot outdoors.

Can a camera backpack hold a laptop too?

Most 15-to-16-inch camera backpacks include a padded laptop sleeve, including the MOSISO, BAGSMART, K&F Concept, and Lowepro picks here. If editing on location matters to you, confirm the laptop compartment fits your machine before buying. The cheapest bags sometimes drop the sleeve to save cost.

Is Insignia a good brand for camera accessories?

Insignia is Best Buy's house brand, built to hit low price points rather than to compete with photography specialists. It's fine for basic accessories and entry-level protection. For anything you're trusting with expensive glass, a bag from a dedicated maker like Lowepro gives you better materials and a longer track record.

What should I look for in a camera backpack?

Prioritize thick rearrangeable dividers, a laptop sleeve if you need one, and some form of weather protection, whether a hardshell panel or an included rain cover. Rear or side access adds convenience and a little security. An external tripod holder keeps your sticks off the interior so you can pack more gear.