Traveling Hacks: Protect Your Camera Equipment
Traveling with fragile camera equipment through different climates and communities can be stressful and expensive. We asked freelancers in the Storyhunter community for the household tricks they use to keep their gear safe. Here’s their advice:
1. When it gets cold, whip out the wool socks.
One storyhunter freelancer, Charlie R., shared this travel hack with us. When you need to protect your gear from extreme cold, look no further than your sock drawer. Wrapping lenses in wool socks helps keep them nice and warm, so that they won’t crack in the cold. Freezing temperatures make it dangerous to handle a camera because if the lens is too cold, a bump or even sudden heat can cause it to break. This is also a great way to save space when packing!
2. Pack your gear with your underwear.
Packing your most valuable equipment with your unmentionables solves two problems at once. First, it is unlikely that someone will dig through underwear looking for expensive things to take. Second, they act as great padding to keep the equipment from bouncing around the luggage and breaking.
3. Ziplock bags can act as camera jackets.
If you are traveling through rain and need to shoot, a ziplock bag is a great way to protect your camera. Though, depending on your camera model, you might need to cut holes where the lens and controls are for easier access.
4. Bring back the fanny pack.
If you are shooting on the move and need a convenient storage space to keep interchangeable lenses, a fanny pack is your friend. Sitting at your waist, it’s conveniently placed for quick lens exchanges. It’s also not as obvious as a camera bag if you’re looking to be discreet about any expensive equipment you’re handling.
5. Don’t throw away silica gel packets.
You know the gel packets that come in new purses and bags? They’re actually incredibly useful for ridding your camera’s sensor of moisture. When traveling in humid climates, condensation can damage lenses and the excess moisture can cause the formation of mold in the lenses and corrosion on the metal parts of the body. Silica gel packets will help keep your camera bag dry and protected.
What other travel hacks do you use to protect your gear? Tell us in the comments below!
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By Lena Drake, Storyhunter Writer
