The best photo vests may not be the most stylish garments you've ever worn, but in terms of helping you carry your photo kit, they are second to none. Designed for pure practicality and ease when you're on a kit-heavy photoshoot, photo vests boast an inordinate number of pockets to store away your memory cards, spare batteries, lenses and more. The hardest part will be remembering where you've put everything!
While the best waterproof jackets for photographers and the best rain covers for cameras might be better equipped to handle sudden downpours of rain, the best photo vests keep you mobile and allow you to move quietly — a huge advantage for wildlife photography. Plus, some vests come with a hood with a wired peak, designed to keep the rain off your face as you watch for your subject.
We've rounded up the best photo vests available to help you choose the best one for you. We've included options at a range of price points — though bear in mind that some of the vests we've picked are only available in certain. territories (we've specified where this is the case). For more kit-carrying options, check out our guide to the best camera bags.
Ben Andrews
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, and the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
The best photographer's vest you can buy (for our money, at least), the Domke Photo Vest is beloved by pros, but is still reasonably priced enough for amateurs.
Constructed from 100% cotton, this high-quality vest is comfortable, hard-wearing and washable. With 21 different pockets, it's ideal for travel and safari use.
Well padded and insulated, Haukland's Photography Vest is an ideal option for cold weather. Inside it contains a handy 'mini photo bag' with dedicated battery and card pockets.
With its own battery and an app-controlled heating system, the COOPH Heatable Photo Vest is well and truly a modern option. It's also insulated with sheep's wool for cold weather.
A budget-friendly vest for US-based photographers, the CampCo Humvee Compact has 14 mesh pockets for storing and protecting your gear, and is constructed from nylon.
While it's another one that's hard to find outside of the US, the PortaBrace VV-M Videographer Vest is perfectly tailored to videographers and video news crews.
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Best overall
(Image credit: Future)
1. Domke PhoTOGS Vest
The original (and best) photo vest is back!
Specifications
Color: Khaki
Material: Cotton
Size: XS to XXL
Reasons to buy
+
Machine washable cotton
+
Huge rear pockets
Reasons to avoid
-
Not waterproof
Domke is the photo vest that has been worn by professional photographers for decades. The PhotoTogs disappeared for a number of years, but is back on sale again - providing the traditional design that many of us have loved. This is the vest that accredited pros were given at the London Olympics. A big attraction of this vest is the two huge back pockets, in which you can stow away lenses until you need them. There are 12 pockets in all, and a detachable vinyl-windowed holder into which you can put your ID or press pass.
Best for travel
(Image credit: Humvee)
2. CampCo Humvee Safari Photography Vest
The best vest for travel, adventure and, of course, safaris
Specifications
Color: Khaki, or black
Material: Cotton
Size: XS to XXXL
Reasons to buy
+
Seven different sizes
+
21 pockets
Reasons to avoid
-
Not waterproof
This is a traditional-style vest that is made from 100% cotton, which will appeal to those working in warm conditions, or who want something that is washable. This budget option boasts that it has 21 different pockets — ensuring that every accessory you can think of can be stored away in its rightful place.
Best for cold weather
(Image credit: Haukland)
3. Haukland Photography Vest
The best cold-weather vest for photographers
Specifications
Color: Black
Material: Recycled polyester
Size: XS to XXL
Reasons to buy
+
Padded for cold weather
+
Contains mini photo bag
Reasons to avoid
-
Only one color
-
Comparatively few pockets (ten)
Relatively sleek and stylish, the Haukland Photography Vest comes in black only and has been extensively padded to deal with cold weather. It features ten pockets, which isn't as many as some of the more heavy-duty photography vests, but is still pretty decent. Also, on the inside is a handy 'mini photo bag' with pockets specifically designated for batteries and SD cards.
Best smart vest
(Image credit: COOPH)
4. COOPH Heatable Photo Vest
The best smart vest for photographers, with app-controlled heating
A vest with an app — is there anything more 21st century than that? The COOPH Heatable Photo Vest features an active heating system powered by a rechargeable battery, and if you connect it to the smartphone app, you can fine-tune the heating level according to your needs. The battery can be charged via any standard power bank and the makers say it has about five hours of power in it — not enough for a full day, so you'll need to keep it topped up on particularly cold ones.
Best budget
(Image credit: Humvee)
5. CampCo Humvee Combat Photo Vest
The best photo vest for those on a budget, though it's only in the US
Specifications
Color: Khaki, green, or black
Material: Nylon
Size: XS to XXL
Reasons to buy
+
Breathable mesh
+
14 pockets
Reasons to avoid
-
Not waterproof
-
US only
As the name suggests, this Humvee vest has a more military appearance, compared to the Safari option in the company's range. This is made of nylon and breathable mesh panels, for use in all conditions. There are 14 pockets available for storing your gear. Unlike the Safari vest however, this one is currently only in stock and available in the US.
Best for video
(Image credit: PortaBrace)
6. PortaBrace VV-M Videographer Vest
This is the best waterproof vest for ENG and location video
Specifications
Color: Blue, or black
Material: Waterproof Cordura fabric
Size: S to XXL
Reasons to buy
+
23 pockets
+
Tough waterproof fabric
Reasons to avoid
-
High price
-
Hard to find outside US
This vest is designed for use by professional videographers in mind. It has 23 pockets to cater for the needs of those involved in electronic news-gathering — for brick batteries, walkie-talkies, tools, and much more. This has a robust feel, and made with cordura to ensure it is waterproof — but comes with a pro-level price to match its credentials. It's also quite difficult to find outside of the US.
How we test photo vests
When we test photography accessories and other gear, our experienced reviewers take them out into the field and assess how they perform. For wearables like vests and jackets, we assess all the criteria you would expect — comfort, warmth, waterproofing, carrying capacity, and even style. Our experience-based approach allows us to think critically about how useful a vest or other accessory actually is to the kinds of photographers and videographers who are likely to consider using it. Find out more about how we test and review at Digital Camera World.
How to choose a photo vest
1. Find the right size:
Most of the sizes available will be as expected, but if you're in doubt then you might want to size up – many of the vests will have drawstring waists and adjustable cuffs.
2. Pockets galore: The most useful thing about the best photo vests is how much they can carry. Some even have pockets that are big enough to hold a lens or two!
3. The sound of silence:
If you're a wildlife photographer, you'll know how important it is to invest in wildlife-friendly clothing. Look for a neutral color that won't attract attention and a rustle-free fabric without any noisy hook-and-loop (also known as Velcro) fastenings to be as stealthy as possible.
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
