Mountainsmith was founded in 1979 by outdoorsman Patrick Smith out of a need for ruggedly durable gear that would withstand the rigors of his backcountry pursuits in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They make all kinds of outdoor gear including sleeping bags, tents, trekking poles, even one made for photographers—The Trekker FX Monopod. They also make backpacks. including some designed for photographers as well as several bags and packs for mirrorless camera too.
The company’s Kit Cube Micro converts any appropriately sized bag or pack into a Micro 4/3 or mirrorless camera-ready workhorse. The size (5.5 x 6.5 x 4-inches) is ideal for a camera, extra lens and speedlight. The beautifully crafted bag—it’s really an insert—has a roll-top collar enabling fast access so you won’t lose a shot and a side release buckle closure so your gear stays put when you’re on the move.
It has removable padded compartment with internal dividers for custom camera carry letting you make a camera bag out of virtually any bag letting you keep a low profile for street photography or complimenting a bag you’re using for hiking or off-roading. The 500d S-Kodra High Tenacity Nylon is water resistant and the liner is made from 210d with Atilon foam. Best of all, it costs just $24,.95.
Mountainsmith also has a collection of eco-friendly camera bags made from ReForge 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) including cases for binoculars, entry level SLR kits and mirrorless cameras too. Their Cyber Medium camera case offers easy access and organization for spare media cards, batteries, etc. It’s also useful for a small mirrorless camera, such as Panasonic’s Lumix GM-1 or one of the smaller Fuji’s.