Gomatic LUMA Camera Pack 18L – Review
By Steve Crabtree – November 2025
Away from writing and writing and writing, photography and videography have been part of my creative life for years. I wouldn’t say I’m a master behind the lens, but I’ve worked on plenty of commercial shoots – from capturing hotels and interiors to filming aerial drone footage, creating how-to and explainer videos, and editing brand videos. Between my Canon R10, a couple of lenses, a DJI Pro drone, action cams, and all the batteries, plugs, chargers, and cables that come with them, I’ve built up quite a kit collection over time.
The problem? The number of bags that come with all that gear. They’re usually a sling bag, and you don’t just end up with a lot – it’s becomes an impractical mess. Carrying multiple bags is tiring, and most aren’t designed to distribute weight properly or make equipment easy to access when you’re out on a shoot. I’d been after something that could carry more. Carry everything safely, comfortably and neatly in one go.
Enter the Gomatic LUMA Camera Pack 18L. A bag designed in collaboration with Peter McKinnon. A bag that looks too good to be a work bag, but that wasn’t going to deter me. I actually use another Gomatic product as my everyday work bag, and it’s incredible – so when I was alerted to their camera bag, it was a no-brainer. I went for the stone colour version, and it’s proven to be a fantastic addition to my setup.
“Perfect organisation for all your gear”
Loading this bag up for the first time was a joy. The velcro dividers let you build custom sections to fit every piece of equipment perfectly. Camera, lenses, batteries, chargers, cables, drone, drone controller – all have their place. It was surprisingly easy to pack everything neatly on the first go, without needing to play Tetris to make things fit.
How to create the layout inside the bag is well thought through, as is the access to accessories from the outside. That’s something I’ll touch on a little later.
I loved the backpack from the off. Its function and efficiency makes a massive difference to an organised day.
“Built to last”
The comfort of the Gomatic LUMA Camera Pack 18L is one of its best features. The padding on the shoulder straps feels premium, far above the average. Weirdly, one of the first things I noticed was the high-quality handle at the top of the bag. That feels built to last, with a sturdy, cushioned finish.
When fully loaded with kit, it’s hard to believe how light it feels once it’s on your back. The weight seems to distribute perfectly, and even on a long day of shooting, it keeps fatigue at bay. After years of camera bags digging into my shoulders, this one’s comfort and balance have been a revelation.
The side and top openings are genuinely clever. As someone who mainly shoots commercial content, my shots are usually set up and structured. But there are always those fleeting moments when a scene unfolds naturally, and you’ve got seconds to grab your camera. That’s where these access points come in handy – quick, simple, and reliable.
Even when I’m not in a rush, it’s great to be able to grab what I need without having to unzip the entire bag. For me, these easy access sections, along with the customisable dividers, comfort, and material quality, make this bag stand out. It’s waterproof too – an obvious need for those who shoot in the outdoors on a regular basis.
“Sits comfortably”
Durability is another big tick for the Gomatic LUMA Camera Pack 18L. You can feel the quality as soon as you pick it up – the materials, zips and stitching all feel robust, ready for years of use. The structure of the bag holds its shape perfectly, even when fully loaded. So, if like me, you also want to look the part when you’re doing your work – that helps.
Extra tabs and holsters for tripods or accessories make it practical for larger shoots too. During my latest shoot – a 16-hour day filming both inside and outside a hotel – I had constant lens swaps, battery changes, and two tripods on rotation. The Gomatic bag kept everything safe, secure, and easily accessible, following me around all day without ever feeling cumbersome.
Its internal zip compartments for cables are quite standard, and I needed my laptop to be in and out of my bag too. Did I mention there’s space for that as well?
When I’m walking through hotel grounds or moving between locations, it sits comfortably, never dragging or causing that shoulder strain that comes with inferior designs. It’s helps you do your job.
The Verdict
The Gomatic LUMA Camera Pack 18L is, quite simply, camera backpack I’ve used. It combines comfort, quality, and clever design in one sleek package. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an enthusiastic content creator like me, it’s a piece of kit that genuinely improves your workflow.
The question we always ask when it comes to bags being measure in litres is….how big is that? Well, the dimensions of the 18L version of the backpack are:
- Depth: 17.80 cm
- Width: 29.20 cm
- Height: 45.70 cm
- Weight: 1.20 kg
And the cherry on top? Gomatic back their craftsmanship with a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty. A rare and reassuring sign that they stand by the quality of their gear.
So, for me, this isn’t just a camera bag. It’s a piece of kit that’s as important as everything else you need for a photoshoot or a filming day. You might take a bag for granted, but you feel the difference with this one – you feel it’s made especially for you. For anyone serious about keeping their camera equipment organised, protected and ready to go at a moment’s notice, this pack is a must-have.
The Gomatic LUMA Camera Pack 18L is available now from gomatic.co.uk and Amazon UK – RRP £200.
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
