The Lowepro Slingshot 200 is much better than most shoulder bags. It is pretty secure and allows more movement of the arms. Because of the side opening the camera is pretty easily accessible.I use this pack to hold my Canon 40D with a 28-135mm and the 15mm fisheye. I also keep a point-and-shoot with a small tripod and a waterproof case in the pack. With all that, I still have room for two more lenses.Traveling with the Lowepro Slingshot 200 is OK for short trips. Wearing the pack for long periods can really hurt your back because of the uneven load. The pack can not be worn comfortably on the left shoulder, so you may end up carrying the pack in your hand, or leaving it at the hotel after a few days.Overall, I think it is probably much better than a standard shoulder bag, but possibly a little worse than a regular photo-backpack because of the back pain.