Ah, this comes up a lot right before travel season — everyone suddenly realizes their shoulders are wrecked from using random backpacks with neoprene wraps (I've definitely been there, wait, no — I did that exact thing on a trip to Rome years ago and could barely walk by day four). For a minimal two-lens kit like your M10 and Summicron with just a light jacket and passport, you honestly don't need to spend top dollar on a Billingham, even though they're great. Since your budget is around $250 max, you can actually get way better value. If you want a sling style for city walking in Japan, look at the Wandrd Rogue Sling 6L. It's super comfortable, stays glued to your back when you're rushing for the train, and leaves you plenty of cash in hand for ramen. Another solid budget pick is the Tenba Solstice Sling 7L — it doesn't scream "expensive camera gear inside" which is nice when you're navigating crowded Tokyo streets. The ONA Bowery is stylish (though maybe a bit tight once you add that jacket), but slings really do distribute the weight better for all-day walking than a standard shoulder bag, especially if your shoulders are already acting up. Just grab something small and keep it light, because trust me, you'll be walking ten miles a day over there.

Late to the party here, but reading through everyone sharing their shoulder pain and spreadsheet breakdowns — wow, it really hits close to home since I was literally just researching this exact thing last week. I'm no expert by any means, but falling down that rabbit hole gave me a pretty good look at the main contenders for a minimal M kit.

• Billingham Hadley Small — Super weatherproof and classic, though maybe a bit stiff at first and pushes right near that budget cap.
• Ona Bowery Leather Brass — Looks gorgeous and fits an M10 plus a couple of lenses easily, but lacks some of the hardcore weather sealing of the Billingham.
• Wotancraft Pilot 7L — Incredible harness system for actual walking comfort, way better as a true sling than the others. Honestly, if you're walking all day in Japan, grab something with a proper stabilizer strap so it doesn't swing around.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I checked my spreadsheet tracking every gear purchase over the last decade. Buying a dedicated leather bag for $250 is terrible cost-per-use when you factor in a three-week trip breaking down to about $12 a day just for the luggage. I modified a standard $25 camera insert from Amazon and put it inside a used canvas messenger bag I found at a thrift store for $15. Total cost was $40. That saved me a ton compared to the $230 ONA Bowery Leather Camera Bag or the Billingham Hadley Small Canvas Camera Bag which cost way too much for what is essentially a canvas box. The dealer wanted $350 for a designer option but I built my own setup for under fifty bucks. If you divide that by the five years I have used it, my cost is pennies per year. Slings bounce too much when walking fast through transit stations anyway. A stiff messenger bag holds the M10 and 35mm Summicron flat against your ribs without shifting. Add a cheap luggage strap and you are set. Don't waste $250 on brand names when you can DIY a better loadout for the price of a couple lunches.

Look, carrying gear all day on a trip is a lot like being on the shop floor for a twelve-hour shift — if your weight distribution is wrong, your whole body pays for it. (I learned that the hard way hauling heavy metric socket sets around in a cheap canvas tool bag before upgrading to a proper setup.) Listen, a floppy sling is just going to bounce against your hip and wear you out. You need structure.

• Support the lower back properly
• Keep the load locked down tight
• Distribute the weight evenly across your frame When I travel light now, I use the Wandrd PRVKE 21L because it locks everything in place and doesn't shift around. Anyway, get something with a rigid frame sheet so your shoulders actually survive three weeks in Japan.

Re: "Building on the earlier suggestion, I checked my..." spreadsheets and cost breakdowns, oh man this reminds me of when my brother-in-law took his vintage camera to Europe and tried to pack light, and it just turned into a whole multi-week ordeal involving three different luggage stores in Munich, a missing passport pouch, and a custom duct-tape harness he made in a hostel bathroom at 2 AM.

• The dealer wanted $400 for a proper travel case, but he DIY'd a milk crate strap system for zero dollars.
• His cost per year dropped to basically nothing, even if his chiropractor bill went up by three grand.
• We are talking about a guy who calculated the cost per mile of walking across cobblestones with a bruised hip.

Look, before you drop cash on anything... how many pockets you actually need for your passport and jacket while walking? Check out Wotancraft Pilot 7L camera bag if you want a real sling that wont fall apart.

Helpful thread 👍

Oh man this is exactly my thing, I went through the exact same shoulder destruction phase in Kyoto two years ago with an M6 and a random pack before I finally lost my mind and bought five different bags in six months. My physical therapist literally asked me what I was carrying after that trip. Anyway, bottom line is you need a stabilizing strap if you go sling style so the bag doesn't swing around when you are stepping onto crowded Tokyo trains. Grab a Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L V2 or look at the Wandrd Rogue Sling 6L. Both keep the weight pinned to your back properly. Just make sure whatever you pick has a luggage pass-through if you are carrying a roller too.