man this comes up a lot... search the forum and youll find like fifty threads on SL2 bags haha. but quick reply while I have a sec cause I literally went through this exact nightmare last year in the Loop with my SL2 and the beastly Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm f-2.8-4 ASPH. My lower back was screaming by hour two. Here is how my bag journey actually shook out:

• Oberwerth William M: Gorgeous leather, smells amazing, but tbh it is way too snug for the SL2 grip. Felt like I was forcing it every time.
• Wandrd PRVKE 21L: Way better for weight distribution on long walks, but pulling that body out fast for street stuff is kind of a pain.
• Billingham Hadley Pro: You prob already have this one, but dropping the SL2 in vertically is the only way it fits without destroying the EVF... though the strap still digs in. Idk, you might wanna look into something with an ergonomic harness system instead of a messenger if your shoulder is already dead...

Oh man, this is totally my obsession — seriously, I’ve gone through like five different bags just trying to find that sweet spot for the SL2. Re: "man this comes up a lot... search the..." — yeah, it really does, because that 24-90 beast is just brutal on the shoulders! I totally agree with what was said about the sling and messenger weight distribution issues. If you want a real fix under your $400 budget, you gotta look at the Wandrd PRVKE 21L V3 paired with an extra waist strap, or if you want quick-draw street shooting, check out the Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13L V2. The Peak Design fits the SL2 grip without squishing the EVF if you configure the dividers just right — though wait, the dividers can be a bit fiddly at first. Anyway, bottom line is ditch the heavy leather and get something with real back support before Chicago ruins your spine completely.

Look, drop the messenger bags if your shoulder is already killing you. The SL2 with the 24-90mm weighs nearly 1.5 kilograms alone, and a one-shoulder setup will always wreck your spine over time. Listen, you need a backpack that transfers the load to your hips. Get the Wandrd PRVKE 21L V3. It has a proper harness system. You have to distribute torque evenly across your core, the same way you balance a crankshaft on a lathe. If the weight isn't centered, you're fighting physics every step. Speaking of balance, my old '88 Chevy pickup had a leaf spring snap last week because I overloaded the bed with transmission cores. Had to swap out the whole assembly in the gravel driveway in thirty-degree weather. But yeah, get the PRVKE and use the sternum strap.

So funny you ask this — last summer I was lugging a giant kit through the Loop and my shoulder genuinely felt like it was falling off. TL;DR: I think a medium messenger with thick neoprene straps is your best bet, though honestly — wait, no — maybe a lightweight backpack instead? Not sure but IIRC, anything under four hundred bucks that lets you drop the body vertically saves your spine.

I've been through three of these back-pain cycles already. Tried the heavy leather route years ago and it was garbage for long walks, though things may have changed. Before you drop money on another bag, I need to know one thing:

• Are you shooting one-handed while walking, or setting up shots from the shoulder?
• How much extra gear besides the 24-90mm are you actually carrying on these downtown walks? My current setup handles weight totally differently depending on whether I have extra lenses. Give me those details and I'll tell you what actually worked for me.

omg I have this exact same issue... been dealing with it for like 2 months now and still nothing works tbh

Solid advice 👍

@Reply #6 - good point! Before I suggest the right brand direction for your back, what is your torso length and do you typically carry a tripod with that SL2 setup?