Lowepro Hardside 300 Photo £175, $200

The Hardside 300 Photo is IP67 rated, certifying it waterproof for up to 30 minutes in one metre (3.3ft) of water. Lowepro uses an ABS polymer for the outer shell, and while this easily survived our testing, it gives the impression of being a whisker more brittle than some of the other case materials here.

Inside, you won’t find diced foam, but rather a removable, self-contained padded soft case with customisable dividers and a pair of concealable backpack straps. Within this is space for a body and attached lens, plus four to six extra lenses, though the case’s relatively svelte form means the optimal divider layout is best suited to narrower lenses. The payoff is 40 x 24 x 11.8cm (15.7 x 9.5 x 4.7in) of inner space and a shell that complies with most airline carry-on rules.