Profoto BackPack M vs Bag XS: Which Gear Bag Fits Your Kit?
By Borge's Imaging — Shop Photography, Printing and Studio Gear in Melbourne Borge's Imaging | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Buying Guides
Compare the Profoto BackPack M and Bag XS by what they hold, how you carry them and which lighting setups each suits, so you can pick the right Profoto gear bag.
Quick answer
Choose the Profoto BackPack M if you regularly carry two B1 or D1 flash heads plus stands and accessories to location shoots. Choose the Profoto Bag XS if you need a compact, padded case for a single B1 500 AirTTL and its charger between studio and home.
Capacity and what each bag is built to carry
The BackPack M is designed around a two-light kit. Its padded interior compartments fit two B1 or D1 flash heads, and it adds two stand pockets plus room for accessories. That makes it a working bag for photographers who leave the studio with a full lighting setup rather than a single light.
The Bag XS takes the opposite approach. It holds one B1 500 AirTTL, a charger and small accessories such as the Air Remote TTL transmitter. If your typical shoot uses one light and you want to travel light, the XS covers that job without the bulk of a backpack.
Carry style and protection
The BackPack M is worn on your back, which frees your hands for stands, a camera bag or a light meter on the walk from car to set. Its ballistic nylon shell and padded compartments are aimed at protecting multiple heads in transit.
The Bag XS is a soft nylon case with a carry handle and zippered closure. It is a grab-and-go option for a single head, but it is not a backpack, so it will occupy a hand or shoulder when you are moving other gear. Neither bag's catalog listing specifies weather sealing or lock compatibility, so treat those as open questions if you shoot in rain or check bags on flights.
When one bag is not enough
The two bags are not direct substitutes; they solve different carrying problems. A photographer who owns two heads may still want the Bag XS for quick single-light jobs and the BackPack M for full setups. If you are choosing only one, base the decision on the largest kit you carry most often, not the smallest.
Decision rules for choosing between the two
- Count your flash heads: If you routinely carry two B1 or D1 heads, pick the BackPack M. If you carry one B1 500 AirTTL, the Bag XS is the more appropriate size. Decide by your typical kit, not your maximum kit.
- Decide whether you need stand pockets: The BackPack M includes two stand pockets; the Bag XS does not list stand storage. If stands travel with your lights, choose the backpack.
- Match the bag to how you move gear: Choose the BackPack M when you need hands-free carrying over distance. Choose the Bag XS when you mainly move a single light by car or between rooms and prefer a compact handle case. Backpack carry suits location work; a handle case suits short transfers.
- Plan for accessories: The Bag XS has room for a charger and an Air Remote TTL transmitter. If you also carry spare batteries, cables or a second head, the BackPack M's larger accessory space is the safer fit.
Product facts
- Profoto BackPack M: Fits two B1 or D1 flash heads and includes two stand pockets. This is the bag to choose when your standard shoot involves two lights and stands, because both heads and their support can travel together.
Profoto BackPack M - Profoto Bag XS: Holds a B1 500 AirTTL, charger and accessories such as the Air Remote TTL transmitter. This makes the XS a compact single-light case for simple setups, but it leaves no room for a second head.
Profoto Bag XS
Who each bag suits
Best for
- Photographers who carry two B1 or D1 heads and stands to location shoots
- Studio owners who need one bag to move a complete two-light setup
- Shooters who want hands-free backpack carry for lighting gear
Not for
- Photographers who only own and carry a single B1 500 AirTTL
- Buyers who want the smallest possible case for one head and a charger
- Anyone who needs a bag for a different brand of flash head
