Small enough not to overpack and large enough to bring the essentials. Very comfortable set-up. I especially like the tri-pod carrier!!

Would like to see an additional non-padded extension off of the bottom for food/jacket, ect...

Oh, and a rain shield would also be nice!

Great pack for the price. It carries all my essential equip. (8001/F90x/20mm/55mm/80-200f2.8/SB-28) lot's of film and filters with ease!

Customer Service

Not req'd
But the agent in Ontario is teriffic!

Similar Products Used:

Domke D-6
LowPro Orion

* Sturdy construction
* Flexible interior configuration
* Plenty big (but not too big)
* Ergonomic and comfortable
* Tripod holder

* No rain cover
* Might not work for taller people
* Tripod holder

This is a great backpack if you're in the market for one. First of all, it's just that -- a backpack. It spreads the weight evenly on your shoulders. I have a bad back and this bag feels wonderful ... no more awkward bags on one shoulder.

I went looking at all the backpacks out there and decided on this one for a number of reasons. First, it held my camera equipment and had some room left over. The interior can be customized any number of ways and will fit just about any camera outfit you throw at it.

Another thing I really liked was that this is a dedicated camera backpack. It's not one of the backpacks in which the top folds back and is an empty pocket for all your "junk" with a camera bag at the bottom. Some people have complained about this, but I have found that I can use the bag to hold all my equipment, and have some room left over. The adjustability of the backpack allows me to move some of the dividers or even take them out to store a jacket, food, water, or anything else in the bag.

I also liked the material and "finishing touches" of this backpack. LowePro is famous for making backpacking gear and has been doing so for many years. They know what they're doing. This is not a camera bag with straps -- this is a serious backpack that can carry your camera.

Finally, the tripod holder. This is a double-edge sword. On one hand, I have to applaud LowePro for offering this feature (previous versions of the bag lacked the tripod holder). At the same time, it could be better. On the whole, it's nice to have, but it is by no means perfect.

The only other thing to mention is the size. I'm six feet tall and the bag fits perfectly. If you're much taller, though, the waist strap could easily come across your stomach. Be sure to try the backpack on before buying it if you have any doubts.

In the end, this is the best bag in its class. It does everything you could ever want and will carry any system you have. It does all this without being too big and for a modest price (it's not much more than all the smaller, less practical backpacks and it's less than the comprable models from Domke, Tamrac, and Tembro). It's built strong and will last forever -- and that's exactly how long I plan on keeping mine!

Customer Service

* I'm not sure how it is -- I haven't needed it yet

Similar Products Used:

* Just a small Canon carry bag

this pack is the answer to the one dilemma that remained for me.Having opted for a bronica etrsi mf system,I was finding it difficult to lug around due to the weight(I have tried a Billingham 335 bag, plus a cheap photo-rucksack).The mini-trekker holds 1 body,a ae2,3 lenses(50,75,150)+ 1 extension tube,2x teleconvertor,filter kit and to crown it all,even manages an effective way of carrying my heavy slik tripod.

waist strap is a stomach strap for me due to my height(6f4i)

there is no need for a bigger/pricier pack if you havnt got loads of kit.

Customer Service

not tested

Similar Products Used:

None

-Is ( rather ) well designed
-The tripod holder
-lotsa place
-GREAT for mountain biking with photo gear
-comfortable
-right size not too big-too small

-The tripod Holder
-The "rather" good design

Well I needed a photo bag, bought this buddy and I love it. It'is wonderful, "cheap", practicle and everything... I wouldn't trade for anything but still I really HATE one or two things 'bout it.

1. Please be honest, most of us use manfrotto-bogen tripods. Some call them light, I don't. I wear my bag hours at a time and having hanged around a lot with the bag I must say I'm astonished with some features from the tripod holder. It's very nice of you of suppling us with something like 60 centimeters or more of whimpy elastic but let's face it: who on hell does carry a tripod with a diameter of 20-30 centimeters. Most of the pods have an average of 10 cm(max).
A shorter rope-string would be much more useful.
Also, I use my bag mainly one my bicyle in the mountains and forest and each time I kick the slightest jump, the tripod fleas away with the whimpy-elastic and rushes back with a tremedous bang in the back or in the helmet if you use a long pod. PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE put some real stuff to hold the tripod. Use the same system than the harneses wich hold the street n' field gear. The Tripod needs to be very safely packed and straped. And it surely isn't with a supa-dupa long whimpy-eleastic. Put someting short and tough.

( I really wouldn't like to by a pain, but the front pocket isnt' either a model of ingeniousity when pack with a tripod.)

2. Please do something to store the one-thousand ropes flinging all around the bag when not used with a pod. Funily enough, from time to time I use my bag without my trustworthy bicyle and enjoy walking in a forest. But when you happen to untangle you ropes stuck in merely any branch you walk nearby 5 or 6 times per afternoon and miss strangling yourself or bringing a tree down, you wish real hard that those ropes could be safely packed, again like the street n' field sys., in some kind of clicker.

Please you guys overthere at Lowepro, do something for all those ropes ( even the whimpy ones...)

Except all that fuss, I ow my bag a- value: 5 and overall: 5 for all the incredible places I've been able to go to.

Customer Service

na

Similar Products Used:

none, I'm happy with my bag

It's small, but you can squeeze a whole lot of gear into it. It's comfortable too, and doesn't seem too heavy, even when full. Plenty of pockets, and 2 slip-lock loops for a couple of extra pockets.

Just about holds my EOS3 with PB-E2 attached.

I actually got the Photo Trekker classic first, but that was way too big for my liking, so I got this instead. It fits most of my gear, which I need for Formula 1 snapping. I can manage to squeeze 3 bodies into it, 4 lenses, flash unit, lightmeter, and loads of extras into the pockets. It will even take my 400mm F5.6 lens no problem..but that takes up loads of room, so I just use my separate lens case for that. It holds my monopod too, which is good.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon Shoulder bag, Lowepro Offtrail and S+F Lens Case5

practical for serious hiking trips in forest and mountains. good carrying system

With all camera backpacks tripot straps at the bottom of the backpack are missing.

good protection and nice system to carry my +6 kilo's camera and lenses into the mountains. also place to fit some food and water.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

none

It's a good pack, with lots of room for a reasonably large outfit. It seems to distribute the weight well with the straps, belt, and small straps which hold the shoulder straps tight.

Not that much room for normal daypack items, fairly heavy empty.

The extra weight empty is required to support the equipment properly, but even so, it's not exactly featherweight empty. Once you add as much gear as you CAN fit in this thing, you have quite a load! Still with moderation you end up with a well built pack that protects your equipment well and distributes the weight about as well as is possible. There is one large and one small pocket in front you can put normal daypack stuff in, but it's not really enough for the stuff you tend to want to take (water, extra clothing, raintop, etc) without being a very tight fit. On balance, it's a good pack, worth the price.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

Normal light daypack.