In summary
Most outdoor photographers would find Lowepro’s Pro Trekker 450 AW a good choice when they need to carry a lot of gear over a relatively short distance. (There’s no point in carrying more than you need on a challenging 8-10 hour hike.) For this type of usage, it has the following advantages:
1. It holds a lot of equipment, most of which will be well protected against impact shock, moisture and dust.
2. There’s plenty of space for ‘extras’ like a hydration pouch, laptop, clothing and snacks.
3. It’s designed to be comfortable to carry and the mesh lining on areas that contact the body will provide more ventilation than most other materials.
4. The pull-up all-weather cover provides extra protection quickly if it starts to rain when you’re out on a shoot.
Be aware that the bag doesn’t meet airline carry-on baggage requirements, and it’s not designed to provide instant access to cameras and lenses. (There’s no side entry point.)
Full review
Announced at Photokina 2014, Lowepro’s popular Pro Trekker backpacks have been updated with two new models that improve both wearer comfort (through increased adjustability and airflow) and equipment protection. The Pro Trekker 450 AW (RRP AU$499) we received to review is the smaller of the two models available and can accommodate up to a 400mm f/2.8 lens. The larger Pro Trekker 650 AW (RRP AU$549) can fit a 600mm f/4 lens. Both bags also include a pocket for a 15-inch laptop and a hydration-ready side pocket with a seam-sealed pouch that holds two litres of water.
Angled view of the Lowepro Pro Trekker 450AW. (Source: Lowepro.)
Who’s it for?
Size- and price-wise the Pro Trekker 450 AW ‘big-glass’ expedition backpack is designed for serious outdoor photographers who want to carry a couple of pro-DSLR cameras with a fast telephoto lens attached to at least one body ““ and do it as comfortably as possible. This is a large backpack and only suitable for photographers with several professional or semi-professional cameras plus at least one fast telephoto lens.
According to the manufacturer, a typical load for the Pro Trekker 450AW we reviewed would be two DSLR cameras (one with a telephoto lens up to 400mm f/2.8 size attached), four to six additional lenses, two flashguns, a 15-inch laptop and miscellaneous accessories.
The Pro Trekker 450AW bag opened to show how much equipment it can accommodate. (Source: Lowepro.)
Travelling photographers should be aware that the dimensions of the Pro Trekker 450 AW exceed the 56 x 36 x 23 cm limit for carry-on baggage for most Australian airlines. (The IATA limit of 56 x 45 x 25 cm is only available with a few International carriers and most budget airlines restrict carry-on baggage to 55 x 40 x 20 cm or less.) With a couple of camera bodies and lenses included, it is likely that the weight limit of seven kilograms (or 10 kg for Business Class) would be exceeded.
Both bags have high price tags for hobbyist photographers but their build quality and well-thought-out design provide some justification for the pricing. Likely buyers will be owners of pro and semi-pro DSLR who want high levels of protection for their gear and don’t mind paying more for tough, relatively heavy bags.
Design and Construction
Designed to be worn as a backpack, the Pro Trekker 450 AW is made from high-performance technical fabrics, with a 630D high-density nylon Oxford body and 1000D Cordura base. Both provide superior abrasion, tear and water resistance without adding unnecessarily to overall weight.
The Pro Trekker 450 AW has been designed primarily for outdoor photographers who need to carry fast telephoto lenses into isolated areas. (Source: DayMen Canada Acquisition ULC.)
Lowepro’s ActivLift System harness has been designed to emulate the natural ‘S’ curve of the wearer’s back and is adjustable to fit the length of different body sizes. It also transfers weight from the wearer’s waist to his/her hips, where it’s easier to carry for long periods, thereby adding to overall comfort.
The shoulder straps are about 80 mm wide at their anchor points and permanently attached to the pack. They taper to about 40 mm wide towards the waist band and are firm enough to resist twisting when the pack is put on and taken off. The fabric covering on the harness includes airflow channels to improve breathability.
The padded waist band is permanently attached and roughly 140 mm wide at the hips on each side. It is linked by a narrow (38 mm wide) webbing belt, which has a side-squeeze buckle closure and is long enough to be adjustable to fit most body sizes. Zippered pockets on this band provide additional storage space for spare batteries, memory cards, sunscreen or a small glasses case.
Shorter 20 mm wide chest straps are attached to the shoulder straps via sliding clamps. They also end in side-release buckles. Duraflex D-rings are located on each shoulder strap for attaching accessories and the chest strap has a smaller webbing loop for similar applications.
The ‘hydration-ready’ pocket, shown with the optional ‘hydration reservoir’ installed. (Source: Lowepro.)
The large pocket on the right hand side of the pack is ‘hydration-ready’ thanks to sealed seams. It can accommodate a water pouch (not included) that will hold up to two litres of water. A tube leading from the pouch can be fed out through the top of the pocket and tethered to the shoulder strap by elastic loops. Both the left and right side pockets have tall mesh accessory pockets on their outer surfaces.
A tripod holder is packed into a pocket with a zipper closure that opens near the lower edge of the back panel. It pulls downwards and is large enough to accommodate a medium-sized tripod or monopod, enabling it to be attached securely to the outside of the pack. When not in use, it tucks away neatly.
The Pro Trekker 450 AW’s tripod holder shown in use. (Source: Lowepro.)
Inside the pack you’ll find the standard MaxFit System of padded, adjustable interior dividers that enables users to configure the interior to suit their own requirements. As supplied, the pack is configured to hold two DSLR bodies with relatively short lenses attached, although one of the central dividers can be removed to allow one body to be installed with a long, fast tele lens ready for use.
The Pro Trekker 450 AW shown opened and packed with a typical set of equipment. (Source: Lowepro.)
Duplicate compartments with four dividers are located on either side of the interior. These can hold extra (short) lenses or flashguns or a battery charger and spare battery. Longer lenses can be accommodated by removing some or all of the dividers on one or both sides. In fact, the MaxFit System makes the whole interior easily re-configurable to suit different types and quantities of equipment.
Zippered slot pockets in the main compartment lid provide storage space for filters, cleaning cloths and other small, flat items, while above them are three small pockets for holding memory cards. All zips have fabric tags to make them easy to open and close. The front pocket contains a laptop sleeve, which is easily removable when passing through baggage inspection checkpoints.
A removable zippered pouch is supplied with the Pro Trekker 450 AW. It has an external pocket made from transparent plastic, which can be used for storing memory cards or other small items and also comes with a removable mesh sleeve that is roughly the size of a glasses case, although it would provide quite minimal protection for spectacle lenses.
This pouch will fit into the removable lid of the backpack, which doubles as a waist pack and includes multiple pockets and 40 mm wide webbing belt with a side-squeeze buckle closure. The lid is made from the same fabric as the backpack. It has an externally-accessed pocket with a zippered closure and another sleeve just behind the mesh-covered waist pad.
The Pro Trekker 450 AW with the All Weather AW Cover in place and the tripod held by the straps in the base of the pack. (Source: Lowepro.)
The built-in All Weather AW Cover is located inside a sleeve in the base of the bag that has a Velcro closure close to the wearer’s body. It can be pulled up to cover the entire bag and has two adjustable straps that fit around the pack’s shoulder straps. These straps allow it to be adjusted for a snug fit and you can use the adjustable compression straps at the bottom of the pack to hold a tripod (or umbrella) in an easy-to-reach position.
In Use
For our user tests, we loaded the Pro Trekker 450 AW with the closest equivalent we had to the recommended set of equipment. It was easy to fit Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D cameras, each with a 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens attached. We ran out of lenses for the remaining spaces but were able to pack in five short-to-medium-range zooms and a pair of stabilised binoculars as well as plenty of memory cards and cables, battery chargers and cleaning equipment. A Manfrotto tripod weighing approximately three kilograms was attached to the back of the pack.
The laptop compartment easily accommodated a 15-inch model, along with a mouse and cables. The whole kit ended up weighing just over 12 kilograms ““ which is more than we like to carry for any length of time. The broad shoulder straps spread the load reasonably well, although like most camera backpacks, the Pro Trekker 450 AW is better suited to male bodies than female ones.
It is also better suited to people with longer torsos, not so much because to the adjustability of the ActivLift System harness but the width of the padded sections of the waist band, which are designed to rest on the wearer’s hips, requires adequate space for comfort. Short-waisted females would find this pack uncomfortable.
On the plus side, there is plenty of scope to adjust the length of most straps to support the pack and its contents. It can also hold a LOT of gear, both inside the main compartment and attached to the various tethering points on the outside of the pack.
On the minus side, it’s not so easy to access gear that’s packed inside. You have to take the pack off, place it on a level surface and undo the various straps and zips to gain entry.
There are positive aspects to this design in the form of greater security for your gear and better protection from the elements. But if you need to grab camera and lens quickly to nail a shot, factor in the couple of minutes it will take to do so. Add another minute or so if the AW rain cover is in place.
In Summary
Most outdoor photographers would find Lowepro’s Pro Trekker 450 AW a good choice when they need to carry a lot of gear over a relatively short distance. (There’s no point in carrying more than you need on a challenging 8-10 hour hike.) For this type of usage, it has the following advantages:
1. It holds a lot of equipment, most of which will be well protected against impact shock, moisture and dust.
2. There’s plenty of space for ‘extras’ like a hydration pouch, laptop, clothing and snacks.
3. It’s designed to be comfortable to carry and the mesh lining on areas that contact the body will provide more ventilation than most other materials.
4. The pull-up all-weather cover provides extra protection quickly if it starts to rain when you’re out on a shoot.
But there are a couple of downsides:
1. It doesn’t meet airline carry-on baggage requirements.
2. It’s not designed to provide instant access to cameras and lenses. (There’s no side entry point.)
3. Female wearers are likely to find it less comfortable than males, particularly if they are short-waisted.
Australian photographers interested in purchasing this bag are advised to shop around locally before looking off-shore. Online prices we have seen advertised range from AU$389 to $428.50 ““ which is less than you would pay to have the bag shipped from the USA at the current exchange rate and estimated shipping costs.
Photographers who need a larger bag with similar features should look at the Lowepro Pro Trekker 650AW which has a local RRP of $549.00. Details can be found at http://store.lowepro.com/pro-trekker-650-aw.
SPECS
Construction: 630D Oxford nylon with 1000D Cordura base and zipper closures plus quick-release buckles
External dimensions: 493 x 359 x 573 mm
Internal main compartment dimensions: 282 x 190 x 440 mm
Weight: 4.1 kg
Colour options: Black
Accommodates: 1-2 DSLRs, one with an attached 400mm f/2.8 lens attached; 4-6 extra lenses, 2 flash units; a tripod or monopod and a 15-inch laptop.
Features: ActivLift System Harness, removable lid doubles as waist belt, built-in All Weather cover with cinch straps and rain flap, padded, adjustable interior dividers, pouch, tuck-away tripod holder and bottom compression straps, 2 cinch straps, seam-sealed hydration pocket in the side for an optional reservoir holding 2 litres of liquid.
Rating
RRP: AU$499; US$379.95
- Construction: 9.0
- Design: 8.5
- Versatility: 8.5
- Value for money: 8.8