Digital Photographer - UK (2019-12)

Lowepro’s Pro Trekker range of backpacks

has been a popular choice among

professional and enthusiast photographers,

and the latest range looks set to continue

in that fashion. With external dimensions

of 32x25x48cm, the Pro Trekker BP 350

AW II is the smallest of the collection,

but its camera compartment measures

28x15x42cm and is still capable of holding

a pro-level DSLR or mirrorless camera,

such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, with a

70 - 200mm f/2.8 lens attached and four or

five other lenses. In fact you can even have a

battery grip on those cameras if you need to.

There’s also a laptop compartment at the

front that can hold a 15-inch laptop and a

10-inch tablet. In addition, Lowepro supplies

a SlipLock tripod cup to carry a tripod

on the back or side of the backpack, with

help from the two removable quick-release

accessory straps.

As usual, the main compartment has

a selection of dividers, enabling you to

customise the space to hold your gear.

Lowepro uses high-quality foam with a

dense feel, so your kit is well protected.

However, as the main zip opens at the front,

you have to put the bag down to access your

gear, and there’s the potential for someone

to dip into it while you have the backpack on

your back.

The broad shoulder straps are padded

and comfortable, but we missed load-lifter

straps at their top to pull the backpack

in tight against your back. Also, smaller

photographers will want to use the chest

strap to pull the shoulder straps in a little to

reduce the strain on the shoulders.

Although we found that the outer fabric

sheds heavy rain very well, a rain cover is

provided for prolonged downpours. This

is the usual shower cap-style cover and is

stashed in a pocket at the base. A strap

enables it to hang from the bag to dry.

LOWEPRO PRO TREKKER BP 350 AW II

A quality bag to protect and move your kit

lowepro.com

£219 / $249.95

It’s a quality bag that keeps your gear well

organised and protected, but it irks a little

to have to put it on the ground to open and

access the main compartment.

Overall

Ease of use

Value for money

Features

Quality of results

Summary

Above

Organisation

As well as a zip-closing front

pocket and an expandable

side pocket, it comes with an

organiser gearbox that’s useful

for keeping cables, batteries

and filters tidy

Above left

Stowable straps

The waist belt is removable,

while the shoulder straps can

be stowed behind the padding

of the back section and the bag

carried by the grab handles on

the side and top

ACCESSORIES

Lowepro’sProTrekkerrangeofbackpacks
hasbeenapopularchoiceamong
professionalandenthusiastphotographers,
andthelatestrangelookssettocontinue
inthatfashion.Withexternaldimensions
of32x25x48cm,theProTrekkerBP 350
AWIIisthesmallestofthecollection,
butitscameracompartmentmeasures
28x15x42cmandisstillcapableofholding
apro-levelDSLRormirrorlesscamera,
suchastheCanonEOS5DMarkIV,witha
70 - 200mmf/2.8lensattachedandfouror
fiveotherlenses.Infactyoucanevenhavea
batterygriponthosecamerasifyouneedto.
There’salsoalaptopcompartmentatthe
frontthatcanholda15-inchlaptopanda
10-inchtablet.Inaddition,Loweprosupplies
aSlipLocktripodcuptocarryatripod
onthebackorsideofthebackpack,with

helpfromthetworemovablequick-release

accessorystraps.

Asusual,themaincompartmenthas

aselectionofdividers,enablingyouto

customisethespacetoholdyourgear.

Loweprouseshigh-qualityfoamwitha

densefeel,soyourkitiswellprotected.

However,asthemainzipopensatthefront,

youhavetoputthebagdowntoaccessyour

gear,andthere’sthepotentialforsomeone

todipintoitwhileyouhavethebackpackon

yourback.

Thebroadshoulderstrapsarepadded

andcomfortable,butwemissedload-lifter

strapsattheirtoptopullthebackpack

intightagainstyourback.Also,smaller

photographerswillwanttousethechest

straptopulltheshoulderstrapsinalittleto

reducethestrainontheshoulders.

Althoughwefoundthattheouterfabric

shedsheavyrainverywell,araincoveris

providedforprolongeddownpours.This

istheusualshowercap-stylecoverandis

stashedinapocketatthebase.Astrap

enablesittohangfromthebagtodry.

LOWEPROPRO TREKKERBP 350 AWII

Aqualitybagtoprotectandmoveyourkit

lowepro.com

£219/$249.95

It’saqualitybagthatkeepsyourgearwell

organisedandprotected,butitirksalittle

tohavetoputitonthegroundtoopenand

accessthemaincompartment.

Overall

Easeofuse

Valueformoney

Features

Qualityofresults

Summary

Above

Organisation

As well as a zip-closing front

pocket and an expandable

side pocket, it comes with an

organiser gearbox that’s useful

for keeping cables, batteries

and filters tidy

Above left

Stowable straps

The waist belt is removable,

while the shoulder straps can

be stowed behind the padding

of the back section and the bag

carried by the grab handles on

the side and top

ACCESSORIES