Review: Lowepro Phototrekker AW II

[Joerg Rockenberger]

After buying a 500F4IS in the fall last year, I inquired here for a hiking backpack which can take the 500F4IS attached to a 40D body but still be within the carry-on limits of the major airlines. You can find the initial discussion here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=24401

Now, after almost 4 months of use including flights in the US, to/from and within Japan I thought some might appreciate me sharing my experience with this bag. First, I had no issue bringing the bag as carry-on onto the planes despite it being slightly larger than the limits. YMMV.

The Pros:
- IMO, a very good shoulder/belt harness which puts the weight very well onto the hip
- it fit all my stuff incl. 40D, 30D, 500F4IS, 400F5.6, 70-200F4IS, 17-55F2.8IS, Kenko extension tube set, two 1.4TCs, 580EXII, battery charger, better beamer, filters, and bits and pieces. Note, it was a tight fit. Already the 40D with the 500F4IS attached puts stress on the bag if you use the Canon leather lens cap. But after my Japan trip in February I replaced the Canon leather lens cap with the Don Zeck replacement caps (available at naturescapes.net) and now it's a great fit.
- it comes with a day bag which is stored in a large pocket on the "bag lid". This day bag can attach onto the back of the backpack. Basically, it seems like exactly what Roger jury rigged himself (see post #9 in the thread above)
- this large pocket was an unexpected benefit as it allows to store a variety of things if you ditch the day bag in there. Only constraint is that whatever you want to store in that pocket should be relatively flat. But it perfectly held a light jacket, the thinktank hydrophobia rain jacket, gloves, hat, flash light etc. Note, for carry on you probably want to keep this pocket empty as it adds a bulge.

The Cons:
- it's larger than the carry-on limits. I dread the day this will become an issue.
- if you need anything from the inside of the bag you'll have to expose your entire gear to the elements. I wish the bag had a few small outside pockets for batteries, memory cards etc. Note, I bought a small battery/memory card pouch which I attach to the hip belt.
- I am not a big fan of all the bungee cords and may get rid of them sooner or later
- the tripod sits relatively high IMO

Hope that helps. Best, JR

[bob arue]

Have you ever looked into this Lowepro bag?

Vertex 300 AW

I really haven't found the one right bag for all seasons. Like the Phototrekker too.

[Craig Markham]

I use the LowePro Vertex 300 and love it. Its dimensions exactly meet currently stated carry-on limits. I used it as my carry-on, along with a LowePro hip pack (personal item), and had no problem on NWA/KLM traveling to/from Tanzania via Amsterdam from the U.S. It will accomodate my 500mm+pro body assembled, and with a stretch, you can add the 1.4TC (but not the 2x). I recall Artie advising not to travel with lenses attached to the camera body because of the risk of wracking the assembly and damaging the mounts. Canon's carbon fiber lens hood for the 500mm is too large in diameter to fit the pack without excessively flexing the computer compartment. However, I devised a simple, easy to construct, neoprene lens hood and use a Don Zeck lens cap, mentioned above, and it all fits the pack just fine. I like the neoprene hood so much, that the Canon hood is retired to the closet. Canon's leather bootie lens cap and trunk -- does anyone really use them?

Instructions for making the neoprene lens hood, and also a photo of my pack layout can be found in my posting at:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php?t=6283

[bob arue]

Craig,

You were the one that hooked me up with the Vertex and again Thanks!

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Canon's carbon fiber lens hood for the 500mm is too large in diameter to fit the pack without excessively flexing the computer compartment.

That's why I didn't consider it seriously. And I think none of the camera shops nearby had one in store to check.

JR

[Craig Markham]

The Canon 500mm lens hood is 6.25" diameter (OD). Add another 1/4" for a Lenscoat. At the top of the pack, at the zipper rim, the LowePro Vertex 300 measures 6.25" in depth. However the main compartment tapers toward the bottom, where the depth measures only 5". Thus the 500mm with inverted hood attached will fit without flexing the computer compartment, but only if the lens is carried with the front of the lens pointed to the top of the pack. However, I would never carry it that way with a camera body attached, since the full weight of the lens would mash the camera into the bottom of the pack! Also the camera body, with Wimberley plate is 6.25", so it's best to keep it at the top of the pack for that reason too. Bottom line: I'll stick with my 3-oz neoprene hood arrangement and remain a happy traveler. With photo equipment, the 12 kg (26.455 lb) weight limit imposed by european airlines is more critical than the cubic inches anyway.

BTW, my only beef with the Vertex 300 is with the "Glidelock" sliders located on the exterior midlines of the sides and rear of the pack. The narrow strips of velcro that supposedly "lock" the slider in place do not hold very well at all, and, used with the supplied 1/8" bungees, they do not hold a tripod or other accessory securely against the pack. I prefer nylon webbing straps to Lowepro's tangles of bungees for holding a tripod -- especially when I have the topo-heavy Wimberley attached. Better yet, I just use a separate tripod carrier, or none at all, depending on field conditions. The detachable cup that holds tripod feet at the bottom of the pack is mostly a nuisance too, so it lives with my Canon carbon fiber hood in the closet. Things are rarely perfect, so I've just adapted them to meet my needs.

It wasn't my intention here to divert John Rain's posting about his Phototrekker pack. It sounds like a fine pack, except, as he says, it may exceed airline carry-on dimensions, and for me, the Vertex addresses the issue well.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

It wasn't my intention here to divert John Rain's posting about his Phototrekker pack.

Absolutely no problem with me. The more people share about their real-life experiences the better we're all off.

Thanks for your input. JR