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Lowe Pro Photo Trekker AW II
a rucksack for the photographer on the move
I have finally been able to get out a couple of times to test my new rucksack, so I can share my thoughts about this essential piece of equipment with you. In September I am going on a photographic workshop which will involve some walking. The only camera bag I had was a square shoulder bag, which was getting too small and which gave me very sore shoulders if I had to carry it for more than half an hour or so. Usually, making a buying decision is question of listing your requirements, deciding which are the important ones and finding a product that meets most (or in ideal circumstances all) of them.
The requirements I considered, in order of importance, were:
Like buying decisions, designing products is probably a question of finding the best possible compromise, but consumers don’t all agree on what the best compromise is. I looked at a couple of options, one of them being a Pelican case. This probably has the best weather and water protection of all camera protection systems, but the square plastic cases are not suitable to carry around for any length of time. When I looked at Lowe Pro I found they have a very extensive range of products. I guess they are trying to come up with a product to meet every one’s requirements! The advantage of the ‘Sliplock’ system they developed is that many of the add-on products are interchangeable between different ranges. Something else that helped me make up my mind was Lowe Pro’s excellent website. It has extensive information on all their major products, including diagrams of how the insides are laid out; a very easy to use product finder that works by asking you questions and leads you to suitable products; up-to-date camera case compatibility charts (the Canon 30D was in there a few days after its launch); user guides for all products; a dealer locator; etc.
When I came to use my new rucksack it did not let me down, which is just as well because these things are not cheap! The Photo Trekker AW II is very adjustable and can be configured to suit your own preferences: I was particularly impressed by the ability to decide whether you want to carry the load high on your back, or lower down. The rucksack is padded very well and felt comfortable on my back. The shoulder straps can easily be pulled tight to bright the load forward for a better balance. This was the first time I used a rucksack with a belt strap and I was pleasantly surprised by the difference it makes in distributing the weight: not everything rests on your shoulders anymore. I have not done much real scrambling yet, but the balance felt fine. After a few minutes you are used to the weight and compensate naturally.
The space inside is more than enough for my needs, but if you shoot film and want to carry two bodies, three lenses including a 400 tele and a generous supply of film, there might not be much space for luxury items such as a Mars bar or a can of Heineken. The inside is also very adjustable and can be configured to your liking. The holder to put your tripod in is meant to accommodate two legs, but I found that if you have a nice sturdy tripod like the Manfrotto 55PRO this can be a bit tricky (you have to extend the legs a little so that the clips are not at the bottom.) The tripod can be secured tightly with the many attachment loops that you get as standard on the back of the rucksack or on either side.
The weather protection given by this rucksack is excellent. It may not float for a long time when dropped in a river (like the Pelican cases and the Lowe Pro DryZone range), but I can assure you it is very effective against rain! I got thoroughly soaked on one of my recent outings but all the photo gear was kept dry. The zips are water resistant and you have an All Weather cover for when it really buckets down. The whole rucksack is amply padded, so you don’t have to worry if it is bumped about in the back of a car.
Easy access to equipment was the one thing I was slightly worried about when choosing to buy this rucksack. If this requirement is most important to you a rucksack may not be the best choice. If you have packed your gear away and are carrying the rucksack on your back it will take a little bit longer to get your camera than when using a shoulder bag. Some ease of access has been sacrificed to achieve the comfortable carrying and space that this rucksack affords. Getting out the camera requires taking off the rucksack, unzipping it almost fully, and opening the flap. Having said that, in practice I think I will probably walk around with the camera in my hand or with the strap around my neck most of the time. There are no external pockets that can be used to store a lens, so any lens change also requires putting down the rucksack and opening it fully. What may help is buying an additional pouch to store your second most used lens and attach that on the outside of the rucksack. There are plenty of places to put these accessories and attach them with the ‘Sliplock’ system.
What I have not yet been able to establish is whether the rucksack can be taken on board an airplane as cabin luggage. I suspect that in Europe this will be difficult, but airlines in the US are a bit more generous in this respect. The two rubberised handles (one on the top and one on the side) can be used to carry the rucksack when the shoulder strap and waist band are folded away.
At £168.- this is not a cheap option, but I think it is worth it. It is important to consider all options as a rucksack may not be the right one for you. Alternatives like a belt and harness system, or a shoulder bag may suit your needs better.
Here is one of the pictures I took in Froggatt Wood while using this backpack.
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