Tag:lowepro
Like every other photographer I know, I have a ‘silent addiction’ to camera bags. All of us in CBA (camera bags anonymous) have several bags, gathering dust accumulated over the years in the cupboard. This is while we continue to research and buy new bags searching for the holy grail. The perfect one size fits all camera bag.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack
To this end, I bought the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, a bag I had long coveted, thinking it would be perfect. And found, as did the crusaders in the search for the holy grail, or Captain Ahab in his pursuit of the white whale – it’s futile. No one bag will ever be suitable for every situation.
I have had no-name camera backpacks, sling bags, and messenger bags. Tried Lowepro backpacks and slings and tote bags with added padded camera inserts. I bought a Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 350 for a trip to Europe. I even purchased the Lowepro rolling suitcase at one time, thinking of all the times I lugged a heavy bag around an airport. Then fully loaded, the bag was too heavy to pass carry-on! All in the hunt for the one bag that would carry my gear and not break my back.
Lowepro Tahoe
When I sold my Canon gear and went mirrorless, I purchased a Lowepro Tahoe. It worked great. That was until I accumulated a few more lenses. Not one bag I have had worked as an ‘every time I leave the house bag. And neither does the Peak Design Everyday Backpack.
That being said, the only two I now own are the Lowepro Tahoe and the Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack, and I am pleased with both. However, through trial and error and many regretted purchases, I have found that you can’t get away with one bag. You need two. Why? Do you ask?
Why two bags?
It depends on where I am going and how much gear I need/want to take. I have found I need a day bag and a weekend/trip bag. My day bag is when I am just heading out for an afternoon or day trip. For those times, I don’t want to take everything. The weekend bag is when I want to take everything with me. The walking weight of the bag on a long hike doesn’t factor in for me. Due to (a) I don’t do long hikes and (b) my mirrorless system isn’t too heavy.
My Day Bag
The Lowepro Tahoe BP150 is my day bag. The Tahoe is my go-to if I am heading out for the day to chase waterfalls, autumn leaves, or wildlife (at the zoo). It’s light, comfortable on the back and holds my camera, a spare battery, a cleaning kit, and a second l ns. I can even remove one divider and tuck in some lunch.
I can tuck a water bottle in one side pocket and my tripod through the other. It also takes my keys in a secure clip and phone. It does take a tablet, but as a day bag, I don’t take that with me – it’s an excellent sleeve for extra stuff, though – when fungi hunting the other weekend, I popped a small reflector folded into its cover in here. You can also pop some protein bars in there to keep you going.
It’s a great day bag and is perfect for when I only need the camera, two lenses and lunch.
My Weekend/Trip Bag
The Peak Design Everyday Backpack gets packed when heading off for a weekend or week away. At 30L, it is still carry-on approved for flights. I have even placed it under the seat for short flights. It also holds an impressive amount o gear. My Olympus E-M1 Mark II with 12-100 attached, the 40-150 zoom, plus 7-14 wide and 60mm macro, all fit in the inside dividers nicely. One internal side pocket holds four batteries, pens, and cables. The other internal side pocket takes all my filters. The outside pockets fit a water bottle in one, and I can strap the tripod to the other side.
A zip in the top has a designated floating laptop section and an iPad section. Floating as the laptop/iPad isn’t sited at the bottom of the insert when you put the bag on the floor. Thus they have a buffer from hitting the floor. The fabric is also totally waterproof with waterproof zips, so no rain cover is required.
The little details
I love the magnetic latch to access the top quickly, and like that, there are no cumbersome waist straps, but there are lots of little hidden straps to attach things to… like your jacket if you take it off. It has a sternum strap that tucks invisibly away when not in use. It’s a clean ‘classy’ looking bag and doesn’t scream ‘camera bag’. I also love that there are three leather handles. This makes it easy to grab the bag from whatever side is facing forward (excellent in an overhead locker)
While it’s a sturdy, well-made, and very roomy bag, it’s also one of the more expensive bags on the market. However, IMHO is worth every cent, and despite the price tag, it is not one of my regretted purchases.