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Photography News Issue 29 absolutephoto.com
First tests
Lowepro Photo Sport BP 300AW II £147
Specs
Materials Super lightweight N100 nylon with UTS coating Dimensions (wxhxd) external: 27x56x24cm Internal camera compartment: 21x22.3x9cm Weight 1.5kg Contact lowepro.com
Accessing kit is simple; I even managed it while wearing fat, winter gloves
Above The Photo Sport BP 300 AW II backpack has adjustable straps that comfortably fit most heights. The little strap for your water reservoir is pretty neat too.
This rucksack is light and, in the case of my sample, bright. And I liked it before I’d even got it on. Once I had it on, with the straps adjusted to fit, I liked it even more. It’s not often that I put a backpack on and find it so easy to fit. With its adjustable shoulder straps, chest and waist belts, the Photo Sport BP 300 AW II is a cinch to fit. I’m an average 1.7m tall, but I feel certain that the Photo Sport BP 300 AW II (ok, let’s call it BP for short) would fit shorter and taller photographers easily, although 2m tall might be the upper limit, judging by the look on my colleague’s face when he tried it on. If you’re bothered about coordinating the colour of your rucksack with your outdoor gear, then you’ll be delighted to hear the BP comes in two colourways. The bright blue with yellow straps is what I had, but there’s the more conservative black with orange straps too. Despite its feather weight, the BP is robust too. The super lightweight nylon fabric will take everything in its stride, and it certainly hasn’t come out any the worse for wear after I’ve carted it on a multi-day hike, chucked
it in various luggage compartments (it meets most airlines’ hand luggage restrictions), sat on it and slung it on and off tens of times a day on wet and windy walks. Given that this backpack is so light, it is rather tempting to overfill it. It’s easily done: a 2l water reservoir fits snuggly into the designated back pocket, the padded camera compartment takes a top-end DSLR and up to three lenses, and that still leaves plenty of room for photo accessories, outdoor gear and a three-course packed lunch. I learnt this lesson quite quickly. For my multi-day hike, I learnt that a waterproof jacket and trousers, spare fleece, CSC with lens and a second lens, spare battery and charger, monopod-cum-walking pole, spare cards, a day’s worth of food (including a good supply of chocolate), book, map, 2l of water and a small flask was plenty. For once, I didn’t have to pack everything in dry bags either, as the nylon has a water-resistant coating and then there’s the AW cover. After a day of non-stop rain, I can safely say the BP is waterproof.
Accessing kit is simple; I even managed it while wearing fat, winter gloves. The buckles, releases and zip all work well, and the toggles and buckles are well sized. I did struggle to get my water pouch’s pipe through the routing, but with use and practice, that will get easier, I’m sure. The UltraCinch is a neat idea, if a rather weird name. It’s basically Lowepro’s approach to stopping your gear from rattling around. There are, of course, movable padded inserts too to help with this, but UltraCinch is an extra level of safety. Once your kit is zipped up in the padded photo compartment at the bottom of the sack, you do up the buckle tightly, activating the UltraCinch. The buckle’s connected to a cord threaded around the front of the compartment, and tightening it effectively secures your kit in place, so it won’t be moving around when you’re scrambling up a hill, careering down one on a mountain bike or throwing yourself around to test out this clever bit of kit. Unlike some multipurpose, photo and adventure rucksacks, the BP doesn’t offer a non-photo
configuration. You can’t remove the photo compartment, but that didn’t stop me trying it as a non-photo rucksack. I simply stuffed all my outdoor clothing in there. It worked pretty well, although I’m not sure it really needed all the padding. It’s not just your gear that benefits from padding either. You do too. As well as the adjustable straps and belts, the BP features ActivZone. Essentially this is Lowepro’s own brand of back padding. It was certainly comfortable for me, but I haven’t had any hot days to test it in. I’m unsure as to how it will fare when you’re getting sweaty. One of my other niggles is about the heat too. As the water reservoir is on your back – a sensible position from a weight point of view – will it get warm as you and the weather heat up? My final niggle is the BP’s inability to stand up. Whether empty, half full or packed to the rafters, it won’t stand up. So if you put it down in the mud, it‘ll faceplant and get muddy all over. Oh, and if you put anything heavier than a memory card in the side pouch, it’s lopsided. LC
Verdict
A few minor niggles and concerns aside, the Photo Sport BP 300 AW II does the job and does it well. Lowepro says it’s aimed at those who love their activity sport as much as their photography, and the company has got that spot on. I’ve happily carted it (and my photo kit) on hikes long and short; I’d also happily don it for cycling. I’m sure trail running/snowboarding/skiing photographers would get on with it just as well. As I have said many times, the BP is light. It’s also tough, waterproof and well padded. It’s also quite expensive. However, in my book, a rucksack that is this light, comfortable and robust is worth it. The BP is certainly in my top three of active, outdoorsy, photo rucksacks.
Pros Light, comfortable, spacious Cons Will it get sweaty?
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