First test
PRICE: £134.95&£169.95
LOWEPRO.COM/UK-EN
SPECS › Price
Lowepro Flipside BP 300 AW III &BP 400AW III
Flipside BP 300 AW III £134.95 Flipside BP 400 AW III £169.95 › Colours Black, grey
BP 300 AW III › External dimensions 31x22x46xcm › Internal dimensions 26x12x39xcm › Weight 1.4kg
BP 400 AW III › External dimensions 33x24x48cm › Internal dimensions 28x14x41cm › Weight 1.7kg Contact lowepro.com/uk-en
Leading bag maker Lowepro has gone all out to reimagine backpack favourites, making them even better to use
LOWEPRO IS SYNONYMOUS with providing solutions for image makers of every level – and especially those who love the great outdoors. Its Flipside family enjoys great success, proving practical to use. It also consistently offers high protection levels, excellent capacity and carrying comfort. With those cornerstones, the Flipside name is an established part of the Lowepro range. But with an ever-changing market, there’s always a need to evolve – hence two new-look bags to test. The backpacks share key design features, with robust coated fabrics,
YKK zips, a side flap for fast access, dedicated sleeves for a tablet and laptop, plus EVA bumpers on the front of the bag. These bumpers are about 6cm tall, coming into play when you put the bag down to access the contents of the main compartment. They also provide extra protection for the contents of the front pocket. A new handle at the rear makes picking up the bag from its prone position easier, while a small loop is ideal for hanging it from your tripod’s ballast hook. I tried different camera outfits in the bags. For the smaller BP 300, I switched
between a Nikon Z kit and Fujifilm X Series system. Without having to cram anything in, it swallowed two X cameras with prime lenses fitted, a wide-angle zoom, a 55-200mm, a 100-400mm, a set of Lee 85 filters, plus key accessories such as a remote release, cleaning cloth and a couple of batteries. The latter slotted into neat little pockets that Lowepro has created in the form of two supplied orange dividers. I also had a Leofoto LS-324C tripod strapped to the bag’s side. Usually, I don’t carry tablets or laptops on walks, but giving it a try, the 13-inch Mac laptop went into the nicely padded PC compartment, while my ten-inch iPad slipped into its own dedicated pocket. In addition, there is an accessory wallet supplied. That’s where I stashed the laptop’s mains adapter, leads and small external SSD. Despite all that gear, there was still a whole front pocket to pack a water bottle, snacks and the supplied rain cover. These items didn’t need the benefit of the bumpers, but it was reassuring to have them there. With the BP 400, I went for a Fujifilm medium format kit with a GFX50R body, 23mm, 32-64mm, 100-200mm – as well as the Irix 45mm f/1.4 lens tested on the next page. That still left space for a pack of Kase filters, a remote
control, batteries and other accessories. We’re talking some serious space here. Each bag’s carrying comfort rated highly – and walks with fully laden bags proved no issue. Lowepro has redesigned the sternum strap to be lockable. On older models, that strap annoyingly slipped off its mooring, but now it’s more secure. The BP 400 is the larger of the two products and, while the shoulder straps on both bags are identical, the waist straps aren’t. The BP 400 waist strap is much wider, more comfortable and can be tucked away when not in use. The BP 300, heavy when fully laden, has a one-inch webbing strap that isn’t that effective. It would have benefitted from the BP 400’s wider waist strap. The only other niggle was each bag’s side access flap. Lowepro had to make the choice between the left or right side to accommodate the tripod pocket on the opposite side. That means it’s 50/50 whether its position suits you or not. I favour my right side, so actually I’d prefer the access flap’s location to allow me to swing the bag on to my right shoulder, reaching for the contents with my left hand. These backpacks function the other way around, proving less usable for me. That said, I’m not a huge fan of side flaps on backpacks, so this isn’t a deal breaker. WC
ABOVE Quick access to the bag is possible via a side flap located on the left side (when the bag is on your back). That could prove divisive for some users
PROS Practical, excellent capacity, high protection levels, comfortable, good value and secure sternum strap CONS The BP 300 AW III’s waist strap is too thin Verdict Lowepro has done a wonderful job with the new Flipside products. To be fair, their predecessors were also very good, but BP 300 AW III and BP 400 AW III have taken another step forwards. Protection and capacity levels rate highly, plus the bumpers work well. Both bags were simply lovely to use. If you’re after a quality outdoor bag, check out the new Flipsides.
ABOVE There’s plenty of space in the BP 400 AW III for a sizeable camera outfit, with high protection levels
ABOVE The BP 400 AW III in action with a Leofoto tripod on board. You can see the EVA bumpers protruding at the top and the base of the bag, but it’s also clear that they won’t keep the bag rear out of the dirt
Issue 88 | Photography News 33
photographynews.co.uk
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