Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you have ever stepped foot into the world of photography, you have most likely see Lowepro’s camera bags. Since 1967, starting in a small shed in Colorado, Lowepro has created innovative gear to protect your valuable equipment. As a budding photographer myself, I realized quickly that the camera gear is delicate and expensive. I searched for a versatile backpack to allow me to take my camera equipment on adventures without risking damage or loss. I chose the Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW (all-weather) II. It is the right size for my current needs with a little room to grow in the future.
Included with the Lowepro Protactic 350 AW II
The Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II is an all weather, rigid-shell backpack with an attached rain cover (stowed in a pocket on the bottom of the pack). The rain cover will also protect your pack from sand and dirt. I found that it worked as a great “ground sheet” to lay out my pack when I needed to set it in the sand.
The additional accessories included with the backpack are two movable cinch straps, a tripod cup, a bottle holder, and a zippered accessory pouch. All the accessories are super practical. You can see the tri-pod cup pictured below. I really appreciate that the accessories can be attached anywhere on the backpack and are movable until you find the perfect configuration. The entire backpack is covered with the SlipLock strap system. The SlipLock straps are two different sizes. The first is the exact size for the Lowepro accessories and the others are a little bit larger. This enables aftermarket accessories to be attached to the backpack that may not be Lowepro brand.
Plenty of Storage in the Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II
My inventory of camera equipment is still quite modest but I chose the ProTactic 350 so that I have room to grow. The modular interior of the backpack is fantastic. I was able to move around the panels to fit my smaller DSLR and all of the lenses and accessories. My 13″ laptop fit neatly into the sleeve and the cord in to one of the sections. The hook and loop used to hold the panels in place is super strong! There is no doubt that things will stay in their intended compartments.
Camera Access: You Decide
The Lowepro ProTactic AW II provides four options for you to access your camera. There are left and right side panels that are easily accessible without removing the pack or setting it on the ground. The zipper pulls for the side access areas are large and looped so you can easily grab them with one finger to manipulate the opening. The top access is super roomy! There was more room than needed for my tiny Nikon and I love that this bag will still work when I upgrade to a larger camera. The 4th point of access is in the accessible back panel. I may use this option if I am in a clean environment.
Because You Can’t Control the Conditions
The Lowepro ProTactic AW II is a very versatile camera backpack. I live in Michigan and travel often. I am out on adventures in all seasons of the year and almost any terrain you can imagine. The all weather capability coupled with the tough material in this backpack protect my equipment no matter where “on-location” may take me. Despite being very rugged in its construction, I found the backpack to be surprisingly lightweight. The removable waist belt doubles as a utility belt to hold all of your necessary items when you don’t want to carry the entire pack. The nicely padded shoulder harness has a three-way adjustable chest strap that keep this pack in place no matter how rough your travels.
Technical Specs
- Weight: 2.12 kg
- Total Volume: 16 L
- Main Color: Black
- Internal Dimensions: 26 x 12.5 x 40 cm
- External Dimensions: 30 x 18 x 47 cm
- Camera Compartment Dimensions: 26 x 12.5 x 40 cm
- Laptop Compartment Dimensions: 24 x 1.8 x 34.5 cm
- Primary Device: Camera
- Device Volume: 16 L
- Exterior Material: 1680D polyester, 900D polyester, 420D Nylon Recycled
- Interior Material: 200D polyester
Welcome to the Family, Lowepro!
With my new bag and all of the great accessories, I finally feel like I can safely take my camera equipment with me on my adventures. The Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II was the right choice for my needs. LowePro has a whole family of Protactic gear including the larger ProTactic 450 and the smaller ProTactic 250. There are also endless accessories, lens holders, camera pods and much more that can be attached to the SlideLock system of loops. The backpack is rigid in construction but incredibly light and comfortable to wear. It is reasonably priced at $308. If you would like to learn more about the ProTactic 350 AW II or any of the ProTactic family, you can visit amazon.com.