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If you are immediately after a camera backpack that can be accessed from all over the place, maintain practically anything and shrink down for straightforward travel, test out Lowepro’s ProTactic 350 AW II. A uniquely modular digicam backpack that can hold multiple cameras and a 13-inch laptop computer, it’s a astonishingly streamlined camera backpack which is completely ready for nearly anything.
Here’s almost everything you will need to know about it – and why we really like it so much…
(Picture credit rating: Future)
Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II Modular camera backpack review: Style and design and characteristics
As it truly is easiest and most streamlined, the bag is a 16-litre compartment safeguarded by a reasonably rugged outer ‘FormShell’ layer. On the best is a rigid lid that is made up of a delicate pocket for sun shades and SD cards, but it is usually there to protect a smaller drone (this kind of as a DJI Mavic 2 Pro or DJI Osmo+). Or else, the exterior of this bag appears at initially look to be all about simplicity. There are two tiny pockets on the sides for keys and lens cloths (and little else), and more D-formed zips further down to extract a digital camera from the bag swiftly regardless of whether you are remaining or ideal-handed.
Which is about it, but appearances are deceptive. Appear cautiously and you can expect to see that the exterior holds row following row of flattened looped materials. Each individual just one can be employed to hook and fasten a selection of components, from drinking water bottle holders and smartphone conditions to utility baggage and, of class, a tripod holder. A lot more on that under.
Within it is far more predictable. A collection of Velcro-mounted dividers allow for you to sculpt supports for regardless of what gear you have, though the lid – which sits shut to the wearer’s back for further security – has a ‘CradleFit’ envelope for a 13-inch notebook (it measures 24×1.8×34.5 cm… the most up-to-date 13-inch Apple MacBook Professional 2020 fits fantastic). There are also a couple of clear pockets in the lid for sundries.
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Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II Modular camera backpack overview: Size
Measuring 30x18x47cm and weighing 2.12 kg when empty, the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular is preferably sized to be made use of as have-on luggage. That’s excellent for photographers, none of whom would at any time dream of checking in digital camera devices, but the bag is also value contemplating as a basic have-on backpack even when you’re not intending to do any photography at all.
Lowepro says the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular can host up to two crop-sensor DSLR bodies, a single sporting a 24-70mm lens. All through our assessments, we managed to squeeze in a complete-frame DSLR holding a 200mm lens, and on a different excursion a DSLR with a 24-70mm lens and a substantial pair of 10×42 binoculars. There was even place to squeeze in a large journey tripod, much too. Alternatively, there is plenty of home for a crop sensor DSLR or mirrorless digital camera, a warm layer and a packed lunch.
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Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II Modular digicam backpack critique: Price
The ProTactic 350 AW II Modular sells for £224.95. That is a lot to fork out, but thinking about its flexibility it is affordable value… even though there’s a raft of tempting accessories for sale if you want to pimp it:
A a bit larger sized ProTactic 450 AW II Modular is also readily available from Lowepro for a now discounted £199. It will increase the capability to 25 litres, weighs 2.84 kg, and is built to maintain a few of whole-body DSLRs, one with 70-200mm f/2.8 lens connected. It utilises the same components as the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular.
(Graphic credit score: Future)
Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II Modular digicam backpack evaluation: Effectiveness
The ProTactic 350 AW II Modular is our aspiration bag, and irrespective of its limitless add-ons, it is not the customisation possibilities we like finest, but its sheer consolation. We did every little thing from limited-haul flights and urban shoots to long mountaineering journeys with this bag and all through our exam it constantly remained at ease to have on for lengthy periods. The back of the backpack professes to have ‘ActivZone’ channelling to prevent a sweaty back. In observe, this doesn’t really operate, but because the shoulder straps, chest strap and removable hip-belt are so relaxed, we’ll forgive that.
A single detail you have to do just before you go out with the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular is prep it, which is unusual for a digital camera backpack. If you might be not likely to need the tripod attachment (which comes with the bag by default), you can literally rip it off and leave it at dwelling. Ditto the water bottle holder, but we did discover ourselves occasionally heading out on extensive trips and wishing we experienced purchased a unique accessory with us. It can also search a minor untidy when all of the equipment are attached and hanging off the back again and sides.
Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW II Modular digicam backpack evaluation: Verdict
The ProTactic 350 AW II Modular is 1 of the finest all-all around camera backpacks we have made use of so much. It can be also the only modular example we’ve occur throughout, some thing that unquestionably lends the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular a scarce sort of versatility.
As suited to becoming absolutely loaded with equipment as to getting applied as a bag for an overnight get the job done vacation, the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular is a person of a variety. The only draw back is that you will obtain on your own seeking to invest in most, if not all, of the equipment obtainable for the ProTactic 350 AW II Modular, which could get costly.
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