I know, every photo backpack is the same. But the new Lowepro FreeLine BP 350 AW is probably one of the more interesting and versatile bags I’ve seen in a while.
From my experience, Lowepro does many things right with their photography bags. What they understand best, in my opinion, is how to do the dividers right. Most every bag I’ve had from other companies go way overboard with the divider paddings that there’s little room left for actually carrying gear. The FreeLine follows this tradition of awesome dividers with their QuickShelf system. This allows one to quickly setup the backpack for carrying whatever gear they need that day, or easily collapse it flat and remove it without needing to redo the organization from scratch later when you’re carrying camera gear again.
Other features of the new FreeLine include dual side access panels, a removable gear box for cables, batteries, and small accessories, tripod attachment straps, dedicated laptop storage for screens up to 15 inches, and a removable rain cover. The exterior is made with Nylon 66 with a water and abrasion-resistant Carbonite coating and uses YKK weather-proof zippers.
The FreeLine can hold a full-frame DSLR with mounted 70–200mm f/2.8 lens, plus two extra lenses — or an equivalent amount of gear including compact drones, multiple mirrorless bodies and several lenses, and more.
The Lowepro FreeLine BP 350 AW backpack is available now for $259.95.
Quite promising. The only problematic thing I see is that it's unfortunate you can't have the bag laying and completely open in front of you with all gear exposed. Sometimes it's neat to have it that way.
Obviously there's more than one way to use a bag, but from my perspective I'd use a bag like this to carry what I need for that one day. So if I'm grabbing gear from it, I have an idea in my head already of what I'm reaching for. I feel like the bags that you can completely open for me are more your "carry-all" bags where you need to open it all up and look around to remember everything you have with you to work with. Then again they maybe could have designed this to do both somehow.
I see your point but if it's not how you pack every day, which is the point, you may forget where you put something. I know I would.
I don't think this backpack is trying to be everything to everyone though, so it's hard to fault them for making a design choice that fits only certain types of photographers/videographers.
Well, that's true of all packs. In balance, I do like the ability to take out the separators easily.
The design looks a lot like the Peak Design Everyday Backpack. I do like the orange partitions - I think that may be a better idea than the origami style dividers in the PD bag.
I know I'm not the first one to say this. But that's definitely inspired by Peak Design's Everyday Backpack. It's just now a matter of who can implement it better. And being a Lowepro, I wish they improve their bags when it comes to durability.
I wish one of these bag companies would design a carrying solution for grownups. All the bags look like a school kid's knapsack FFS.
What are you envisioning? Like a hiking backpack? Or like if ONA made a full-on camera bag? I guess I don't know what a grownup backpack means actually — been staring at camera bags for so long.
I'm no bag designer...but your question does give me some ideas...
As for the question itself I'll answer it this way...ask your wife/GF/Partner how you look carrying one of those bags walking around the city or small town.
My own lady wasn't so kind and at the time I didn't see it. A handful of years has passed and I have lot's of gray hair..I'm seriously done carrying around bags like this...which are basically a repeat of all the other 20 bags in my storage locker anyway.
lol Think Tanks lineup will probably be more to your liking
Ya I have a few of those for corporate gigs...much better but the prices are ridiculous
Yeah, but I see the prices as justified. We use Think Tank for all our bag and transport needs. We have roller bags over 8 years old that are still in great shape. You get what you pay for
As do I...and the rest is exactly my point: * years old and they still do the job. Everything since seems to just be copies, no real innovation.
I think the bag looks clean and "grownup" for me. I'm pretty sure (majority) kids won't love the design of this bag.
It has a modern design in it, but if you are looking for something classic look for ONA or Artisan & Artist.
If it can't carry a laptop AND my camera gear, it doesn't cut it for me unfortunately. A lot of creators are on the go and having their laptop with them is crucial.
Now I'm waiting for a new 450 AW from them in same style!
All these backpacks look beautiful and nice, but for long hiking and walks (5+ miles) with a 20-30 pounds of equipment, there are no comfortable backpacks out there, all of them suck in terms of suspension design and comfort. Fstop Gear is one of the few for this type of activity but it doesn't come close to what an Osprey or Gregory backpacks offer in suspension and comfort for long hikes, walks, and heavyweights.
I have a Tilopa and Lotus (I use them for traveling now), and in the end, I ended up getting a Tenba BYOB 13 and an Osprey Stratos 38, the difference is huge.