F-stop Tilopa BC vs Lowepro Pro Trekker 400AW

Just wondering if anyone has experience with these two backpacks - I'm looking for something that's airline-portable but can carry a huge amount of gear (including long telephotos) for trips where I'm primarily operating out of a vehicle (thus making the modular rig I usually use for long treks inconvenient) but which includes short walks (which may be on difficult terrain) with the pack.

From what I gather, the Lowepro is a quality bag, made from good, strong material, but weighs 3.3kg.

The F-stop weighs half that, but is made from thinner material and uses a separate internal compartment to hold the camera gear (i.e. more fiddly).

Both will fit anything up to a 500L with attached camera and both should (theoretically) fit within an airline's overhead compartment.

Any opinions? Does the material on fhe F-stop hold up well? Which has a more comfortable harness?

the F-Stop with a small or medium ICU can double as a hiking pack.

the Lowpro is 100% camera bag. it has a bladder sleeve and a very small waist pack that's removable but other then that, you're not going to be able to carry any hiking or camping equipment if you wanted too.

I ahve the ProTrekker 400AW and it's carryon legal for airlines but it weighs an absolute TON when full.

I've not had the opporunity to hold an F-Stop but this past weekend in the airport i saw what looked to be a Loka, not sure on the models by sight yet and it looked much more conspicuous then my ProTrekker.

Regarding the Pro Trekker 400 AW...There are some compression straps on the bottom which you could use to carry a bag with your tent, or a sleeping bag,...They can also be accessed while the All-Weather Cover is in use !

I prefer F-Stop gear over Lowepro. I've always felt Lowepro was big, clunky, and excessive. F-stop backpacks are essentially backpacking backpacks with a few adjustments made for photography. This means they fit awesome, are comfortable, and have the padding where you need it and nothing more.

My Loka fits in overhead bins with room to spare. The Tilopa is roughly the same length and width, just deeper. It should fit no problem.

If you haven't already, check out Dan Carr's blog on F-Stop gear: http://dancarrphotogra​phy.com …/f-stop-bag-review-index/

Staszek wrote in post #13508947
I prefer F-Stop gear over Lowepro. I've always felt Lowepro was big, clunky, and excessive. F-stop backpacks are essentially backpacking backpacks with a few adjustments made for photography. This means they fit awesome, are comfortable, and have the padding where you need it and nothing more.

My Loka fits in overhead bins with room to spare. The Tilopa is roughly the same length and width, just deeper. It should fit no problem.

If you haven't already, check out Dan Carr's blog on F-Stop gear: http://dancarrphotogra​phy.com …/f-stop-bag-review-index/

That's essentially the dilemma.

This isn't a hiking pack - when hiking or climbing, I use a modular belt system with Thinktank, Lowepro and some custom components. It's for operating out of a vehicle, where continually taking the big, clumsy modular system out would be cumbersome and time-consuming.

How will the Tilopa's thinner material hold up to abrasion? Is the padding sufficient to withstand jostling around in a vehicle moving over difficult terrain? How many zippers do you have to go through to access the camera compartment?

Also, how do the support/suspension systems compare between the two packs?

Shadowblade wrote in post #13510797
That's essentially the dilemma.

This isn't a hiking pack - when hiking or climbing, I use a modular belt system with Thinktank, Lowepro and some custom components. It's for operating out of a vehicle, where continually taking the big, clumsy modular system out would be cumbersome and time-consuming.

How will the Tilopa's thinner material hold up to abrasion? Is the padding sufficient to withstand jostling around in a vehicle moving over difficult terrain? How many zippers do you have to go through to access the camera compartment?

Also, how do the support/suspension systems compare between the two packs?

True, F-Stop gear is targeted at the outdoor types. I used to run with a ThinkTank backpack - very similar to Lowepro. It was too bulky and stiff for my taste. I could fit significantly more in my Loka than I could in the TTP Street Walker HD and they are similarly sized packs. This includes a jacket, water bladder, food, and more.

Also, don't confuse bulk and thickness with durability. F-Stop gear is designed to be in rough locations. It uses the same tried and true backpacking rip-stop material that is the industry standard. F-Stop includes an aluminum frame which increases comfort and a hip belt that is actually designed to take the pack's weight.

The ICU offers all the padding you will need. Its similar to any internals ThinkTank and Lowepro use.

How many zippers? 1 or 2 depending on how you set up the ICU.

The Tilopa is a big sack. Its about 3 inches deeper than the Loka. If you aren't going to be using it outdoors, the Loka may actually be a better fit. Check it out.

I use the Loka and it's pretty much the perfect daypack. I've also owned the Pro Trekker 300 - I got it on sale, but sold it before taking it out as it didn't fit my needs.
If you just want to haul gear, then either would be fine. Both can carry laptops and tripods.
Below applies to the Loka, but the tilopa is pretty much the same, just a little bigger.

Loka:
- modular, can get different sized ICUs
- carries other gear - jacket, water, sunnies, hat, trekking poles etc.
- thinner material but abrasion resistant. camera gear is stored in the padded ICU anyway
- lighter
- harness height isn't adjustable
- long and slim, good for slipping through bus and train doors
- will be more versatile if you do want to switch to using a backpack while hiking in the future, even works well as a regular daypack if you take out the icu

Lowepro
- heavy
- lots of padding
- can pretty much only carry camera gear
- shoulder harness height is adjustable
- a bit wide and chunky

From memory the lowepro shoulder straps have more padding and the height is adjustable.

For versatility, and if you need to carry other hiking/travel stuff - F-stop

For carrying camera gear only, better harness and for more padding if paranoid about camera protection - Lowepro

I'm looking for a rugged lens truck - one which can take being bumped around a bit in a vehicle or a hired porter/camel/horse carrying it. I guess it's the Lowepro for now.

I have both an F-stop Tilopa and a Lowepro Nature Trekker. For storing gear while traveling in a vehicle, the Lowepro is much better due to the extra protection and more importantly, easier access to your gear. I find the F-Stop bags too fiddle when accessing gear as there are two sets of zippers to deal with.

For hiking, the Tilopa is better due to it's weight and room for other gear other than photography equipment.

For your needs, I would stick to Lowepro bags.

Tilopa sounds like it should be the name of a fish...

I like to think of F-Stops design is akin to how Domke's are designed, less is more in the design department and it's a great bag for dual purposing. It defintiely would be something I would look to if I were going to be hiking any distances and needed survival supplies with me.

For a day hike or a nature walk the ProTrekker is you're better option.

The LowePro ProTrekker 400AW will better serve your needs for operating out of a vehicle if you don't need to carry any hiking/camping/etc supplies.

The load straps on the bottom of the ProTrekker are usefull for securing more stuff but believe me, this bag is monstrously heavy when loaded up.

Once you've adjusted the StrapJack system to your body fit and are using the hip belt and sternum strap, the bag is a breeze to carry for a long time but it's always going to be heavy.

DisrupTer911 wrote in post #13514567
The load straps on the bottom of the ProTrekker are usefull for securing more stuff but believe me, this bag is monstrously heavy when loaded up.

Once you've adjusted the StrapJack system to your body fit and are using the hip belt and sternum strap, the bag is a breeze to carry for a long time but it's always going to be heavy.

Any bag is going to be heavy if it contains a 500L and Sigma 120-300 OS!

oh absolutely it will
but the bag itself weighs in around, the 400AW, 7.5 pounds.

When i took it camping a few weeks i ago i carried the following.

1D2
1Ds2
70-200/2.8
28-75/2.8
35/2
50/1.4
100/2
580ex
Rollieflex
Rebel EOS xs film
Induro tripod
memory card wallets
rocket blower
100oz water bladder 75% full
flashlights + batteries

and after hiking all day with it, and finally getting the straps adjusted perfectly by the end of the 3 days of hiking around the state parks with it i was exhausted from carrying it.

once you get it up and on your bag and everything snugged down if you've adjusted correctly it feels weightless to an extent. you know it's there but it's completely manageable.

Staszek wrote in post #13508947
I prefer F-Stop gear over Lowepro. I've always felt Lowepro was big, clunky, and excessive. F-stop backpacks are essentially backpacking backpacks with a few adjustments made for photography. This means they fit awesome, are comfortable, and have the padding where you need it and nothing more.

exactly

Shadowblade wrote in post #13510797
How will the Tilopa's thinner material hold up to abrasion? Is the padding sufficient to withstand jostling around in a vehicle moving over difficult terrain? How many zippers do you have to go through to access the camera compartment?

Also, how do the support/suspension systems compare between the two packs?

the matterial is great. It's a hikers backpack. Just remember with the f-stop bags you're buying 2 parts and combining them. They make great hiking backpacks. They make great camera compartments (ICUs). You buy one of each and combine them to get a great hiking camera backpack. W/o the ICU the bags are very lightweight and very rugged, but offer zero protection to their contents beyond moisture and UV (all the padding is in the ICU).

As for how many zippers, the ICU has a zipper AND the bag has a zipper. You can set it up so you have to use both, but as you said that's very frigidity. Most of us just take the ICU flap and put it UNDER the ICU so it's out of the way. Or just don't zip it. That way you're only using the bag's outer zipper to get into it.

Another difference is you'll set the lowepro down harness on the floor to access your stuff. I'd imagine on a safari your bag will get VERY dirty doing that, and that's the side you have to wear? With the back access of the f-stop, at least you're only get the outside/back of the bag dirty?

Hogloff wrote in post #13511830
I have both an F-stop Tilopa and a Lowepro Nature Trekker. For storing gear while traveling in a vehicle, the Lowepro is much better due to the extra protection and more importantly, easier access to your gear. I find the F-Stop bags too fiddle when accessing gear as there are two sets of zippers to deal with.

don't use both zippers.


As for which I'd use in a vehicle only safari situation? I'd probably go with a thinktankphoto backpack instead. They make a better product than lowepro IMHO, but for ONLY car use, I'd probably want the better protection. The other option I'd seriously consider is a pelican 1500 series. It's airline friendly and it's bombproof for a car bound safari. It'll also keep all the dust out. Thinktank makes a backpack specifically for the inside of the case as well, so you could go that route and have both a good backpack AND the hard case...

It seems like the Thinktank backpacks (specifically looking at the Airport Addicted and Airport Acceleration models) manage to fit more lenses into less space (albeit at the expense of less padding) but have a pretty poor harness system for carrying that gear on walking trips out of the jeep. So it depends how much 'in-vehicle' vs 'out-of-vehicle' shooting you expect to do. Your thoughts?