Lowepro Flipside 400AW or 500? Or something else?

I've been scouring the internet looking at reviews and videos of bags, and figured I'd ask for some advice here as well.

I currently have a Lowepro Slingshot 302AW bag. At first, I really liked it (I still do, mostly). But, I've since upgraded some lenses and such, and if I walk around with my pano gear and tripod, it's HEAVY. It's not the weight I mind so much, but the fact that it pulls all on one shoulder, it really hurts my back.

I'm in pretty good shape (work out regularly) and most of my shooting is in and around the city, or on day trips or smaller day hikes.

What do I pack? I have a Canon 5D III with battery grip. Lenses are a 8-15mm F4L, 16-35 F2.8L II, 24-70 F2.8 II, 24-105 F4L, 70-200 F2.8 II, 50mm F1.2L and a 100mm F2.8 L Macro. For a tripod, I have a Feisol carbon fiber tripod with a Photo Clam ball head. I also sometimes pack my pano head, a Nodal Ninja M2 with 16 rotator and leveler.

I don't necessarily bring every single component with me every time, but sometimes I want my mostly full assortment of lenses.

I'm about 5'7", so not a huge guy. Is the Flipside 400 going to be too small for a gripped pro body and pro lenses? In one of the videos I saw the 500 looked to be quite large on this guys back, I wonder if it's too large for a day pack kind of bag?

Or is there an even better bag out there for my needs from another vendor? I just tend to like the Lowepro designs.

I have the flipside 400 and love it! Has plenty of room for everything I need!

Here's the Flipside 400 AW. The camera here is an ungripped 7D, but it will take a 1D3 in its place. Perhaps you won't get every single lens in there, but with elasticated side pouches and an exterior compartment plus two alternative options for attaching a tripod it's a pretty versatile and capable bag. It's my favourite of several. If you really have the need you can also attach additional pouches to it, but I think weight would become more of a concern than capacity if you start down that road.

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I also like the Flipside 400. I usually lug around my 5D3, 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 f4L, 17-40 f4L, 100 2.8L macro, 50 f1.4 plus various other bits and pieces including spare batteries, cards, remote release, etc etc. I find it comfortable enough with that load, and I walk for a few kilometers each evening in steep hill country with my dogs, and have been doing so with the same bag for nearly four years.

I like it for the security. Some bags you know that if the zips fail you're in trouble, but with the Flipside bags you know your gear is safe.

I will probably buy the Flipside 500 next, though I really don't need the extra weight...but it would be useful to carry some extra items while weekending.

I am thinking now of getting the 500, AND a 300. 500 for "carry a ton of stuff for a trip", and the 300 for "walkaround with body and a few lenses".

I have the 200 and the 400. Those are my only two bags. I really love them. I use the 400 much more nowdays, because my gear has grown a lot last year.

The 200 is a close fit with a 5DII with a grip. It will fit but you can feel it between your shoulders. The flip manouvre is much easier to use on the 200 bag, most of the times I use my knee with the 400.

I can fit pretty much all my gear in the 400AW:
- 5DII gripped
-17-40L
-24-70L
-70-200LII
-85LII
-Speedlite
-Triggers
-Set of LEE filters (In the other compartiment)

But I probably can't take every lenshood with them.

i just got my 450 in the mail. wow, is this thing huge. it certainly fits all of my gear but i feel like i'm wearing a suitcase on my back.

i recommend going with the smaller one. even if you don't fit every singe piece of equipment, you will be just fine (unless you are a pro photographer).