Lowepro Photo Sport Pro 30L AW Backpack

I am getting ready for a day snowshoe hike out to an alpine lake and will be bringing my stove and a dehydrated meal to have a nice warm meal at the lake. I started thinking "will my snow shovel fit my pack?" and began loading what I think I want to take. I started thinking (again) that I really would like a bag that properly holds a camera and has a top load for coats and food and such. I don't need my 62L backpacking bag for a day trip. There is no place to really put my camera.

Long story short, I really like Lowepro and was searching around their site when I came across the Photo Sport Pro 30L. It looks awesome and B&H had it for $80 cheaper than Lowepro. I bought it and should have it on Friday. Just in time for the hike Reveiw to follow. If you have this bag can you please comment and let me know what you think of it? I've got a 100 Micro Trekker and the older version of the 450AW Pro Trekker and love them both. hopefully the Photo Sport Pro 30L will become another favorite.

I hike and backpack quite often and that's always an issue I struggle with - how to carry the camera gear, while not skipping on the essentail stuff...
With that said, I have a flipside sport 15L AW, and I can remove the compartment, as it has a flap closure, and works fine as "tool-bag" once the main pack is droped.

My take is, survival/essential gear takes priority - I am sure you know that you need more than a shovel, a stove and a dehydrated meal

I often carry a 45L, not because I will load it to capacity, but it has more room for everything, and balances any weight better, way more than the wanna-be's backpacks geared to photogs

A short day hike of two or three hours - yes, you can go minimalist, specially if it's groomed trail.
Aside that essentials first above all or drag a small sled

This is not a comfortable pack with any weight in it. The straps are not well padded and waist strap does nothing to help support weight, its just a belt. For a camera and lens or two, lunch and layers it would be fine I think.

My go-to backpack for adventure sports is Clik Elite Contrejour, I own the 35. I auditioned several and it came down to this and f-stop. The Clik won handily. Downhill, xcountry skiing, climbing or mountain biking it clings to my body and is never in the way. I like rear access to gear as well as the side pocket for camera. Not for everyone though, it carries a lot of gear.

I ended up taking my stove, meal, two Clif Bars, Clif Shot Blocks, a handfull of halloween candy, an orange, two 3/4 pound bags of beef jerky, knife, waterproof matches, lighter, glowstick, head lamp, snowshovel, 24oz waterbottle with filter, and a 16oz waterbottle with clip that I strap to my belt loop. The camera pouch area had enough room for my tow bring my 5D2 with 24L II and 100L IS.

I wore my Northface X-country ski pants, medium thermals, wool hiking socks, wool t-shirt, fleece/rain coat, beanie, gloves, and of course my hiking boots.

I also brought my snowshoes and poles and was able to strap them to the outside of the pack with no problems. I had no issues with comfort. The belt strap is pretty pathetic. I agree with Nethawked about it doing nothing for supporting the weight. I'd pull it tight and after some time I'd have to re-tighten the strap. Over all comfort was excellent though. I didn't even feel worn out on my shoulders from the lack of belt strap support. I loved the open top load pocket. Getting in and out of it is super easy. The backpack will make a great daypack for me. I do wish I oculd hold a little more camera gear, at least one more lens, in maybe a padded velcro pocket inside the 30L main pocket. But all in all I am extremely happy.

My only gripe is that the smaller outside pocket on the front of the pack is small and not very useful IMO. I used it for the beef jerky bags because they are similar size and more importantly they are fairly flat. I feel like this pocket will only be good for small flat things like maybe a map or folded spare shirt. I wish this pocket was larger and that there was a zipper on it.

Nethawked wrote in post #17381051
This is not a comfortable pack with any weight in it. The straps are not well padded and waist strap does nothing to help support weight, its just a belt. For a camera and lens or two, lunch and layers it would be fine I think.

My go-to backpack for adventure sports is Clik Elite Contrejour, I own the 35. I auditioned several and it came down to this and f-stop. The Clik won handily. Downhill, xcountry skiing, climbing or mountain biking it clings to my body and is never in the way. I like rear access to gear as well as the side pocket for camera. Not for everyone though, it carries a lot of gear.

nice pack indeed - thanks for sharing

Glad it worked out for you kawi. I should clarify that I mix it up between maintained trails and backcountry bushwacking and tend to be hopping streams and climbing a lot. A shifting pack drives me nuts and erodes some confidence. As I think back, for more casual hiking the Lowepro is probably a good choice.

Nethawked wrote in post #17382805
Glad it worked out for you kawi. I should clarify that I mix it up between maintained trails and backcountry bushwacking and tend to be hopping streams and climbing a lot. A shifting pack drives me nuts and erodes some confidence. As I think back, for more casual hiking the Lowepro is probably a good choice.

Off trail would be different especially with the belt strap. I tend to stay on trail as much as possible, usually going of trail to find a vantage point or to refill my water bottle at a stream. I think with my rain shell spending the entire time in my pack made everything stay in place. No load shifting for me I'm looking forward to the summer time, but now I know to be warned about load shifting because it really doesn't have a way to sinch a light load down tight.