Lowepro Protactic 450 and current airline carry on restrictions

I need a new backpack, and I'm looking at the Protactic 450. Has anyone had experience of taking it on a plane (especially internationally as I live in Canada and family live in the states.) I'm concerned about it being over 10" deep, and over 5 lbs empty. I'm also looking at the 350 but it won't hold a 15" laptop...

Go to https://travel-made-simple.com/carry-on-size-chart/ and scroll down to the list of airlines with their size/weight limitations. Sorry to say but you might be in trouble with many an airline because of a 9 inch limitation. All too often you will be at the unpredictable whim of the check in counter personnel.

John from PA wrote in post #18617068
Go to https://travel-made-simple.com/carry-on-size-chart/ and scroll down to the list of airlines with their size/weight limitations. Sorry to say but you might be in trouble with many an airline because of a 9 inch limitation. All too often you will be at the unpredictable whim of the check in counter personnel.

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of...

I just returned the Protactic 450, I did not like it at all. It has a ton of great reviews but just seemed really cheaply made. Also, I do not think it would have fit under the seat of the airplane.

I have this bag and used it once to travel internationally and I dint have any problem.
But unfortunately you know that it all depends on how the airline workers feel that thay!

cigargreg wrote in post #18617377
I just returned the Protactic 450, I did not like it at all. It has a ton of great reviews but just seemed really cheaply made. Also, I do not think it would have fit under the seat of the airplane.

Where did you source this bag? At 73% of Amazon respondents giving the bag a 5 it makes me wonder if you got a fake.

I got it from Amazon, doesn't mean it couldn't still be fake. The nylon was super thin in some spots, same with the padding. Like I said this bag has mad review people like it. Maybe I'm just use to Think Tank.

I got the x450 and just took if on it's maiden voyage.

The following is in it:

7d mkii attached to Tamron 150-600 G2
5D3 mkiii body
Canon 70-200 F/2.8 V2
Tamron 24-70 G2
Sigma 35 1.4 Art
Tokina 11-20 2.8
Canon 600 flash
Various filters for all the above (4 packs)
Wireless remote trigger
Spare batteries
Laptop
Misc. Stuff

Tripod is strapped to it


It flew as a carry on at South West with no issues.


It was on my back for a 1hr hike. Boy was that heavy climbing in Sedona AZ.

Thanks so much for that link, John!

Looks like my Tenba Shootout Medium (38.1 x 46.99 x 30.48cm) might be too much for Icelandair. Cr@p! I've nothing else.

Alveric wrote in post #18618349
Thanks so much for that link, John!

Looks like my Tenba Shootout Medium (38.1 x 46.99 x 30.48cm) might be too much for Icelandair. Cr@p! I've nothing else.

By the Shootout Medium do you mean the 24L? I've started looking at it instead of the Protactic, as it seems to hold as much but with a smaller footprint. (And better straps, and pockets that seem to be more what I want.) B&H has the exterior measurements as 12.0 x 17.5 x 9.0" - smaller than the Protactic and lighter as well. Those measurements are within the limits for Air Canada and other airlines I use. Boy - Icelandair mush have really tight limits!

How do you like the Shootout?

My Shootout medium (now discontinued) has been great. I got it in AD 2012, I think and it has performed like a champ, although it is on the heavier side, even empty. It can, however, pack quite a bit of gear: I'm able to fit my 5D2, and several lenses, plus other gear in it. It was my only photo backpack till I purchased a Vanguard Havana 41 for my oncoming trip to Berlin. The Havana turned out to be rather small—I'm regretting I didn't go for the 48 model—, thus, it will go neatly flattened in the checked luggage and I'm taking my Shootout with camera and lenses as carry on. Apparently, Icelandair relaxes their requirements a bit when they're partnered with other airlines, as in my case (hoping), and my Tenba falls within Westjet's requirements.

Kasrielle wrote in post #18618529
By the Shootout Medium do you mean the 24L? I've started looking at it instead of the Protactic, as it seems to hold as much but with a smaller footprint. (And better straps, and pockets that seem to be more what I want.) B&H has the exterior measurements as 12.0 x 17.5 x 9.0" - smaller than the Protactic and lighter as well. Those measurements are within the limits for Air Canada and other airlines I use. Boy - Icelandair mush have really tight limits!

How do you like the Shootout?

The "medium" and the 24L are different. B&H shows the medium at https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …ackpack_Medium_​Black.html with exterior dimensions of 15 x 18.5 x 12 inches.

The 24L is part of the "Soltice" series, https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …e_24l_backpack_​black.html, with exterior dimensions of 12 x 20 x 9 as you mention. For Iceland Air, I think the 9 inch dimension would be an issue since the chart shows 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 as the maximum which can be confirmed at https://www.icelandair​.com/support/baggage/a​llowance/.

Some in the ThinkTank line meet the specs, see https://www.thinktankp​hoto.com …/airport-series-backpacks, specifically something like the Airport Commuter.

No, I'm talking about the Tenba Shootout 24L as seen here: https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …1_shootout_24l_​black.html

It isn't in the solstice series, it's in the Shootout series. However, it may be a newer model of the one you have. It's only 9" deep, so shoud be fine for air travel.