Lowepro VERTEX 300

After tons of research I've decided to go with this backpack for an upcoming 3 week trip to Alaska but have only one concern. From what I've read I shouldn't have any problems using it as a carry-on but has anyone here flown with one?

I have a vertex 200 and my issues with it are that it doesn't balance as well as other backpacks that I've tried, it's a bit heavy for what it is and the straps and harness are a bit over sized. I wish I'd gone with a Tamrac back pack instead, their packs are deeper. Which allows more lenses to be placed upright as opposed to flat (taking up more space). But, it does take my Dell XPS studio 16 laptop with ease and it also takes my abundant cards and circular filters. I think I should have gone with either the larger Tamrac bags or the Vertex 300.

blackzzz wrote in post #8221605
From what I've read I shouldn't have any problems using it as a carry-on but has anyone here flown with one?

This too was one of my criteria in selecting a backpack which could carry my 500mmf4L as well as good as a carry-on bag in planes.
I finally bought the Lowepro Vertex 300 and I have carried it in most airlines Lufthansa, Swiss, BA even the smaller Air Kenya flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara. In large aircrafts it can be stowed in the overhead bins but in the smaller aircraft like Air Kenya I had to keep it under the seat in front.

As I carry a lot of kit in the Vertex 300 it can be quite heavy on the back. I am wondering if I can harness it on a foldable wheeler. Anyone tried this?

biswasg wrote in post #8221706
This too was one of my criteria in selecting a backpack which could carry my 500mmf4L as well as good as a carry-on bag in planes.
I finally bought the Lowepro Vertex 300 and I have carried it in most airlines Lufthansa, Swiss, BA even the smaller Air Kenya flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara. In large aircrafts it can be stowed in the overhead bins but in the smaller aircraft like Air Kenya I had to keep it under the seat in front.

As I carry a lot of kit in the Vertex 300 it can be quite heavy on the back. I am wondering if I can harness it on a foldable wheeler. Anyone tried this?

Just received my Lowepro Vertex 300 and it is very well built and designed. I'm glad to hear that you were able to fit it into the overhead because in looking at the size of it I would certainly have my doubts. I'll probably need help in hoisting it up there! A foldable wheeler is a great idea but that would definitely put it over the size limit for a carry-on I would think.

I have the Photo Trekker and have been looking at the Vertex 300, as I think it is better designed than the Photo Trekker. As a point of reference with respect to airline travel, the Photo Trekker is slightly bigger than the Vertex 300 (exterior dimensions), but I have never been stopped from bringing it aboard any plane and it has always fit in the overhead of every plane, as well. I have traveled all over the world, so I feel confident the Vertex 300 will not be a problem as a legal carry-on.

NYPhotog wrote in post #8300726
I have the Photo Trekker and have been looking at the Vertex 300, as I think it is better designed than the Photo Trekker. As a point of reference with respect to airline travel, the Photo Trekker is slightly bigger than the Vertex 300 (exterior dimensions), but I have never been stopped from bringing it aboard any plane and it has always fit in the overhead of every plane, as well. I have traveled all over the world, so I feel confident the Vertex 300 will not be a problem as a legal carry-on.

Cool...that's great to know. Thanks for passing that along!

Just a small point, don't overpack it. After recent upgrades, mine's starting to exhibit signs of the rubber 'seal' around the zips fraying. Good bag though, although I have been asked what I was doing when flying nationally here in NZ about its size.

I just picked up a Vertex 300 backpack. It looks really cool and has a huge amount of space to store all my gear. I have not had a chance to use it yet but I hope it will be comfortable to carry. I was torn betwee the Tamrac Expedition 8x and the Vertex 300, although I feel that the Tamrac is built a bit toughr than the Lowepro, at the end the Vertex won out because of the harness zip cover and all weather hood. There is nothing more annoying than an unmanaged harness and on a pack the size of the Tamrac its just unforgivable. Having said that, I beleive the Tamrac is also an excellent unit. Hope I made the right decision