Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

super

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I needed a trail-ready pack that could double as a storage bin for my cameras, lenses and miscellany, and this pack was the right size and had lots of extra pockets and cubbyholes. Fully loaded, it weighs over 30 pounds, but it's still comfortable to schlep around. The main compartment is fully customize-able, with translucent pockets and memory card holders. The side pouches are handy to access without undoing straps and covers. The waistband and shoulder straps are well padded with ventilated material so they won't get soaked and abrasive. The fanny pack that comes with it will be handy for day hikes when it's not necessary to carry the whole warehouse. The workmanship is first-rate, using quality webbing and fasteners. It weighs seven pounds empty, but that is the price for all the padding protection. The color is a nice neutral that harmonizes with the outdoors. Nice piece of gear!

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I head off to the boonies for landscape shooting, and wanted a pack large enough to carry the essentials with some room to spare. This pack, the mid-sized Trekker, is more than big enough. It has a pocket and waterproof pouch for a Camelbak bladder which is not included. It has all the usual adjustments that a good backpack would have. The workmanship is excellent, and it's comfortable with 30 pounds in it. My only gripe is with the media pockets: they aren't large enough to hold a CF card in its plastic case. (Fine with no case.) The computer pouch is too small to take my largish HP laptop, so I don't use that feature. I like the little detachable fanny pack that doubles as a top cover - handy for day hikes. Not sure why it has three tripod sleeves - who would do that? Overall, I like the pack. Large, well-made, and versatile. Nothing to really complain about, just a few nits.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

If all you want this bag for is camera gear, I say this would be an okay bag. If you want it to carry a laptop, I would say look for another bag. This bag has way too many straps, and my biggest complaint and reason I returned it, is due to the laptop compartment. I've got a 15" Macbook Pro, and it's too tight. The laptop sleeve fits super tight, and if you want the sleeve to fit in the backpack area for the laptop, I hope you enjoy using force. If you're hanging upside down from a tree, maybe you want the ultra tight fit. Me? It doesn't work. Lowepro needs to go back to the drawing board with this one.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I have been looking for a BIG camera pack to head to the mts with for day trips that would carry not just camera gear but clothes and food. I found it.

This a very comfortable pack from Lowe which will meet all my needs. It has a great pocket(s) for a water bottle, food, tent if I want it on the bottom or top.

Great hip belt that is comfortable with add on pockets for sunglasses etc. Nice sternum strap to keep it stable.

I read that the pack is too heavy once they loaded it. I have backpacked all over the sierras w/ 50# plus so this is not a big deal to me.

If you want a comfortable pack that will meet all your needs w/ great zippers too that are stiff(so what) but open fine and pockets that protect gear with ample padding for lens and my 40D and 5D. Get it.

I have nothing to say but great things about it. If it is too heavy: carry less or go to the gym.

Thanks for a great pack Lowe!

Tom Gibson--Monterey, Ca

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

really big bag, it stores all my gear and still have room to spare. one warning though, this is not your ordinary looking backpack, it will look as if you are going camping or in the military.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I ordered this backpack based n my experience with the previous generation of LowePro Pro trekker backpacks. This second-from-the-top seems to have a smaller interior than the older models. In any case, it was definitely not large enough to contain my 4x5 equipment (Toyo field camera, 4 lenses with lens boards, lens shade, backs, film, filters, etc.). The interior partitions were definitely set up for SLR use and were very difficult to partition for large format.I am ordering the 600 AW to use instead. I thought I could get away with the smaller version, but couldn't. The multiple straps that need to be engaged over the zipper compartment make accessing the pack more difficult/time consuming than the older design. The pockets inside the pack are also much more restrictive in terms of size than the older packs and larger items that I carried for reference no longer fit in the pockets. A more flexible divider system would be useful for other than DSLR use. For this right use case, this pack is great, I'm sure. But make sure you know ahead of time what you need. I definitely made a mistake *for my intended use*.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

The only reason it doesnt get five stars is because I wish there were a pocket for folders and a notebook or two. Besides that, it is definitely one of the best bags ever. Weight distribution is perfect.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I find this pack good and bad. Good for lots of heavy gear, but bad for fast and easy access. Especially, I hate the 'waterproof zipper' for the main compartment. It is slow and very stiff to open and close. The other zippers are great. Without the top removable compartment attached the waterproof zipper is worthless anyway, since their is a large opening in a huge pocket that runs the full length of the pack that would leak into the adjacent main compartment anyway. Better would be a regular zipper, and use the rain cover when necessary. The pack is way too heavy at over 7 lbs. Too complicated with so many straps to get caught or snagged on objects, and unclipped to get into the pockets and main compartment. Tripod 'foot' holder only on the center back, not on the sides. For me, attaching the tripod to the center back puts too much weight far away from the my spine, and slows opening the main compartent. Better on the sides, but there is no 'foot' holder on the sides, so the compression straps must be (very) tightened, but then unclipped to get into the main compartment.

The pack is well made and attractive without screaming 'Expensive Photo Gear', which is important to me. It meets most airline requirements for carry on (at least I have had no problems yet), and just fits in the overhead bins. This is a good pack for transport from city to city, but I find it poor for carrying gear around when actually shooting. For that, I have several lighter, faster packs which work much better.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I recently purchased this bag, so it has not been put through any major challenges. So far, it has held up very well and feels solid (I especially love the zippers). It also has plenty of room for my gear. However, there are a few things I would change about the bag. Firstly, the pockets on the inside of the lid of the bag are very tight. Although you can rest assured knowing your gear will never fall out of the bag, I think the numerous buckles and clips that assist the zipper in keeping the bag closed are a bit overkill. In conclusion, this is a great bag and well worth the price.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

Allot of the information I have seen is this can be used as a Carry On on most Airlines. I ordered this thinking it would meet the size required. It is larger than you can put in the carry on holder. I am sure you could carry it on though, most people bring bags even larger and bend the rules. But would you want to take the chance of having to gate check $20K worth of your favorite camera gear?

Other than that the bag is adequate. I have the Tamrac Expedition 8x and honestly can't say that one bag is better than the other. The Pro Trekker is a little deeper than the Expedition. As far as comfort to me there both about the same.

It is a good bag if you need one. I gave it just 4 stars for the misleading airline advertising.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I am a professional journalist and action sports photographer/videographer. This bag gives me the room, versatility, and support needed to get gear out into the backcountry and do my job. In addition to providing ample space for various camera equipment configurations, the bag has enough external features for me to attach skis, shovel and avalanche probe or climbing gear to the frame. It also has a build-in pouch to accommodate a camelbak. The only design additive that I'd wish for, would be a zippered panel to access gear from underside, in addition to the conventional topside entry. I am very pleased with this product and believe in the Lowepro product line.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I bought the trekker to replace lowepro 300 because it was bulging at the seams the trekker is only roughly half full so now i have lots of room to grow into it. super comfortable walk for hours without having sore shoulders or back. weight with the gear i have is 11 kilos. absolutley love it.
My daughter asked me why my camera bag has its own chair my reply was because it's part of the family

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

I use this for day trips to 2 weeks vacations and it does great for both if I need a lot of my gear with me. With the adjustable rigging for wearing it, it fits like a glove. It did great in Hawaii rain showers keeping my gear dry.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

Most bags these days are smart and roommie with great protection overall. However not many offer great harness adjustments. I'm 6'1" and really appreciate the adjustability of the harness system.

Now the bag actually sits on my waist rather than above it.

I previously owned the Tamrac Expedition 7x which was great and roomie, but the harness system didn't fit my torso. Although it had great padding, the waist belt was virtually useless as it sat above my waist putting all the weight on my shoulders.

The space in the Tamrac was what I liked but wished for a bit more room, and this is what the LowePro offered in the 400 AW. The 300 AW offers slightly less room than the Tamrac.

So my prayers have been answered.

With the LowePro, I now have room for
- two pro bodies
-24-70
-70-200
And 3 other L lenses
Plus 2x flashes and accessories!

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

Holds everything I need, Sigma 150-500, Nikon 80-200, 10-24, 28-300, sb-700, set of extension tubes, Sigma 1.4.teleconverter and misc. equipment. Comfortable when hiking! Strong construction! Nice to have a waist belt that removes from bag if not needed or doubles as fanny pack when attached to the removable storage top. Just a great all around bag to have if your out hiking with your equipment. Also own a Lowe Pro Sling bag, they just make good quality bags that take a beating and still preform well. Highly recommended!!!!!!

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

i purchased this bag a month ago from B&H and noticed that this bag is more like a condo than a bag...LOL, i parked my car and lawnmower in it and still had room for my camera equipment :). joking aside, this is my 3rd lowepro bag and love the quality and workmanship of their bags. i have lots of camera equipment and 3 cameras, most fit in this bag nicely. the only problem is that, after loading all of the equipment, it becomes quite heavy. although i am in good physical shape, i can imagine this bag can become very cumbersome to an average person when it's full. material and construction quality is very good, as i have already mentioned. i am glad i purchased this bag. the important thing is, that this bag can be accepted as a standard carry on on the flights. i highly recommend this bag.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

this is a great back pack with many nooks and crannies
A bit heavy
Fits in most planes no need to gate check but takes a bit is space in front of your in the sea underneath you when flying
Very comfy

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

You can fit a 300 2.8 with the hood on if needed and still have room on a 1D MkIV body. Well protected. Also works with a 500 f4 with hood reversed. With the 500 it gets a bit tight and you can't completely close the zippers, but the top cover takes care of covering what little is left open. With both of the above configurations you will have room for other items such as extenders, back up bodies, lens...
Getting in to the bag is a good news/bad news thing with all of the straps reinforcing the zipper closure. But the extra insurance that they give me is well worth the time of getting in for other items.

Comments about Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Backpack:

Very nice to use. Roomy, adjustable and easy to use.