Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III review

Lowepro’s third generation of its popular ProTactic AW range is finally here with the arrival of the ProTactic BP 350 and 450 AW III backpacks. The bags are designed to be a hardwearing workhorse for photographers, videographers, and content creators transporting their camera kit in demanding urban environments. Lowepro's hardy line of bags is aimed at harsh urban environments and its military feel with hard shell design and exterior webbing for extra accessories to be bolted on would even make it suitable for even the hardiest of journalists reporting from a warzone.

The ProTactic BP 350 and 450 AW III backpacks were also launched in tandem with six new accessories which can be bolted onto either of the bag’s exterior webbing, giving extra space for your specific needs. I got hold of many of these accessories too and I’ll give you my thoughts on the whole ecosystem of the Gen-3 ProTactic range later on. Also announced were four ProTactic Lite models, though for the purposes of this review, I’ll just be covering the ProTactic BP 350 and 450 AW III.

Lowepro says it has listened to user feedback and incorporated some of the most asked-for features with the new bags. This includes improving comfort and cross-functionality, a new adaptive harness, higher webbing on the bag to make it easier to carry a large tripod, and an innovative fully-molded divider system that’s more adaptable for greater flexibility and additional exterior pockets. I got hold of the 350 AW III and put it through its paces to see if you should add it to your wishlist.

Specifications

External dimensions (WxHxD): 190x315x470mm
Internal dimensions (WxHxD): 145x275x440mm
Size options in range: 350AW III (17L) / 450AW III (28L)
Bag type: Backpack
Camera access: Rear, Top, Left and Right sides
Laptop compartment: 14" 350AW III / 16" 450 AW III
Tripod fastener: Yes
Chest / Waist straps: Yes, both
Rain-proof cover: Yes
Weight: 2.3Kg

Build & Handling

The ProTactic AW III comes in two sizes, the 17-liter 350AW III and the 28-liter 450AW III. Both are available exclusively in black – the stealthy, low-profile colorway is the only available option in this range. I got hold of the smaller 350AW III backpack for this review, though much of what I say about its build quality, materials, and performance will also be applicable to the larger 450AW III, too, as it shares much of its DNA.

The third-gen ProTactic bags are made from 85% recycled fabrics, with recycled 210D Nylon Ripstop, 600D and 900D Polyester on the outside, and recycled Velex Nylon on the inside. Though recycled, the materials feel very premium. The outside has a fantastic rugged and hardwearing textured feel to it and it has more of a hard shell frame to it than other bags like Lowpro’s Flipside series which are more of a soft shell – this makes the ProTactic III better at keeping your kit safe from knocks and dings, and also means the bag holds its shape better over time too.

Its rigidity comes with a trade-off as although it's very stiff and tough, it does mean it's a little less forgiving when you're trying to cram in kit. The bag also has a rounded design to it, meaning the middle section is the deepest, and it can be a bit of a squeeze to get bigger lenses in on the side sections where the bag tapers around and isn't quite as deep as the middle, this is perhaps less of an issue with the larger 450AW III version though.

The hard shell top lid is particularly impact-resistant and the base is well padded too, so your kit is safe if you put your bag down in a hurry. The bottom of the bag is also very flat, so when placed down on its base it stands up straight without toppling over.

The additional material used to make this bag sturdier and more rigid comes at a cost as it’s quite heavy at 2.3 kg. Compare this to the 1.7Kg of Lowepro’s softshell 400 AW III, or Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 350 AW which weighs just 1.4Kg and you can see it's considerably heavier than softer backpacks.

The top lid is a stiff and rigid part of the backpack, which is important as this is one of the key areas you can store your main camera with a lens attached for quick access by its top opening, so it keeps your camera body really safe and secure. Chunky zippers and equally beefy zip pulls make it quick and easy to access the top hatch for your camera, though you can use any of the doors on either side of the bag or open up the rear hatch for full access to the internal camera compartment.

One of the unique features of the new bags and indeed a longstanding feature of the ProTactic range is its exterior webbing which serves as attachment points to bolt-on accessories and customize the exterior to suit your specific needs. The ProTactic 350 AW III comes with a zippered pouch, one drawstring pouch for a 1L water bottle (or tripod feet), and an All Weather Cover (AWC) which also has a velcro loop to be attached to the exterior webbing – though this rain cover is quite a tight fit so it's not really possible to wrap it around your bag whilst also having loads of the modular accessories bolted on at the same time.

Also included are two Quick Straps which are a new design and now feature custom gatekeepers for a more secure attachment – these can be clipped on to the webbing to secure larger items, such as a tripod to the bag. The backpack now features webbing higher up on the bag to make it easier to secure a full-sized tripod. These were easy to set up and attach to any of the webbing points across the bag exterior and were brilliant for tethering tripod a tripod. A new gatekeeper keeps these straps secured to the webbing until you want to remove them. The length of the straps can also be easily adjusted and then locked in place with a lever.

Also on the exterior, you’ll find two elasticated soft pockets, these can also be used for water bottles or the feet of a tripod (using the Quick Straps to secure the top).

New modular add-ons include the CS Phone III, CS 120 III, CS 60 III and Bottle Pouch III. The backpack comes with a padded waist belt and one feature I love about this is that it is removable, so you can add or remove it from your bag depending on your shoot.

Sometimes I find hip belts can get in the way, whereas on longer shoots I usually end up wishing I had one to help take the load off my shoulders. I can't stress enough how much I love the ability to remove or add the hip belt as needed, as on many other bags the choice is to either have one fixed in place or not feature one at all.

Lowepro has also created a new Utility Belt III which from what I can tell the padding is the same thickness, though it's a little taller and also has a small pocket on one side which opens up to reveal a drawstring pouch. Is this upgrade really worth the £49.95 asking price? I'll let you be the judge, but it shows that this isn't the cheapest system if you start racking up lots of these modular add-ons.

The Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III boasts more external pockets than ever before. The two-volume pockets on each side have been carried over from the ProTactic Mark II and are great stash spots for small items, one even has a keychain attachment. New additions are two elasticated water bottle pockets on either side, these are built-in to the left and right quick access doors and are a very welcome addition. They could even be used to hold the feet of a tripod if you wanted.

On the inside of the back panel you’ll find the CradleFit laptop pocket which can fit up to a 14” MacBook Pro on the 350AW III model, though if you need to fit a larger laptop the bigger 450AW III can fit laptops up to 16”. One feature that stood out was an extra zipper around the top of the laptop compartment that gives your computer an additional layer of security from water.

You’ll also see the internal camera compartment with new MaxFit dividers, though I’ll cover this in more detail in Performance. The main hatch door which is also the laptop compartment has two see-through zipper compartments for accessories. I love that these are semi-transparent as you can clearly see what is in each pocket, there’s no guesswork needed as on some camera bags you have to open the pockets to see what accessories are stored inside.

Performance

The Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III delivered a solid performance. The “Enhanced” Dual Density ActivZone padding was comfortable and offered good breathability too, with its molded EVA back panel with perforations and a ripple pattern for airflow. Though the 350 III model I got hold of was a little on the small side so it wasn't long enough to distribute the bag over my entire back, though I'm sure this is less of an issue with the larger 450 version.

The padding feels really stiff and at first glance I thought would be uncomfortable because it's so firm, but I'm happy to report this wasn't the case. On a recent two-day trip to London, I clocked over 30 miles on foot and I'm happy to report the back padding works rather well. Do bear in mind that I was wearing a big winter coat, so it could possibly be less comfortable if you're wearing say, just a T-shirt.

The padding on the shoulder straps is substantial, though it tapers off quickly around the chest area and I do wish the straps were a little wider here for better comfort.

The SlideCam Sternum strap adds stability to the bag across your chest and is moveable up or down to get it into the right position for you, though it’s not elasticated, that said I still found it very comfortable. This also has a locking lever so you can fix the sternum strap in place and prevent it from moving accidentally.

The waist strap is nicely padded and is very comfortable. It’s also removable which is a great feature. It can also be upgraded to the ProTactic Utility Belt III which is a bit bigger and has an extra pocket, though the base strap that comes with the bag is very good so don’t feel compelled to buy this if you don’t need it.

The new ProTactic backpacks employ new MaxFit internal dividers with pressed ends for “seamless” end-to-end attachment. There’s three different types of dividers that come with the bag, each color-coded orange, light grey or dark grey and they do contour much better to awkwardly shaped items. One issue is that the padding is very hard with no give so the cushioning isn’t as good as with softer dividers. I found in testing that if you don't have your dividers extremely snug to your lenses you can hear them knocking around when you're on the move – something you wouldn't experience with softer dividers that offer more cushioning.

The ProTactic 350 AW III is tapered at the sides so the deepest part of the internal cavity is in the middle, and means you have less space to play with on the left or right sides, though you can still fit in a decent amount of kit. Unlike some other backpacks, there’s not really any internal space carved out for non-camera kit items like clothes or food.

While there are a great number of small pockets on the outside, two stretchy elastic pockets for water bottles or tripod feet, as well as two stash pockets for passports or keys, there’s a distinct lack of small pockets on the inside. With the Mark III we’ve also lost the memory card pocket that was in the lid space on the prior version, so a good memory card case will be required with the Mark III. But it's not a dealbreaker.

On the inside of the top hard lid, there's a decently sized zippered pocket, you could easily stash batteries and a memory card case here. It is a shame that Lowepro didn't line one of the pockets with an RFID blocker like we saw on the Vanguard VEO City B37, given that the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III is well-suited for use in urban environments, this feels like an opportunity missed.

There’s also no front pocket like you’d find on the Lowepro Flipside series, so this makes it more awkward to stash items such as lens cleaning equipment and guidebooks, for example, so you’ll need to find space inside your main camera compartment for these accessories. One option would be to bolt on one of the available expansion accessories for more space, though this could be an expensive solution.

The large zippers and zip pulls add to the overall feeling of solid durability with the exterior hard shell which does a great job of protecting the valuable contents from knocks dings and impacts. However, because the zippers are very big it does mean there are some small gaps where water, sand, and dirt could get into the inside, perhaps easier than on a bag using smaller zips. The big zips are easy to grab in a hurry and smooth to operate, though I found because they are very large zippers they can get caught on the shoulder straps when opening the rear hatch which slows you down.

This is a bit of a weak link as its security and protection are at the forefront of the ProTactic series, but means you’ll need to use the provided rain cover and tactically place the zippers at the bottom of their zip runs to reduce the risk of rain entering.

There are four access points: rear, two side doors, and top hard lid which give you plenty of ways to access your kit on the inside but it’s a compromise because each offers a very small opening where sand, dust or rain could get in. The provided rain cover is a little larger than the bag so there’s a bit of give to accommodate for any of the accessories bolted onto the webbing, though not big enough for a full-size tripod which will need to be taken off before the rain cover can be fitted.

The exterior webbing and modular system gives the ProTactic series a utilitarian and customization anyone in a military background will be familiar with as it’s similar to a bergen, granting the ability to bolt on specific pouches and accessories required for your trip.

Verdict

With the third generation of Lowepro's ProTactic series, the range has never had more features on display. Namely, with two additional stretchy exterior side pockets, extra webbing across the top lid for more mounting options, redesigned padding and new Quick Straps to tether items to your bag. I wouldn't run out to upgrade if you have the Mark II version unless you really need those new features, however, if you have the Mark I, or are coming into the range fresh then it will undoubtedly serve you very well.

Also new are several accessories that can be bolted on to give users more options for storing and stashing kit outside of the main camera compartment, plus a brand-new waist strap that can be removed. Indeed, many of these accessories are backward compatible with the older ProTactic bags so you may not need to fully upgrade if you don't feel the need.

The design is excellent and the bag is hard-wearing with its tough exterior and modular design. I marked it down on performance a little due to the internal dividers being very hard and also the large zippers getting caught on the shoulder straps when opening the rear hatch.

The ProTactic III backpacks are very expensive and the cost skyrockets further if you need lots of the extra bolt-on accessories or upgraded waist belt, though it initially comes with one zippered pouch, one drawstring pouch for a 1L water bottle (or tripod feet) and an All Weather Cover (AWC) to get your started. It is expensive and the optional accessories ramp up the cost further, but for pros working in demanding urban environments, it will be worth the investment and can provide many years of use in some of the harshest conditions that reporters and photographers work in.

Alternatives

If you’re an avid camper and your main camera rucksack has a GearUp insert, the LowePro RunAbout is a no-brainer. It’s a well-designed folding daypack that’s easy to stow and should appeal to photographers and dedicated hikers alike.

The Lowepro Flipside 500 AW II is a worthy update to the original 10-year-old Flipside 400AW, the 500 AW II is a little more roomy so those with big telephoto primes will find it an absolute joy. There's tonnes of storage for accessories and room for a 15" laptop as well as a 10" tablet, making it ideal for stills and video, shooters that need to pack all of their kit into one bag.