Lowepro Photo Sport BP 200 AW II

Conclusion

Lowepro built on its experience to design the second version of the Photo Sport BP AW II. The result is a backpack which focuses on comfort and equipment protection, two important features for hikers.

The hip and shoulder straps, as well as the pack padding and flexibility, provide good support and will not tire wearers even after many hours. While we were not impressed by the zippers and material choices for some straps, the fabrics are on par or better than industry standards and should be durable.

The company decided to create a small camera compartment, able to carry a camera and, at most, one or two accessories. This means longer lenses and extra gear will have to be left at home, at least with the 200 version (the 300 still can't hold a 70-200mm F2.8 lens). The level of protection offered by the compartment is probably among the best on the market: "Ultracinch" is an added perk to what is already a well-padded section. Spare memory cards can be stored on its' flap, but not much else.

There are sufficient pockets and flaps all around the bag to please most users. There are provisions to carry a small tripod, walking sticks or a monopod. The shape and size of the front pocket is excellent and will be useful for many different purposes.

Access to photo equipment during use is sufficiently convenient. There is no perfect solution and Lowepro went with a proven design.

Hikers will be pleased by the inclusion of a hydration compartment. Large enough to hold a 2 liters pouch, this compartment is well separated from the photo equipment and even in the case of a leak, will not threaten precious electronics.

There are two sets of elastic cables which can hold walking sticks or a monopod. Their position can be changed as desired, a simple and nice bonus..

The large number of buckles and straps is the main flaw of the bag: these attachment points often get in the way and slow down the user. We wish Lowepro would have taken more time to fine-tune their positioning.

Ventilation is another point where the bag does okay, no more. Mesh backs are becoming more and more standard on regular walking bags and we wish Lowepro would have followed suit.

Pros

• Small and light (20L), large enough for longer hikes (30L)
• Camera compartment with "Ultracinch" offers superb gear protection
• Comfortable in use for various body shapes, even over long periods
• Numerous pockets and storage options
• Several interesting ideas (large, stretching front pocket, "Ultracinch", open main compartment)
• Good looks, does not appear to be a camera bag
• Included rain cover and water resistant fabrics
• Room for a hydration pouch

Cons

• Camera compartment cannot be removed
• Buckles and straps often get in the way
• Photo gear storage will be too small for many users
• Ventilation could be better

Who is it for

The Photo Sport BP 200 AW II from Lowepro will please active users looking for a compact and comfortable option to carry a minimum of gear. It can also be used as a carry-on in a plane. Available in two sizes and two colors, its numerous adjustment make it a good choice for people of various body shapes.

In the US, the bag is a relatively low cost solution: at the time of writing the bag retails for US $158.81 and $99.98 at B&H Photo depending on the size. This is on par and often less than many simple hiking backpacks.