Lowepro Whistler BP 350 AW II 4 Season Outdoor Backpack for Pro DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras, Laptop and Outdoor Gear LP37226-PWW, Grey

I only received this sack today but I am really over the moon about it. Yes I know I haven't had the chance to try it out properly yet but I used and owned enough rucksacks in my time to know a good one when I see it. I ummed and ahhed about this bag for a long time, I wanted one I could carry my modest amount of camera equipment into the mountains with but also have enough room to carry the essentials for comfort and safety. There aren't many good bags out there that satisfy those requirements (why???) and those that do either look rubbish or are too small to carry, the extra gear needed and keep your delicate camera gear dry should you put wet clothes in the bag. This bag would appear to tick all my boxes, all my camera stuff fits in with room for some expansion, I suppose that bit goes without saying, it's what Lowepro do. What I am impressed with firstly is the fit and comfort of the bag, it's as good as any specialised mountain sack I've ever used, even loaded up and after a long day in the mountains I think this will still be comfortable.The construction looks very good, the material feels like it will wear very well, more like mountain bags used to be. I've no idea how weatherproof it is yet but the amount of material in between the weather and camera is substantial, the zip of the camera compartment however is exposed, I suppose Lowepro know what their doing there, we'll see.The extra gear storage is well thought out, sealed from the camera section and accessible by a large zip. My first thought was that the space was a bit tight until I found an expandable section that unzips that doubles the available space so there is loads of room for coats, food etc. The straps for extra gear like tripods, skis etc are as expected, they certainly hold everything I need with room for plenty more or bigger.So it's a well made and thought out bag that seems to be ideal for a day (or two) in the mountains that will keep my camera gear safe. It's not too big or bulky, certainly less than I imagined it would be.

I love outdoor adventure sports and, along with that, comes a great love of photography. I've spent many years trying to find the right camera bag and this comes pretty close to perfect!The rugged and durable construction is ideal for use in the mountains and there is plenty of space for my main camera gear and many extra necessities. The rear-access camera compartment will comfortably hold a full-frame body with 24-105mm lens, 100-400mm telephoto lens, wide-angle lens, filter pouch, cables pouch, flashgun, large powerbank, gopro and many accessories with room to spare. The heavily-padded camera compartment can be removed as a whole to allow the main section of the bag to be used for other activities e.g. climbing, camping etc. This means you don't have to remove every item of camera gear individually and take out all your carefully-placed dividers! While you have to take the bag off to access the main part of the bag as it is rear-access, this is actually not an issue as the very durable material of the bag doesn't seem to pick-up dirt when put on the ground. There are hefty zips as well, which makes it super easy to open, even with big gloves on!In addition there is a huge front pocket for extra gear - particularly useful for easy access to layers when hiking, rope and gear when climbing or ideal for a small gimbal. This compartment can be further expanded to take a really impressive volume of stuff! Plenty of stap options on the outside to attach extras such as tripod, camping mats etc. I've taken this on planes as hand luggage with no issues at all.The only less-good aspect are the hip straps. I'm not overly skinny, but struggle to get the hip belt tight enough to take much weight off my shoulders. Obviously loosening the should straps could correct this, but this lowers the overall weight away from the back and puts more strain on the neck and upper-back overall. It would have been useful to be able to remove these straps.Note, there is a newer version of this bag recently released, but with very little noticeable difference. I'd highly recommend going for this cheaper alternative to the new one.

This is an incredibly well made and versatile bag, the materials just shrug off everyday usage, being laid down in wet leaves, mud, gravel has no lasting affect on this bag at all. A quick wipe down/brush off and it is good to go.Inside the camera section it easily holds my full-frame DSLR fitted with a 24-105mm together with a 70-300mm, a 16-35mm, a prime 50mm, Lee filters, waterproof camera cover and a small camera cleaning kit with room to spare. The pocket on the front takes a hat, waterproof trousers, gaiters and still leaves room for a packed lunch! Keys, wallet, glasses and phone easily fit in the top pocket.The straps on the side hold the 3 Legged Thing Billy, I am still trying to find something to attach to the other side!!This is a very well designed bag to say the least.