Lowepro Flipside 400 AW is the largest bag in the Flipside range. In this range of camera backpacks, you access your equipment through the back panel instead of the traditional front panel. The addition of a waist belt to the back panel also allows you to swing the backpack to your side or front so that you can open up the back panel without putting down the backpack. The intention of this design is to allow reasonable quick access to your equipment and at the same time prevent people from stealing your equipment when you are carrying it.
Lowepro Flipside 400 AW. Pouches at the waist belt are not included.
The usual bell and whistles. The back also has contoured padding for a little airflow.
The backpack with raincover.
What I like:
1) The quality of the construction is reasonably good. My only gripe is the front padding is slightly misaligned.
2) The design allows you to change lens without putting your bag down. If your bag is heavy, I would still suggest you somehow support it with your leg.
3) The protection of the equipment in the main chamber is top notch. Thick padding with tricot interior ensures your equipment should not scratch each other if they are pack properly. The only internal zipper on the back storage panel also has a cover to prevent scratching. You have to ensure it is fully zipped though.
The main camera compartment.
4) The bag is slightly tapered. The top is thicker and the bottom slimmer. The shape fits the profile of our backs causing the weight to shift closer to your body. A very good design. The slightly thicker top is also used to accommodate larger cameras with vertical handgrips.
The side view shows that the top is thicker and the bottom.
What I don’t like:
1) Lowepro did not quite get the ergonomics right in my opinion. The waist belt should be redesigned as a hip belt, so that the weight can rest on your hips. The other way is to make the bag longer or taller. At the moment it is not a deal breaker for me because my bag is not very heavy but it could be for some people. The comfort level is still very far from those offered by backpack manufacturers such as Deuter or Osprey.
2) The shoulder straps could be much better padded for its price and since it is advertised as a premium backpack they really should have used better straps.
3) Personally I think the removable sternum straps are just waiting to be lost. Many a times when I pull them to adjust they slid right off from the bottom. They should redesign it so that they can only be removed from the top of the strap.
4) When you swing your back to the front, the bag is additionally secured to the back panel by a couple of adjustable straps. I would think it might be prudent to add a couple of more straps. After all, camera equipment can be quite heavy.
The supporting straps I was referring to.
Is the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW the only camera travel backpack you will need? It would be difficult to answer because every photographer’s needs are different. The main reason I chose this is I can access my equipment and also change lens without putting down my backpack. The storage compartment is also big enough for long lenses, which is very rare for bags which offer side or back entry. For me, this bag comes close but it is certainly not the perfect bag yet. My search continues.
Price paid: £59.18 with delivery.
2 Comments
Wow, that must be the biggest camera bag I’ve seen! Good review, seems like a great choice.
In my opinion it can be a bit bigger! Seems like I packed too much!