Buy Lowepro Fastpack 250-Red

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $70.49
Today's Bonus: 46% Off

I am extremely pleased with this camera bag. At first I thought it might be a little too big for my needs. I wanted a day pack that I could get my Nikon D200 with 18-200mm lens attached plus carry my 70-300mm and lensbaby but not be a huge backback. It ends up this pack was the perfect size.

Pros

camera on the bottom of the pack for weight distribution

side opening for easy access to camera. Can slip the camera in and out without opening up the whole pack

pockets in the front for accessories like extra batteries and flash cards

zipper side for lap top is next to your back (I use this compartment to stick my wallet in and push it to the far side so it is more secure)

zippered compartment that will take a light weight jacket along with pockets for cell phone, pens, and keys

another compartment which I can put some snacks in

a side mesh pocket for a water bottle

Cons

as others have mentioned on Lowepro packs, no attachment for carrying a tripod

would like a few more velcro compartments on the flip side where the other velcro pockets are

would like a little more depth on mesh pocket for the water bottle

wish it came with a rain cover

I also like the fact that when you take it off and set it down it stays upright. I wore it all day (of course the camera was around my neck which made the pack pretty light) and it was very comfortable. Excellent construction and excellent price for what you get.

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The Lowepro Fastpack 250 is an excellent camera and laptop bag. Although designed for a 15.4" laptop it could easily accommodate a larger computer. I put my Nikon D300 with mounted 18-200 VR lens in it with no problems. The bag fits easily under an airline seat (even on a CRJ-200) and has room in the personal gear compartment for four paperback books plus some snacks! The only negative is that the carry handle could use some padding.

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I really liked this bag, except for 1 missing feature. The padding is excellent, storage is good for the size of bag and all gear is well protected. The laptop compartment is a little tight depending on the model of laptop you have. What I didn't like was the lack of a sternum strap, it had a lap belt which is good for long carries, but even with the lap belt the lack of a sternum strap means it puts alot of weight on your lower back rather than moving it up to your shoulders. The quick access design is nice and useful for getting to your camera quickly and easily.

Honest reviews on Lowepro Fastpack 250-Red

After a lot of research online and at different store, I don't have to think twice that this DSLR-laptop backpack is closest to the perfect backpack I was looking for. I bought an Ape Case Pro for Digital Slr Cameras Large Size By: Norazza, returned it. Then got a Lowepro Slingshot 200 All Weather Backpack (Black) and compared a Nikon Backpack for DSLR, Lenses, and Laptop. Fastpack 250 clearly stood out from others in multiple aspects.

Very quick in using due to the side access to the main camera pocket.

Comfortable for long outdoor trips. Camera weight is at the bottom and all weight is adjusted well with the waist strap.

Very spacious from inside. Ample space for D60, 2 lenses, 1 camcorder, 1 flash, charger-power cable-USB cable.

Adjustable pockets with velcro.

Great protection. Very thick padding for both camera & laptop.

One backpack to carry laptop, DSLR, & camcorder.

Cleverly designed flap. The media cards in the top pockets will never fall off, as the flap stops half-way through.

One outside zipper pocket on top for quick access. One accessory pocket outside main flap.

Main pocket on top has space for cellphone, pens, markers, laptop battery-pack, accessories etc.

Great looks.

The only scope of improvement is following:

A hook/attachment option to attach the tripod carry case. (However, I still rated it as 5 star)

The solution for this problem is: Buy a small tripod which can fit in a stroller. You can take it along while going on flight and can always keep it in car on road trips.

I have also uploaded some images with notes in the Customer Images section. Hope it helps.

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I like the size, shape, and general construction of the Lowepro Fastpack 250. The reason for the three stars is that the configurability of the camera compartment in this backpack has a fatal flaw.

As with most camera carriers, the Fastpack 250 has a number of adjustable padded partitions to configure the camera compartment to your particular equipment. These partitions attach to the compartment using Velcro. However, unlike most similar products, Lowepro provides limited attachment points for the partitions in the compartment. Instead of making all of the walls and floor of the compartment of Velcro (soft side), Lowepro only provides a few strips and patches, meaning that you can only configure the partitions within very limited parameters. While there was plenty of room for my equipment in the compartment, I was unable to position the partitions to properly hold the equipment.

If your camera equipment consists of a small DSLR body and several small lenses, this almost fixed configuration should work. I wanted to carry a medium sized DSLR with two medium large lenses and it was not possible.

The backpack also has a waist belt with padded hip protectors. If you don't want to use the waist belt, there is no place to stow it, so it is always hanging off the sides of the bag.