In my never-ending quest for the ultimate photo backpack, I recently came across this new Lowepro Hatchback. It attracted my attention with it's combination of lightweight materials, sleek design and modest size (at least for the 16 liter model). I was looking for a small to medium-sized daypack with good ergonomics, and so I thought the Hatchback 16L would fit the bill nicely.
First things first: the Pepper Red definitly isn't red! It is actually bright orange, which is not ugly at all, but it will take some getting used to.
Secondly, the bag really is lightweight. The materials do feel a little thin, but they seem to be tough enough. The wide shoulder straps are very good and nicely padded, as is the back panel. This will certainly not cause issues on a long day in the field. The inside camera compartment (accessed via the back panel) is also padded very well and has an extra storm-flap closure, which is good against dust or moisture.
Beware that the camera compartment of the 16 liter version will only hold a medium-sized DSLR with standard zoom lens attached, and some smaller accessoiries. I have a Nikon D90 with 18-105 lens, and this setup occupies about 75% of the space inside the compartment. This means there is not enough room left for any additional lenses! If you want to take extra lenses, they will need to go in the top compartment, which is roomy enough, but of course not padded.
This upper compartment is surprisingly roomy and adds a great deal to the bag's functionality. It will easily hold your lunch box and a light jacket or rain gear (although it will be a little tight if you also carry addittional lenses in there). It has 2 elastic mesh pockets and 1 zippered compartment. These are useful for smaller items such as keys, filters, cables, etc. A water bottle can go into 1 of the 2 outside mesh pockets, and the front pocket is useful for flat items such as books, newspapers or a tablet PC. There are no dedicated tripod attachments, although you could put a compact model in one of the side mesh pockets.
Overall, I think the Hatchback 16L is a well-designed and very functional camera bag. I really like the sleek design and low profile of the 16L model. It's not a giant of a backpack, which will make it ideal for day trips as well as longer travels. Toughness "on the road" has not been tested yet, but as it's a Lowepro I expect no problems there. The only drawback is the size of it's camera compartment, as it will definitly not accommodate any additional lenses. It's bigger brother, the 22L model, will probably do better in this respect, but the increased size does qualify it as a large backpack.
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Found this bag perchance while looking for a mid size bag to occupy the daypack region. My Carry all is too big for hiking, etc and pretty much just carries camera gear. I have a small Domke that holds all my lenses and a few Filters, but was too small for my Cokin P setup, a flash, and the camera itself. If I needed them then it was the carry all or two smaller bags. Enter the Lowepro 16L AW.
I generally have my camera out and ready to go on a hike, so i reconfigured the camera compartment as was able to fit a Nikkor 70-300 f/3.5-4.5, a Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, a Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 and an old Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D pancake as well as one remote flash trigger and receiver in the compartment.
The top area was completely unused for any lenses, but fits a complete set of Grad NDs and a Cokin P Head/hood as well as an SB-700 Flash and accessories (in the pouch) as well as several screw in filters, and miscellaneous smaller items like a remote, lenspen, and rocket blower. Even with all that I still had room for my D7000 with a Nikkor 28-70 f/3.5-4.5 attached, a microfiber towel, and/or a compact rain jacket. None of this was really crammed in the bag and it does not bulge or look overfilled. Granted it took a bit of creative layout in the top compartment, but it all fit well and was not jammed in.
The camera/lens compartment is padded, removable and has a weather flap that can be closed over it and zipped up inside. The bag itself it water resistant and includes a rain cover, so all in all my gear it pretty well protected from the elements inside.
Downsides are that the removal dividers in the camera compartment aren't really well suited to true customization. there is really only a finite set of ways you can organize the inside. I might be grabbing some other dividers from some other bags to get it working better. This is not the bag you want to carry a large body in. the 22L AW is better suited for that if you want to carry more than 1 other lens. The other thing is that I haven't really found a way to attach a tripod to the bag. There are two elastic pouches on the sides for water bottles or whatever, but there is no way to really secure a tripod at the top if you use the pouches to hold a leg. Big thing for a hiker/landscape photographer. I am sure I'll figure something out with a D-ring, but a simple velcro strap at the top would have solved the whole issue.
All in all, this is my new day hiker, day at the park, commuter bag. Well made, thought out design, and not overly obnoxious as a camera bag means that it will be getting a lot of use.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I hope I can do this bag justice by my review because it is a great bag. I have other Lowepro Bags and this one just seems to take the cake.
Let me start out by saying that I have two camera's... Canon digital rebel XT that is my old camera that still works and my newer Canon that is a 5D Mark II. I am no professional but only take pics of things as a hobby. The 5D is a somewhat professional camera and about twice as big and heavy as my digital rebel xt. I like to take both of them along with me on occasion as the 5D doesn't have a built in flash like the rebel and really its just a better camera. I have yet until now had a bag that I would feel comfortable carry both in.
On a recent camping trip, my husband and I camped at a park that has a waterfall at the bottom of a good 1 mile rock hike. Its a trecherous trek for someone like me that has no equilibrium. I can't tell you how many times I trip and almost fall daily. The day we decided to hike to the falls I loaded this bag up with my 5D and my digital rebel, a 100mm macro lens, its lens hood and another general lens with small hood. I also fit into the front pocket my Kindle Paperwhite, a few packs of baby bell cheese, apple slices and a water in each side of the bag (there's a place for them).
The bag was heavy and I can honestly say that I didn't carry it the whole trip and in fact I didn't carry it myself but for about 10 minutes but the fact of the matter is this....I can carry all of that in one bag and feel comfortable about each of my pieces of equipment being safe.
The back bottom interior has a zippered compartment that has a padded storage area where I can carry either camera without a lens attached. Depending on which camera is back there I can fit either two lens' or 1 lens and a hood. Each of the pieces has its own padded compartment. The other camera, hood and lens went in the zippered front padded pocket. This is a real complicated bag to tell someone about without going into alot of detail.
Every detail has been thought out. I can even access the back area from the zippered part in the front but one would never know that without great inspection of the bag. In the front, front zippered compartment is the place I carried my paperwhite and another pocket in front of that where I carried the cheese and the apple slices. I was leery of putting the waters on the side of the bag where there is space for them but everything worked out fine and nothing got wet from spillage. This bag also has a pocket on the bottom that holds a water resistent hood that just pulls up over the whole bag.
Did I mention that this bag is a backpack and also has a hand hold? A few pockets here and there and really good sturdy quality material that is light because we all know our gear is heavy. I'm a small statured woman at 5'4 and 130 lbs and I was able to fit this pack to me and also to my husband who is over 6' and who carried the backpack loaded for the other 1.3/4 miles. The straps are great and the excess straps have an elastic band to keep them close to the straps and not dangling down. I don't think I mentioned that the straps are double sewn and have some interior something in them to make them lightweight but sturdy.
I think that about tells you everything I thought about the bag and stuff that I would want to know if I were you. I don't always want to carry both cameras but when I do this will be the bag I want to carry them in.
Honest reviews on Lowepro LP36431-PWW Photo Hatchback 16L AW (Slate Grey)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program top of the line brand name and a well designed back pack for all of your equipment, well designed for placement
To get to the lenses, which fills the bottom half of the bag, you unzip through the part of the bag which touches your back, thus providing security from the outside as well as extra padding. To get out the lens you need to remove the backpack and open it up from the where the bag touches your back (did I say that already?) and inside you will find four well padded generous slots for your short medium lenses surrounding one rather long lens slot.
To get to the camera cavity, you come from around the top of the bag, from the outside, unzip, and find a rather large format opening which could really fit any full sized DSLR of the professional level.
various other openings provide storage space for the other various and sundry needs that you carry, such as extra chips, lens cleaner, cell phone, etc.
very comfortable and well designed bag which should more than fill your needs for a day's shoot, or for carrying your complete kit.
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It seems i've searched forever for the perfect bag.
Have i found it? No, but after so many years of "collecting" bags, i've come to realize there is no one perfect bag anyway. ;)
The Lowepro Hatchback (16L) is a very versatile bag that can be used to carry some limited camera equipment, along with personal items for a day hike, walking around town, on sundry excursions, etc.
As a working photojournalist, i wouldn't use it on a regular basis to WORK out of though. For that matter, i rarely use any backpack-style bag to work photo assignments. That's why i have so many bags to begin with. Just like lenses, each serves a different purpose. Most bags i work out of are small-ish shoulder-style bags that are easy to open and access, such as Domke (my favorites are the F3x and the F803).
At first, i was a bit skeptical of the back-access panel. But it's really no harder to access than the front, in fact, i do think it is slightly easier. The point is that you DO have to take it off your back though, just like any other backpack, to get inside it. Sling-bags are really not much better. None of them are really quick-draw. That's why when i am actually working, i hardly ever keep a camera inside ANY bag. They are just to hold the needed extra lenses, flash, batteries, etc. for the particular job.
That said, when you are walking/hiking, for recreation/commuting, and only need your camera occasionally, this bag does work well.
The thing i like the most about it is the SIZE.
It is NOT too small for it's purpose.
But if you want to carry every lens, camera body, and flash you own, plus the kitchen sink, then it won't work for you, and your search for the perfect bag will resume. (i have enough lenses, flashes, camera gear to put in 10 bags, but only take what i need for a given opportunity).
After one day, i've only taken one hour-long walk through the woods with it so far. It's comfortable enough. It perfectly carries my slim Thermos bottle (Thermos Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Hydration Bottle, 18 Ounce--love this bottle) in either side mesh pocket, or my cell phone (inside a case) in the other. You could put a bottle on both sides, or a very small tripod.
The straps seem a bit hard, but maybe they will soften some with some use. They are supportive and the weight is distributed well though. Havent used the waist or sternum straps so far. I discovered that the waist straps can actually be tucked out of the way inside the little bottom pocket with the rain cover. Nothing i hate more than having all those long straps dangling everywhere in the way all the time. The sternum straps can be adjusted height-wise on a built-in bar on the shoulder straps, and they come wound up and tied with an elastic band, which is the way i've kept them.
The material is light but seems STRONG. The whole pack is pleasingly LIGHT without any gear, which is another of my main reasons for purchase; some bags are just so heavy and cumbersome to begin with...before you even load them up!
I'm really glad it has a rain cover. I like the light-colored cover with only the logo on it. It is attached to the bottom of the bag with a little strap and goes inside its own little pocket on the very bottom of the bag. It covers the bag well, but i havent tried it in the rain yet so see how well it works. Undoubtably i will at some point though, and i wanted a bag with a rain cover.
I do not especially like the Lowepro name stencil-ized down the side of the front. Not to knock the brand, i think Lowepro makes some geat products, i just don't think i should have to advertise for them. Would rather it was smaller/less obtrusive or just the logo. Plus, everyone then knows its a bag to hold expensive camera gear.
The look of the bag is otherwise nice. I got the plainer charcoal-gray so it would go with about anything and not be so noticeable. The blue looks nice, but i just don't personally like really loud bright colors for camera bags, although i suppose if you are hiking around in the middle of the woods where a lot of hunters are, the Pepper orange-red bag might be handy!
Inside the main photo section (which can be removed if you want), the bag will fit one body (without grip) with a smaller attached lens. I've fit my Nikon D300s OR D7000 body with a Tamron 60mm f/2 Macro or Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 (with hood in shooting position!)inside it, with a bit more room for a small prime such as a 50mm f/1.4 or Sigma 24mm f/1.8. Could even attach a 85mm f/1.4 (with hood reversed or off). With one body/lens combo, i can also fit my Fuji x10 inside this section and maybe a charger, extra battery or two. You can put a flash card or small battery in a elastic holder which is built-in to the flap.
You're not going to ba able to fit a larger pro body with huge pro zoom lenses in here though. But you could fit 3-4 nice primes.
The top section is quite roomy, is has two mesh pockets and a bigger zippered pocket, none padded. I can fit another body and smaller lens attached in the top pocket, or a 70-200 f/2.8 even. Keep in mind that this section is not particularly designed for photo gear, but it does work, and the padding around the other areas of the bag do provide some protection. I'll most likely use this section for various small personal items though, as intended. Phone, MP3 player, headphones, audio recorder, batteries, snacks, cap, etc. I will say that the zipper seems a bit hard to open on this top main compartment at times, wants to snag a bit as there is a built-in rain drip over the zipper. Its not a deal-breaker, but it doesnt open as smoothly as the other zippers for the tablet section or camera back section.
Being the age we are in, i now have and carry a tablet with me at times, which was another of the primary reasons i wanted/needed a new bag.
The front section of the bag is intended to hold a tablet, such as ipad. I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (loaded with PhotoshopTouch), which even in a faux leather cover, fits perfectly. A bigger laptop would not fit however. There is a sleeve-pocket inside this zippered pocket, which is padded and holds the tablet perfectly. You could even put something else, such a small Kindle in this section. This works great for me, and provides easy access. Maybe its easy access for a thief as well, but i'd think you could feel the zipper opening and the device being pulled out of the sleeve, so i'm not so worried.(You could also surmise that the photo section would be impossible to steal from though). This section is a perfect fit for a tablet (10-11 inches max), is padded for protection, and the other sections serve their intended functions well too.
Overall, i am very happy with this bag. It holds what i want it to, and nothing more. The 22L version would be too cumbersome for me, and force me to carry too much, uncomfortably.
I'm sure some day i'll be looking for another bag to suit another need, but for now, this one does the job quite nicely!
