I own eight Nikons and have a lens on each. Sometimes trying to limit myself on which paired units to take with me is like rolling the dice. Many folks take a camera body and multiple lenses. I opt to not change lenses to keep dust out of the cameras. This bag allows me to take three camera/lens combinations with storage pockets for (memory case, batteries, notebook & pens; charger; patch cords; remotes; cleaning supplies; and spare viewfinder eyecups. I've had/have Tamrac; Case Logic, Think Tank; Tenba; Tarion; Vanguard and LowePro bags. This units walls are designed a little wider and higher up, with a nice rigid form, so that when laying out the dividers, it allows the room to double the pads in-between, and lay the cameras crossways. I'm able to use the side access on the bottom for a Nikon Z7 with FTZ adapter and a 70-200mm f2.8. Next one up is a Nikon Z7 with FTZ adapter and 24-70mm f2.8. And on the top, reachable through the top access, I have a Nikon Z6 with FTZ adapter and 135mm f1.8 Art. But I checked and it would fit any of my D810's with a 150mm f2.8; 20mm f1.8; or 105mm f2.8 - any of them will fit in the top section left over, layered the way I have it. The LowePro Tactic BP 450 AW ll (which this review is for) comes with enough dividers, with hook & loop, that I was able to confidently lay out the inner design to my liking. The stitching on this unit is well done, very heavy duty zippers with pull rings, comes with a rain cover, has a slot for a large laptop, viewable interior storage with zippers, and a firm form body that doesn't sag. The padding is ventilated next to your back, and rides comfortable. With all that stuff in there, there is nothing poking me or in danger of damage inside. I'm very happy with this bag and can see it being with me a long time. $200 was worth the investment. Take your gear with you, design it the way that fits your style, and know its safe.

OVERVIEW

I do a lot of traveling for photo and video shoots and wanted a backpack for my photography gear. Additionally, when I travel overseas I wanted something that could fit my full frame 5D4 and my Mavic Pro. On top of all of that it needed to be durable, comfortable, and weather resistant. The Lowepro ProTactic delivered all of this and more.

WHATS IN THE BAG

In this single bag I am able to pack all of the following equipment. Even for it's size it is a little hard to zip close with the equipment, but if everything is perfectly arranged, the zippers do manage to close.

Camera - 5D Mark 4 with battery grip and tripod plate

Camera Strap - Fastfire strap fits next to camera

Camera Batteries - 4 extra camera batteries

Memory Cards - Extra CF & SD (Canon 5D4), and MicroSD cards (Mavic Pro)

Laptop - Small dell 13" laptop so that I can backup the footage in the field

Tablet - iPad Mini tablet that I use to control the Mavic Pro

Lenses - Canon 70-200 2.8 L (portraits, zoom, wildlife), Canon 24-70mm 2.8 L (events, portraits, landscape, low light venues, group portraits, weddings, video), Canon 16-35mm L (landscape, events), Canon 24-105mm L (landscapes, walkaround lens, video), Sigma ART 50mm (detail shots, occasional portraits)

Drone - DJI Mavic Pro with 4 batteries, tablet holder, remote

ND Filters - 2 stop, 4 stop, and 10 stop Hoya 77mm ND filters

Basically an entire mobile studio ready for anything from weddings to light video work to landscapes to portraits fits in this bag, not to mention the Mavic Pro for aerial photography and aerial video. Unfortunately the bag is so full at this point that all of the various chargers (laptop, Mavic, Canon), and associated wiring simply do not fit, but for a day trip this bag has it all. The other thing that does not fit is off camera flashes, but when shooting an event that needs flashes I'd bring a lot more equipment than this (diffusers, light stands, radio triggers, etc).

PROS

Space - Of course the number one PRO is that this thing holds almost everything I want to put in it. I would love to be able to add a flash and small flash diffuser so that I'd be equipped for impromptu portraits with on camera fill flash, but I'd have to remove a lens or the Mavic Pro for a flash to fit.

Build Quality - So far the build quality has impressed me, I still feel like i am putting too much gear in this bag since the zippers and seams are straining a bit, and I am a little concerned because I could not find a clear warranty statement on the LowePro site, but if the seams pop or the zippers break hopefully LowePro will provide warranty support.

Size - for me the size is perfect. It's not quite big enough to need rollers, and it fits with ease into the overhead compartments on airplanes. I have noticed that when you have a backpack on your back at airports the airline attendants ignore you; the minute you are pulling a carry-on with wheels your chances of being allowed on the plane without checking your bag are about 50% even if it fits in the overhead.

Customization - the movable panels inside the backpack allowed me to customize it to fit my needs. When I am traveling I will have it setup to store the Mavic and Canon, when I am local I will set it up to support two camera bodies and flashes for weddings and events.

Usability - The top compartment access is perfect for a quick run and gun scenario, and my favorite part is that I get to keep my 70-200mm lens on the body.

Appearance - I do not like flashy gaudy equipment that draws people's attention to my gear. This bag is not big or flashy and keeps logos to a minimum which is the way I like to keep it.

Anti-Theft - Since the zippers are on the inside, if you are in a country or location where theft is a problem, this bag will keep your gear safe. I have seen some reviewers complain that a thief could use the top or side zippers to steal your gear. The solution is simple, if the location you are at is that bad, then simply ziptie those zippers closed. But come on people, if theft is really that bad, are you even going to bring this kind of gear? Personally I would bring the cheapest Rebel and kit lens I own.

CONS

Warranty Statement - I am having problems finding a clear warranty statement on the LowePro site, Amazon states the vendor has a limited lifetime warranty, but this is not apparent on the LowePro site.

Zipper Placement - I knew before I bought this bag that the zippers were on the inside, so I am not going to take away a star for this, but it still takes some getting used to. I liked being able to hang my bag on my light stand and having access to the contents of the bag; with this bag I have to lay it on the ground to get to it through the rear.

Rain Cover - I am not sure if this was supposed to come with the rain cover, I thought I read somewhere that the rain cover is included. I am going to contact the manufacturer to see if this was supposed to be included.

CONCLUSION

This bag is exactly what I was looking for, I only hope the zippers and seams last a long time because they are definitely stretched to their limits holding all of the gear. The bag is pretty comfortable to wear, I went up and down a pretty steep mountainside with no problems from this bag. This is the first camera bag that I have owned where the zippers are on the inside; that is taking some getting used to, but I guess one benefit to this is that if you sit it in dirt the dirt will not be all over your back when you put it back on your shoulders. The downsi

I've had a smaller Lowepro pack since 2012 and it has been great! That's why I chose this more expensive back pack over cheaper ones I considered to be in the same class. My first use was taking it to shoot a wedding. I was able to bring two Canon cameras with battery grips, 6 lenses: Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Art, Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 Sports, CanonEF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 NanoUSM, and a Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6, Canon EF 50mm f1.8, and Canon EF-S 18-55mm macro. I also was able to fit two Godox V860II's and a Godox Xpro trigger, plus 2 extra batteries for each camera, lens hoods, sd cards, and cleaning gear.

The pictures from the manufacturer don't illustrate very well how versatile this bag is. There is a large pocket on top that was big enough to hold one camera with the Sigma 24-70mm lens attached. There is a quick access area at the bottom of the pack that has access from either side. I was able to fit the other camera with the 70-200mm lens attached. Then on the front the whole panel zips open for access to everything (shown in the mfr's photos. There are plenty of interchangeable dividers to adjust the space to fit one's needs.

The straps seem pretty comfortable, and there is a removable padded hip belt with pockets for small items. It would be nice if the shoulder straps were also removable, but it's not critical by any means. There is also a handle on top like most day packs; it's adequate to carry the weight of a fully loaded pack.

The MOLLE style webbing on the outside are very nice - at once they are practical, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing. I strapped my travel trip with the included tripod pocket and straps to the side of the pack by attaching it all to the web straps. There is also an included drink bottle pouch with a drawstring closure; it's not the same one you'll see here on Amazon - that one is much nicer looking. You also get a small zippered pouch that is about 4" X 6" X 2". The two pouches are meant to be attached to the hip belt with wide hook and loop straps that are too wide to fit the MOLLE style webbing.

All in all, it's a great pack and worth every penny in my humble opinion. I trust the Lowepro brand to be quality, long-lasting equipment; I will still use my other small Lowepro pack for many years to come along with the ProTactic 450 AWII.

I am a bag junkie. I have bags upon bags for work, personal use, old bags, new bags, etc. I work and travel in a lot of different environments desert, mountains, heat, snow, foreign locations, etc. I searched for awhile for a bag that could hold my DSLR, lenses, drone, laptop and iPad. I came across this one and watched the videos, read the reviews like everyone else. My only concern was I don't like tactical looking bags when traveling. I also don't like branding that draws attention to a bag that may have thousands of dollars of equipment in it. I took a sharpie and filled in the logo, the tactical look is getting pretty common so I don't worry as much and added some D-rigs for bottles and backpacking straps.

I pulled the trigger on this bag and I was not disappointed. Starting with protection, the bag is like a hard shell all around. That's great for the gear in it and takes the worry away from bumps and knocks. The hook and loop system on this is pretty nice. The included bags don't fit all the loops, the side loops on the bag are a little more narrow and won't take the water bottle, etc. Not a huge deal unless you load a lot on the back which could be a problem when you lay it down to open it up. The material is stellar, very durable and not concerned about dragging it wherever I go. Good zippers, good handles and all in the right spots for loading, carrying, etc. The exterior pockets are a bit small but will hold keys, passport and other small items. The overall size is good, it's not to big to take on airlines and doesn't feel awkward walking around town. The shoulder straps are a little narrow, with a full load and long haul may get a bit sore. Access from three points gives lots of options for staging gear.

Ok for the interior, wow. I still don't know how I am fitting as much as I am in this thing. The entire interior is customizable so take some time to figure out the layout and what you want quick access to. Here is what I have in my bag:

- Canon 5D

- Canon 70-200 2.8

- Canon 24-105

- Canon 17-40

- Canon 100mm macro

- Lens shades for all lenses

- Two lens filters

- Mavic Air 2 drone (in hard case)

- Mavic Controller

- ND Filters for drone

- 1 full set of extra blades for drone

- Three drone batteries

- Three camera batteries

- Mount for iPad on drone controller

- Landing pad for drone

- iPad

- Dell XPS 15

- SD and CF cards

- Cables for chargers

- Misc lens cleaning material

Ok so the cons. When travelling I like to carry lots of snacks, ibuprofen or whatever the trip calls for. This doesn't have a great miscellaneous compartment. I laid out the interior so the top access allows for miscellaneous items. It's not perfect but it works. No bag will be perfect but this is about as close a they get for equipment bags. When you consider all the options for the exterior there isn't much it can't do. I have all the gear I would need travelling or around town. If I could change one thing I would say slightly wider shoulder straps to distribute the weight of all that gear. If your on the fence pull the trigger it's worth every penny.

Ultimate gear backpack — modular, weatherproof, and built for serious photographers.

It holds everything from DSLRs to drones thanks to its customizable dividers and smart layout. It’s comfortable to carry even when fully loaded, and has been my go-to bag for years. That said, it has aged just okay — for the price, I expected the materials to hold up a bit better over time. While still functional, some wear and tear is visible, and it doesn’t feel as premium as it once did. Great design, but long-term durability could be improved.

The one and only drawback to this backpack is that it can get a little heavy when it's fully loaded with gear. It's the size of a small hiking backpack (a little bigger than your average backpack) so it's not too bad to travel with. Honestly I've flown with this bag and used it as my "personal item" on more than one occasion. It pushes the limits a little when it comes to that, but it's still compact enough in its design that no one has ever second guessed me.

Having said all that, it's a great bag to hold all your gear on a regular basis. At one point, I had three cameras, three chargers with spare batteries, a couple lens (besides those attached to my cameras), my Zoom H6 and RODE VideoMic Pro+, two external hard drives, and my 16 inch MacBook Pro all stored in this bag without an issues, and that's not even counting the miscellaneous things like charging cables for my different devices that were also in there. Honestly, the only reason I bought a second, smaller bag was because I wanted something that would work better for small jobs where I only needed one camera and maybe a couple lens. Otherwise, this is my regular camera bag because I know it can house everything I'll need, along with a few extras. You can even attach a tripod to it, but admittedly I've never done that because I felt like I had enough weight on my back, so I always just carried the tripod separately.

If you only have one camera along with a few other pieces of equipment, this bag could be overkill. However, if, like me, you need something that you can put all of your gear in just so that you know you have what you need at a moment's notice, this bag will not disappoint. I've had mine for over a year now and I have no regrets.

I got this bag primarily so I could pack all of the camera gear I'd need for virtually any trip and not have to subject any of that to the baggage handling gorillas. One could probably manage to schlep a reasonable FF kit in this bag within limits, but with MFT, no problems. I can fit my Lumix G9 with battery grip, four lenses, including an 8-18mm f/2.8-4, 25mm f/0.95, 35-100mm f/2.8, and 100-400mm f/4-6.3 (multiply by two for 35mm eq FLs), plus a Lumix FZ1000, Olympus TG-5, flash, soft box, filters, spare batteries, 15" laptop, Manfrotto BeFree GT XPro carbon tripod (in its case), cables, chargers, etc, and still have room. I wouldn't want to try sticking it under the seat (it should fit as it's under the size limit, but I've yet to try--maybe next time) but it fits easily into overheads (at least on the aircraft types I flown with it--that doesn't include regionals so far).

Overall, the build quality is superb (as you'd expect with LowePro) and it's very well designed with a lot of flexibility (configurability, access points, etc.) . It's also nice that they include all those accessories and way more dividers than I need. The rain cover's nice to use when travelling to keep it clean (and more secure) and you can leave that on and still access the main compartment. The only downside is that it's not exactly light, weighing 2.8 kg (6.2 lb) empty, but with the straps adjusted properly, it's no problem carrying it loaded to at least 11 kg (24 lb).

I love the lowepro ProTactic Camera backpack. The backpack hold most of my important gear, not all but most. I was originally planning on getting a bigger backpack but I also wanted a backpack that I can travel on a plane with, bigger backpack may not fit in overhead bin. The ProTactic BP 450 is just the right size and should fit in most planes overhead bins. Because it is hard shell it will protect my gear and it will prevent me from over packing it so that it will always fit in overhead bin. The backpack really looks like a military backpack and has loops all around it in case you need to carry more gear you can just attach it with a hook. Great option when you need to hiking or any field work that requires you to bring more gear.

This backpack is great for those that travel, especially for those that travel by plane.

Een fijne, stevige rugzak met voldoende mogelijkheden om je kostbare apparatuur goed in te delen. Draagt ook prettig op je rug.

Lowepro quality all the way. Holds a lot. Lots of excellent dividers. Very protective. Good idea with the laptop room. Not entirely sure about the combo of having a "backwards" opening system with side and top pockets for direct access. Takes time place the right things in the right places. But seems promising. Transparent pockets very helpful. Lost one star due to the weight. Its a travel bag and every gram counts - too many here.

Two dslr, a bunch of objectives and a tripod.

I like to thank you seller Mr Harish who is very friendly and nice. My first receipt of bag has some zip defect and he immediately agreed to exchange for me. Great service!

Polecam każdemu komu nie szkoda wydać trochę więcej na plecak. Jest warty swojej ceny!

W końcu nie martwię się o sprzęt jak mam wypchany plecak do pełna :) 10/10!