Customer Reviews

Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus AW Camera Backpack (Black)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this backpack for my husband, who is an avid digital photographer. He shoots with a Digital Rebel XT, and has the usual (and perpetually expanding) assortment of lenses, filters, cords, laptop, and tripod to be hauled about. This bag carries it all, with room to spare. It is sturdy and well constructed, nicely padded, and the little miscellaneous pockets and pouches are logical and abundant (for things such as memory cards, pens, notepads, etc.)

It is larger than we expected. Of course, that is *why* it has so much room, but if it were full to capacity it might be difficult for a small-framed person to carry comfortably. That is absolutely the only reason I did not give it 5 stars, it is a great product!

Like many photographers, I have lots of camera gear, ranging from little gizmos like a remote release, through a variety of full-size camera bodies (including the Canon 1V), and a range of Canon 'L' lenses, including the 500mm f/4 IS.

I also have quite a few camera bags, mainly Lowepro, although I've never found one that's ideal for travelling. This bag, however, has ended that search.

On a recent safari trip, I managed to fit the following equipment into the bag:
* Canon EOS 1V body
* Canon EOS 5 body
* Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens
* Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L lens
* Canon 500mm f/4.0 L lens
* Canon 1.4x Extender
* Canon 540EZ flash
* Sekonic 558 light meter
* 50 (yes 50!) rolls of 35mm film
* Various other batteries, remote releases, filters, etc.

All of the lenses had lens hoods attached, even the 500 f/4.

Sure, the bag weighed a ton (I'm sure it was well in excess of 25 kgs!); however, I still managed to get it on a plane, leaving from Heathrow (not on BA admittedly), without a single question being asked. The key is that the bag is within the current carry-on guidelines and as long as you don't look like you're carrying a baby elephant, it seemed to be fine.

The quality of the build is - as with all Lowepro bags - really excellent, and there are a number of thoughtful touches which make this a real pleasure to use (e.g. dedicated pockets for CF/SD cards; special straps for a tripod; an excellent waterproofing system). The straps are thinner than I expected, although combined with the waist and chest harnesses, I found the bag - even when fully loaded - extremely comfortable to wear. There's also a dedicated compartment for a laptop (up to 17"), although I'm not sure I could have squeezed it in with all the gear (I have subsequently done so with slightly less in the main comaprtment, and the laptop fits very nicely). While I might think twice about doing a 20 mile hike with all that gear, this bag would be the one I'd choose to do it in.

Overall, this bag is probably too big to take on a day walk. I'd still take my Rover for that, or possibly one of the Crumpler bags. I'm also looking at the new Slingshot range. However, this bag is definitely going to be my main bag for travelling from now on.

I love this backpack. It is heavy but that is a necessary evil since it provides your valuable gear with so very much foamy protection. When worn properly, it is very comfortable. I especially like that the main cavity can be changed with the velcro-like dividers, the dividers once in place hold really well; It can hold my DSLR with a 100-400mm lens on it with no problem. The unit has so many places to squirrel away stuff you ought not to be wanting for more. It holds my Toshiba 14" laptop just fine.

With all the restrictions on airlines I purchased this bag to be able to transport both my 17" Macbook Pro and Nikon D80 with lenses and accessories in one bag while flying. As described, the Lowepro Computrekker Plus AW Camera Backpack held everything with plenty of additional space but did not, as described, fit easily under the airplane seat or even into the overhead compartment on a smaller jet. This is just a word of warning to fellow photo-vacation travelers.
I appreciate that the boring-looking bag doesn't exclaim "I'm holding expensive gear!" but it is pretty heavy when full. Assuming you won't go out from your hotel carrying everything, you will need a smaller bag to tote just camera equipment on excursions.
After this past trip I will rarely choose to use this bag: too much hassle.

Good design with lots of compartments. I could rearrange the seperations to hold a Canon 500mm F4, a Sigma 400mm Telemacro, a Canon 70-300mm lens and a Canon 28-70mm lens and a Canon 350D with a Canon 1.4x teleconverter attached to the body. The pouches in the front are good to hold 4 memory cards. Also some space for storing cleaning material like cleaning tissues, liquid and cloth. The computer compartment is pretty spacious and can comfortably hold my 14.1'' Dell Lattitute D610 notebook, it's battery charger and a mouse. On the whole a very good buy.

A couple of minuses! The Canon 500mm F4 with the hood and front cover is higher than the depth of the compartment. May be the bag is not meant for this type of lens. But I will never know as the Lowepro guys did not have a technical specification on what types of lenses that it would hold. Anyways I am saved by the flexibility of the front cover!

The shoulder straps though comfortable could have been a bit broader at the shoulder to evenly distribute weight and preventing cutting into the shoulder and neck as it happened recently to me on a 6km trek through a hilly terrain. What is missing on the bag is a waist strap which I would have very much liked on this 6km trek. The bag comes with a all weather cover which is useful in a rainy place like in India. I cannot ask for much more from this bag for the price!

Unless you need to carry a tent in your backpack, this bag will fulfill your photojournalistic needs.

I had no idea the backpack was this big until I saw it in person. Yes, I read the dimensions, but still, it's a shock to see it up close and personal.
But it was a good shock, as I can carry almost everything I need in this backpack.
You might have seen the descriptions, but it's worth revisiting. I can fit 2 cameras with their lenses attached, as well as extra lenses, my Canon Speedlight external flash, my 17" Dell laptop, batteries, cleaning accessories, etc. - it even has an external strap to hold a tripod.

Yes, it will fit everything short of the kitchen sink!

And if the kitchen sink starts running, it even has a water-resistant cover that can be pulled out from a pouch at the bottom of the backpack to enclose it entirely.
And the extra straps(waist and sternum) really help to keep the backpack tight and secure to the body when you carry a full load like I do and need to do a little bit of trekking.

As with other Lowepro products, the material and construction are extremely high-quality. Just one handle and you'll recognize it right away, down to the zippers - high quality zippers are an essential but often unmentioned quality.

The bottom line is, it's very BIG, and very worth it!

I've been searching for a reasonable way to carry all of my photography equipment, a laptop, and a tripod all in one package. I had another lowepro computer/AW bag, but half the space was devoted to other storage, so as my equipment collection grew, it became unwieldy to use.

The computrekker is all photography storage, with enough room left over for the necessary computer items one would need on location. In my computrekker i have:

2 camera bodies (digital and medium format film)
70-200 f/2.8
24-70 f/2.8
19-35 f/3.5-5.6
50 f/1.8
1.4 extender
extra battery magazine
8 AA holder case
AA charger
2 battery chargers
MOO cards
MS-1 flash
430ex
2 pocketwizards
shoemount multi clamp
430ex diffuser
two walkie talkies
and assorted accessories, film, cleaners, pens, and other necessities, with PLENTY of room to spare. i havent even used the secondary compartment yet.

the bag makes all of this equipment that was destroying my neck in my shoulder bag effortless to carry. the bag is comfortable, adjustable, and even the tripod holder which i hated on my old bag is useful and carries the tripid WITHOUT LATERAL MOVEMENT as long as i use both of the straps on hold it in the middle and top.

in fact, my only complaint about the bag is that the tripod holder is below the bottom, meaning its more difficult to sit with the backpack on while carrying a tripod. i would have preferred that the strap raises the tripod so the bottom would be level with the bottom of the bag.

since my style of photography takes me traveling frequently, the computrekker is not something i would use while walking around a downtown area. instead, i would use it to carry all the equipment that i would need to my first destination, then use a smaller bag to carry just what i needed for the day. if necessary, i could carry both without a problem since all the weight is now comfortably situated on my hips instead of my shoulders and neck.

i highly recommend the computrekker AW plus, though i advise going to your local camera store first to try out what size bag and style is right for you. plan not only for the gear you have now, but what you may acquire in the future when deciding what size bag you need. also consider airline restrictions and how you will be using the bag.

If you fly a lot, this is so big that it will be your only allowable carryon. And it BARELY fits. Having said that, it holds two bodies, two flashes and four lenses, including a 80-200mm VR nikon with room to spare. it is well organized. my laptop is a macbook, but I'm pretty sure this would hold a 17" mac pro. It has serious weight lugging ability, with shoulder and chest straps. it has several places to tie stuff on the outside, if you could lift the thing after you had done that.

Having said all that, it is pretty light for it's size, seems well made. I'll update this if it falls apart after a few overseas flights.

This is my first larger capacity camera bag I have purchased rather than making one out of a typical backpack and some DIY adjustments. I really like the internal options of this bag and can get quite a bit of gear in a variety of layouts. My only beef is a lack of external pockets along the sides. I can understand the front being a bit bare due to the ability to mount your tripod/monopod, but the sides would be nice for storing additional batteries & such. Also, the computer compartment is definitely large enough for my MacBook Pro 17", though it is pretty snug on it front to back. I worry a bit of how much pressure it is squeezing it with.

When I purchased this bag I knew it was huge but, I never came close to imagining that it is this BIG. I initially thought it would break my shoulder & back with what it can accomodate....To my surprise, the design makes weight distribution off your shoulder making it a breeze to carry. It makes no sense to me why some would opt for a wheeled backpack...it simply loses the essence of what it should be....a Backpack!! It's really easy on the back!! I'm giving it 6 stars!!