Customer Reviews

Lowepro DryZone 200 SoftSided Camera Backpack Gray

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

 

 

This backpack actually is waterproof. I litterally went swimming in the BVI with my medium format equipment safely inside. Let me just repeat that, you can literally jump off the boat and swim to shore in waves with this thing and not a drop gets in. It uses a special zipper to seal itself off, not the more common method of folding over the mouth of the bag.
Carrying ergonomics are also superb: the bag offers many adjustments and a real well-patted hipbelt, essentially like the bigger mountaineering backpacks.
This is one of those rare products that does everything right.
If you are looking for protection from water for your camera gear this is the only currently made bag, as far as i know. I do have a discontinued German model, and find the Lowepro much better (ja, obwohl ich ein Deutscher bin).
My one caveat is: if you do not need this level of protection from the elements, you would be better off with another bag, because the stiff plastic and tight zipper make it less then ideal in terms of getting at your stuff quickly.

Overall the pack is quite nice except for one problem. There are two zippers. The second is a waterproof TIZIP which only works if greased up before every single use. Not the dependable bag I expected for the price. And the special lube they sent is already gone after only a few outings. My kayak dry suit zippers always work under much more challenging circumstances. Not ready for prime time.

This is a solid pack. I live on an island, and travel to smaller islands to take photographs. I have used this pack in my canoe. The waterproof zip is stiff - it's meant to be! But after travel across water I leave the waterproof zip open and just clip the next layer on. With the waterproof zip it is not meant to open too frequently. It does not need to be greased every time you close it up.

Like others have said, this pack's degree of access is hampered by it's design. Not ideally suited for quick in and outs. Probably more of a 'base camp'-style pack. The suspension is adjustable for different torso lengths, but at the tall end, the shoulder straps hang outside the pads which can rub one's shoulders.

Despite these negatives, it's a large pack that can carry a bunch of gear, dust- and moisture-free. And that's no small thing.

Big......This thing is large.

I bought it for a wet vacation, but it was too large and heavy, so I have actually never used it. I used my old camera bag and a dry bag.

I wish had had bought the rover, which is smaller, but almost the same price.

The build quality seems great, but at 6'5", it is built for someone a couple inches shorter.