Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker AW Camera Backpack

by Lowepro

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 13.8 x 17.6 inches ; 8.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EY1LBO
• Item model number: 34947
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

This bag combines a well-balanced rolling system with the flexibility of a backpack. The lightweight and strong single-pull-handle system and sealed-bearing inline skate wheels provide superior performance. When rolling isn't an option, the tuck-away padded shoulder harness and waistbelt turn this versatile bag into a comfortable backpack. A removable padded notebook sleeve can be used alone or placed inside. The main camera compartment includes adjustable padded dividers, a removable accessory pouch and laminated-mesh pockets. Also included: a built-in memory card pouch, a movable tripod mount, our patented all-weather cover, SlipLock attachment loops made from Hypalon, and batwing compression straps.

Features include:

• Capacity: Notebook computer (up to 15.4-inch screen); pro digital SLR; 35mm or compact medium format system, four to five lenses (up to 400mm f2.8); flash and accessories
• Size (interior): 13 x 5.5 x 16.3 inches (W x D x H)
• Notebook case size (interior): 11 x 1.6 x 13.6 inches (W x D x H)
• Outer fabric: 600D TXP

Product Description

Designed for the traveling digital photographer, the Rolling CompuTrekker AW is a compact rolling bag that can also be worn as a backpack. Easily store and transport a pro digital SLR, a 12 notebook computer, 4-5 lenses or flash units and other digital accessories in one compact carrying solution. The lightweight design of the Rolling CompuTrekker AW provides photographers with a comfortable backpack and nimble rolling bag that quickly conforms to their working environment. From the built-in memory card pouch to the All Weather Cover¿ even the most discerning photographers are sure to be impressed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for saving your back, January 7, 2007

By 

shutterbug T (Orlando FL USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this bag for long trips to spare my back. The bag is fairly compact and has been able to fit my 100-400 mm IS lens, canon eos 30d, a 10-28 mm lens, a 28-135 mm lens, 2 camcorders (yes two!), with room to spare for a lens cleaning kit, a battery recharger, and a point and shoot camera. Yet it is still small enough to put in the overhead bin on an airplane which was very important to me. The tripod holder was alittle awkward to figure out at first (since oddly enough, the company did not include directions on how to use it). However, once you get the hang of it, it works great. The handle slides in and out smoothly and I have never encountered any problems with the zippers. The only complaint I have with this bag, is that it's rather painful to carry on your back for any prolonged length of time. This is due to the hard frame that is built into it to make it into a rolling back pack. Because of the metal frames inside, there is no give to the bag when you convert it into a back pack. It doesn't seem to conform to the shape of your back like a normal back pack would. This is the only reason why I gave it four instead of five stars. But in reality, I guess if you have alot of gear, you probably wouldn't want to use it as a backpack in the first place. However, it is still nice to have that option to convert it into a back pack for rough terrain, where rolling it would be unwieldy. I haven't yet used the all weather cover, so I cannot comment on how well it works. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend it to anyone who needs a medium sized bag but wants to spare their back!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nicely Constructed But Needs A Version 2.0, Make Sure You Need THIS Bag, October 13, 2009

By 

M. Russo "mitchrusso" (Marlborough, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker AW Camera Backpack (Electronics)

The problem with this otherwise perfect backpack is that you can't put a camera with lens in, you must take off the lens and store the camera body separately.
What were they thinking when they designed this?

Well, I had just sent back the gorgeous ThinkTank Street Walker Hard Drive because it's the size of Florida - way too big for me and bought this. At first glance I was impressed but I then tried to load up my gear and found out the camera doesn't fit! The top of the bag is where the body would normally go but the stow-away handle takes up all the room. Thinking I would have to send back ANOTHER camera bag, I was inspired to dig out a near perfect (not for laptops) Canon 200EG Photo back pack and steal the main dividers from it. I ripped out the guts of my new Lowepro and installed the older, shorter inserts. Now, my Canon 5d MkII with 24-105 L zoom fit perfectly. Is it perfect? no. Does it work? yes.

The front pocket is for your laptop and my 13" MacBook fits perfectly. Unlike the ThinkTank, the laptop lives in the bag flap instead of the back pack, under the camera gear. I assume this is done to make room for the wheels and handle mechanism. Unfortunately this arrangement leaves no room for anything else you want to take with you, like a book (Kindle?) or a set of bose headphones or snacks. There's just no place to put stuff if the laptop is in the bag flap. Webbing on the outside would have been highly useful.

While I value the wheels highly, in fact I would have kept the ThinkTank if it had wheels, I like this better because it's smaller and still functions in a reasonable fashion like a back pack. I haven't schlepped it all over the place so I don't know how comfortable it is, but at first try it's OK. There's a big pad for your lower back which might hurt after a while but I will update this after returning from Bhutan.

LowePro, are you listening? Here's a few ideas to make the bag better:
1. Make the inside vertical pads shorter, short enough to accommodate the camera with lens.
2. Use webbing on the outside of the cover flap so I can keep a rain coat or while traveling my Bose headphones.
3. Integrate a better storage system for the belt and straps. While moving with the bag on wheels, the straps are all over the place.
4. Add SIDE POCKETS for heaven's sake. Front Pockets too.
5. Your rain hood stinks but so does everyone else's, build it into the top of the bag and let us pull it over when it starts to rain.
6. Make the wheels detachable so when we arrive at our destination and actually need to back pack, they can be left at base camp.

So is this bag worth the money?
I would say no if you have to use it as is, if you have the extra dividers and can rearrange the inside of your bag, then yes.
But only because there's nothing else out there better for the moment.
If the improvements above were made, I would love this bag.

So you decide.
If you have a small camera system (2 bodies, 4-5 lenses) and you need to take your laptop and you want to wheel your way through the airport instead of being a camel, they this bag seems fine.

I will update this review when I return and either this bag will go into the closet with the rest of the unloved luggage or it will become my new favorite pack!

note: When I called LowePro to ask someone in customer service about how to make this bag work, I was told that person was on vacation and to leave a voice mail, someone (someday?) would call me back.

Update on Feb 27, 2010 - I used this bag for one long trip through Asia and I would never use it again. While it's roomy and well constructed, it's not well designed for use in the field. I found that the straps drag on the floor and get caught in the wheels unless you take the time to repack all the back pack straps before using the wheels and handle. I also found the bag to be much heavier than I thought it would be.

In the field, it's impossible to use the tripod holder since the cables are not straps, they are bungee cords and the tripod goes flying all over the place, you need to sew straps to the bag for best use with a tripod.

On a positive note, while dragging it through 4 airports, and using it as a wheeled carrier, it worked well and was transported easily. But as a backpack it left a lot to be desired.

Maybe I need to rethink the whole laptop/camera bag idea and keep those bags separate and maybe consider a very light, folding wheel set so when out in the field you are not lugging all that extra weight with you.

And by the way, LowePro never contacted me as promised, they never sent me dividers to make the bag fit a real camera, I am still using it with a retrofitted center divider from an old canon bag.

I guess my advice at this point would be to pick a different bag from a different vendor. And I did rerate my star count and rewrote my title. I know, get a life.... <smile>

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, June 17, 2008

By 

Richard Jordan (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker AW Camera Backpack (Electronics)

I just purchased this pack. It appears to be outstanding in all respects except one.

My Canon 40D with battery holder does not fit. I have tried several times to get it to fit, but have not yet figured out how to solve the problem.

I would really like to make it work.