Lowepro SlingShot 302 AW

by Lowepro

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 13.4 x 18.1 inches ; 3.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0036AYTWG
• Item model number: SlingShot 302 AW
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #65 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Cases & Bags > Camera Cases
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 18, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Description: The new, fast-access SlingShot AW series builds on the inventive design of the original and incorporates what many photographers are looking for: faster access, extra space for personal items, improved organization, and the ability to add a tripod. The SlingShot AW offers more volume in the upper compartment for extra accessories or personal items. A Hideaway Tripod Mount system with foldout holder and quick-release buckle secures a compact tripod to the side. The same inventive design—letting you quickly rotate to the front to access—remains a Sling Bags tried-and-true feature of this customer favorite. Also includes: a patented All Weather AW Cover; 3 SlipLock attachment loops; built-in microfiber cleaning cloth; and more. Hardware Capacity: Pro DSLR with attached zoom lens (up to 70-200mm f/2.8); 4-6 additional lenses or flash units and accessories (including a point-and-shoot camera); compact tripod or monopod; personal items

SlingShot 302 AW: 1. Original camera sling bag design Allows quick rotation from back to front to access camera, lenses and accessories without removing bag 2. Increased volume throughout the sling Provides additional space for personal items and accessories in an upper compartment, stash pocket and front pocket 3. Easy-glide zippers Offer smooth operation and fast access to all compartments 4. Main camera compartment with updated divider system Accommodates most popular DSLR models 5. Hideaway Tripod Mount system Secures a compact tripod or monopod to side of sling via a foldout holder, quick-release buckle and strap 6. Ergonomic sling strap Offers a unique, comfortable way to carry gear 7. SlipLock attachment loops Expand carrying capacity by adding compatible pouches, cases and bags 8. Two built-in memory card pockets Provides easy-to-access extra memory on inside lid of main compartment 9. Adjustable padded waistbelt 10. Repositioned, built-in microfiber cloth Provides convenient cleaning cloth that tucks into a mesh pocket and out of the way of camera   Additional Features & Benefits: All weather AW cover protects camera gear and personal items from the elements and tucks away when not in use   Airline carry-on compatible

Product Description

The next-generation of the SlingShot™ AW series builds on the inventive design of its predecessor and incorporates enhanced features based on suggestions from some of our customers—also known as big fans of this original camera sling bag. Created to go from carry mode to ready mode in seconds, the SlingShot™ AW rotates from back to front for fast and easy access to camera gear. The newest design incorporates even more of what busy shooters are looking for: extra space for personal items, faster access, improved organization, and the ability to add a tripod. The SlingShot™ AW offers more volume in the upper compartment, plus the addition of an elastic band for securing a manual or book. A zippered slash pocket at the top is the perfect spot to grab a UV filter, cell phone or keys. Easyglide zippers throughout the construction make opening and closing fast and smooth. The main camera compartment features a flexible divider system that lets one quickly and comfortably access a DSLR. A built-in microfiber cleaning cloth is conveniently positioned at the side and tucks away into a stretch mesh pocket and out of the way of the camera. The next-generation SlingShot™ AW includes a Hideaway Tripod Mount™ system with foldout holder and quick-release buckle with strap to secure a compact tripod or monopod to the side. Additional features include: Lowepro’s patented All Weather AW Cover™; ergonomic sling strap and padded waistbelt; padded main compartment with adjustable dividers; 3 SlipLock™ attachment loops; and 2 built-in memory card pockets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Versatile, Quality Backpack, April 13, 2010

By 

Koala1356 (FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lowepro SlingShot 302 AW (Electronics)

(What's this?)

If you're looking at the Lowepro SlingShot camera bags for the first time, I will start by telling you a bit about how they are meant to be worn. This is a backpack with a single shoulder strap. The strap sits on your right shoulder, diagonally crosses the front of your body, and attaches to the bag again at your left side. The idea is that you can "sling" (pull) the bag around from your back to your front without ever having to take it off. The bag is designed in such a way that when you do this, the side of the bag becomes the top, and the main compartment and zippers are facing you for quick access to you gear. Because of the single "across the body" strap design, the backpack will never sit perfectly straight on your back, rather at a slight angle. To compensate this, there is a padded waist belt, which helps straighten the pack and distribute the load.

The 302AW is divided into two sections; the main compartment (measuring 11.4w x 5.9d x 10.6h") being for your SLR camera (or other gear), and a smaller, top compartment for personal items. There is also a third pouch pocket on the front for things like your wallet, keys, pens, cellphone. In addition, there are plenty of elasticized straps, loops, netted and zippered areas all your smaller items (like flash cards, lens filters), all designed to keep everything organized and easily accessible. The built-in lens cleaning cloth has a use, but it cannot be removed for laundering. Same goes for the built-in rain cover, which is a bit of a double-edged sword. If you're caught in a sudden rainstorm, it's great that you can pull it out of the bottom of the bag, and stretch it over to protect your gear, but you will likewise have to leave it hang out, flapping in the breeze, to dry because it's stitched in.

The SlingShot 302AW has ample padding in all the right places to make it comfortable to wear and to protect your gear. Although built for photographers and intended primarily as a camera bag, on another day this versatile backpack could be used for anything, by anyone after a backpack that you don't have to remove to access. The modular Velco spacers in the main compartment can be easily reconfigured any way you like. I reconfigured mine to carry a 10.1" netbook, compact camera, iPod, and all the associated power and USB cables, and still have room to spare. It's carry-on compatible (according to the tag) so it makes a great way to organize all your essential gear for your next flight.

Premium camera bag or versatile backpack, the SlingShot 320AW is an all-round winner in my book.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars sturdy, capacious bag begs to be a backpack, June 14, 2010

By 

Omar Siddique (Ellicott City, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lowepro SlingShot 302 AW (Electronics)

(What's this?)

A hefty slingbag, the 302AW is feature-filled, but clumsy to wear.

Lowepro has been making camera bags for many years, so I anticipated the many activity-specific innovations: the built-in microfiber cloth, the tab-pockets for memory cards, the rain-proof cover, the adjustable dividers in the main body, the tuck-away pockets, low-profile tripod straps, and the rugged nylon construction.

What I was surprised by was how awkward this sling design is to wear. The bag is designed to go one way (over the right shoulder, rotating around to the left of the body). With just the sling strap, I couldn't find a comfortable place to seat the bag on my average-to-athletic male torso.

To keep the bag at a good spot on my back, the strap across my chest had to be too tight (uncomfortable, looks awkward, and can't slide it around easily). If the strap was at a good looseness for sliding the bag around, then the bag skewed off to the side of my back (bumping into things), putting all its weight on my shoulder (not against my back), and the strap was still uncomfortable on my side. While the part of the bag that sits against the wearer's back is padded, it's not contoured, which probably doesn't help it stay in the right spot.

Using the waist-belt did help keep the bag at the right spot (and distribute load to hips), but then sliding the bag around isn't possible, making the 302AW into just an ungainly one-strap backpack. Also, it would be nice if the waist belts tucked away in some fashion rather than flopping around when not in use.

Sliding around to your front, this bag is big-- you'll need some clearance, getting your SLR out will not be a subtle move.

Inside the main compartment, my Canon T1i is much less tall than the bag is deep, meaning the camera rattles around as you carry it-- there's nothing to secure it in place (this begs for a quick-release strap), and no way to adjust the partitions narrow the depth . Anything smaller than Canon 5DMarkII will be shifting around.

Similarly, some way to decrease the depth of the dividers would be great, so a slim notebook or netbook could be carried in this bag-- many travelers and photographers carry both laptop and SLR, and with a bag this large it's silly to have to carry a separate laptop case. There's plenty of space for a laptop, just no good way to secure it (a padded sleeve that velcros in would be perfect).

It's possible the smaller/skinnier Lowepro slings are more comfortable, but if you carry less gear than this bag is designed for, you may prefer the much less awkward Caselogic SLRC-205 slingbag, which has a wonderful hammock system to support the SLR body, and is the bag I carry daily.

This solidly designed bag suffers from awkward ergonomics that make it hard to wear; go for a smaller sling, or a normal Lowepro backpack instead.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Word for this bag is " WOW ", August 7, 2011

By 

Cyberpip "cyberpip1" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lowepro SlingShot 302 AW (Electronics)

I got the 102 and it was way too small for my camera, A Canon T3i w/ 50 - 200 lense. Returned it and was going to get the 202 verson..and then saw this at a really good price just a few bucks more than the 202. So figured what the heck. Got it yesterday and my jaw dropped when I got it out of the box.

Started putting stuff in it and realied my camera gear amount is going to have to grow. Regardless...this bag is the best. I really like the one strap carry and then having the belt to help take the weight when working the shoot or just walking and carrying the bag. And being able to scoot the bag around and get to the camera..., well that feature is great. Takes seconds to access my camera and be ready to shoot.

And the quality and build of this is excellent. Comes with the built-in weather shield is great and the built in cloth is a nice touch though wondering what you do when it eventually gets dirty. I guess just cut it out at that point, but in the meantime its a really nice touch and is no big deal if i need to remove it in the future.

CONS: Well, other than just being a big bag with all kinds of room. Thats no con.

If you need a nice sturdy bag with plenty of room for your gear, then this is it. No mistake. And what was nice, had it sent overnite and got it on a saturday.