stogie1020

I mentioned a while back that I was getting a Lowepro Flipside 300 to replace my Slingshot 200AW, and I thought I would share a breakdown of the bag.

The unique feature of this bag is that the opening for your gear is on the panel that rests against your back when wearing the bag as a backpack, thus it would be very difficult for someone to reach into your bag in a crowd and take a lens or other gear. I wore this bag in Mexico and never felt like I needed to worry about the camera gear. A benefit of this design is that if you take the bag off and lay it on the ground to access your gear, the panel laying in the dirt/cactus needles/wet grass is not the panel you will subsequently place against your back when you put the bag back on.

The item at the Lowepro site: http://products.lowepro.com/product/...00,2083,14.htm

For comparison purposes, I also have the Slingshot 200AW and the Tamrac Adventure 9.

The Flipside is really just a camera bag. There isn't any place for a light jacket and a sandwich, unless you pack personal items around the camera gear. An apple and a juice box would certainly fit, though.

OK, the bag: (Click the pics for larger versions if you like)

Front: Good sturdy handle on the front of the bag, and a hook as well to hang the bag. Also, notice the tripod strap (pics farther down in action)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872203916/" title="IMG_0452 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/2872203916_ae89b576fa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0452 -jpeg" /></a>


Left:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872203940/" title="IMG_0453 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2872203940_9d36b199f5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0453 -jpeg" /></a>


Back (closed): Fairly adjustable shoulder straps, cross tether, good padding, slightly underpowered waist strap considering it is part of the “never put the bag down” design. With the waist strap secured to you, you can slip out of the shoulder straps and rotate the bag around your waist to your front and the bag actually sits horizontally! Open the back flap and you have complete access to your gear. It works, too! I will say that getting the bag back on is a bit more difficult.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872203962/" title="IMG_0454 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2872203962_8814f28d22.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0454 -jpeg" /></a>


Right: Water bottle holder.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372275/" title="IMG_0455 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2871372275_457efbbaee.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0455 -jpeg" /></a>

Back (open): Notice the camera gear area as well as the general purpose pouch at the top of the interior of the bag. This would be the spot for the apple and the juice box. Am I the only one who still thinks juice boxes are pretty cool? Probably. Anyway, moving on...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872204012/" title="IMG_0456 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/2872204012_795e9baf73.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0456 -jpeg" /></a>


Populated: Here I have the 40D with the kit 28-135 and hood extended. As you can see, plenty of room for the body and lens. I do not have a grip (yet) but have no worries that it will fit. On the left, 70-200 F4. On the right, 430 EX. I generally lay a divider over the 70-200 to keep it restrained, and the 430 would fit easily on top of that divider freeing up the right side for other gear. Unfortunately, I don't have “other gear” yet

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372315/" title="IMG_0457 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2871372315_fe07590e07.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0457 -jpeg" /></a>


Populated: just a reminder shot of the backpack straps to show that you are actually looking at the part that rests against your back with the flap pulled down (bottom of picture)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372375/" title="IMG_0458 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2871372375_7c2e5e52fa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0458 -jpeg" /></a>


Populated: Here I have switched the lenses to show the clearance with the 70-200 attached. Plenty of room below the front element. Also, FYI I have my 50mm f1.8 inside the 28-135 hood bottom left.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372483/" title="IMG_0461 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2871372483_d0e150fc9c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0461 -jpeg" /></a>


Here is the nifty fifty below the end of the 70-200mm just to show how much room was there. I have no doubt based on measurements that the 70-200 f2.8 would fit as well.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872205100/" title="IMG_0462 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2872205100_e6d63be3eb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0462 -jpeg" /></a>


The Flap: It has a pocket in it in to which I fit a Jumbo (2.5 gallon) Zio Lock bag and an Adorama Filter holder. The bag does not have its own weather cover, so I keep the huge zip lock in there just in case. I wouldn't put anything to pointy in to the flap, as this will be pressed against your back while wearing the bag.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872204336/" title="IMG_0463 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2872204336_edf307ec5b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0463 -jpeg" /></a>


The top interior pouch: I can fit a bunch of gear into this pouch, and it removes as well via a few Velcro attachment points. The 50mm 1.8 is in the pouch for a size reference. Generally I keep a rain sleeve for the camera in there, along with a remote shutter release, small multi-tool, small flashlight, spare juice box straw, several batteries and a spare set of AAs for the flash. With this much in it, I could still easily get an apple in there.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872205198/" title="IMG_0464 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2872205198_9ecfcb9c05.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0464 -jpeg" /></a>


Pouch with a bunch of junk, and 70-200 with hood reversed. There is still plenty of room beneath the end of the lens.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871373535/" title="IMG_0465 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2871373535_af164a80d9.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0465 -jpeg" /></a>


Flipside next to the Slingshot 200

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2872205372/" title="IMG_0466 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/2872205372_574bc9fbef.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0466 -jpeg" /></a>


Flipside next to the Adventure 9. Although the picture does not show it, the adventure 9 is 1/3 deeper than the Flipside, and the entire top compartment is open for non camera gear if desired.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871373769/" title="IMG_0467 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2871373769_dfa049a7e0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0467 -jpeg" /></a>


Left side outer pocket open: Canon batter and lens-pen for reference. This zipper is the only that I have had trouble with, as it seems to snag every time right near the top of the black mesh area. Works as soon as I pull on it the second time.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871373235/" title="IMG_0473 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2871373235_a6049edbed.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0473 -jpeg" /></a>


Flipside hidden tripod holder (at base, stowed):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871373921/" title="IMG_0471 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2871373921_10c14cd27c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0471 -jpeg" /></a>


Flipside front with tripod attached and base holder extended: 190XPROB legs. I don't think I would try the “flip” technique for access to the camera with a tripod attached. The boys might take a hit.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372767/" title="IMG_0468 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2871372767_bd0b21538c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0468 -jpeg" /></a>


Flipside side with same tripod attached:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372881/" title="IMG_0469 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2871372881_8d0ef5b07c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0469 -jpeg" /></a>


Flipside front with monopod attached:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefford_e/2871372989/" title="IMG_0470 -jpeg by Jefford_E, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2871372989_8f6cebdba5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_0470 -jpeg" /></a>



Overall impressions:

UPSIDES:

1. It is very comfortable to wear as a backpack, and it does a good job of distributing the weight of gear without being so bulky and cumbersome as to be a problem. I feel like the Slingshot is not comfortable for me to wear, and arguable holds less gear than this bag, since it is designed to be smaller. I also don't appreciate how the slingshot 200 seems to accentuate a condition known as “man-boob”, due to it's single, cross chest strap.

2. The tripod holder is much more secure than the Adventure 9's strap attachment points at the base of the larger backpack. With the Adventure 9, the tripod swings back and forth and loosens itself over time, and also makes a fair amount of noise as I hike.

3. The exterior water bottle holder holds a full liter bottle of water, although in humid areas, the condensation from the bottle 'may' find its way inside the bag through the mesh.

4. The interior/back access. Really a nice feature for many reasons.
5.Holds just enough to be able to grab it and go. This bag will not hold 30 lenses and four bodies. Hire an assistant, or a mule.

DOWNSIDES:

1. Not all weather, and no cover is available. I suppose I could go to REI and buy one though...

2. If a tripod is attached to the front, it is difficult to lay the bag down flat on the front to get gear out, as it will tip one way or the other.

3. Waist strap could be a bit more robust, and stowable.

Mizouse

interesting, did you actually write this all yourself?

and where could i get one, i think this could be useful as a travel backpack.

It also looks like it might have a tough time with the 70-200 2.8.

my canon backpack fit the 70-200 f4 easily, but the extra diameter and size of the 2.8 makes for a very very snug fit.

Mizouse

omg looking at the lowepro website

yea i dunno about the 300mm 2.8.

rimz

damn...that pack looks great...thanks for the write-up stogie..

stogie1020

Wrote it all myself!

I think that the 70-200 2.8 would fit in length (it's only 3 inches longer than the f4) because what my pictures can't show is that there is room above the camera body as long as the top internal pouch isn't completely stuffed. Also, the width may be an issue, but I think there would be room, although it may limit what you can put in the two side areas next to the main lens channel.

stogie1020

Next up, a Tenba Messenger bag that B+H says will be here Wednesday...

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Nice man i actually have the lowepro aw 200 sling love it. Wished they offered some way to attach a monopod. lol...

EuRTSX

Great write up stogie.

waTSX

Damn Stogie, that's a helluva a detailed review. Looks like a nice compact backpack with some good features.

Dan Martin

Nice work!

That bag looks nice too. I've started to use my AW Mini Trekker more recently. I use my AW CompuTrekker as "the mother ship" to take my gear from place to place, then I pair down to just what I need for day trips. Sometimes I can use the $5MDH, or if I need more than a couple lenses, I take the Mini Trekker. This Flipside 300 looks a little smaller than the Mini Trekker, but it's nicely laid out and not as bulky. It looks just about perfect for a casual day hike backpack.

stogie1020

Dan, I did the exact same thing in Mexico. I used the Adventure 9 to get the gear there, including laptop, travel documents, drink/food/magazine, etc... Once there, I unpacked the FlipSide and used that to carry the actual gear when I wanted it.

The Tenba Messenger will serve the same purpose (poor man's 5MDH!) but is a bit more appropriate for certain setting than a backpack (wearing slightly more formal clothing or business environment).

One last thought, the FlipSide is a great "grab it and go" bag, but I am 5'9" and I am a bit concerned that the pack would appear a bit small for anyone classified as "giant."

Mizouse

can you load up the photos again?

i want to see what it looks like.

although i think i might go for the 400 AW since i have too much gear.


freaking 40D + grip, 1DmkIIn, 70-200 2.8, 17-55 2.8, 430ex weigh too damn much.

actually do you guys know of a good trunk i could store all my crap into while at home?

stogie1020

Sorry about that. Kinda rude of me...

Here is the one I think you want to see:



40D no grip with 70-200 F4 attached. I agree with the full sized body or gripped 40/50D, I think you may want something a bit larger.

Mizouse

thanks for posting that, looks like either my 1D or 40D w/ grip might be a bit snug with the 70-200 2.8 attached.

stogie1020

Here is a pic of the Flipside 400 from Lowepro's website:




Looks like a 70-200 F2.8 to me.

Mizouse

yea, that looks like it will fit, but also a little too big

i guess better to be too big than too small

stogie1020

Extra body or leave the hood on...

is300eater

I bought the Fastpack 250 for Vancouver, while it was enough... I kinda wish I had gotten the Vertex 300 because it also holds a tripod.

Mizouse

I just bought the 300 here in hong kong. Pretty much the same price as amazon but didn't have to wait for shipping.

And like what I worried about, my 40D + grip, 70-200 2.8, 17-55 and 430ex is a little too snug. It fits but the darn hoods make it very very snug.

I do like how the bag sits on my back compared to the canon backpack thou

Mizouse

I pretty much took out all the smaller sub dividers. Put the 40D + 17-55 in the main area. The 70-200 on the side and the battery charger where stogie put his flash. I put my flash in the pouch on the top.

It fits but the damn hoods make the lenses fatter.