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Lowepro Off Road Beltpack: ideal for one DSLR body and 1-2 larger lenses or 3-4 primes. The Off Road is good for photojournalism, traveling, or hiking.
The additional zoom lenses can be carried with the removable SlipLock cases on either side of the main compartment. If you are traveling light, you can take them off and just use the main compartment. Each SlipLock case will also hold either a water bottle or snacks, a convenient feature for an off-road experience. If the supplied SlipLock cases aren't the right size for your lenses, Lowepro makes about 30 different cases which can be looped on to the beltpack and compression-strapped to the main compartment.
I tested the bag on a cycling trip in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The bag held a Sony A100 with a 16-80mm lens attached and a 35/1.4 lens in one of the SlipLock cases and a water bottle in the other. I also stashed some additional CF cards in the front pocket, as well as an extra battery. The terrain was rocky and bumpy, yet the Sony A100 was secure in the bag and protected from the elements. I had rearranged the adjustable dividers so the camera fit better. When something interesting caught my eye, it was relatively easy to reach behind and open the bag to grab the Sony A100. It was simple to change lenses without being hindered by a shoulder bag or backpack.
When hiking or traveling, it may not be so comfortable to fill the Off Road bag to capacity, as this puts a lot of weight on your hips. Also, I found I had to occasionally cinch the waistbelt tighter to prevent too much bouncing of the heavier bag while walking or biking. In this case, the shoulder strap comes in handy. You can have the bag strapped around your waist, as well as cross-supported over your shoulder.
Amazon.com offers the Lowepro Off Road Beltpack at a reasonable price with the option of overnight shipping.
Text ©2007 Hannah Thiem.
