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Camera bags are like pairs of shoes, there is rarely a single one that can work for every situation. Some are too bulky, some too small, some too loud, and some too uncomfortable. Most of us end up with a closet full of bags to cover every situation. I am no different—I have far more camera bags than I ever will need, but I never stop looking for that “one bag” that will do everything I need. Now, to be honest, the Lowepro Pro Runner x350 AW can’t fulfill that mythical requirement. But what it can do is easily roll a useful load of gear through the airport and onto the airplane as officially-sized carry-on luggage. It also is a passable backpack once you’ve reached your location, has a water resistant cover and carries your laptop as well as your camera gear.
Here’s what Lowepro has to say about the Pro Runner x350 AW:
“The Pro Runner x350 and x450 AW DSLR rolling backpacks delivers a convertible, streamlined and urban-inspired solution for pro photographers and photojournalists who carry their gear through crowded airports and busy city streets. It’s purpose built for superior protection and maximum flexibility as photographers work and travel. This easy-to-convert design fits a DSLR with attached lens up to a pro-sized body with grip and 300mm f/2.8 attached lens (x450 AW), laptop, tripod and multiple accessories, plus a few personal items.”
The Lowepro x350 is what I would call a medium-large sized backpack. It is designed for one body, a set of zooms, a prime or two, flash(s), etc. You can fit a backup body in there, but probably not with a lens mounted if you have your telephoto lens mounted on your primary body. If you are someone who needs two full SLR kits, I think the Pro Runner x350 could end up being just a bit too small.
Hands-on Test
However, while the x350 may be a bit small for a traveling wedding photographer with a full backup kit, it is the perfect size for a traveling photography enthusiast. I was easily able to fit my Canon DSLR kit (5D body, Rebel T1i body, three 2.8 zooms, speedlight, two primes, and a few other gadgets) into the main padded camera section with a little room to spare for batteries etc. This is what I would consider a “full kit” for me and approximates what I packed when I was traveling as a professional extreme sports photographer. It is also more or less what I would consider my “taking a trip to make photos” kit. By that I mean, I would take that amount of gear if I were heading out to a family event that I wanted to record or going somewhere that was going to be particularly scenic. The exact composition of the kit might change depending on the task at hand, but overall the x350 would be a good fit for what I wanted to bring.
As a traveling bag, there are lots of things to like about the x350. The wheels and pull out handle are great for long walks between airline gates or from the hostel to the train station, there is a padded pull-out laptop sleeve to make it easier to get through airport security, a hideaway tripod mount system is great for the nature photographer, and the x350 qualifies as “carry on” sized for most any major airline. However, there are a few drawbacks as well. Though there are backpack straps on the x350, don’t think you are going trekking with this bag. Due to the square shape and the rigidity required for the rolling feature, the x350 simply isn’t in the same class for comfort as other backpacks like LowePro’s NatureTrekker or CompuTrekker. Using the backpack straps is sort of like using the rear seat in a sports car. Sure, you CAN do it, but you hope that you are only going to do so for short trips. Aside from that, my only other serious grips is that the x350 has its laptop storage pocket on the front of the bag. Even with the padded sleeve, this is a much less protected place than in between the main body of the bag and the shoulder straps, which is where the CompuTrekker and other bags have the laptop located. Still, with any modicum of care, this shouldn’t be much of a concern.
Overall, I’d have been stoked to have been using this bag back in my “traveling pro” days. The drawbacks are few and the benefits many. Plus, your back will thank you for buying a bag with wheels.
Bottom Line
Pros
Wheels mean less work!, camera area well protected, padded laptop sleeve, backpack straps, airline carry-on sized, tripod mount system
Cons
Not really comfortable as a backpack, laptop is less protected than other bag designs, square bulky shape when carrying by hand (not rolling)
