Fairly early on in your photographic journey you will likely need to make a decision in how you will carry your kit. I’m not going to sugar coat it, photographic rucksacks are an expensive commodity but after spending £thousands on kit I think it’s a worthwhile investment, not only protect your gear but also help wih your workflow. With copious amounts of photographic rucksacks on offer we are undoubtedly spoilt for choice of where to spend our hard earned cash. Price aside the bag also needs to tick certain boxes in terms of size, durability and practicality. Lowepro market this bag as the ‘perfect balance between carrying camera equipment and the outdoor gear you need for a day's adventure in the wild’. For me, it hits the nail on the head.
Starting with where the camera and lenses are stored the main compartment is accessed through a zipped panel on the reverse of the bag. This means your gear is safe from inquisitive fingers and also prevents mud and dirt getting onto your back if you put it on the ground. I would assume my kit is quite typical in what you would find inside a Landscape photographers bag. Along with the camera body, I usually carry a wide angle 10-22mm, mid range 24-70mm and telephoto 70-200mm, filter pouch and holder. This area comfortably fits them all with space to spare. So much space in fact that in addition to this there is also room for my DJI Mavic Air and remote.
On the front of the rucksack a deep compartment provides space for a 10” tablet. Although the space is deep it is quite thin so would suggest this would be an ideal place to hold maps. Additional zipped pockets within this section are great for memory cards, money, keys and shutter remotes. It fits them all. On top of the pack is a another compartment, deep enough to hold a folded coat, gloves, food. Perfect for a daily trek.
Externally, multiple fixing points can easily hold a large tripod and walking poles simultaneously. I generally carry my tripod on the side but this can also be fixed to the front to avoid an unbalanced load on your shoulders. Stretchy side pockets also ensure even the biggest of drinks bottles can be carried. The flipside gets it’s name from the ability swing the backpack to your front and access your equipment without having to take off the backpack or rest it on the dirty/wet floor. It works very well.
Lastly, Lowepro provide a rain cover which pulls out from the top, this is a welcome addition as some manufactuers don’t include this as a standard.
Verdict
Having owned and used this rucksack for nearly a year now I can’t see myself needing anything else for a long time. It caters to my needs perfectly offering all the space and features I need without compromise. I rarely carry my drone and camera equpiment at the same time but this is the only time I would say the rucksack feels noticeably heavy. Even with weight the shoulder straps are comfy and offer plenty of adjustment should you need it. From a price perspective this currently retails for £129, comparing this to some competitors bags from F stop and Shimoda this offers great value for money. I have never used either of these manufactuers bags but based on the quality and practicality of the Flipside I would be surprised if they were worth the additonal money.
If you are interested in buying the rucksack you can do so from the link below. Please note this is an affiliate link and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Please keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.