With a never-ending selection of awesome camera bags, Lowepro isn’t a brand that you should be missing out on! The new Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III, as its name might suggest, is the third generation of Lowepro’s popular modular camera bag line-up. The name might be a tad of a mouthful to pronounce, but if you are on the hunt for a supremely versatile and capable camera bag, it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Although unlike some of the other camera bags that I’ve checked out and have used in the past, the ProTactic BP 350 AW III isn’t nearly as soft, at first glance. In fact, even when the bag is completely empty, you might be able to tell that it has some sort of protective shell, surrounding the exterior of the entire bag. This ought to offer a good amount of protection, which is reassuring when you’re carrying all that expensive gear in there.
So Much Room For Gear
Size-wise, it’s worth bearing in mind that there are a few variants of the Lowepro ProTactic BP modular camera bag… The 350 AW III that I have here, and the bigger 450 AW III. The latter among the two had also received a slight update for its third-generation iteration. They’re basically the same bag, though depending on how much storage capacity and extra volume you need, it’s nice to know that you could opt for the larger option.
For me and the sort of gear that I tend to carry around, this smaller 350 variant is more than big enough. For context, my daily driver is a Sony A73, usually kitted out with a 24-105mm lens, of which both of them had no issues fitting inside the ProTactic BP 350 AW III. So, if you too are rocking a mirrorless, small to medium-sized camera, and a mid-range lens to go with it, you could definitely get a fair bit of kit inside it.
You could also see here too just how I’ve configured the included dividers (a lot more on that later), to fit the A73 and that 24-105mm lens. Aside from that, the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III is able to comfortably protect a lens filter holder, a lens hood, a circular polariser, a Sony RX100 VI, a Garmin action camera, an Osmo Pocket 3, and a small, loose accessory bag with some spare batteries, cables, and other little knick-knacks.
Very Clever Use Of Space
Even with all this gear inside the primary compartment, you might be able to tell here that there’s still a lot of spare room for even more things. While I don’t carry nearly this much stuff most of the time, for my use case, during car launch events, meets, and press gatherings for motoring journos, it’s nice to know that I have a lot of extra space for random items that I might pick up during the day… Booklets, snacks, or a small bottle.
As you might imagine, there’s a tonne of storage organisation with the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III, as you would expect, like other modular camera bags. Crack it open, and there are an abundance of dividers included, all in varying shapes and sizes. Each of them is generously padded too, so you can squeeze a lot of your gear close together and pack your bag tight, with those dividers keeping your equipment all separated.
The dividers even come in different colours, affording you even more unique ways and options to better organise your stuff. This main compartment here is genuinely, completely modular. As such, it allows you to entirely craft and redesign how you want the dividers to be positioned, depending on what you’re carrying. Moreover, given how easy those dividers are to move around, you could seamlessly swap and replace them around.
Endless Storage Possibilities
So, if your current load-out or job demands that you switch out your equipment constantly, you can re-configure the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III to more precisely fit the situation. In addition to just how customisable the dividers are, you will also find a plethora of ways to unzip and open the bag. To access the main compartment and grab all your gear, you could either unzip the entire front of the bag to get full, unrestricted access.
Alternatively, you could open either the top clamshell or the two pockets along the side, and those will give you access to the primary compartment, too. However, if you’re going to make your stuff accessible from those top and side pockets, I’d highly suggest keeping a small padlock or some zip ties handy. Being easily openable isn’t just convenient for you, as it could also make it easier for thieves to sneakily unzip them, as well.
In other words, if you’re lugging the ProTactic BP 350 AW III about with you on a busy street or in areas known for pickpocketing, be sure to keep a close eye on it! Speaking of, the primary compartment, in addition to the huge, divider-filled void where your equipment and stuff will go, includes quite a few more little zippered pockets, too. These should be handy for smaller items, like memory cards, microfibre cloths, or other random bits and bobs.
Versatile, In More Ways Than One
Plus, the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III even has a big, secure pocket for a tablet or up to a 14-inch laptop. In my use case, I’ve stuffed a 13-inch MacBook (with a protective case around it, which should further add a bit of thickness to it), which fits just fine. Elsewhere, look around, and you’ll spot a myriad of other smaller, medium-sized compartments. For example, at the top, there’s a bit of storage there, as well as a zipped pocket.
Additionally, you’ll find more zippered compartments on the side. Moreover, with the stretchy bits of fabric that adorn the exterior of the ProTactic BP 350 AW III, you could attach and hang other gear or accessories here. It’s a great place to carry a small tripod, for instance. Oh, and Lowepro even throws in some extra goodies for you in the bag! You’ll find a small hard-shell case, and inside, there’s a free, sizeable rain cover for the bag.
A Top-End Modular Camera Bag
Besides that, Lowepro also includes a special lens case and an accompanying utility belt. On that note, to wear and carry it around for a long shoot or a commute, the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III is pretty comfortable. Specifically, you’ll find that there’s a good amount of support for your back, and it feels solid once it’s on. What’s more, you have the option to install a hiking-style hip belt that Velcro’s on the back, offering you more support.
It’s not my kind of thing, but if you’re walking around a lot, that hip belt might make your trip a bit comfier. Overall, the new Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III is a fantastic camera bag. And, as far as modular options go, it’s definitely one of the best ones that I’ve tried thus far. For the price – around £249.95 – it’s not cheap, but if you want a protective, versatile camera bag for all your expensive gear, it’s well worth taking a closer look
