I’m not a professional photographer, but I do enjoy taking pictures and shooting video, especially for documenting life’s events on my websites and YouTube channel.
Most recently I had to go out of town to shoot video at my cousin’s roller derby, stay the night, then return the next day. My camera bag held all my camera gear, yes, but I had to bring along another bag for my clothes, computer, and other peripherals. Because I needed my computer and some peripherals with me during the shoot, that meant lugging around two separate bags the entire time.
I was determined to find a better bag solution.
That’s when I stumbled across the Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW
The key feature of this understated backpack is that it has a special “hatchback” compartment, especially padded and configurable with velcro divisions, to hold your camera and camera gear. This effectively divides the daypack into two main compartments—a lower compartment for camera gear and an upper compartment for other personal items.
In other words, in this one backpack you have the protective functionality of a dedicated camera bag plus space for a laptop computer and other personal items.
Here’s what I was able to fit quite easily into the camera compartment:
- Canon Rebel SL1 camera with 24mm EF wide angle lens
- Canon 40 mm pancake lens
- Canon 18-55mm zoom lens
- Camera strap, battery charger, extra battery
- Rode VideoMic Pro Shotgun Microphone
The camera compartment has a protective hood that encloses the entire compartment. In addition, the compartment is completely removable from the backpack, and with its two handles you are able to use the compartment as a temporary dedicated camera bag. The added bonus is that removing the camera compartment gives the daypack one large full-size chamber instead of the two upper and lower compartments.
I also realized that by having the zipper for the camera compartment on the back of the backpack—the camera compartment opening will be against your back when wearing the backpack—this is an extra measure of security to protect your items from being stolen.
Side pockets on the backpack hold water bottles, small tripods, or extra stuff.
The front of the backpack is a dedicated zippered and padded pocket, large enough for a small laptop computer, tablet, or ereader. I was able to fit my 13″ MacBook Air into this pocket (just barely).
The backpack also has an all-weather cover to protect the backpack from rain, dust, snow, or sand.
The padded shoulder straps are comfortable, and the backpack also has chest and waist straps for added comfort.
So far I’ve been really happy with this bag, and with all these features—making it a photographer’s adventure backpack—I can see how the bag won a Popular Photography award in 2012 for best new photography gear of the year.
So if you’d like to reduce the number of bags you have to carry around when you go out on an adventure to take pictures or video, consider the Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW
Available from Amazon here: Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW
