Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW Backpack Test

Thirty years ago, when I saw a man with a large rectangular leather bag on his belt, I could safely walk up, get acquainted, talk about our common interests. Because I knew for sure that the owner of the leather backpack is my colleague, a photographer.

These days, accessories for photographers are much more diverse. To carry the equipment there are dozens of models of backpacks, coffers, suitcases. Each

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for its purpose. There are expeditionary, non-sinking, shock-protected or with ultra-fast access system. But the most popular and popular are small urban backpacks for amateur photographers, which can put a camera, a replacement lens, some personal items and a small stock of food and drink. Backpack by the famous manufacturer Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW just belongs to this popular class. I will try it out and compare it to other models from different manufacturers.

Backpack has a traditional height for such products

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about 50 cm. Available in gray, blue and red. The design of straps and backrest is made anatomically comfortable, inserts of porous mesh material, suggest that the backpack is filled with things you can carry on your shoulders for a long time, even in hot or humid climate. The middle and bottom support straps secure the backpack to your body, for example, to prevent unauthorized removal. The middle strap is height-adjustable, allowing women of the better half of humanity to comfortably fasten the strap to the chest.

YKK zippers open very easily, without the slightest sign of jamming. The clasps have metal lugs and a cord of sufficient size, but no plastic ends. It is not uncomfortable.

Usable volume of backpack is divided into two compartments, the lower of which is designed for transport positioning of photographic equipment. The thing is that you can safely access your camera only by removing the backpack and placing it on some surface, because the zipper is on the back side.

Compartment size 22×18 cm, 14 cm deep. The space can be organized with the traditional Velcro removable divider system. By experimental investigation it was found that the compartment can hold an APS-C or even FX format reflex camera without external battery packs with the zoom attached, for example 18-135 mm or 24-70 mm of any manufacturer, but in the transport position with the lens hood upside down or removed.

You have room for two interchangeable small prime lenses or for one lens and a medium-sized flash. Long lenses like 70-300 mm or even more 70-200 mm can be placed only in the top compartment which is designed for personal things. The increasingly popular mirror-less interchangeable lens cameras can be stowed away with no problems, and with a wide variety of lenses and accessories. Note that the compartment for photographic equipment is removable, has special handles for carrying and can be closed with a lanyard with a lock. Very popular today.

A special compartment for memory cards is inside the flap on the back and is designed, I think, for the CF format. The more popular nowadays among amateur photographers SD cards I would place there only in a special plastic container, otherwise their thin microchip could break from shock loads while putting them on or just fly out of the large-sized compartment.

In the upper compartment, as I said, there is room for personal belongings. Sure, you can put your camera gear in it too, but a sweater, guidebooks or sandwiches would look much better in there.

The large flap has two compartments for a netbook and/or tablet. Holds devices up to 13 inches, a book or magazine measuring 21×30 cm. It is advisable to protect your electronics more securely against external shocks or impacts, since they can be damaged on public transportation or in crowds. It is very good that in the lower part there is a dust and waterproof cover securely fastened and packed. In normal position it protects the set of equipment from moisture penetration from below, and in bad weather conditions it covers all sides except back from undesirable natural influences. By the way, the backpack withstood with honor the simulation of heavy rain in the form of a shower for 10 minutes: the water rolled down from the impregnated synthetic material and did not penetrate inside.

In my opinion, this inexpensive and well made backpack is designed and intended for the person who has a habit of taking on small hikes or bike trips camera with one or two lenses, not forgetting various other things. At the same time, photography is not their main purpose in life: they do not shoot professional street photos or reportage, they do not use large tripods, and they do not go on extreme trips. But to take your technique to a place of shooting, such as a tour, hang the camera around your neck and then carefully put everything back in its place after the shooting – that’s what the Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW backpack is for.

For your non-photographic life you can remove all inner compartments and dividers

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it makes a great city backpack for young people.