Lowepro Fastpack 250 - Camera & Laptop Backpack

Image courtesy Lowepro

Once the number and size of my camera equipment started increasing, I realized the need for a good backpack that can carry my camera equipment and laptop as cabin baggage on flights. After a bit of research on the net, I narrowed down the Lowepro Fastpack 250 as a suitable choice for me. One of the prime factors was price, most other backpacks offering such capabilities were priced much higher than the US $90 I paid for my bag.

I use this bag to carry the following gear:

1. Dell D620 Laptop
2. Canon EOS 400D
3. Canon EF 70-200 F/4 L IS USM Lens
4. Canon 17-85 F/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
5. Canon 50mm F/1.8 Lens
6. Canon Speedlight 430EX Flash
7. Mobile, Chargers, Batteries, Paperback Book, Headphones, Cards, Cables
   

Summary

• Thoughtful construction, easy accessibility, good protection & build quality
  
• Laptop up to 15.4", 1 DSLR with lenses and accessories
• Side camera compartment is useful & practical
  

I wish a rain cover was included as a standard accessory with the bag, the bag itself is not supposed to be weatherproof, so I have to be careful how I use it under bad weather. The other crib that I have is that there is no obvious way to carry a tripod as an attachment to the bag.

Web Links

1. Product page at Lowepro
2. Review at digitalcamerareview.com
3. Fastpack 250 review at PhotoWalkPro
4. Review on ZDNet
   

There is a larger Fastpack 350 available for 17" laptops or bigger lenses. I used the Fastpack 250 for my recent trip to Kumarakom, Kerala and was quite happy with the bag.