Lowepro Fastpack 250
written by: J.A. Caldwell
History:
Lowepro has been around for 40 plus years. They started out in founder Greg Lowe’s Colorado garage. He created the first internal frame backpack as well as many other innovative products over the years. Lowepro has kept this tradition of innovation by continually developing new and innovative camera carrying products. They distribute products all across the globe to over 100 countries. They always take time to listen to their customers and develop products to fit their needs and desires. This allows Lowepro to make sure that whether your a seasoned professional or a weekend warrior they always deliver a reliable, protective, and feature rich bag.
The Product:
We often find ourselves on trips lugging around lots of equipment from venue to venue. Often times this involves carrying multiple items in order to cover events effectively. These include video and photo cameras, cell phone, MP3 player, laptop, and snacks just to name a few. I find myself often needing these pieces at the same time and want to have them on me for various reasons.
Lowepro Fastpack 250 (click to enlarge)
In order to help manage these situations easier I wanted to find a better carrying solution for times when I’m on the mountain, at the airport, and all points in between. I decided to take a look at Lowepro’s Fastpack 250 because it had many of the features I was looking for in the ability to carry multiple items effectively, namely a full size laptop and SLR camera. It also offers a sleeker, more compact design than many of the other products on the market.
The Fastpack 250 is tailored for an on-the-go enthusiast that is looking for a bag that can carry a single camera and extra flashes, lenses, and accessories. The Fastpack line is aimed at the day tripper with a more sleek urban look and feel. Lowepro offers several other models that include rugged features for those that tend to take their equipment on more adventurous trips and excursions. All weather covers, waterproof zippers, and bungee cords are a few of the features you can expect from Lowepro’s other Camera/Notebook bags.
Features:
- Side entry compartment - easy access to SLR camera, multiple lenses, and other accessories
Lowepro calls this their “180 degree access” (click to enlarge)
- Adjustable dividers - provide protection as well as allow for easy adaptability for a customized fit
padded storage dividers are held in place with velcro (click to enlarge)
- Multi-compartment design – allows for easy organization and protection of equipment with ample storage capacity
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- Large laptop pocket - fits up to a 15.4″ wide screen laptop
Dell XPS 1530 (click to enlarge)
- Pocket for a cell phone / MP3 player - keeps your cell at the ready or holds your MP3 player where you can easily switch songs
pocket with Motorola Razr (click to enlarge)
- Mesh side pocket - can hold a drink bottle or other personal items
(click to enlarge)
- Mesh padded back - provides enhanced comfort, moisture wicking and ergonomic support
(click to enlarge)
- SlipLock Accessory Loop - allows you to add or subtract SlipLock accessory items for expanded carrying options (an example loop can be seen on the left hand strap in the picture above)
- Waist belt – built in padded waist belt helps secure the pack from swaying or rocking while on the move
(click to enlarge)
Colors:
- Black (shown)
- Artctic Blue / Black
- Red / Black
Dimensions:
- (Interior): 11W X 5.9D X 9.3H in. / 28 X 15 X 23.5 cm
- (Exterior): 12.4W X 9.4D X 18.1H in. / 31.5 X 24 X 46 cm
Weight:
- 3.62lbs / 1.64kg
Build Quality:
The build quality of the Fastpack 250 is top notch. It is made of a water resistant nylon material with heavily padded straps and back area. Both the straps and back areas feature moisture wicking materials to help keep you comfortable on hot days. All of the stitching on the pack was top notch with covered exterior zippers that are reversed to help keep out moisture and grime. The bottom of the pack as well as all of the compartment dividers were nicely padded in order to protect the equipment inside.
bag fully loaded
One of the reasons I went with the Fastpack 250 over other options is that it held the camera in a very secure position. Other manufacturers orient their cameras in different ways, such as having the lens face downwards towards the bottom of the bag. I didn’t feel secure with some of these options. The horizontal carrying position of the Fastpack 250 also allows for easy single shoulder access when you need to get the camera. You don’t have to take the bag fully off and open the compartment. This comes in handy when the camera is stowed and you need to get it out quickly for a shot.
quick and easy one shoulder access (click to enlarge)
The main camera compartment has multiple dividers to easily configure to your liking. Multiple flashes, lenses, and other accessories are easy to store in the padded compartments. We easily test fit multiple different mid-sized DSLR cameras in the Fastback and didn’t find any problems with storing. The compartment carries the camera effectively with a large 200-300mm lens or a smaller 50mm lens. This compartment also houses your memory card storage which is easy to get to.
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The straps and padded back were comfortable even when the bag was heavily loaded. The addition of a waist belt helps steady the pack when you’re walking down a trail or other uneven surface. I also liked the addition of a cell phone / MP3 player pocket on the upper strap. This is handy if you don’t want too many things in your pockets. The other strap has one of Lowepro’s SlipLock loops for other accessories.
The top pocket is handy for carrying many different items. I store my memory card reader, battery charger, pens and pencils, power adapters, and spare t-shirt or windbreaker in mine most of the time. It has a surprisingly big capacity.
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I often keep documentation in the outside pocket of the top area. This is really handy when I need study and stow event time sheets, boarding passes, maps, and other technical documentation.
top exterior pocket (click to enlarge)
The lower outside pocket I use mostly for snacks and extra battery’s. It doesn’t expand that much so thicker items need to find other areas to be stowed in.
(click to enlarge)
The notebook pocket can carry large and small laptops alike. It fit our large 15†wide screen laptop easily. I often carry magazines on my trips and even with the large 15†laptop in the pocket you can still squeeze in a magazine or two for your trip. If you have a smaller laptop it should still fit fine and not move around too much while you’re carrying the bag, as the weight from the pack should secure the laptop in place.
Issues:
- No sternum strap: I was surprised to see a waist strap but no sternum strap. As anyone that has wore a heavy pack with and without a sternum strap can attest this is a really nice feature to have. The sternum strap takes the weight off of your shoulders and redistributes it making for a much more comfortable experience.
- Simple handle: I’d like to see the handle upgraded. A simple nylon handle works fine but when loaded with gear the bag isn’t fun to pick up using a thin handle. A larger rubber handle makes for easy carrying and should prove more durable over time.
- Side access for camera only: As much as the side access is nice to grab the camera quickly and easily, the same cannot be said for the other items in the camera compartment. Due to the exterior cover flap over the compartment as well as the long zippers, reaching for extra lenses and flashes can be cumbersome. If you want to access items without taking the bag off you need to make sure they are in the near side compartments and be prepared to do some fiddling to get them out over the dividers.
- Cell phone / MP3 player pocket is small: I’d like to see the cell phone / MP3 pocket revised a little bit to be able to fit a wider variety of devices. At this point the pocket size really limits the types of devices that can fit in it.
Price:
- MSRP $119.99
Conclusion:
(click to enlarge)
If you’re searching for a sleek bag that can carry many items at once the Fastpack 250 might be the solution you’re looking for. It has the ability to carry your laptop, SLR camera, and all the accessories you’d need to bring along. I thought the Fastpack 250 was comfortable to wear, even when fully loaded, and kept my equipment safe and secure. The pack was easy to use and offered many thoughtful features that come in handy during trips and excursions.
There are a few things I’d like to see Lowepro improve on the pack. Their lack of sternum strap was my biggest complaint. It would make carrying the pack that much easier when heavily loaded. The other issues are easily solvable and don’t cause too many problems.
Some other features you may find important that this model doesn’t offer is an all weather cover, more camera and accessory storage capacity, and tripod storage. These features can be found on other models available from Lowepro. The CompuRover AW and Vertex 200 AW are both highly suggestible alternatives that offer some very nice features beyond what the Fastpack 250 offers.
If the Fastpack 250 isn’t your cup of tea, Lowepro offers a very extensive line of bags and packs for just about every situation or piece of equipment. Take a look at their site or visit one of their numerous dealers to see if they have something for you.
