Lowepro review of the Fastpack 350 and SlingShot 202

As an adventure travel blogger who shoots both still and video footage, it’s essential to have access to my equipment at a moments notice. As I hone my skills I continue to obtain more equipment in an effort to improve my work…with that said, I have long since outgrown my default Canon camera bag. While my current bag has served me well, the design and function has not changed in probably half a century, and is not all that conducive to my “run-and-gun” style of working.

After doing a fair amount of research and consulting with some fellow travel bloggers, I decided to check out a couple different camera bags by Lowepro—a company that leads the industry in innovative camera bag design. Through my research I was surprised to find how many bag options Lowepro offers, from top-loading, shoulder bags, slings to backpacks and roller cases. No matter your need, I have no doubt Lowepro can fill it.

SlingShot 202

I chose two different camera bags to review…the first is the SlingShot 202, which is a small, but versatile shoulder strap bag that fits my adventurous needs perfectly. The single shoulder strap allows me to easily swing the bag around to access my camera quickly and easily. The sturdy construction and insulated compartments keeps everything secure and protected from jostling and jarring.

The folks at LowePro must be photographers themselves, or at least really listen to their customers, because the SlingShot was very well thought out. The main compartment is broken into six sections for the body/lens, flash, camcorder, extra lenses, etc. There are two small pockets for memory cards and even a built-in lens cloth. The top part of the bag has interior and exterior zipper pockets for batteries or card readers and there is also space for an additional lens or other equipment. The front of the pack has a larger pocket perfect for filters, and the side of the bag has a strap and sleeve to accommodate a monopod or compact tripod. The bag itself is extremely comfortable to wear and is made of highly durable materials.

SlingShot 202 Specs:

Description: DSLR with attached standard zoom lens; 2-3 additional lenses or combination of flash and other accessories (i.e. video camera), compact tripod or monopod, and personal items.

Size (Interior): 8.9W X 5.5D X 11.0H inch

Size (Exterior): 9.8W X 10.0D X 17.7H inch

Weight: 1.9lbs

Fastpack 350

I wanted a second, larger bag to accommodate all my equipment—using the SlingShot when I go on a hike or just want to carry a lighter load, so I chose the Fastpack 350. The Fastpack 350 is designed as a backpack with all the adjustments you’d expect from a high-end backpacking pack to make lugging your equipment around a breeze. The Fastpack is an amazing bag for travelers. In addition to the same sturdy construction and thoughtful design as the SlingShot, the Fastpack 350 also has a slender compartment that accommodates my 17” Macbook Pro perfectly. Given that a computer goes hand-in-hand with photography and videography, this is a welcomed addition to a camera bag…especially to those like me who do a lot of traveling.

Fastpack 350 Specs:

Description: This bag can accommodate a DSLR with lens attached, 2-3 additional lenses and/or a combination of flash or small video camera and a 17″ widescreen laptop. Additionally, there are pockets and space for memory cards, card readers, batteries, cables, etc.

Size (Interior): 11W X 6.1D X 10.6H inch	Size (Exterior): 12.4W X 9.6D X 19.3H inch	Weight: 4.08lbs

If you own a Lowepro bag or have any questions, please leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.