Lowepro DroneGuard 450 Backpack review

DroneGuard BP 450 Review

As a quad-copter pilot, I was really excited last year when Lowepro came out with their DroneGuard Kit, which enabled me to easily carry around my quad-copter along with all the extras. In addition to the quad-copter, extra batteries and cables, there is also space for some basic tools and extra parts. The DroneGuard Kit was a great solution from the car to the field, but given its exposed, easy-to-access design, it wasn’t ideal for travel, or for hauling to remote locations that could only be accessed on foot. Lowepro soon came up with a solution to this issue and has since designed several new drone bags, one of which has just been released, the DroneGuard BP 450.

I’ve been using the DroneGuard BP 450 for about a month now and really like it. This new backpack for quad-copters features a lightweight, yet sturdy outer construction that has a modular interior for great quad-copter protection. The back of the pack is contoured and uses Lowepro’s integrated ActivZone technology along with breathable and supportive suspension, making it quite comfortable to carry. There is plenty of room for all of my gear, including some additional items. I use packing cubes to place snacks, cables, camera batteries, filters and other items neatly into the BP 450, either in the top or side compartments.

After using the DroneGuard BP 450 for a while, there are a couple of elements that might be nice to see included in a new version. For starters, there is no water bottle holder. This is not a big deal as there is webbing loops on both sides of the bag in which one could clip a water bottle, however you’d likely have to take the pack off to access. The attachment loops are a great feature that allows the user to attached a variety of additional items. On both sides of the bag are long pockets to store keys, SD cards and other slim items. I think it would be great if on one side of the pack the pocket were a flap that opened up for easier access. I highlight these items in the video, so be sure to watch that for a closer look.

The DroneGuard BP 450 has a AW (all-weather) cover located at the bottom of the pack, which is a really nice feature, however I’m not sure it is all that necessary since you’re probably not going to be flying your quad-copter in inclement conditions. Come to think of, this feature would be quite nice to help keep the pack dry while laying on snow.

I have been a longtime fan of Lowepro. I find their bags to be innovative in design with the highest quality construction, the BP 450 is on-par with any other Lowepro bag I have.

SPECS:

Fits:

DJI Phantom Phantom models), 3DR Solo or similar quadcopter form factor.
Up to 10-inch tablet
Props, batteries, RC/transmitter, cables, manual, tools and more.
Additional personal items such as keys, hat, sunglasses, flashlight and smartphone.

Technical Specifications:

Internal Dimensions: 12.20 x 8.66 x 16.14 inches
Tablet Compartment: 10.63 x 0.79 x 6.69 inches
External Dimensions: 13.39 x 10.24 x 22.05 inches
Weight: 6.18 lbs

Price:

Retails for $249.

If you have one of Lowepro’s DroneGuard bags, or have any questions, please leave a comment below. For more information about the DroneGuard Backpack 450, visit: http://www.lowepro.com/droneguard.

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1 Comments

Mike Shubic says:

April 27, 2016 at 1:30 pm

I received a great question off my YouTube Channel that I thought I would share in the comment section here. The viewer asked if there was room to store a laptop in the bag. While the bag was not specifically designed for one, here was my reply.

Hey Spencer, good question. I went ahead and tested this for you. I have a 17″ MacBook Pro and it fits perfectly into the space. As a matter of fact, the two ridged removable storage containers prop the computer up just enough so there is no pressure on the Phantom motors. I would however highly recommend using a padded case/sleeve, such as something from InCase. Additionally, I would highly recommend that you do not store the props in their traditional area (on the flap) as they will put pressure on the computer and also make the pack less comfortable to wear and could damage your computer (at least it might with a MacBook Pro as it is thicker than the other versions). I hope that helps. Thanks for the great question. Cheers!