Lowepro Photosport Pro 70l aw iii Review – A Camera Backpack for Outdoor and Landscape Photographers

When I found out about the Lowepro Photosport Pro 70l aw iii Photo Backpack, I immediately thought this was a backpack I had to review.

For someone who spends a lot of time hiking with camera gear for shorter and longer trips alike, the Lowepro Photosport series looked like great value for a bag that can carry camera gear with a strong focus on hikers or outdoor enthusiasts.

I was also curious to see how it would compare to my current setup, which consists of hiking backpacks with camera inserts.

I was specifically interested in testing and reviewing the 70L version because it allows me to carry enough camera, hiking, and camping gear for an overnight in the mountains. But how much, how easily, and how would it perform?

With that in mind, I reached out to Lowepro Switzerland, and they kindly agreed to lend me a backpack for review. So I set out to test with my gear in the mountains.

Note this is not a sponsored post. I reached out to Lowepro Switzerland to ask for a demo unit and they had one available, and they did. So here’s my honest review and opinion of the Lowepro Photosport Pro 70l aw iii, as a hiking photographer. Also, Lowepro did not even want to review the post before I published it, so Kudos to them.

So, how did it perform? I like it! It’s a solid pack with plenty of features for hiking and outdoor photographers, especially at the current price point for a pack of this size with a dedicated camera insert. However, it’s not enough for me to switch from a dedicated hiking backpack with a camera insert. Full review and details are below.

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Table of Contents

Specifications

The specifications below refer to the 70-liter pack but be aware the PhotoSport Pro is available in different sizes: 15, 24, 55, and this version, the 70L.

The 70L version also comes in two different sizes. An S-M and a M-L. The only difference is the size of the shoulder straps and ActivLift™ harness. The Bag carrying capacity and volume do not change with different pack sizes. this is good, as it’s not always the case.

Backpack

Backpack Dimensions:

• External 41 x 36 x 80 cm
• Internal: 34 x 19 x 73 cm
• Declared Weight: 3,2 KG. Surprisingly I weighed the pack with the camera insert, and the rain cover, and the weight was 3 kg. So 200g less than the declared weight. Still heavy, but Nice! 200g could be a small lens or a beer more :)

The backpack is made of 86% recycled material. It feels robust to the touch.

All Weather AW Cover™ – It does a great job at protecting the gear in harsh conditions, but it is not waterproof. The good news is, that the backpack also comes with its rain cover.

The pack’s rain cover is attached to the inside of the upper lid pocket

GearUp PRO XL Camera Insert

The Camera insert has an 8L capacity. It’s a modular insert so you can rearrange the content to your needs, which is a must-have for any camera pack. The insert is well made and seems to be quite resistant, with enough padding in itself.

GearUp PRO XL Camera Insert.

Like other camera inserts, it is suitable to carry gear by itself, but it does not come with its own strap. Still, you can attach one.

Unboxing the Lowepro Photosport Pro 70l and First Impressions

The backpack comes in a large box, no surprise, it’s a large pack. At first touch, the materials feel nice and solid, and the pack gives a first impression of good built quality.

Photosport Pro Hiking features

Hip Belt

First, the hip belt. This is a proper hip belt that supports the weight of the pack nicely. Plenty of adjustments through the straps like in any other hiking pack. Each side of the belt also has a pocket. It’s large enough to fit a smartphone and it can be closed with a Velcro strap. However, if you tighten the belt the pockets will be compressed too, so the usable space will be reduced.

Strap Adjustments

There are plenty of shoulder strap adjustments available in the ActivLift™ harness system. The main component is based on a Velcro-like system, similar to the padding and separators you find in camera bags. It does feel very solid and sturdy.

You can also adjust the length around the arms, as well as the top.

I was able to adjust the fitting in a few minutes. The system is easy to use and with a few minor adjustments to the straps I was able to fit it properly.

The pack transfers the weight to the hips nicely, when fitter properly. Same when I went out with it, the fitting part and hip support were flawless.

Ventilation system

The pack in itself does not seem to have a dedicated back venting system. But that’s just the appearance,m because the ActivLift™ harness was designed to create enough space for air circulation.

In my test it did a good job at that, there is plenty of space between the pack and the back to fit a hand. I am not entirely sure about the padding in the back to be honest, as they seem to have used material that isn’t very breatable.

The straps themselves otherwise are breathable enough.

Chest Strap

The pack also has its own adjustable chest strap, with an integrated whistle. It is attached to the shoulder strap via a rail/clip system. A bit unusual but there are plenty of adjustments. What I’d improve here is the rail system. You can slide the strap out if you wish to remove it, but that opens up the possibility of doing it inadvertently because there is no cap at the top of the “rail”.

The chest strap also includes a small whistle – a feature many outdoor packs have, which is supposed to be used in case of emergencies to attract attention.

Hydration bladder pocket

There is a dedicated pocket for a 3-liter hydration bladder, inside the pack on the right side (facing the pack) My 3L bladder fits great, but it’s the first thing you have to add into the pack before packing anything else. There is also a strap to attach/hang the bladder. The only downside

Bottom Pocket/Storage

Not many packs have a bottom storage compartment that can be accessed via a zip at the bottom. I have it on my 44l Osprey pack and love this feature. The Phototsport 70L pack has a rather large bottom compartment too

It’s separated by the main compartment through a zip layer that can be removed, should you want to need/use the pack as a whole bag.

You can open the bottom compartment to use the internal space of the backpack as a single storage unit.

Additional pockets/storage/tethering points

The pack has two large side pockets, made with mesh in parts so they can be stretched to some degree. Those pockets could be used for the tripod or bottles, for instance.

The same for the large front pocket, which can easily hold a jacket.

Photosport Pro Camera Gear Features

Camera insert / Gear protection

As already mentioned, the camera insert has a capacity of 8 liters and is well-made. Same quality as the Tenba BYOB bags, if you are familiar with them.

One feature I wish the insert had was an internal pocket. Something to store extra batteries and memory cards without having to store them elsewhere in the pack. Lowepro – if you are reading this, please consider adding a pocket in the upper lid of the camera insert ;).

But anyway, The insert easily fits a Nikon Z7 II with a 24-70 f/4 attached, the Z 70-200 f/2.8, and the Z 14-24 f/2.8.

Camera gear Accessibility

If you are planning to go for a camera pack, most likely gear accessibility will be high on your list. With this pack, you can access the inset and the camera gear both from the front and the back at the same time. So you have the choice to set the pack up the way you prefer.

Tripod tethering points

The sides have plenty of straps designed to attach a tripod or larger items. It’s easy to attach anything and keep it stable so that it does not move around when hiking/scrambling.

One feature I wish this pack had

If there is one missing feature I wish this pack had, it’s a strap camera plate. Something like the Peak Design Capture Clip, but integrated/attached to the strap.

Lowepro Photosport Pro 70l field test and Review

I packed the following camera and camping gear without stuffing anything inside. I was able to fit all the gear below without having to squeeze anything.

Camera Gear:

• Nikon Z7II
• Nikkor Z 70-200 f/2.8
• Nikkor Z 14-24 f/2.8
• Two spare batteries and memory cards in the upper-lid internal pockets
• Manfrotto befree Carbon tripod

Hiking and Camping Gear:

• Hilleberg Soulo
• Seat to summit Spark SP4
• Sea To Summit Ether Extreme large
• 3L hydration bladder, full
• Camping stove with a small gas canister
• Cooking pot and cutlery
• Two freeze-dried meals
• Snacks (nuts & dried fruit)
• First Aid Kit

Do note that, as usual, I took out the pegs and the tent poles and stored them in one of the outside pockets. This allows me to compress the ent enough and save space inside the backpack without damaging the tent poles.

The total weight of the pack was about 18 kg, and there was still room to fit more stuff (e.g., more food, a beer, or a book).

You can definitely feel the hip-belt it’s doing what it’s supposed to do, which is transferring weight to your hip. The Photosport 70 allows you to carry weight comfortably, and that’s on par with more expensive hiking backpacks.

Conclusion – Who is the Lowepro Photosport Pro 70l for?

You can tell a lot of thinking went into making this bag. It has many features specifically designed for outdoor photographers. You can easily access your well-protected gear. With such a large capacity, you can easily store camping gear for short overnight trips, making the pack a good proposition for hiking photographers.

This pack makes sense if you want a pack that can carry a camera and camping gear for the occasional overnight in the great outdoors. It is a good and well-made pack, but it is not an expedition grade one, nor does it claim to be one. Just something to keep in mind if you are considering this pack

Personally, I will stick with my current setup, which is a hiking backpack with a camera insert. The reason is mainly the weight saving a light backpack offers, as well as its ruggedness. So you are mainly a hiker who prioritized the ruggedness of a pack vs. gear accessibility, I’d rather look at dedicated hiking packs with camera inserts.

On the other hand, if your priority is carrying gear and having it easily accessible in a pack that can carry all your camping gear, the Lowepro Photosport is a good choice. If you are considering this pack, you can check the prices on Amazon here.

Additional Resources

• Here is an overview of the whole Photosport Series on Lowepro’s website.
• More gear reviews here.