Review:: LowePro Flipside 400 AW – by Dennis Hays

I would imaging early photographers used anything they could find to carry their kit, but over the years, the industry has worked to improve these early satchels. The purpose of any kit bag is to make it easy to carry your camera, lenses and accessories.

30 or so years ago, the basic kit bag was either leather or canvas and made to sling over a shoulder. The canvas bags made for quick access and were popular with event photographers, who needed to keep everything with them as they maneuvered around people and obstacles.

The advent of lower-priced 35mm cameras, such as the venerable Minolta SRT-101 (I sold hundreds of these over the few years I managed retail camera sales) at price points low enough for non-professionals to afford, the market opened further.

The professional and advanced hobbyist photographers collected lenses and other paraphernalia which rapidly exceeded the capacity of the origianl canvas “gadget” bags. As the industry grew on handsome sales, the bag business grew as well, producing large cases and bags to secure the prestigious amounts of equipment. I can remember the feeling I had right before leaving on a day trip and not being able to determine what goodies I needed; so I took everything!

Over the years, bag manufacturers, such as LowePro, started designing carry-alls for specialized purposes, such as backpacking.

These vertical cases were able to support the weight on the users back and fasten securely enough that the bag wouldn’t constantly bounce against the body (ever try running with a standard shoulder bag full of equipment?). But, to use the bag, while moving about, you had to loosen the belt, shrug off the backpack and lay it on some surface, shoulder straps down, to change lenses and get access to other accessories.

If you were out on a snowy or wet day and wanted to change lenses, for example, you had to fully remove the backpack and try and find some relatively dry spot to put the bag down. Invariably, this meant you got the straps wet and muddy. Of course, this meant you were soon dirty when you put the backpack on again.

LowePro’s new Flipside 400 AW redesigned the photographer’s backpack to eliminate this problem, as well as make it easier to change lenses and get to your accessories while on the move and without the need to remove the pack from your back. Rather an ingenious design that makes you wonder why someone didn’t think of this previously.

The zipper surrounding the main compartment, where you store your gear, is not on the outside, rear of the pack; it’s on the inside, closest to your back, between the shoulder straps. So, to gain access while on the trail, shrug out of the shoulder straps, but keep your hand around one of the straps. Since the waist belt is still securely attached, most of the weight is on your hips. Now, rotate the pack around your body allowing the waist belt to slide so the clasp is in back. Now, you can tilt the bag forward, allowing the waist belt to carry the weight, and unzip the main pocket.

Normally, as I’ve found, the waist belt will support the full weight of the bag, allowing you to use both hands to change lenses or find that lost cable release. It’s easier, however, (and I presume somewhat safer) to rest your foot on some object, like a boulder or rock, and allow the weight of the bag to rest on your thigh, therefore, supporting the weight.

When done, zip up the pack, rotate it around to your back and shrug back into the shoulder straps. It’s easier done that explained.

The Flipside 400 is built to LowePro’s usually high standards, using quality materials which should last for many years of use. This backpack is smaller than the Vertex 400 AW I reviewed previously, but still substantial enough to carry a dSLR, three or four lenses, flash and a few other goodies. The dSLR compartment can be expanded by moving a Velcro® divider. This is so with all of the dividers in the Flipside.

All said, this Flipside 400 AW (AW = All Weather; comes with a water resistant cover, tucked away under the bottom of the backpack) is the perfect size to take along on the trail. It’s comfortable, easy on the shoulders and is able to carry enough equipment to get you through most any circumstance.

The ingenious ability to get to your equipment, without removing the Flipside, is enough of a reason to choose this backpack over many others.