The Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW is a large camera backpack suitable for just about any camera kit. It can handle a couple of pro bodies and/or several spare lenses.
The bag has top, rear and side access to accommodate just about any carry situation. The camera’s main compartment is fully accessed only when you remove the bag from your shoulders and open up the back panel.
Inside the back panel is a laptop compartment than can carry up to a 15″ laptop. There are 3 small accessory pouches on the front of the laptop flat. You can put small things like filters and memory cards in here but there isn’t much room for anything that is bulkier. These pouches are mainly for flat items.
There is a quick access panel on the top of the bag for a DSLR equipped with up to a 70-200mm lens. Inside of this flap, you’ll find additional storage with a zippered pouch and a small elastic pouch that can hold a memory card or two.
The zippers are great. If you’ve read any of my camera bag reviews, you know this is a sticking point for me. All of the zippers on the ProTactic 450 AW are fast and give the impression that they are very durable. They are easy to grab thanks to these little loops formed by nylon straps that are attached to the metal zipper tabs.
Side access ports allow you to access a second DSLR in a manner similar to the Lowepro Fastpack camera bags. You have to reconfigure the internal panels; however, it is possible to carry two DSLRs and have quick access to them both without have to fully open the camera bag.
The exterior of the ProTactic 450 AW is awesome. It is covered with strong webbing that allows you to attach various accessory pouches from Lowepro’s SlipLock attachment accessory pouches or just clip things on with a carabiner. The bag includes a water bottle pouch, accessory case, tripod cup and two cinch straps.
While the tripod cup and cinch straps should definitely come with the bag to enable you to carry a tripod, the inclusion of the water bottle pouch and accessory pouch is an added value to an already great bag.
The ProTactic 450 AW is a comfortable bag to carry. It has a removable waist strap; however, I don’t find that it really gets in the way when not in use. All of the other straps feel in the right place and are comfortable on the shoulders and chest.
The waist strap also has built-in zippered pockets for carrying small items. My iPhone 6 just fits in these pouches, but I don’t think you could fit a phone that is much larger.
The tripod cup I mentioned above fits nicely on the side of the bag using the SlipLock attachment. The straps hold a tripod snugly on the bag and can be cinched down so that it won’t shift rattle around.
There are a couple of other built-in exterior pockets on the sides of the bag and near the top where you can fit other small items. Additionally, a custom-fit rain cover is included and stowed away in a pouch on the bottom of the bag – ready for whenever you might need it.
Lowepro has another winner on its hands with the ProTactic 450 AW. It is a large, versatile and durable bag that will provide years of use to the pro and enthusiast shooters who need to carry a large kit anywhere and everywhere. Highly recommended.
You can find the Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW here at B&H Photo.
Perfect “tactical” camera bag for preppers and gun nuts.