Lowepro Fastpack BP 250 AW III
Lowepro · Mid-range
A 20.5-litre travel backpack that splits its space between a camera zone with a two-stage QuickDoor and a 13-inch laptop and personal-gear area.
Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 Camera Backpack
Lowepro · Budget
A compact, 11-litre camera daypack with movable padded dividers, a tablet sleeve and weather-resistant fabric, sized for one small mirrorless or DSLR kit and a day's essentials.
Expert pick · TechRadar, Jun 2025
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We have not tested it ourselves: strengths and weaknesses below come from the tests cited.
Why Railfans Carry It
Most railfanning is a walk: from the car to a bridge, a platform end or a field edge, often with a long way back. A pack this size keeps a lean kit on your back instead of in your hands, and its weight stays modest even when it is full. It is built for one body, a standard zoom, a telephoto and a charger, which is the working set of a beginner shooting trains with an entry-level mirrorless camera. If your kit is larger, step up to a bigger pack.
In the Field
Lowepro lists room for a DSLR with a kit lens such as an 18-135mm, one extra lens and a flash. The main compartment has movable padded dividers and an UltraFlex panel that folds to free up space. TechRadar's tester fitted an APS-C mirrorless body with a prime, a telephoto and a standard zoom, plus a charger, and spent time rearranging the dividers to find the best layout. An SD card slot sits inside the main flap, the front pocket has a key clip, accessory slots and a tablet sleeve, and elasticated side pockets with clips hold a mini tripod. The fabric is water-resistant, not waterproof, so add a rain cover for a downpour. The tripod clips cross the main zipper, which means you undo them each time you open the bag, so it is not a quick-access pack for catching a train as it arrives.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Expert pick · TechRadar: TechRadar's tester carried it daily for weeks in all weather and names it "the best budget camera bag we've tested". The shortfalls are modest capacity, limited accessory storage and tripod clips that cross the main zipper. Read the review
Strengths
- Light at 1.76 lb (about 800 g) with comfortable padded straps
- Movable padded dividers rearrange around a small kit
- Tablet sleeve, inside SD card slot and key clip
- Side pockets and clips for a mini tripod
- One of the cheapest backpacks in the Lowepro line
Weaknesses
- 11-litre capacity: a larger DSLR body or big lenses will not fit well
- Tripod clips cross the main zipper, so access to the camera section is slow
- Limited accessory storage and only a few small dividers
- Water-resistant fabric, not waterproof, and no rain cover mentioned
Key Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Colour | Black (SKU LP36892-PWW) |
| Weight | 1.76 lb |
| Material | Weather-resistant |
| Total volume | 11 L |
| Primary device | Camera |
| Camera compartment | 8.66 x 4.92 x 9.84 in |
| Tablet compartment | 9.45 x 0.79 x 10.43 in |
| External dimensions | 10.83 x 8.54 x 15.87 in |
| Internal dimensions | 10.04 x 5.04 x 14.17 in |
Who It’s For
The beginner with one mirrorless body, a zoom and a telephoto who wants a cheap, light bag for walks to a lineside spot or a day at a heritage railway. It also suits the traveller who needs a carry-on-sized daypack and a tablet sleeve. If you carry two bodies, long telephotos or a full-size tripod, step up to a bigger bag.
Alternatives
The Lowepro Fastpack BP 250 AW III, already in this catalogue, lists 20.5 litres and a 13-inch laptop pocket, so it suits a larger kit. The Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L, also here, is a sling-style bag for a lighter load.
Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L
Peak Design · Mid-range
A one-shoulder camera sling in the 6-litre size, with a top-access opening, magnetic closures and customizable padded dividers, for one body, a lens or two and a few personal items.
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