What’s a perfect platform to test out the light weight, flexibility and accessibility of our Flipside Sport AW series you might ask? Well, you might…

Always in pursuit of active adventures, our multi-skilled UK colleague Tim Sadler and his talented biker/photographer friend Tom Laws donned the Flipside Sport 10L AW and 20L AW (respectively) as they competed in the second round of the Mini Enduro bike race series. Pro photographer Charles Robertson took the great shots we’re sharing here.

For those of you not familiar with this form of mountain bike adventure, let’s describe it as a one-day, live-timed, multi-stage race for riders who like to go fast, ride hard and have fun. The May 12th race took place in the Eastridge Woods of Shropshire. Tim and Tom told us these packs worked really well and “comfortably carried camera gear and inner tubes a plenty”.

The Flipside Sport AW pack is designed with a removable camera insert (so you can use this modular functionality to pack other essentials you might use throughout the day) and a hydration-ready side pocket (so you can always have liquid refreshment right at hand).

Tell us what essentials you carry in your Lowepro bags and please share it on our Facebook page.

Photographer and filmmaker Jerry Monkman wants us to think about the significance
of natural places when we look at his imagery. For 20+ years he has devoted his work to drawing attention to New England’s streams, forests, fields, bays and other places of
natural beauty.

To date, he has created photography for more than 120 land conservation projects in
New England. And his newest documentary venture, The Power of Place, aims to
“compel decision makers to conserve iconic New Hampshire landscapes at risk due to an electricity transmission project”. To learn more about this 30-minute film, visit Jerry’s Kickstarter page.

He also leads workshops, co-authors books and runs the EcoPhotography stock and photography company with his wife Marcy. Being a conservation, adventure and travel photographer requires Jerry to get out there with his camera gear. So we had to ask him about his current go-to outdoor camera bag!

“My favorite camera bag right now is the Flipside Sport 15L AW, which I like because it carries a good amount of gear comfortably for adventure trips, and I love the ability to flip it over and access my gear while the waist strap is still connected – it’s super convenient. In a nutshell, it makes it easy to hike, ski, or bike with my gear and then quickly gain access to it when photo ops occur.”

Check out Jerry’s portfolio and look into upcoming workshops at his web site.

Outdoor adventure photographer Rachid Dahnoun tested out our new photo daypack: the Photo Sport Pro 30L AW.

What does he like about it? Big lens capacity. Hydration-ready. Comfortable fit for treks on uneven terrain.  But we’ll stop there and let you see and hear for yourself.

We spent a few days with him in the Eastern Sierras of Northern California — a perfect spot for a photographer, a pro camera kit, some creature comforts and a sense of adventure.

Are you planning an outdoor photo adventure soon with your Pro DSLR? Tell us about it here or on our Facebook page. You might find that the Photo Sport Pro 30L AW is a very cool companion.

Editor’s note: Big vistas. Big peaks. Big adventures. Eminent landscape photographer Colin Prior is drawn to all three. Colin Prior is a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and spends much of his life seeking out the edges of the world.

 And in May, his next photographic journey takes him to a place that has “haunted his dreams” since his first visit in 1996: the Karakoram mountain range that borders Pakistan, India and China (and home of K2, the world’s second highest peak).

Colin and a colleague are planning a series of expeditions to the range over the next four years; a project culminating in the publication of a new book in 2018. The Karakoram Project is co-sponsored by Lowepro UK, Rab and Lee Filters.

It’s just weeks until his first trip and we asked Colin how his gear preparations are coming along.

Chogolisa, Vigne Glacier. © Colin Prior

This first leg of your project must be incredibly exciting. How do you physically prepare?
I’ve been out walking in the Scottish Highlands on a fairly regular basis and whilst we have few mountains over 4000 feet, the scale is obviously much smaller than the Himalayas. However, notwithstanding this, uphill is still uphill and there is great benefit in building muscle tone which will be crucial in the rarified air of the Karakoram Mountains.

What camera gear will you count on and how will you pack it?
I have worked with the Canon EOS system for over twenty years and will be using a 1DX and 5D Mark III and a range of lenses which will include the latest versions of the 24mm T/S, 90mm T/S, 24-70mm, 70-200mm and 300 f4. I will also carry a Linhof Technorama III with 90mm & 180mm lenses to shoot with Fuji’s Velvia 120. Both systems will be carried in a Pro Trekker 400 AW and the new Rover Pro 45L AW.

K2 and the Godwin Austin. © Colin Prior

What types of imagery do you hope to capture on part one of your journey?
The Karakoram Mountains are in my opinion, the most formidable and majestic mountains in the world and over the four-year period, it is my intention to capture images which honour and hopefully transcend these qualities. There has in reality, been very little authoritative work shot in the Karakoram and this is largely due to their inaccessibility and the political instability in the country. I look forward to the challenges ahead and to seeing the final published book – it will, without doubt, be my magnum opus.

Is there a new piece of gear that you’ll rely on for this expedition?
Without hesitation, I would say my Lowepro Pro Trekker, but there will be an equally important partner – my personal porter who will be responsible for carrying my camera equipment – it will take me all my effort, with the associated effects of altitude, to scramble up the glacier.

What do you like about your Lowepro bag(s)?
Simply, their build quality. Pro DSLR’s and lenses are heavy and they need strong, robust bags to safely transport camera equipment up glaciers and over mountains passes. The new Rover Pro 45L AW will become my ‘day-sack’ which will allow me to carry some camera equipment, water and waterproofs.

Colin Prior is a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and spends much of his life seeking out the edges of the world. To see more of his work and learn about upcoming workshops and exhibits, visit his web site. And please stay tuned for updates from us – we’ll check in with Colin as his project continues.

With so many current Lowepro bags featuring hydration-ready pockets, have you considered using a reservoir instead of a water bottle when on the trail? Each has their advantages. But here’s the way it often works out for me.

• For longer hikes, I typically pack the CamelBak UnBottle Insulated Reservoir (100 fl. oz.) because it provides me with enough H2O for two days of exploring. I enjoy the convenience of having water available without having to do anything more than bite on the mouthpiece that’s looped through my shoulder strap. This is a fairly big hydration unit, so I use it with overnight packs such as the Rover Pro.
• On overnight trips, I may carry an additional water bottle that I use for meals. By dividing my drinking water from my cooking water, I can better manage my assets on the trail.
• If I’m sharing water with others during a day hike, a squeeze water bottle is often a simpler way to go.

For day hikes, I use the Flipside Sport 15L AW and the Photo Sport 200 AW. Longer trips require more storage, such as with the Rover Pro 45L AW. All of these are hydration ready.

So what do you prefer? Bladder, bottle, or both? And if so, what types do you use in your Lowepro bags?

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

One of my favorite bang-around backpacks is the Photo Hatchback 16L AW. It holds my camera gear in a removable protective case, looks stylish, and is very comfortable. Another reason why I love this bag is that it will protect both of my iPads: the iPad 3 (full size) and iPad mini.

The front padded sleeve has a thin divider panel inside. I place my full size iPad in the sleeve behind the panel, and the mini in front of the panel. I can get to either device quickly, yet they are stowed securely and not banging against one another.

Just another reason why the Photo Hatchback is a great everyday backpack for all of my gear.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Editor’s note: For many shooters, the best light is the first morning light. So it was for Robert Frase, enthusiast photographer and member of the Fort Worth Camera Club in Texas.

Robert and a close-knit group of photographer friends often meet and shoot in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. One pre-dawn morning this January, he drove to the chosen location – a waterfall at the end of the Trinity Trail. With his camera, extra lenses and gear tucked away in his Flipside 400 AW, Robert arrived first and made his way to the falls.  

As he searched for a good vantage point and crossed the footbridge, Robert took a misstep and fell off the retaining wall. As he fell, his gear was still on his back. He landed on the rocks below – a distance of 15 feet he later learned – and on top of his backpack. He never lost consciousness, but was injured. He picks up the story here:

“I landed on your Lowepro bag.  Apparently, it was the thickness and construction that prevented my head from slamming onto the rocks.  Yes, I was in pain – tremendous pain.  After the jolt of the fall, I wiggled my fingers and toes to make sure that I was not paralyzed.  As it was still very dark, I laid there until my friends arrived some 30 to 40 minutes later. I made it to the hospital, and as a precaution, the ER personnel put me in a neck brace and proceeded to check for spinal damage.  A CT scan was performed and I was informed that I had a compression fracture of my Lombard vertebrae L1 and L3, including disk bulging.  Currently, I am awaiting kyphoplasty surgery to repair the spinal fractures.

I truly believe that the Lowepro bag saved my life, protecting me from what could have been a paralyzing event, or even severe head trauma.  But I’m not yet done!  Later on, a friend retrieved my car along with my camera gear that was still in the trunk. Upon inspection, NOTHING was damaged from within the Flipside 400 AW pack — not my Canon 50D with the kit lens, Sekonic l-758dr spot meter, 8mm fisheye lens, Canon 10-22mm lens, remote cable release or Singh-Ray filters.

Thank you for making a superb product. You have a customer for Life!”

Robert, we hope you are feeling better and thank you for sharing your Unbelievable Story. (We included one of Robert’s dramatic, black & white images of El Capitan here and hope he gets back to shooting soon!)