Lowepro ROVER AW II: photography in a bag.
Written: Jan 09 '07 (Updated Jan 22 '07)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Good design for the price, relatively rugged and water-proof, fits one DSLR and accessories nicely
Cons: Divider durability, no complete separation of compartments, mesh pocket durability
The Bottom Line: A rugged shell with a clever division in two compartments, but with its limitations too.
|
|
|
| theuerkorn's Full Review: Lowepro ROVER AW II (LOP19840-20) |
It has been two years that I got this backpack and I used it on many trips as well as the occasional weekend getaway. It's even scheduled to carry my equipment and memories on our upcoming dream vacation. I typically trust it with my camera and lenses, while still having some extra space to carry a water bottle, sweater and other necessities.
Overall: [****-] - The Rover AW II is exactly what I needed to migrate from a general purpose backpack to a more advanced protection for my photo gear. It doesn't provide professional features and sure not enough room for multiple camera bodies, but for the enthusiast that might be all one need. Holding my EOS-20D and 3 lenses as well as an external flash and a few other accessories like filters, lightmeter and a timer; the Rover has been doing duty for two years and is still going strong. It's not perfect, but a strong proposal companion for people that want to combine light outdoor activity (i.e. hiking) with photography. Before I go into details, let's see what currently all fits in the bag. This is what I typically "schlep" around ...
- Canon EOS 20D dslr body
- Canon EF70-300 IS DO lens
- Canon EF-S60 lens
- Canon EF-S17-85 IS lens
- Canon Speedlite 420EX external flash
- Canon TC80N3 remote / timer
- Canon EF12-II extension tube
- Canon Powershot SD800 IS compact camera (backup)
- LowePro PixelPak v2 media storage
- Palm LifeDrive PalmOS pda
- TomTom Navigator 5 GPS navigation
- Epson P-3000 multimedia viewer
- SLIK Pro 340DX tripod (external)
- Marmot PreCip jacket
- Filters (C.P.R. etc.)
Shell: [****-] - Despite its special purpose, the Rover AW II still starts out as a basic backpack in design. Differences start with the dividing zipper that allows easy access to the bottom of the split the interior. The separation is achieved via padded lining and dividers which are held in place via Velcro. It could theoretically be removed to convert the Rover AW II into a regular backpack. The shell material is rugged enough for normal wear and tear on a hiking trip. It's reasonably resistant to mild rain and additional protection (i.e. 3M ScotchGuard) is recommended. The zippers must be covered with the integrated flap to provide basic protection against water migration (in normal orientation). The Rover AW II is relatively lightweight.
Compartments: [***--] - To use the Rover AW II as a camera bag, Lowepro implemented a mild padding which also functions as dividers to organize your equipment. The standard setup allows to store one DSLR with a short lens and up to 4 accessories like an external flash or lens or similar sized stuff. The walls are held in place by Velcro and can be removed. The divider between the top and bottom compartment is of the same material and held the same way. It does an okay job if you store light things in the upper, but design-inherent holes and relatively low stability sure don't hold any small pieces from migrating to the bottom or heavy pieces from resting on your equipment. This is an annoyance when closed and may be a problem when opened via the middle zipper. In my use the upper compartment holds filters, a timer and occasionally a sweater or sun screen. The Rover also has a small waterproof pocket inside which is highly recommended to hold memory cards, batteries and other stuff that's small (flat) and sensitive to water.
Pockets: [***--] - The Rover AW II sports basically four pockets on the outside for easy access. The tan triangles are two relatively small pockets, just big enough to hold your car keys or a pocket knife and other utensils that are better separated from the rest (to avoid scratches or smudge). The mesh pockets may be tempting to store a water bottle since it's a little dangerous to have a leaking fluid container with your equipment. However, by doing so, I tore the mesh and refrained to using it to hold a lens or similar stuff that I need quick access to as long as it fits inside the mesh portion. One "pocket" is relatively disguised, as it needs to be unfolded in order to hold a midsize tripod. (A small one can be slid into the folded pocket.). Currently holding a SLIK 340DX, it extends to hold the tripod and the rope secures it in place.
Straps/Comfort: [*****] - The Rover AW II is designed with long hikes in mind. The shoulder straps are nicely padded and so is the portion that rests on your back. The material is a mesh covered foam to provide some ventilation. I say "some" since on prolonged hikes I still manage to collect some humidity on my back. It's not too bad though. A hip strap is included to help distribute the load and my wife (a physical therapist) keeps encouraging me to use it, but I successfully ignore such advice on shorter trips where I need frequent access to the backpack. It's quite comfortable either way, and my equipment is typically not heavy enough anyway. Along the straps, Lowepro also included plenty of mini compartments and little tie-ins. However, I have to admit that I have never used any of them. In fact there are so many little straps and ropes that it's sometimes a little annoying to deal with all those ends.
© 2007, theuerkorn
RESOURCES
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/Rover_AW_II.aspx
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.