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Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Black) | 
| Brand: Lowepro
Category: Photography
List Price: $119.99
Buy New: $79.95
as of 3/13/2010 23:52 CST details
You Save: $40.04 (33%)
New (16) Used (1) from $65.00
Seller: krangis
Rating:  53 reviews
Fabric Type: nylon
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Clothing Size: 000
Size: 000
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.6
Dimensions (in): 10 x 12.8 x 18.5
MPN: Fastpack 250 (Black)
Model: Fastpack 250 (Black)
UPC: 056035351945
EAN: 0056035351945
ASIN: B000YIYQ30
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Side Entry Compartment provides easy access to D-SLR equipment and accessories, even when pack is being worn | | • | Triple Compartment Design ensures superior camera protection, notebook protection (fits up to a 15.4" Widescreen), and organizes personal accessories | | • | 180-Degree access panel with adjustable dividers provides excellent protection in a customized fit that's easy to load. | | • | Outer accessory pockets provide external storage for other accessories with fast access, including a harness pocket for an MP3 player or Mobile Phone, as well as a Mesh side pocket for a water bottle or other personal items. | | • | Tough, water-resistant outer fabric protects against moisture and abrasion |
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Product Description
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 53
 vs the slingshot 200 May 29, 2008
Christopher Lee (La, Jolla, CA USA)
40 out of 41 found this review helpful
I was considering the Lowepro slingshot 200 and the Fastpack 250, and boy am I glad I went with the fastpack. Here's a quick side by side comparison:
1. Camera storage compartment: pretty much identical between the two models.
2. Ease of Access: Much easier and more comfortable for the fastpack; just let go of the right strap and swing the bag around. The slingshot swings around and ends up on your chest, pretty awkward feeling/looking; the fastpack ends up near your left waist, allowing you to suavely draw your slr.
3. Size: the fastpack is bulkier than the slingshot, though not by much.
4. Price: the same for both models.
Other random fastpack 250 notes:
1. Laptop storage compartment: the zipper opens along the side, not around the whole backpack.
2. Cellphone pocket: my samsung t-629 fits very snugly.
3. I use this bag for school, storing a slim folder in the laptop pocket, and a couple of 8x6 books in the top compartment.
Mark Rudd's MyMac.com Review August 27, 2009
Tim E Robertson (Battle Creek, Mi United States)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
A GEEK'S DILEMMA
In addition to my love affair with all things Apple (sans those moments of invasive encroachment upon my electronic liberty), I am a lover of photography and photography related technologies. Like many photo-Geeks, I love to carry along my MacBook and a DSLR when leaving the house. Considering the size of most DSLRs, finding a backpack that would allow one to securely and comfortably carry both pieces of tech has never been an easy task. If you could find a backpack that could meet the above mentioned requirements, it generally was large, bulky, and non-pleasing aesthetically (let's just say it, UGLY).
As a leader in this space, Lowepro has been producing a wide selection of protective carrying solutions for photographic and electronic devices since 1967. Prior to my evaluation of the product reviewed in this article, my experience with Lowepro was limited to word of mouth and the occasional scanning of an online review. I was excited to finally get my tech stained hands on one of these vaunted products from Lowepro. As I awaited the delivery of the Fastpack 250, I felt a sense of excitement. Would this be a great solution to the problem facing so many Geeks, or would it be another in the long line of also-rans relegated to the pile of bags and backpacks that just didn't fit the bill?
DESIGN
Once the Fastpack 250 arrived, I removed it from the shipping container and found a bag that was well constructed and stout.
The front offers a huge main compartment to store just about anything you need on your trip (more on this compartment later). Additionally, there is a smaller quick-access compartment in front of the main compartment for those little things you need to access quickly. In the lower section of the front, a buckle-secured flap doubles as a cover for the zipper clad storage compartment underneath and a camera compartment opening guard (more on this later).
The business end of the Fastpack is the left side (when worn on the back) of the backpack. This is where all the magic happens, so to speak. Moving from the back to the front, The first compartment is secured by a zipper that runs the vertical length of the bag. This is designed to securely carry a widescreen notebook computer with a screen size measuring up to 15.4" in length. I really liked the ease with which the side opening allowed me to insert and remove my notebook. IMO, this is much easier than the normal top load backpack.
Moving forward from the computer compartment, what I consider to be the greatest selling point of this backpack, is the side access camera compartment. The intelligent design of this compartment really sets the Lowepro products which utilize this feature, apart. The previously mentioned front flap provides a guard against opening the side access too far and dumping your expensive camera equipment onto the not so friendly ground below. The side access opening was designed to allow you to easily slip the backpack off the right shoulder so that the backpack may then slide under your left shoulder. With the backpack still anchored by the left shoulder strap, you may easily access your camera for that quick picture opportunity. You can then easily secure your camera back within the backpack, slide it back over both shoulders, and done.
The right side of the backpack provides a mesh pocket with a drawstring. This is handy for a water bottle or something that requires immediate access. The drawstring is a nice addition to provide the greatest flexibly possible.
The back of the Fastpack 250 is designed to properly distribute the weight associated with carrying around a notebook computer, DSLR camera, and all the associated connectors, adapters, and cables. In addition to the two appropriately padded and very comfortable shoulder straps, Lowepro has added a secondary support system to the Fastpack 250 through a padded adjustable waist-belt (more on this later).
While I am a fan of simplicity in design, I am also attracted to beautiful, sexy, and svelte industrial designs. I guess that is why I have been a fan of most of the products which have been mercilessly thrust upon me and my severely depleted bank account by that captain of Cupertino and his merry band of minstrels. As such, I would like to see Lowepro trim a few inches from the overall size of the Fastpack. Indeed, it would take some rethinking in-order to continue to allow someone like myself to carry a full-frame DSLR and a ubiquitous notebook, in a design that was as thin and sexy as physically possible. Don't get me wrong, I love this bag. However, I could love it even more if it were a little less.
FEATURES
Lowepro has taken a very straight forward and simple design perspective for the Fastpack 250. There are not a lot of gadgets and gismos here. Just a well constructed backpack with three major sections (computer, camera, and storage). It is refreshing to find a product that is simplified around and focused upon doing a really great job on the basics of what a backpack in this space should be. Just what you need, nothing more, nothing less. Jump to the product page for the specs.
USABILITY
The Fastpack 250 arrived just in time (thanks Vanessa) for me to take it on a vacation/photowalk I had planned with my family. I knew this would give me a chance to really put the Fastpack to the test. The night before we left on the trip, I laid out most everything (sans clothing items) I would be packing in the Fastpack 250 during my photowalks.
As you can see, the Fastpack 250 can handle pretty much whatever you throw at it. While the spacious main storage compartment can indeed handle both large and small items, I found it hard to find particular items because everything must be placed into one big compartment. My work around was to combine similar items into ziplock bags and then place all the bags into the compartment. This compartment would be much more usable if it was divided into different sections through one or more dividers that could be arranged as needed similar to the camera compartment.
With the Fastpack 250 loaded with my MacBook Air, Canon 5D2, adapters, cables, water etc., I was off for a day of fun under the sun. While the weight of the pack was substantial, I was able to dramatically lessen the stress on my upper body and shoulders by buckling and adjusting the waist-belt. I could hardly believe the difference once the belt was employed. It was like night and day. Once I arrived back home from my trip, I left everything but the MacBook Air in the Fastpack and added a White MacBook and then changed that out for a 15" MacBook Pro. While the weight change for each notebook was noticeable, the waist-belt evenly distributed the weight and allowed the added weight to be carried comfortably. Great Job Lowepro!
As I stated above, the greatest feature of this backpack, IMO, is the side access camera compartment. With the Fastpack fully loaded, I was able to remove the right shoulder strap, slide the entire pack under my left shoulder, easily remove my camera and, "get the shot." Restoring my camera into the Fastpack was just as easy as removing my precious (sorry for the Rings reference). At no time did I worry about the security of my highly sensitive and expensive electronics. I think this is the best endorsement I could give any bag or backpack.
MAKING A GREAT PRODUCT EVEN BETTER
As noted above, there are a few areas which could be improved to make this great product even better. Adding configurable dividers to the main storage compartment would allow a better utilization of this large compartment. Because the Fastpack 250 will generally carry substantial weight, adding a pad to the top handle would allow the pack to be lifted without any discomfort to the hand. Finally, a little redesign on the next version to reduce the overall size and footprint while maintaining the basic storage capabilities would widen the appeal of this product to a larger customer base.
MyMac.com Rating:
I am very impressed with the Lowepro Fastpack 250. It is a simple design that securely protects your computer and camera while providing easy access to your gear. Even with the minor recommended improvements, this is a strong product that should be a serious contender for anyone in the market for a backpack within this category. I am awarding the Lowepro Fastpack 250 an outstanding rating of 4.5 out of 5 in our MyMac.com Rating System.
Original Review - http://mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=3725
A great daypack that holds your camera equipment safely! March 9, 2009
Weiwen (Singapore)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I had been looking around for a good camera bag that would make me as 'hands-free' as possible during my travels. In the past, my bag routine during my travels would consist of a Samsonite pull-bag, a small backpack for my personal stuff and camera equipment, a Cirrus toploader for the DLSR, and the occasional laptop bag. After getting the Fastpack 250, things have gotten more convenient: it's just the Samsonite and the Fastpack (the bottom compartment fits my Canon 450D + 18-55mm, 55-250mm, hoods, charger, lens cleaning liquid, spare batteries, a Powershot and SDHC cards, while a Dell 1420 laptop fits nicely into the rear) whenever I travel now.
Of course, the Samsonite gets checked in at the airports. And the Fastpack 250 is small enough to be carried onboard aircrafts; it would fit in the smaller overhead compartments of budget carriers, too.
One of the big reasons that led to my purchase of this bag is its spacious top compartment for personal items. Other Lowepro bags seem to shortchange on this particular design. I like having a camera bag that is something like a cross between a camera bag and a small backpack, for a more varied, functional use. This is it, and no other Lowepro bag I have checked out seems to come close to such a function. I usually put a book, a blower, a Nalgene botte and some snacks in the top. It can even fit two shirts and a light jacket, which makes the bag a good one for an overnight trip.
My only gripe is the side mesh-pocket, which could have been slightly wider and taller to fit my 1 litre Nalgene bottle, and make it easier for me to grab a sip without unzipping the bag. I usually put a small bottle of water, or a notepad in that mesh-pocket. It also fits a rolled up windbreaker.
And yes, the bag does allow me to remove my camera quickly!
I'm also pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the bag can feel on my shoulders, even when it's packed to the brim. It seems Lowepro has got the ergonomics of this design well worked out.
The bag lacks a rain cover, but it does appear to be water resistant enough for short ambles in the rain. I got caught in a downpour once, and when I found a shelter, I sneaked a peek at the bag's contents, and they were still dry.
The cushion that surrounds the bottom compartment does its job well: I took a hike on a volcano in Bali recently, and during my descent, I slipped a few times on the loose gravel, landing butt-down on the rocks - and the bag took a few smackings. But my dear camera and lenses were completely unscathed.
If you need a comfortable daypack that holds your camera equipment safely, look no further. This is IT.
Everything I need and more :) May 23, 2009
Steven Jay Davis (Hayward, CA, USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I love this bag! I had the Slingshot 100 first, which I outgrew within 3 months, then upgraded to the Slingshot 200, which I outgrew in a month, now I have the Fastpack 250. I travel a lot internationally and it is perfect. I love that it carries my 15" Sony Vaio laptop too, so this makes a very nice carry-on on a flight. There's enough froom for your camera and 2-3 extra lenses in the padded compartment area, then there's a huge storage area on top for accessories, as well as food and stuff. I loved my Slingshots, but they had no room for food or drink when I'd go on a hike. This extra space, along with the netted holder on the outside, makes this a great overall bag for holding your camera gear, as well as your lunch, on a day hike.
Tripod Issue Solved! A lot of people complain that this bag doesn't have an easy way to secure a tripod. Well, with a little creative engineering, you can easily secure your tripod. I have a large Manfrotto tripod. See those 2 little straps connecting the lower pocket? You can secure your tripod there SIDEWAYS. Just run the strap through one leg, and the center column, and back out and secure it. Tighten it up and that thing ain't going nowhere.
I love this bag! It's still brand new, but I can tell it's gonna suit me perfectly for a good long while, at least longer than my Slingshots did.
Favorite all-purpose camera bag to date July 22, 2008
D. Hannan (Brooklyn, NY)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've tried a few bags over the last few months, and this beats everything else out there for me - I have the following:
Nikon D80
SB400
Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6
Nikon 50mm 1:1.8D
Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF
Nikon 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6 G ED
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG
I also have various other items in the bag, such as my Canon PowerShot SD1000 and Sony Handycam SR42 video camera.
I can also fit my 15" MacBook in there, and everything fits perfectly. I still have more room for bits and bobs in the main zipped pouch on the top/front of the bag, and have room for cleaning products/cloths in the lower/front zipped pouch behind the flap/cover.
It feels heavy, but MUCH more comfortable than my previous SlingShot 200 (which fit everything except for my laptop), as the double over the shoulder backpack strap design separates the weight evenly over my back - the SlingShot would slide back to my lower left area of my bag and really give my right shoulder some serious ache.
Two thumbs up for this. It's a big bag, but my god is it comfy.
Thanks LowePro.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 53
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