Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 AW II
October 29, 2008
I’ve just taken delivery of the new version of Lowepro’s very popular Lens Trekker 600…finally! When I picked up my Nikon 600/4 I tried to get the Lens Trekker to go with it but was annoyed to find it had been discontinued! I looked at various other solutions, none of which appealed and after several calls to shops I was told there was a new and improved version on the way ‘at some point’. Well I’m happy to say ‘at some point’ has arrived and at 8:30 in the morning the doorbell rang and the postman handed me a large cardboard box…so what have they changed in this new version…?
600mm next to 600 AWII
Overview
Weight: 2.8kg (6.17lbs)
Height: 25.5 inches (64.8cm)
Width: 9.3 inches (23.6cm)
Depth: 11 inches (27.9cm)
Links: Official LOWEPRO website
Purchase: Available in the UK from SPEED GRAPHIC and in the U.S. from B&H PHOTO.
Bigger and better? What are the differences…
The new version of this bag has had a few small changes, most obvious is the size, where the old bag was roughly 24″ in height externally the new bag is 24″ internally. This means you can store your 600mm with lens attached + a 1.4x TC attached as well…or, you can use a new piece of padding that is provided and place that at the top of your bag, above the back of your camera and it gives you space to store a body on it’s own laying flat. Very handy for those who have two camera’s and may want to carry a small wide angle prime in the front pouch in case of any landscape shots you may come across whilst out with the telephoto! The shot below is of the 600/4 with space for a body attached, then the extra padding above that to show the extra room now provided. **Please note I have since found out the original 600 AW also had this padding so it is not a new feature of the AW II**
Extra room at the top
Speaking of the front pouch, it is now taller but does not protrude as much, in fact if there is nothing in it you can pretty much push it flat against the bag making the bags profile more streamlined. The pouch contains a zipped compartment and two netting compartments so there is no shortage of room for spare batteries, teleconverters and maybe a small prime or two.
Front pouch open
Pouch flush
Another new addition to the bag are the six memory card holders built in to the inside of the main compartment lid.
Memory card holders
Finally, one of the other minor updates is the location of the All Weather Cover. Instead of being stored in the front pouch this is now in a zipped pocket on the back of the bag, above the straps. This leaves more room for accessories in the front pouch.
The usual Lowepro experience
Anyone with experience of Lowepro bags will be right at home with the 600 AW II, it has the typical quality construction you would expect and includes various straps, harnesses, loops, pockets and tripod/monopod holders that you might expect with a bag of this size and most of which are remove-able to you can really build the bag to suit your needs. The main shoulder straps are held to the body by being sandwiched between two velcro sections on the back (the same as the original 600 AW), which at first may seem crazy having such a large amount of weight being held by velcro but used in this way, it’s a very effective solution. In fact, to help you pull the removable straps away from the bag a tool is provided to help you separate the velcro that holds them in place…the Pack Jack! The PJ tucks neatly in to the back of the bag, so if you do need to take it with you, you can do so without it getting in the way.
The Pack Jack
Adjusting the shoulder straps with The Pack Jack is a simple process as any owner of the previous version will know. For those that are new to the bag however…below are the straps in their lowest setting…
Straps set low
You then slide The Pack Jack down to the bottom of the velcro holding the straps in place…
Sliding the Pack Jack in
Finally, with the PJ pushed all the way down you pull the straps up to the required height and then slide the PJ back out. Simple!
Straps adjusted high
Final thoughts
Overall, I love this bag and anyone with the older version will feel right at home. It’s the perfect long lens bag solution for both storing and carrying such a big piece of glass, with a body attached. The zip down main compartment provides easy access to your gear and the extra size now provided makes this a slightly less tight squeeze. One word of warning, my friend has the older version of this and he has taken it on holiday several times, once he was asked to place it in the hand luggage cage at an airport and it just fit in…well the new version of this bag will not due to it’s taller frame. So that’s one thing to consider if travelling on planes is something you do a lot. Also, shop around as at the time of writing there were only two UK stockists I could find, one had the bag at £199 and the other, Speed Graphic, had it for £129…guess where I got mine from…
Thinking of buying?
If you live in the UK the Lens Trekker 600 can be purchased from Speed Graphic.
And if you live in America the Lens Trekker 600 can be purchased from BHPhoto here, and the entire Lowepro range can be browsed here.
Plenty of room above the D3
Frseh out the box
Main compartment
Space above the 600/4
Hi Peter,
After buying my Canon 600 I was not happy to find that my Lowepro Lens Trekker 600AW would not hold the lens and body without a tight squeeze. So had bought a custom made long lens bag that was being advertised on a nature photograpy forum, it fits perfectly but I`ve no attachements to hold my all my lowepro add ons, and I missed the thick padding of my original lens trekker, so after reading your review on the much awaited new version, I had no problems in ordering one and look forward to a new fitting long lens bag!
Thanks
Brian
Hi Brian, it’s a great bag so I’m sure you’ll find it suits your needs perfectly. I’m glad the review was helpful so thank you for taking the time to comment on it.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for a good review – this bag is also something I have been waiting for for a long time, and your review will probably push me over the edge.
One question – I assume the bag is wide enough to take the lens hood also, but is the lens hood mounted ready for action, or does it have to be reversed?
Thanks
Simon
Actually, looking at the dimensions and the video on facebook the lens hood won’t be able to be mounted…. but will it fit inside the bag reversed on the lens? thx
Hi Simon, thats correct, the lens hood fits but in the reversed position – I hope thats of help, I think the bag would be too long if it allowed the lens hood to be in the shooting position. It’s a great bag though, enjoy.
I am curious if this will be a decent fit for a 200-400 vr lens with a d3 attached?
Hi Steve. good question. The 200-400 does fit in very easily but there is a LOT of spare room around the lens and would require a lot of extra padding to be used…to be honest I think the bag is overkill for the 200-400. I’ve always used my Nikon supplied bag for the 200-400 as that fits with the D3 attached quite snuggly (although I’m hoping for a better solution from Lowepro or ThinkTank at some point).
Thanks for your reply! After reading more on the size I am thinking the same thing you are. I found a nice looking option from kgear.com. I might go that route. Thanks again!
Howzit Richard,
Just read and went through your description of the Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 AW II. It’s a really good review. I’ve been trying to decide between getting the Lowepro Pro Trekker or the Lens Trekker 600 and after reading your review with the great pics I’ve decided on getting the Trekker 600!
Hello! Very helpful review! I’m trying to find a bag for Nikon 500VR and I think this can be a good option. I’ve read it’s too big for 200-400.
¿What about the 500VR? Maybe I should get the AW if the AW II is bigger but I suppose I would miss the improvements.
Do you think a 500VR fits in AW and AW II?
Thank you very much in advance.
Merci pour ces renseignements,mais je n’ai pas compris s’il était possible de mettre dans ce sac un D3+200-400mm+TC14E?
Merci si quelqu’un peut me renseigner?
Thank you for this information, but I did not understand if it was possible to put this bag in a D3 +200-400 mm + TC14E?
Thank you if someone can inform me?
Hi Patrick, it is indeed possible to put the combination you described in to the bag but would say there is too much spare room so everything can move around in the bag when transporting. If you did want to use this bag for the 200-400 I would suggest putting in extra padding around the lens so it can’t move around – height wise it will fit easily though with the 1.4 and D3 attached.
Hi Richard, Will the canon 300 2.8L IS with hood NOT reverse on 2x extender attach mounted on a 5D mkII fit on this bag ? I always want my gear set on ready to shoot mode.
Thanks.
Cheers .
Clemn
Hi Clemn, from a quick look over the specs of the above kit, the total length comes to roughly 15.7 inches WITHOUT the hood mounted in the shooting position. I do not know the length of the Canon 300 f2.8 hood but the internal dimensions of the bag are roughly 23.5 inches tall. This gives you just over 7 inches left to play with – so if the hood is shorter than that, then the whole kit should fit in the bag ready to shoot (you may want to measure the kit yourself to make sure the measurements are accurate!). Hope that is of some help…
Hi Richard
Good report on the Lens Trekker 600 AWII.Just watned to let the people who have made comments regarding the D3 + 1×4 converter + 200-400 f4 know that I have had this combination for some time and its great being able to take it out of the bag already to go. The problem I would say with this combination it will not fit in the Nikon bag even with the hood reversed which is a shame. This is something I would have expected Nikon to have taken into consideration, espescially considering the recall of this bag. Anyway, I would like to say that I have taken the Lens Trekker 600 aw11 on 4 trips abroad on an aircraft and have got away with it up to now. No doubt the day will come when I am asked to put it in their sizing basket! The stress of taking all this into consideration always gives me a headache before every holiday.
Mic
wwww.micclarkphotography.co.uk
Hi Richard
Any chance you could give feedback or advice on the previous 500vr question as i have just purchased also……any alternative airplane suggestions also?
Thanks
Phil
Hi Phil, I’d say the bag is probably too big for the 500 VR as well. Even with a 600 in there is a lot of space left. I have a friend with the 500 VR so I could try and check the exact fit for you but I may not get a chance now until mid-to-end of Nov as both he and I are travelling so I won’t get a chance to see him. Let me know if that is something that you can hold out for? On the other hand, I’ve just picked up a ThinkTank Photo Streetwalker HardDrive and this will fit a 200-400 VR or a 500 VR with body attached. The 500 is a slightly snugger fit but it is do-able, and it also give you plenty more storage for other bits too. I’ll have a full review of the Streetwalker HardDrive on the blog once I am back from my next trip, so again should be around the second half of November.
Richard
Nice one…good advice and i’ll check that other bag out. Mine is currently clothed in Lens Coat and Wildlife supplies camo triple layer cover….nice and snug for winter and dead handy….so bag better and needed for holidays/trips/planes….so yes, november will be fine!
Phil
Richard
Thanks You very much for the good write up on the Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 AW II, which I came over roughly 1month ago. My main question is, please, what is the Sigma 300-800mm lens like in this case. Yes dimensions seem to be OK but no one seems to have mentioned the 300-800 in their write ups.
Also, if you don’t mind me saying, are the dimensions given correct with those given on the LowePro web site.
I will just say, the Sigma case is a good case, but not when walking distances as it only has the one strap…
Many Thanks
Tim
Tim, I have spoken to my friend who owns the Sigma 300-800 and I can confirm it does fit in the 600 AW II with a body attached. Dimensions given are from my own measurements of my bag. Hope that is of help…
Richard
Many Thanks for your “great” reply, I can assure you that although I was going to get it, which was for the lens when out, I now can’t wait to get it because of the body attached. I have a Nikon D90 & D80. I am sure I’ll possibly beable to slot a 1.4X & 2.0X converter in the case somewhere.
If I’m aloud to say – Morris Photo shall be hearing from me on Monday. Once again – Thank You…
Tim
Thank you for the nice review and detailed writeup. I had the previous version of this bag where I used to carry a Nikon 500 F4 AF-S with body attached (the 1.4 TC would fit but it was a very tight fit….). I sold it with that lense and now I have the 600 F4 AF-S which is even bulkier….the extra room on this newer version will be handy and if it can be taken on an airplane after taking the waist-belt off, even better….since I shoot surf I did a lot of hiking with this bag on my back and it was extremely comfortable, this one seems to have a few extra bit and room that will for sure make it a bit more practical.
I’ll just need to get 2 extra lense pounches to carry a 180 F2.8 and 300 F4 on the sides and I’m done….
The 1st version came with a small open pouch where you could put the end of a monopod and then secure it on the top with the bungee-type cord…does this one have something similar secure a monopod ?
Sandro Bravo
I am looking for a long lens case to fit my canon 1dsii+canon 300mm 2.8+hood (not reversed). would Lowepro Lens Trekker 600 II AW be able to fit all these?
Hi Mansour, thank you for the question. Someone asked a similar one in the comments above (Clemn, on 27th June 2009) so I have just given you the main info below to help you with an answer.
Internal dimensions of the bag are roughly 23.5 inches tall – so assemble all your kit and measure it up. If the height is less than the internal bag height you are good to go! Hope that helps