HOW TO NAIL TRAVEL ORGANIZATION WITH THE FLIPSIDE BACKPACK
10.08.2021 | Reading time: 10 minutes
Author: Rachid Dahnoun
As a travel photographer who is always on the move, finding the right travel bag for your camera gear is essential for your expedition. The Flipside Backpack series from Lowepro has been a personal favorite of mine for years and it allows me to nail travel organization. Their latest update continues to improve on what I’ve always considered to be one of the best photo pack designs on the market.
I recently took the new Flipside Backpack 400 AW III for a test drive, chasing light and fog along the stunning northern California coast. My short review? I’m impressed! Let’s break it down.
Back Gear Access: your camera equipment won’t get dirty
My favorite thing about the Flipside series has always been the back gear access. It allows me to set the pack down on any surface and use it as a staging area for my camera gear. I don’t have to worry about my gear getting dirty or accidentally knocking it over while I’m prepping for a shot. The back access also means that when I zip the pack up, the back and shoulder straps stay clean. This further limits any dirt and debris from entering the camera gear compartment when I open it up for my next shot.
How to organize camera equipment with Backpack Storage
The Flipside Backpack 400 AW III is spacious and allows me to pack a really robust camera kit. For this shoot I packed the kit below. It’s worth noting that it can be used as a travel case for electronics as I still had plenty of room for a laptop and a few additional items had I needed them.
Gear Pack List
- Nikon D850 body
- Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 lens
- Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens
- Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens
- Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 lens
- Nikkor 105mm macro f/2.8 lens
- Befree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod w/ Ball Head
- 4 ND filters
- 1 polarizing filter
- Lowepro memory card wallet
- 2 extra batteries
- Shutter release cable
- Lens wipes
- Extra layers for warmth
- Light snacks
New Features and Upgrades
There are a few noteworthy upgrades to the Flipside Backpack 400 AW III compared to the previous generation.
New Back Handle Strap
My absolute favorite addition is the new back handle strap. This allows you to quickly zip up the pack, grab the handle, and make short moves with your setup without having to put the pack back on. When you’re working a location, this will speed up your creative process tremendously.
New Side Access
This is the first generation of the Flipside to feature side access. I found this really helpful for a quick lens swap when I already had my camera out shooting and wanted to keep the pack on my back.
New Front Molded EVA Bumpers
Setting your pack down time and time again creates a lot of wear and tear on the front of the pack. Not only do the new bumpers create extra durability for the exterior, they also offer even more protection for your gear.
Fit
From 60 pound expedition packs to light 10 pound day packs, the way a pack fits is everything. The strap and overall design on the Flipside Backpack 400 AW III fits great. I hiked a number of miles on trail for this shoot and have zero complaints. The pack is really comfortable, sits nicely on my shoulders and waist, and cinches tightly to my body.
Conclusion
The third generation of Flipside Backpacks are an awesome step up from what was already an amazing platform. The new features combined with the ability to work comfortably and efficiently in the field means that I’ll be using this pack on my photo expeditions for years to come.
GEAR USED IN GUIDE
Rachid Dahnoun
More than a photographer, Rachid Dahnoun is a visual storyteller who draws viewers into the earth’s wildest places. His award-winning images earned him a coveted spot on the Nikon 100 List comprised of the world’s top 100 rising photographic stars—and in fact, nighttime photography is one of Dahnoun’s specialties (the cover of National Geographic’ Night Sky of North America features one of his spectacular Milky Way shots).