Lowepro’s Workshop Tips

Your Lowepro camera bag was built and designed to protect your camera gear through the toughest situations and the most challenging assignments. It is built not only to be useful and comfortable, but also to be durable so that it can last longer, reducing both our and your environmental impact.
 
That's why we have created Lowepro Workshop Tips, a series of guides on how to maintain, repair, and refresh the integrity and functionality of your camera bag, so it can have a longer life.

Your Lowepro bag is your companion on memorable adventures, and we want to preserve it not just for the memories, but also to reduce our environmental impact.

Lowepro’s Workshop Tip #3

Replacing Broken Hardware 

Breaking the hardware (the buckles and adjusters) on our packs is pretty unusual. We either see breaks after years of use or sometimes one quick accidental slam in a car door.  

To replace a broken part you’ll first need to remove the broken part. Depending on the break this can be quick, or it might require a few cuts with a pair of diagonal cutters. With the part off you can check the condition of the webbing to make sure it wasn’t damaged when the part broke or when it was removed. If there are any loose edges you can melt them to avoid further fraying.  

The next step is where we replace the broken part. There are various options for field repair parts and it will mostly boil down to what is available to you. You can either look for these at your nearby outdoor equipment shop where there’s usually someone who can help you find the right part or purchase online. The three most common kinds of parts that you will find are threaded post parts, slotted (quick attach) parts and snap bar (gatekeeper) parts.  

Threaded post parts have a metal post that you simply unscrew to remove which will then allow you to align the slots for this post with the loop of your strap. Once aligned, you can place the post and screw it back in to lock and secure.  

Quick Attach slotted parts can be identified through a horizontal post with a small slot somewhere in the middle which allows you to insert the webbing. By simply sliding the loop into the slot, you can quickly attach the part with no further assembly needed. However, depending on how thick and hard the webbing is, you might need some tools to help you guide the webbing through the slot.  

Snap bar (gatekeeper) parts are commonly found in accessory straps and are some of the most convenient replacement parts to use. To open the bar, you simply squeeze on the top and bottom parts to release the lock. Once open, you can insert the top part through the loop and allow the indentation to reach the other end. Once visible on the other end, place the lock back into the top part to secure.  

Once you have successfully replaced the part, all you have to do is to thread the other end of the webbing onto the replaced hardware. To do this, simply begin by inserting the webbing onto the rear side of the top slot, adjust the strap as necessary, and insert on the bottom slot from front to back. Adjust the length of the strap as you find comfortable and tighten with one simple tug.  

Your ever reliable photography and adventure companion is dependable in almost any situation and rugged environment that you might want it to withstand. Over time, constant exposure to the elements or accidents may require you to extend a bit of TLC to reinforce or refresh your bag’s protective features. While it takes a number of years and a lot of adventures to wear them out, these very easy and simple tasks extend the life of your bags and the protection they provide your precious camera gear for even longer.