jvandegr's Full Review: LowePro Inverse 100 AW Waistpack Camera Bag
Introduction
My first lumbar camera bag (also known as a "waistpack" or "beltpack") was a Lowepro Photo Runner. It did its job fairly well in that it stayed put on my hips and provided reasonably quick access to my camera. Over the years, I've tried many other types of lumbar camera bags, but all suffered from one of three fatal flaws: 1) the bag sagged under a moderate load, 2) the bag did not provide easy access to the gear inside, or 3) the quality of the materials (usually the zippers) was poor. After awhile, I gave up. I invested in photo backpacks to carry my ever-growing pile of gear. However, these backpacks came with a price - more restricted access to gear, and a limited range of motion. When I recently decided to downsize my gear, a window of opportunity opened up for me to use hip packs again and the Lowepro Inverse 100 AW immediately caught my eye.
Features
- 420 denier nylon and 600 denier polyester with a 200 denier polyester interior and an adjustable divider - Tricot-lined lid protects LCD screen from dust and scratches - Quick Access Top provides easy access to equipment - All Weather Cover protects bag and contents from rain, dust and sand - Front storage pocket provides access to cables, adaptors, small accessories or personal items - Front zippered mesh pocket Memory card pockets (inside lid) keep memory cards in the same place every time - Stretch mesh side pockets keep water bottles and other personal items within easy reach - 3D contoured mesh Dry-Flo lumber belt with Dual Adjust System evenly distributes weight and provides exceptional comfort - Adjustable compression pulls customize pack for personal fit and comfort - Padded, 360° swivel shoulder strap provides an alternative carrying solution - Locking straps secure a tripod to the bottom panel - SlipLock attachment loops allow the addition of compatible products to customize the pack
The list price of the Inverse 100 AW is $79 (US dollars). As of early 2009, it has an average street price of $63. However, it can be found for as litle as $35 on sale from online vendors. It is available in three colors: black, green, and blue.
Performance
Capacity
The capacity of this pack is surprising. Its small size keeps it within my body's profile, meaning it won't get caught in narrow spaces. Usually, such packs have minimal carrying capacity, but the Inverse 100 AW carries more than any other pack of comparable size. In the main compartment, I carry two small DSLR cameras (the Sony A350), one with a three inch lens attached and one with a six inch lens attached. A foam divider separates the two cameras. That's impressive for a pack this size. While these cameras are inside the pack, I can also carry a 24 fl. oz. water bottle on the outside without the bottle compressing the size of the pack inward and thereby reducing interior space. The pouch on the front of the pack is a genius design and easily carries a couple energy bars, car keys, and cell phone at the same time. Again, when these items won't compress the side of the pack inward. Believe it or not, there is still room left over to carry a small item (wallet, small GPS receiver) in the elastic pocket on the side. But wait... there are straps on the bottom of the pack that allow a small tripod, monopod, or light jacket to be lashed. If all that isn't enough, the Inverse 100 has two Sllp Lock loops for attaching lens pouches, bottle bags, etc. I highly recommend these Slip Lock accessories - Lowepro has done a great job designing this system.
Build Quality
Lowepro has been making durable camera packs for many years. I have used nearly a dozen of them and found all to be well made, constructed of better-than-average materials, and ergonomically well designed. However, they have had one potentially significant flaw - Lowepro's proprietary zippers have a tendency to not operate as smoothly as they should and not last long under demanding conditions. On the Inverse 100 AW, Lowepro has continued to use high quality cloth but also uses YKK zippers on the main lid. A small zippered pocked on the front pouch still uses a smaller proprietary zipper, and the pull sticks too much. It also feels like it could wear out fairly quickly.
Otherwise, the build quality of the pack is very good. However, it is possible to find cost-cutting measures here and there. The nylon webbed handle feels just a little weak, the plastic clips on the shoulder strap are stronger than average but still a little cause for concern, and the padding in the hip belt is just a little thin. I should be clear that so far, I have had no durability problems with this pack. Experience just tells me to keep an eye on the aforementioned items. If they ever become a problem, I'll update this review.
Field Test
I first field tested this pack along the foothills of the Colorado Front Range Mountains. I decided to put a full load in it right away and just go for it. I placed two digital SLR cameras with lenses attached in the main compartment, a full 24 fl. oz. water bottle in the side pocket, two energy bars in the pouch along with my cell phone and car keys. The total weight of the load was seven pounds. For a small to moderate size lumbar pack, this is at least a moderate load. I cinched the waistbelt tight with one quick pull, then did the same with the compression straps on the side. Immediately, I could feel the pack pressing the load up against my lower back, which is good - sag is the enemy that kills many otherwise great lumbar packs.
I hiked up a steep, snow and mud covered trail for two miles. Neither the compression straps nor the waistbelt loosened at any point, even during a short run uphill. All lumbar packs have a tendency to sag. That is, they tend to rotate away from your lower back toward your butt. This causes the center of gravity of the load to shift and it becomes both uncomfortable and difficult to carry. Manufacturers try to reduce this "bag sag" with the use of compression straps that pull the load toward the user's back. However, if the compression straps are too low on the pack, they have minimal effectiveness. Marmot's old "Biospan" design and Dana Design's compression system are the only two that really ever worked well. On the Inverse 100 AW, the compression straps pull the outer pouch toward the pack, which does a very effective job of reducing bag sag. The key with any lumbar pack is to cinch everything as tight as possible, and the same is true for this pack. If you do so, you'll have a comfortable and secure load for many miles. At the end of my four mile trip, this pack felt nearly as comfortable as it did when I first put it on. The only time I really noticed bag sag was when I was running and even then the pack stayed securely around my waist with no loosening of the straps. One of the ways to reduce sag even further is by using the included padded shoulder strap while the pack is attached to your waist. Although the vast majority of the weight of any pack should always be on your hips, I found this shoulder strap does a nice job of distributing about 10-15% of the weight to my shoulders for a little extra stability, when practical. This shoulder strap has a reasonably amount of padding without being too bulky. It also has non-slip material on the underside that does a good job of keeping it in place when I need it to be. Best of all, the strap can slide through the padding, allowing it to be adjusted to different body shapes and carrying preferences. None of my Think Tank Photo straps have this ability and this makes them difficult to work with. Overall, for comfort and stability of load, I give this pack an A-, which is my highest yet for a pack of this type.
A brief mix of snow and rain gave me the opportunity to try out the all weather cover. It easily removes from its velcro-sealed pocket near the bottom front of the pack. In about ten seconds, I had it securely wrapped around the pack. At the end of my trip, I found the pack perfectly dry under its cover. Most importantly, my gear inside was also perfectly dry. Of course, a camera pack needs to protect from more than just the elements. Impact resistance is critical for sensitive camera equipment. Lowepro has always provided both good quality and quantity of padding inside their packs and this one is no exception. Thick, closed-cell padding provides 360 degree protection. My Kata shoulder bag has even thicker padding on its sides and bottom but nearly none on its lid, my Think Tank Photo shoulder bags have padding that is too thin that has resulted in camera damage, but my Lowepro bags (shoulder, backpack, lumbar) have always provided ample protection throughout and without being too bulky. Still, it's not quite perfect - I wouldn't mind some rubber bumpers on the bottom of this pack to provide a little more protection from both impact and wet surfaces. All of this considered, this pack gets an A- for protection.
The water bottle is easy to remove from its pocket, but requires much more effort to get back into its pocket without stopping to look at what you're doing. Not a big deal, but I might buy a SlipLock bottle bag just the same. Speaking of access, the quick draw lid on the top of the pack works amazingly quickly. No need to unzip it, just grab the tab on the top of the lid and rip it open. Closing requires pulling each zipper closed and that takes more time, but who cares - rapid access to my gear means often means the difference between getting the shot and not getting the shot. The front pouch is readily accessible, even without rotating the pack or stopping your hike to feel your way around the pack. Overall, this pack gets an A for accessibilty, which a photojournalist is always happy to see.
Conclusions
I've tested many lumbar packs over my photographic career and they've always left me wanting more. The Lowepro Inverse 100 AW is the first lumbar pack that truly lives up to my standards in providing a secure, comfortable, and accessible carrying solution for photographic gear in extreme environments. I could make it better still, but for its price I certainly have nothing to complain about.
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