Lowepro Photo Hatchback 16L AW Review

Lowepro Photo Hatchback 16L AW Review

The Lowepro Photo Hatchback 16L AW is the smaller of the two available sizes of this bag. The other being 22L. It is a small backpack style bag that is great for anything from day hikes to bike rides to festivals. It can be used as a stand alone backpack with a large interior or divided with the removable, padded camera inlay. I have only used it with the camera insert because that’s my intended use but it should work well without it if say you’re on vacation and needed a day pack without your camera gear. The camera section itself is only accessible from the rear of the pack which is great for two reasons. The first being that it keeps your expensive equipment more secure while you’re wearing it and also allows you to access the back without taking off the pack by rotating it on the belt strap. It’s really easy to change lenses or get a spare battery or card. The space is quite limited so this is not really a pro bag. It’s just large enough for a entry level dslr and two small lenses. Or maybe a mirrorless system. I have a T3i and keep the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 attached usually and a Sigma 50-200mm f4-5.6 in another pocket. I’ve found this works the best for me. I keep my SD card wallet in there. I could make some more space if I needed to but that usually works for me. The top or general purpose part of the bag is a standard top or front load zippered compartment. It fits some small items usually some snacks or a hat. I’ve put a light jacket in the cooler months or a change of clothes. The space is limited but if used wisely, it’s very handy. I often use this section to keep my speedlight and audio recorder. Some filters and other odds and ends. It has a zippered compartment as well for some smaller items with a key ring to attach your keys. There are two mesh pockets to further organize the small space. There is a small zippered compartment on the front that supposedly holds a tablet. It’s not large enough for a laptop but it is padded. I usually keep small items. I poncho, a flashlight, etc... On the outside there are two mesh pockets on either side which hold small water bottles or other items. I often take some sandals in there. The back of the pack has mesh padding with vents for cooling which is comfortable but does get warm. I found my back does sweat quite a bit with this on but so do most packs I’ve used. As mentioned it has a belt strap which is just an unpadded strap but it works and holds it in place if you’re riding bike or when you’re flipping it over to access the camera contents. The waist strap is removable. It also has an adjustable chest strap which is also handy to keep the pack in place and is also removable. The hand grip at the top seems like a weak point but I haven’t had issues with it. It is solid. The AW in the name stands for all weather. There is a rain cover that is attached and stored in the bottom compartment. It covers the pack and I’ve tested this in some solid rain and it really works. As long as it’s in place properly. Sometimes it likes to slide off the top and the velcro doesn’t hold well around the shoulder straps but once in place it is great. Conclusion Overall the pack is comfortable to wear and use. It is small and that would be the only drawback but that’s also a strong point. It wears close to your back so maneuvering in large crowds is not an issue. I’ve used it on bike rides and it hugs my back and doesn’t shift at all. I really like this bag and highly recommend it.