There is no such thing as the perfect photo backpack. But the LowePro Primus AW comes pretty close. With fully padded compartments, heavy duty straps, a side-entry camera door, and plenty of room for lenses and other accessories, this is a DSLR-camera backpack made for traveling and hiking.

The Good

There are a lot of good things to say about the Primus AW. I’ve taken the pack on several hikes and two separate 10+ day trips, and it has held up and performed very well. Here are some of the highlights.

Fit and Feel - The Primus AW just feels right on my back. With its rigid, padded structure and thick, wide straps, the pack does not deform or collapse or start to lean to the side. Gear does not shift or cause balance issues, even when hiking over rough terrain and jumping over rocks and logs. The pack always feels secure.

Excellent Harness System - The shoulder straps are thick and padded and don’t dig in uncomfortably around my neck or shoulders. And the waist belt/strap works wonderfully for transferring the weight of the pack away from the spine to the hips.

Worth Its Weight - Loaded up with DSLR-camera, extra lenses, accessories, tripod and water (certainly 25+ pounds) it hardly feels like I’m carrying anything at all. The stiff internal structure and top-of-the-line strap system mean I can carry a lot of stuff without feeling bogged down.

Camera Access - Most of the time I can get the camera out without having to take the pack off. The side access door is perfect for mid-sized DSLRs. Just reach back, unzip the door and the camera is out. And for changing lenses or swapping memory cards, it’s easy to drop the pack off one shoulder and open the lower compartment.

Tripod Attachment - With the adjustable “glide lock” attachment and bottom loop, a variety of tripods can come along for the ride. Compact, travel tripods fit fine, and I’ve carried a larger Manfrotto tripod through forests, deserts and airports without ever worrying about it falling off.

Gear Security - The two main compartments open towards the back of the pack (in the direction of the straps), so no one can open the compartments while the pack is being worn. This is a very nice touch, as the extra security is good news when traveling in areas where pickpocketing and street theft are common.

The Bad

Aside from a couple nitpicks and minor inconveniences, there isn’t much “bad” to talk about. But I’ll list the few areas for improvement for the sake of completeness. (maybe LowePro will make some tweaks to future batches)

Exterior Front Compartment - The placement and logistics of the exterior front compartment could be better. With the rigid padding of the camera compartment just below, the outside compartment is not as useful as it could be. It’s still possible to fit a hydration reservoir or light jacket in the outside pocket, but it feels like a shoehorn job.

Let It Breathe - Why do companies insist on using this mesh fabric on the back of shoulder packs? (my CamelBak backpack and laptop bag have this fabric too) Presumably the mesh allows the pack to breathe, but in reality the webbed fabric just traps air and makes my back sweat. There has to be a better option.

Interior Organization - Maybe this is just me, but it would be nice if the internal zipper pouches were divided in half. This would allow better organization and easier access to lens caps, memory cards, batteries, etc.

High Price - The list price for the Primus AW is quite high. Obscenely high maybe. And no one should ever pay that much for a backpack. But the good news is that you can find the backpack for a much more reasonable price on Amazon or Ebay.

The Photos

(front; this shot gives you an idea of the size of the pack; it's big, but comfortable)

(top; compartment opens towards your back, which is a nice security feature)

(lower compartment; with D90, 18-200, lens hood, extra lenses and accessories)

(camera side access; the zipper is secured and tucked away; another security plus)

(camera side access door; plenty big for a DX-size camera)

(top compartment; the zipper pocket on the flap should be divided into smaller pockets)

(back; check out the padded shoulder straps and belt)

(mesh water bottle pocket; fits a Nalgene or Sigg bottle)

The Recommendation

If you’re in the market for a new photo backpack and need to carry a DSLR-camera, a couple lenses, a tripod, water, snacks and maybe a light jacket, then this is it. The LowePro Primus AW is a topnotch choice for your travels, hikes, treks and adventures. I give the Primus AW 4.5 stars out of five.

Feb 2012 Review Update - Last fall, I took this backpack on a six week trip through Europe. The pack held up very well, whether I was hiking a mountain trail or riding the subway. The rear-entry camera compartment meant that I didn't have to worry about pickpockets too much. The only downside (as I mentioned above) is the mesh fabric on the back of the pack. It was ridiculously hot in Spain and Morocco, and my back got really sweaty under the pack. But I'm not sure if there is any way around this.