LowePro Whistler 450 II
The Whistler 450 is kind of the flagship backpack from LowePro. There’s also a smaller version called 350. The main camera compartment opens in the front, so your gear is safe when you carry it on your back. The compartment is very deep. It fits a pro end DSLR, like the EOS 1D or the D6, perfectly. You could even stand up a 70-200 f/2.8 if you really wanted. You can fit two pro bodies and 7 lenses in it. Of course you can customize the space to accommodate pretty much everything between twelve lenses to about 8 DSLRs. The top compartment is also very large, but I combined the main and the top compartment, so I can insert the camera from the top compartment. Also from the top you can access the laptop compartment for laptops up to 15”. There’s also a really big expandable back compartment that is waterproof to the rest of the backpack. The backpack has also a few inside pockets. In the top door there’s a net with a zipper, just as in the top of the back compartment. In the “main door“ there are two slim pockets and the slots for cards in the size of CF cards. In the back it has two removable orange straps that make is indistinguishable from other backpacks. You can fasten a snowboard, sleeping bags or other bulky objects. On the sides you can also fasten a tripod or skies. On the left side there’s also a slim pocket on the outside and on the belly belt. On the right part of the belt there are slots to attach all kinds of accessories. The only two downsides are the rain cover that is fiddly to put on and the top handle is very small, but you don’t need it that often, because it can stand on its own, without leaning against anything.
Now after almost a year of use I really can’t imagine using any other backpack. It is very comfortable and its unusual color scheme makes it quite recognizable - the orange latches match my hat. Sometimes I look a bit ridiculous with it, because it double as thick as I am.
