The unique design of the Lowepro SlingShot 300 AW (and it’s younger brothers the 200 and 100) provides you with quick access to your dslr without the need to remove the bag from your body. The 300 AW aims to solve the age old problem with traditional camera bags which is that in order to get your camera out you have to remove the bag, rest it on the ground, open it up, remove your camera then stand up and take your shot.
The Slingshot series of bags allow you to slide the bag around from off your back and in front of your body giving you access to a small zip pocket that allows you to remove your camera (with lens attached) without removing the bag from your body.
The 300AW is a nice size in that there is plenty of room for lots of gear while the great design means the external dimensions of 44cm x 32cm x 19cm are not overly large. In fact this bag surprised us by how much we were able to fit in it. The main compartment
This style of bag is perfect for all sorts of photographers ranging from photo journalists, sports photographers right down to keen amateurs. If you want a comfortable bag that gives you quick access to your camera gear then this may be the solution for you.
The quality of materials and workmanship is as you would expect from Lowepro, very good.
How we got on with the AW300
We loaded up out bag with a Canon Rebel XSi body with a Canon 70-200mm lens attached and it fitted perfectly. In addition using the configurable inserts we fitted in an external flash unit, and additional 4 lenses, a couple of lens hoods in the main compartment. There is also the top compartment that has plenty of room in it for drinks, snacks, guidebooks or extra accessories. There are is also two smaller accessory pouches designed to accommodate memory cards and batteries.
In our tests the 300 managed to hold all of the above gear no problems at all but of course it did way quite a bit as a result. The bag features one large padded shoulder strap that comes over your right shoulder. This kept the bag comfortable for a couple of hours at which point the weight began to cut in and my shoulder started to ache (to be fair this would probably have happened with other bags as we were carrying a huge amount of gear!).
To help spread the weight around there is also two waist straps, similar to those found on large outdoor type rucksacks. By using these straps tight and loosening off the main shoulder strap the weight was more evenly distributed and the comfort level undoubtedly increased.
One feature we really liked is the waterproof cover that is concealed nicely in a hidden compartment at the base of the bag. If you are stuck out in the rain simply pull it out and over the bag and you have a very water proof cover over the bag, which is itself water resistant. Basically, your gear is only going to get wet if you are stuck in a monsoon.
Summary of the Lowepro 300
In our view this is an ideal bag for day trips/shoots. Whether you are a professional out on a short assignment or a hobbiest taking your gear out while on holiday this is an ideal solution. The bag is plenty big enough to fit in a couple of bodies as well as extra lenses/flashes while still leaving room for a few non camera essentials.
The benefit of being able to access your camera easily without removing the bag are the biggest selling point of this bag.
Have a look on Amazon to find out the latest prices of this bag.
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