Living in New York City has its moments of madness, especially when you are a freelance photographer in the midst of the bustle.  I often take the subway as my mode of travel, which is usually an extreme sport in itself.  Herds of commuters are constantly pushing and pulling their way into and off the trains.  During rush hour, there’s rarely a seat to be found, and sometimes thieves and vagrants eye unguarded belongings.  Anyone who has traveled this way with a slew of expensive photo equipment knows that there is always a concern for the safety of the gear. 

I have tried many bags for transporting my gear, and have found that most of them are both bulky and awkward, or that I have to hold them in my lap for fear of someone rifling through my things while in a crowd.  The answer to my problems came in the form of the Lowepro Flipside 200, a fantastic compact and secure backpack that holds just the right amount of gear while on the go as well as assuring your gear is safe on your back.

I was really impressed with the amount of gear that the Flipside 200 could hold.  Without completely overloading it, I managed to fit in my Canon 5D body with a 70-300mm lens attached, an additional 24-70mm lens, my Sekonic light meter, a LensBaby 3G, macro attachments, two batteries, three CF cards, my instruction manual, and a charger.  Wow!  I especially enjoy the fact that the compartments and storage pockets inside are attached with Velcro, and can be rearranged or removed completely. 

There are outer storage panels that are great for holding memory cards, digital accessories, and personal items.  I utilized these panels for my batteries, CF cards, and charger.  They are outside the bag, so not as safe as inside, but still handy.  If you are concerned about keeping your cards or other accessories safer, you should be able to find a spot inside to store them.  There's also a mesh outer storage pocket for a water bottle when on the go.

The Flipside 200 has a unique back compartment entry, which allows for easy accessibility for camera gear along with an added measure of safety while on the move.  Most camera backpacks have an entry from the front, which can allow accessibility for others or make it awkward to reach your gear.  The Flipside 200 has two sturdy zippers that enclose your gear, and then once on your back, there's no access to the inside.  A great new feature, and Lowepro has really succeeded in my eyes.

Also, the bag is comfortable.  It's small and compact, which is great for travel, but also has cushy padding on the handles and back straps to soften the load and protect your gear.  The straps also have Lowepro's Sliplock™ accessory loops to expand carrying capacity.  The material of the bag is very strong, water resistant canvas, and comes in black, red, or blue. The back material is aerated, so when on the go you can enjoy moisture wicking and breathability.  The detachable waist belt and adjustable sternum strap really help to stabilize the pack.  There’s even a handy area for holding a small tripod or monopod on the front, such as my Manfrotto Modo.  It's eaily secured safely by the feet catch and a strong clip, which can also be stored when not in use.


Could it be the perfect bag?  I decided to test it out in the wilds of the city.

My mom came to visit me from the Oregon coast, where cows outnumber the people.  Needless to say, she’s not used to the hordes of people rushing about, along with the brisk New York attitude.  She wanted to see some of the city’s most popular sites, and so I decided to use it as an opportunity to try out the Flipside 200. 

Our first stop was Times Square, the epitome of tourist attractions in NYC.  It was a beautiful Saturday, so of course there were swarms of sightseers out along with the street peddlers and con artists.  We managed to squeeze our way through the streets, and the whole time I felt secure that my equipment was safe on my back.  When I stopped to swing the bag around and change lenses, it was a smooth and easy transition to unload and reposition on my back.  In other words, it was amazing.


We then moved on to Grand Central Station, another hot spot for heavy traffic in the city.  I managed to snap a shot of my mom among the streaming groups of travelers.  It was a breeze with my efficient and compact new Flipside 200.

Our journeys continued throughout the city, traveling to the Upper East Side, Union Square, and eventually back to Brooklyn, all on the trains.  Whether I was inside a crowded train or waiting on the platform, the Flipside 200 served me well.  I think I’ve finally found the perfect bag for my urban lifestyle and on-the-go photography! 



Specifications

Capacity:

1 DSLR with 80–200mm f/2.8 lens attached plus 1–3 additional lenses or flash units, 1 tripod, multiple cables, memory cards, manuals and other digital accessories

Size (Interior):

7W X 5D X 15H in./17.8 X 12.6 X 38 cm   

Size (Exterior):

8.6W X 6.2D X 16.5H in./21.8 X 15.7 X 42 cm