Lowepro Powder Backpack 500 AW (Midnight and Horizon blue)

The gray and orange Powder Backpack 500 AW from Lowepro is designed to serve the combined interests of the adventure photographer and winter sports enthusiast. Along the front and sides of this backpack, multiple heavy-duty compression straps allow skis, a snowboard, or other outdoor mountain equipment such as hiking poles to be conveniently harnessed and carried. Inside, the spacious main compartment has a partition system that forms an optional bottom section to accommodate an included camera equipment pouch. When the partition system is enabled, the space created above the equipment pouch can be dedicated to a variety of items such as batteries, memory cards, or packable clothing that need to be reached quickly and conveniently through the backpack’s top opening.

Access to the camera equipment pouch while using the partition system is provided by a rear-facing zippered panel with a 180° downward opening. The equipment pouch and its nine padded, touch-tab dividers can hold a two-DSLR camera kit with a 16-35mm, a 24-70mm, and a 70-200mm lens, or a mirrorless camera kit with three to five lenses. Alternatively, two existing lenses can be exchanged from the equipment pouch to comfortably store a 300mm f/2.8 lens. When placing the equipment pouch itself within the backpack, four toggle buttons allow it to become a securely mounted compartment. The equipment pouch is then prevented from shifting, and can be made to have its own zippered opening align with the backpack’s rear-facing zippered panel for seamless accessibility to the cameras and lenses inside.

Separated from the main compartment by a water-resistant barrier, a zippered front pocket with a bottom drain hole allows wet outdoors equipment such as a collapsible snow shovel to dry even when carried inside the Powder Backpack 500 AW. Integrated within the main compartment and behind the front pocket is a dedicated sleeve that accommodates a 15″ laptop within a separately available, protective case. The laptop can be reached through the backpack’s top opening, while the front pocket includes a secondary pocket along its inner wall which can be used to hold a snow probe or other smaller collapsible items. When opened, the front pocket’s outer flap also reveals a zippered organizational pocket for extra storage capacity.

Under the compression straps, essential carrying features are also built into both sides of the Powder Backpack 500 AW. A zippered hydration pack pocket above an open side pocket contains an exit for a sip tube along the right of the wearer, while a pocket opposite the open side pocket unzips to reveal a fold-out cup to support the base of a tripod or monopod strapped along the left side of the backpack.

During storage or transport, the top opening is closed using a drawstring and is capped by a top lid that buckles into four adjustable straps along the backpack’s front and rear panels for a secure fit. The top lid features a zippered pocket that faces the back of the wearer, which allows its contents to be reached without having to remove the Powder Backpack 500 AW. Similarly, zippered pockets along both sides of the backpack’s waist belt provide secure on-the-go storage, while a zippered slash pocket along the bottom of the front panel can hold photo accessories that are intended for use whenever the Powder Backpack 500 AW is set down.

The Powder Backpack 500 AW can be lifted via its built-in haul handle, and carried by its adjustable, padded shoulder straps. For heavy loads, this backpack’s waist belt transfers weight to the hips for additional comfort, while the sternum strap further limits unintentional shifting around the wearer. Featuring durable nylon construction, the Powder Backpack 500 AW is built to be weather resistant, and includes a seam-sealed cover for use under heavy rain.