2. Living with the Nature Trekker

Weight

The first thing you'll notice about a Trekker backpack is that it's heavy even when empty. Sturdy and strong, but definitely heavy! I don't think keeping the weight down was a big priority for Lowepro: even the name tag is massive. You can remove unneeded pads, elastic bands and clips, trim excess strap lengths (seal the cut ends with heat), but it's still heavy. That tough nylon casing, the foam padding, straps everywhere, numerous zippers: they all add weight. But it manages a full load quite well, remaining comfortable mile after mile -- even with added items outside the pack such as a tripod and water bottle.

	Nature Trekker Loaded for a Trip

Capacity

On the right you see Roy Sewall's Nature Trekker AW backpack loaded up with his main Nikon rig for a typical shoot.

Like many photographers, I own a variety of photo gear for various purposes -- but far too much to fit in a backpack. And besides, I would never need everything on any single outing. On most photography trips (even local), I have to trade off between bringing various equipment I might need and leaving gear at home to save space and weight. The Nature Trekker forces me to choose carefully and pack light, yet it can usually carry enough gear to get the job done. Typically I load one 35mm body (the height of a pro body plus tripod plate can be a tight fit), up to four compact lenses, one flash and bouncer, film, wired shutter release, a filter or two, GPS, cell phone, mini flashlight -- oops, it's full! For hiking, a lightweight tripod goes on one side, water bottle on the other, and clothing and lunch bag strapped to the back.

Adjustments

With its photo backpacks, Lowepro provides an abundance of external straps and clips, loops, tie-points, D-rings, and quick-release elastic bands. They've thought of everything -- but you don't need everything. Although you have plenty of flexibility to configure the pack for a given mission, I recommend you remove any detachable stuff you don't need. The same applies to the inside foam-padded, Velcro-attached dividers: take out the ones you don't need and store them. I often reconfigure inside and outside before a big trip. Lowepro's quick-release elastic strings are innovative but too stretchy and fussy for my needs; I use wide elastic straps with Velcro closures (available at home improvement stores). Even the tripod foot cup comes off easily for airline travel or when a big tripod is hand carried. Lowepro offers a line of accessories to fit the backpacks, which I haven't used. But it's easy enough to attach your own items to the exterior as needed.

Fit and Comfort

I've often said that Lowepro should offer an instruction video. Sure, it's just a backpack, but it would be nice to see a few dozen examples for how to load various gear inside it. And although I've been a backpacker for 30 years, I've never had any pack that offered so many harness adjustments. That's nice if you have the time and knowledge to adjust it properly. But if you find this pack uncomfortable, perhaps you need to get some help with all of those straps. This isn't the sort of thing most camera store employees know about. An expedition outfitter -- someone that sells lots of serious backpacks -- should have the expertise, if they're willing to help you.

Protection

The heavy padding does a great job of protecting content from shock. Of course, if you load more than one item into a single internal compartment, make sure they won't get damaged by rubbing or bouncing against each other. I use a soft leather lens case if I'll be loading multiple items (like teleconverters) into one compartment.

The padding and tight seal of the flaps also offers protection from heat and cold. I have noticed that after a long hike in hot sunshine, film inside the main compartment is still relatively cool. Venturing out into the cold for a short while doesn't seem to chill the contents: back in warmth, the lenses don't fog up. Both Roy and I have noticed that the outside of this pack seems to stay clean, somehow shedding the dirt from each place it's put down.

Rain Cover

The ingenious rain cover makes this pack an All-Weather (AW) model. It is quite successful at keeping heavy precipitation out of the pack and away from your equipment. Normally hidden in the bottom of the pack, it adds cushion to the spot where you set the pack down, and keeps ground moisture from soaking up into the foam. In a light rain, I don't even both with the cover, as a small amount of water seems to shed rather than entering through the flap-covered zippers. But in a downpour, you're covered -- or at least the Nature Trekker AW is.

The cover is also good for shedding dust, and its light gray color can bounce the hot sun off the flat black sunshine-absorbing cloth of the pack (though I find this inconvenient and, so far, unnecessary). It's plenty big to cover add-on items outside the pack such as a tripod, clothing, and strap-on pouches.

Finally, you can reverse the rain cover and spread it out as a ground cloth in case you need to put your pack down in the mud. You may have to roll up some mud in the rain cover when you move on, but that's better than getting mud into the straps and mesh. Just wipe it down and dry it when you're back in civilization.

Putting the cover away can be a chore. First you loosen the draw string completely, spread out the cover, shake any water off (why carry more weight?), fold and roll it. Then fight the Velcro seal on the bottom compartment of the pack where the cover gets stowed. This is more difficult than it should be, in my opinion, because the slot is so taught and the Velcro so aggressive. The operation is easier if you first shove against the bottom of the pack, pushing the interior foam and contents to create a void.

Zippers

The Trekker (Series I) plastic zippers are infamous: stiff and jerky, and the protective overflaps obstruct the runners (see PHOTO here). I'm very careful to line up the lid before zipping, but somehow I once popped the main zipper (fortunately, it's self repairing). On the bright side, no pickpocket can unzip the lid without your knowledge (and even a razor might have trouble slicing through the layers of Cordura and padding). Note: the revised Trekker II series has excellent new zippers, and the protective flaps are gone.

Size Issue

I like the size of the Nature Trekker AW, except for two things: First, it doesn't hold enough for a more comprehensive photo trip (the Photo Trekker is my choice for that). But that's okay because it can't get TOO heavy either. Second, it's too short for my torso, and I'm average build. If I let the weight rest on my hips (as intended), the top of the pack is well below my shoulders. The shoulder harness must be extended so far out that the pack pulls away from my back. Though it still feels comfortable, this really is a misfit and makes the pack awkward in tight places or in a crowd. I don't know any way this could be fixed, but for anyone near 6 feet or taller I recommend the longer Photo Trekker which address the size issue perfectly (and still qualifies as airline carry-aboard luggage).