Review: Lowepro Dryzone Rover camera backpack
RVing often involves on-foot exploration accompanied by excessive photo-snapping. While the two go together effortlessly with compact digital cameras, the same can't be said for somewhat bulkier DSLRs that tend to demand their own, equally bulky, carry cThe Lowepro Dryzone Rover ($309-319 from Australian online stores) is a half-normal, half-amphibious daypack designed specifically for such a purpose. The top section is a regular, water-resistant canvas - a one-pocket cavity big enough for a rolled-up Gore-Tex jacket and a bunch of other oddments. A built-in mesh pocket can accommodate a small hydration-pack bladder - there's an opening at the top for the hose, as well as a clip on the right shoulder strap to keep it in place for ready sipping while you're wandering. There are also a couple of small, zip-up mesh pockets on the outside.
The bag's bottom section is its reason for being: a totally waterproof, buoyant compartment, about equal in size to the top section, but fitted with a compartmentalised, camera-specific insert. There's even a special zip-up pouch that fits in one compartment of the insert, to hold, for example, batteries, body cap, timer remote, USB cable and air blower. Memory cards can be kept in special pouches on the inside of the insert's lid, while up to three lenses (or two and a speedlight), and one body with a lens attached, will fit between the movable dividers.
The insert zips up separately from the bottom section of the bag, which is equipped with an extremely heavy-duty, water-tight zipper, which at times can be irritatingly stiff to operate. Nonetheless, it keeps thousands of dollars of gear safe and dry and there's nothing irritating about that!
The Dryzone Rover sports a comfy harness with an adjustable sternum strap, and cut-outs in the waistbelt hip pads to prevent hot-spots developing.
If you can weather the price, this is a top solution to a tricky problem.
For more information, visit www.lowepro.com
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