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Lowepro Fastpack IV Camera Backpack Guide

With a history spanning over 50 years, it's no surprise that a huge number of photographers have carried a Lowepro camera backpack at some point in their creative journey. One of the most popular ranges is the Fastpack series, the subject of this Lowepro Fastpack IV Camera Backpack Guide.

The fourth generation model brings a number of refinements that set it apart, not just from the mark III predecessor, but from many of the other photo bags currently on the market.

So if you're wondering whether this could be your next camera backpack, join us as we explore what's new, updated and refined, and find out if it deserves to be your everyday photo carry.

What is the Lowepro Fastpack Backpack series?

The Fastpack range is designed to be just that, offering fast access to your equipment so you never miss a moment. It's also a tried and tested backpack for travel, with storage divided between content creator gear such as a camera or drone, and everyday clothing and essentials needed when travelling through airports, cities or on longer adventures.

The new series is available in three sizes, which we look at next.

What Lowepro Fastpack IV sizes and capacities are available?

This generation comes in three sizes, compared in the table below.

It's not always easy to picture how much, or exactly what gear, will actually fit into a camera backpack. So to help you work out whether yours will, we've put together another table.

Next up we look at what’s new and which are the most notable features in this generation of photo backpack from Lowepro.

Explore Fastpack IV backpack key features

Interactive feature tour

Explore Fastpack IV

Select an orange marker or numbered button to discover six practical features of the Lowepro Fastpack IV camera backpack range.

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Instant access

Quick Side Camera Access

Retrieve your camera without opening the main compartment. The separate side-access camera compartment allows faster access while helping keep the rest of your equipment securely packed away.

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Compare the Fastpack IV Range

While each Fastpack IV backpack shares the same design and quick-access camera system, each model includes subtle differences to suit different loads, travel needs and requirements. The comparison below highlights features that distinguish the three size options.

What travel features does the range offer, aside from carry-on sizing?

Travel-friendly features

These bags are suitable for all sorts of travel, whether commuting, heading overseas or spending a full day shooting candid street portraits in a new city location. These travel tips will help you travel lighter, allowing you to be more agile.

• Pack heavier equipment closest to your back, such as by positioning larger lenses and camera bodies nearest the back panel to improve balance and reduce fatigue during long walks.
• Use the side-access compartment to quickly retrieve your camera without opening the main compartment or exposing the rest of your equipment.
• Keep travel essentials close together. The shared laptop and passport opening provides quicker access during security checks, reducing the need to search through multiple compartments (we've all done it!).
• Protect equipment in poor weather. The durable coated exterior fabrics resist light rain and everyday wear and tear, but the included AW rain cover provides the most durable protection when conditions become extremely poor.
• Secure your backpack while travelling by using the lockable zip pullers to deter casual access in busy airports, cities and on public transport.
• Attach the backpack to rolling luggage with the integrated luggage pass-through, which sits the pack securely on a suitcase handle, reducing carrying load.
• Balance external accessories on the BP 250 AW IV and BP 450 AW IV, which feature dual stretch side pockets for a tripod and water bottle for better weight distribution.

Comfort and Support

All three Fastpack IV backpacks share the same updated back panel and shoulder harness, but support increases as you move up in size. The BP 250 AW IV adds a stow-away waist strap for stability, while the BP 450 AW IV additionally adds a padded hideaway waist belt that shifts more weight onto your hips, making it better suited to larger loads and longer distances.

All three have slightly different comfort features, as shown below.

The BP 250 AW IV and BP 450 AW IV add a second grab handle at the base of the backpack, making it easier to lift into overhead lockers or pull from a car boot.

Updated materials

Generation IV improves areas of the backpack that are most susceptible to everyday wear. The front and base panels are now made from 100% recycled nylon with a protective carbonate coating, providing greater abrasion, dirt and light rain resistance, as well as being easier to clean.

Depending on the model, between 76% and 78% of the fabric is now recycled and solution dyed. Solution-dyed textiles need less water during manufacturing while retaining colour consistency and being durable. Lowepro measures the recycled material content using the GRI 301-2 standard, which allows you to make better comparisons across the range.

The result is a backpack design that uses more recycled materials than previous generations, while also being better equipped to withstand the demands of travel and location photography.

Quality of life Improvements

Lowepro has refined this camera bag with several minor updates that are easy to miss. Aside from the main opening now being full width and the addition of a collapsible Hi-Rise divider, the backpack is now self-standing, which is handy when you just want to set it down without it tipping over (a pet peeve of mine). There's a shared laptop and passport zip that we mentioned earlier, and side camera access is now separated from the main compartment.

These round off a comprehensive update to everything from functionality and security, to ease of access, comfort and travel-readiness, but which is best for you?

Which Lowepro Fastpack IV Should You Choose?

All three backpacks have quick side camera access, full-width rear opening, travel-friendly organisation and include weather-resistant materials and a rainfly. Choosing between them mostly comes down to how much equipment you want to carry.

The BP 150 AW IV is ideal for smaller kits, the daily commute and short trips where size and weight are primary concerns. The BP 250 AW IV is arguably the most versatile all-rounder, striking a balance between capacity, travel features and everyday usability. However, if you regularly carry more than one body, larger lenses or travel on longer trips, then the BP 450 AW IV has the most storage and includes additional comfort features.

Considering a ProTactic Backpack Instead?

Where the Fastpack IV range is primarily for photographers who carry camera equipment with everyday essentials, the Lowepro ProTactic series is well worth considering for transporting the maximum amount of camera gear.

ProTactic camera backpacks features a more rugged modular carrying system with extensive SlipLock™ attachment points (like MOLLE), multiple access positions and a more configurable interior. ProTactic bags are most popular with professional photographers, filmmakers and content creators who carry multiple camera bodies, larger telephoto lenses, lighting accessories or specialist equipment.

If you’re deciding between the two, explore the ProTactic BP 350 AW III and BP 450 AW III in more detail.

Browse Lowepro backpacks to compare the latest prices, specifications and choose the model that best matches your equipment and travel needs.

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By Nick Dautlich on 29/07/2026

Nick Dautlich

Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer

Nick Dautlich is the Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer at Park Cameras, with over 15 years of photography experience. A Sony Imaging Professional and expert reviewer, Nick has worked with major brands such as Canon, Sony and Nikon. His work is also featured on Vanguard World UK’s website, Capture Landscapes, and Shutter Evolve. Nick’s photography includes National Trust projects and magazine covers and he is passionate about landscapes and storytelling. Nick also enjoys hiking and teaching his children about nature. Learn more on his profile page.