For a long while now I have been thinking my backpack is way too heavy, I take so much gear and the older i get the more I am starting to feel it so a conscious effort was made to lighten my pack and I started to think, I would happily go out with just the drone rather than all my camera and vlogging gear.
DJI supply a backpack with the Flymore combo that I got for my Mavic 3 Classic but to be fair, its not great !
It really lacks protection and I wasn't overly happy to use it so I started looking for alternatives, Enter the Lowepro DrobeGaurd BP 250 !
Now, everything I review on this site is generally paid for with my own hard earned cash and the reviews I give it are factual and not inflated for appease a manufacturer but in the spirit of honesty this bag was actually given to me by Lowepro on the basis I would review it but under my insistence that it would be a "warts & all review", the good, the bad and the ugly would be spilled, they were happy for that to happen so here we go !
Why The Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250 ?
I wanted a bag that offers protection for my drone, after all the Mavic 3 was expensive and I had a useable bag but it simply didn't offer the protection I was looking for.
I also wanted a little more storage room so I was able to take a drink, some waterproofs just in case it rained and a few bits & bobs plus the usual spare batteries etc.
I had seen rigid packs but they were a bit too heavy for my liking and as I was trying to reduce the carry load it didn't seem to be a good idea, despite the obvious top level of protection.
I had seen soft backpacks too with padding but they were a bit too soft for my liking, what I needed was something in between.
I found the Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250, This pack had the makings of a regular backpack but with the added benefit of a pre formed outer that wasn't rigid, but it was firm and could withstand a decent whack which seemed like the perfect solution, Lowepro call this technology, FormShell™.
This enables the pack to keep the weight down, but still offer a very high level of protection which I was super happy with.
It also had a laptop compartment in it which I knew I wouldn't use, but it was the perfect place to store my folded waterproofs instead so I went for it.
First Impressions
When it arrived it was exactly what you would expect from Lowepro, a quality, well made product that had obviously been well thought out and that looked decent right out of the box.
There was lots of space inside and as with most Lowepro Camera bags it was completely configureable to my own liking and set up.
There was opportunity to have it exactly as I wanted it and change it to suit either my DJI Air 2S or the DJI Mavic 3 Classic.
The bag is listed as being suitable for the DJI Mavic Pro, which is a bit old now and smaller than my Classic 3, but similar size to the Air 2s so thats where I started.
The Looks
We all say we don't care about looks, but we do right ? No one wants a product that looks rubbish, fortunately the Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250 really does look decent, and dare I say it not so much like a camera bag, more an urban explorer and if it didnt have the Lowepro name on it then you probably wouldn't know what was inside.
The neutral colours used of black and grey camo suit me perfectly as I prefer to go unnoticed where I can.
How Much Can You Fit In It ?
I initially had the DJI Air 2S, Controller unit, 3 spare batteries, spare propellers, charging leads, car charger in the main compartment along with a Osmo Pocket 3 and still had space.
The compartments inside the lid is removeablewhich is very handy for small items and has some nice zip pockets which were perfect for my ND filters, polariser and spare memory cards etc...as well as a few loops for cables, props etc...
This left the laptop compartment free for a waterproof jacket & trousers with room for more.
The top compartment was completely free for drinks, snacks and a beanie hat in case it got cold and again, still some spare room so I was pretty happy that I had everything I needed for a decent drone trip.
The main internal compartment size is 26 x 11 x 24 cm, while the bag outer measures 29 x 17 x 47 cm and weighs in at 1.34 kg.
If you prefer to fly your drone with a tablet then youre in luck as there is a specific compartment in the Lowepro Droneguard BP 250 just for that, in addition to the laptop compartment.
Is It Comfortable ?
As I said, the older I get the more I look for comfort and ease of use in a product.
The Lowepro DroneGuard BP250 was always going to be decent coming from Lowepro's years of experience with backpacks and this was no exception.
Fully adjustable shoulder straps that are generously padded and nicely formed to sit well over the shoulders and keep the bulk of the bag on the small of your back gave a comfortable feel to it all.
The inclusion of a chest strap was nice for added support although possibly a little overkill.
Outer Features
There are more loops & pockets than you care to imagine on the Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250, it seems everywhere you look theres a strap just waiting to have items added.
On the back for example several loops will allow you to add walking poles or similar.
Two generous side pockets will allow you to carry a water bottle or a small tripod if you wished too.
and straps on the shoulder straps for.....well, I don't really know what but handy to add a carabiner too if you needed it.
There is also a generous phone pocket which will take a large iPhone Pro Max sized phone although I prefer to keep mine handy in my trouser pocket so this was instead used for some sunglasses to give me better screen vision on bright days.
A decent grab handle is fitted to the top for quick moving of the bag as well which felt very secure even when fully loaded.
The Price
The RRP of the Lowepro Droneguard BP 250 is £193.95 at the time of writing but if you look around you can usually get a substantial discount on that price from various retailers.
To be fair you do get a lot for your money with this bag and its a small price to pay for thousands of pounds worth of gear to be well protected as well as comfortable to carry.
How Does It Perform ?
Having used this bag now for three months I can honestly say I have been delighted with it, it serves the purpose perfectly for which I needed it too.
Lightweight, protection and full of useful compartments that carry all my gear and then some.
I have even been caught out in a shower while out and despite the bag making no claims to be waterproof, it didn't let in a drop and the shower lasted for a good 20 minutes before I could get back to the car, Impressive.
I have squeezed through my fair share of gaps while wearing it and the hard wearing outer has sustained zero damage or scuffs and kept the drone protected at all times, I have even slipped down a hill onto my back and thought I was bound to have damaged something but to my delight it has all been perfectly safe, even the spare props which can break if you look at them the wrong way.
Its a comfortable bag to wear even over long hikes as long as you don't fill it to crazy levels and I haven't encountered any shoulder ache or back pain when using it at all.
its a well thought out bag that gives you exactly what you need to be out all day and a few features you didn't know you needed but love having them.
The construction of the bag is very well made and I have complete confidence in it.
What I really Liked ?
The level of protection is my favourite thing about the Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250, it really is second to none and offers a really good level of protection without increasing the weight thanks to the FormShell™ outer.
The unlimited configuration options excites the geek in me and I have tried many different variations to try and give myself the best use of space and protection thanks to the velcro dividers which work really well, plus it allows me to tailor it for the drone I choose to take out on the day.
The build quality of course is exactly what you would expect from Lowepro, tough outer, soft inner and well thought out, I cant fault it.
The Storage takes some beating too with so many pockets, loops and compartments, in fact too many for me to use but its nice to have so many options but I can find myself adding things that I probably don't need to take, simply because I can.
What I didn't like ?
This, to be fair is more my fault than the bags, but its a little small for the Mavic 3 Classic and all the bits that go with it, you can fit it in but you are taking out most of the dividers in order to do so.
Now Lowepro say it fits the Mavic Pro which I know is smaller than the Classic 3 so as I said, this is my fault BUT I would like to think as the drone range has grown that the bags would keep up with it so its a small gripe but I feel a valid one as Prosumer drones are now so readily available.
If you have the Air 2S size drones it will all work perfectly, and if you have the Mavic Mini series then its going to be awesome ! You will have space to spare and unlimited configuration options but if you use the Mavic 3 range then this bag might not be totally suited to you and its probably worth looking at Lowepro's other offerings.
While the colour option suited me personally it would be nice if there was a bit more choice for people who like a bit more colour on their bag.
Am I Keeping It ?
Yes the bag is now part of my arsenal and I am enjoying having a dedicated set up thats ready to go at a moments notice, just grab it and I'm away ready to fly with everything I need in one bag, rather than getting everything out of my main camera bag to load into another pack.
It saves me time, keeps my gear available and ready to go and of course well protected.
I absolutely recommend the Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250.
Scores
Build Quality 9/10
Features 10/10
Protection 8/10
Value For Money 7/10
Comfort 8/10
TOTALS 42/50 84%
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