My Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II has experienced failure of the main zipper with serious consequences. (The coils on the lower half are coming apart, probably from a broken chain stitch.) The zipper on the Lowepro backpack is undersized for the purpose compared to the sturdy zippers used on my similar Tamrac backpacks.
The same bag is now about $250, and was not used all that much, so I don't really want to throw it out. Has anyone had the main zipper replaced by Lowepro? I would like to know how long it takes, what it cost, and whether it was as good as new. I suppose I could have a luggage shop do the repair with a generic, larger zipper, but it would not have the OEM water resistance. Opinions?
A similar problem happened on my Computrekker AW. The computer compartment zipper started to fail after about two years: the plastic part of the zipper in the middle started to separate from the rest of the zipper, so that even when I would close it it would open itself.
My bag was brought to a photo store in France, and they offered to fix it at no cost except for the shipping. So the cost for the fix was less than 30 or 40 euros. Given your bag is in good shape, you should definetely call Lowepro and see what they have to say.
Lowe has gone out of the way to help me with repairs, different straps, even trying to adapt a photo gear insert to one of their regular backpacks...give them a call.
dnadal wrote:
Lowe has gone out of the way to help me with repairs, different straps, even trying to adapt a photo gear insert to one of their regular backpacks...give them a call.
Agreed, just give them a call and then make a decision.
MSC wrote:
+1. Think Tank fan-boy-ism is really hard to take anymore...barf.
we are in agreement there. where i use some of their items and have some great ideas but i find others far from my point of view as usable and seen to fall into a pattern of the too similiar to catagory.
Tom Nevesely wrote:
I guess the Think Tank products must be magic because it's just IMPOSSIBLE for them to break.
I DO understand that this statement was made under the influence of sarcasm, yet I would like to point out that I already managed to prove that statement wrong, as my Think Tank Airport Antidote belt strap did learn the hard way.
On a more serious note, I just realize that the only two pieces of photo equipment I needed to get fixed were LowePro and ThinkTank bags (I guess that also means my bags take all the bounces, and protect what is inside them really well), and that both compagnies did provide me an equally wonderful customer service, doing things to help me, that I was not even expecting.
My experience with Lowepro stuff is that it is not well-made and they cut lots of corners to meet a price. I prefer the far more robust Think Tank gear, and have sold off all the Lowepro stuff I owned.
This is the kind of fanboy stuff that is just stupid. Which means not having the ability or desire to objectively review a product. I'm sitting here right now with a LowePro Toploader 65 AW and a TT Holter bag. In every way, the LowePro is a better product hands down. The nylon is thicker, the stiches are done with a heavier thread, the metal loops where the shoulder straps attaches is thicker, the zippers are identical, the padding on the LowePro is def thicker and would protect better, the shoulder strap is wider and the nylon thicker, the pad is more heavy duty, the clips are heavier, etc.
Now, you may not like these attributes. Maybe the thinner material of the TT is more to your liking, fine, whatever...that is an opinion that is certainly valid. I have preferences too, and they tend to be toward the product that protects better, which is LowePro. In most cases, not all, which is why I have some Kenesis and some TT products too...because there are times when a lighter, less bulky product is called for. But to say that the LowePro stuff is not well made is a fanboy statement and not based in reality.
Penn Camera in DC here sells both lines in the stores. You can go look at the products side by side as I am doing now. NO objective person can say the TT is better made than LowePro.
I also had an Airport Security. I had it when I owned a LowePro AW Road Runner. I did this based on the rave reviews I heard here on FM. No way on god's green earth was the TT roller better or even the same as the LowePro roller. It had thinner sides, worse zippers, cheaper wheels, and a floppy handle compared to the LowePro roller I have. I returned the TT product.
Sorry, but I'm not buying the fanboy stuff going goo-goo and gaa-gaa over TT, it does not wash. 'So there.' ...as my youngest likes to say. Or as my wife might say..."feel better now?'
You go, Shane! here's the deal. I have Kata, Lowepro, Tenba, and Think Tank bags
and cases. Each one is the best at what it does. When all my stuff comes out of the
1660 Pelican to play it goes in it's assigned bag. There is NO best brand, otherwise all
the others would fold and we'd have no choices. The right tool for the job, kids.
trenchmonkey wrote:
You go, Shane! here's the deal. I have Kata, Lowepro, Tenba, and Think Tank bags
and cases. Each one is the best at what it does. When all my stuff comes out of the
1660 Pelican to play it goes in it's assigned bag. There is NO best brand, otherwise all
the others would fold and we'd have no choices. The right tool for the job, kids.
Shoot, I was about ready to delete my little diatribe...but now I can't.
Oh well, you are right of course, whatever works for the situation. I really like my Kensis shoulder bag for a 1D body with 70-200 2.8 with hood in shooting position for walking around, but it is too thin for travel. I love my Billingham bags, but they are heavy and expensive...good and bad for all of them. Lord knows how many brands I have on the shelf...quite a few...and mostly just too much money on the darn things.
I've had my LowePro Nature Trekker for 4 years now and it's been on more than 400km of treks with me over that time...and I don't baby my gear or bags. Not a single time has the LowePro bag let me down. I've had it stuffed with gear ranging from medium format 6x7 system to my Canon digital outfits, many times stuffed to the point where it was hard to zipper up. Never has the zipper gave out or failed. When fully loaded, I still feel very comfortable with the Nature Trekker, even scrambling up steep slopes. The padding, large belt, adjustable straps makes using the Nature Trekker a joy. TT products might be great for certain types of photography, but if you want a comfortable and protective backpack, look no further than LowePro.
EB...I had a zipper fail on my Slingshot 300 after 8 months. Called them about it and they told me to send it in. They replaced the whole bag within a couple of days. That's great service from where I'm standing.
For what it's worth, I just had a Lowepro Fastpack 350 replaced (after just 2 months) -- logo stitching on the shoulder strap and zipper pulls were damaged. My point isn't to say one manufacturer is better than another, but that because of Lowepro's limited lifetime warranty you can make a strong case for replacement. My understanding is that Lowepro dealers should be pushing the issue for you -- and it need not be the dealer from whom you first purchased the bag, so take the bag around to different dealers until you get what you're looking for.
Thanks for the replies. I don't know any Lowepro dealers within a few thousand miles from here, so I would sent it it. Maybe I'll wait a few months.
I'm not currently interested in any more bags, having over a dozen already. I use the Lowepro because it fits the 500/4 along with other gear. Mainly I use the old Tamrac Extreme 787 or 777 bags when I carry smaller lenses like the 400/4 or 300/2.8.
(The coils on the lower half are coming apart, probably from a broken chain stitch.) The zipper on the Lowepro backpack is undersized for the purpose compared to the sturdy zippers used on my similar Tamrac backpacks.
Or as my wife might say..."feel better now?'