Lowepro’s 75% recycled PhotoSport AW III backpack pushes towards sustainability

After Gitzo’s Légende recently kicked off with a bag made from 65% recycled materials, it wasn’t much of a surprise that other Vitec-owned brands might be following suit. And it seems that they now have, with Lowepro reporting that their new lightweight and water-resistant PhotoSport AW III adventure photography backpack is made from 75% recycled fabrics.

It’s the third generation of this popular backpack from Lowepro and is their first step towards sustainable products with a new “green line” label which shows what percentage of the product is made from recycled material. The PhotoSport III will initially be available in two sizes with 15-litre and 24-litre capacities. Larger 55-litre and 70-litre capacity versions are expected to follow in autumn.

As a Lowepro AW backpack, it’s designed for use in all weathers and comes with an included rain cover for more severe conditions. That cover, too, is now made completely from recycled material. The PhotoSport AW III features the same ActivZone padding tech on the back as found on the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II. And even though it’s not a fully adjustable back support system like a real hiking backpack, it is very comfortable to carry for longer walks.

For now, the Lowepro PhotoSport AWIII is launching in 15-litre and 24-litre capacities, in either black with blue details or grey with black details. At some point during autumn, two larger 55-litre and 70-litre capacity versions will become available. Lowepro hasn’t specified the colours for the larger versions, but I expect they’ll be available in at least the same black/blue and grey/black options.

Inside each back is a module for holding your camera gear safely in the bottom half, accessible through an access panel in the side of the bag. The module is removable, however, letting you carry it separately in a number of ways through the use of various straps (which can also be used for holding your camera when not in use) to free up the entire space inside the bag for your regular hiking or camping gear.

On the outside, it appears very much like a typical hiking backpack, with a bunch of pockets darted about the place for small items you want to keep handy, like maps, your ID, etc., straps for hiking poles, a pouch and straps for a tripod, and the main compartment has zipped sockets in the back with a key tether and a pouch for a hydration pack (2 litres on the 15-litre bag and 3 litres on the 24-litre bag).

As far as camera gear, the 15-litre model is designed for taking a small compact mirrorless camera, like the Sony A6000 series or Panasonic’s GX line along with a couple of smaller lenses in its modular insert. The 24-litre model is more for full-frame and larger-bodied mirrorless cameras and DSLRs that don’t have a built-in grip – So, probably not the upcoming Canon EOS R3.

The Lowepro PhotoSport BP 15L AW III is available to pre-order now for $179.99 in black & blue or grey & black. The Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III is also available to pre-order now for $229.99 in the same black & blue or grey & black options. Both are expected to start shipping fairly soon.

There are no prices yet for the upcoming 55-litre and 70-litre versions. They are expected to be announced in autumn.