Lowepro Roller x100 AW Photo Roller Case Review

Features
Handling & Performance
Verdict
Specification


The Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW is a new addition to Lowepro's award winning roller bag collection. Designed to be airline carry on compatible, it's designed to carry lots of kit whilst being easy to use and offering superior protection to your kit. The x100 AW is the smallest of 3 bags in the new Pro Roller range, and can fit 1-2 Pro DSLR bodies, 4-6 lenses up to 40mm in length, up to a 15 inch laptop and personal accessories. Find out how it performs here.

Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Features

The Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW is a multifunctional airline carry-on compatible case that is designed to give maximum protection for your kit whilst still being able to fit lots of gear in. The main compartment also zips free of the hardshell wheeling case, turning it into a rucksack for additional versatility.

Key Features

• Airline carry-on compatible
• MaxFit System to maximise ease of use and space while still keeping kit secure
• Vibration absorbing wheels
• Unzips from hard shell to turn into a rucksack
• Dual button extending trolley handle
• Built in all weather cover
• TSA approved lock for zips built in to side of case
• Removable tripod straps

Lowepro Pro Roller BackThe Pro Roller x100 AW is a well equipped roller case/rucksack with lots of features. On the front of the bag is a two-zipped pocket with internal zipped plastic mesh pocket and stationery pockets, ideal for your passport and other small travel essentials. Behind this you'll find a large laptop slip pocket that will fit a laptop of up to 15 inches.

The back of the bag features a patented built in all weather cover pocket which as well as stowing the rain cover also gives access to a pocket with a clear front panel, ideal for your address or contact details. There is a scuff guard around the wheels and along the bottom of the bag at the back.

The left side of the bag (when looking at it from the front) features two adjustable tripod straps, which can be completely removed when not needed. The right side features the TSA approved built in lock, which the zips of the main pocket can clip into, keeping your equipment secure. You can set a three number pin code on the dials.


On top of the case there is chunky padded carry handle and the extending dual button trolley handle, which can be stowed away underneath a zipped flap.

Inside the main compartment there are four different sized plastic mesh zipping pockets on the inside of the lid, ideal for a wide range of small slim photographic and personal accessories. The camera compartment itself is very versatile, with 9 slim MaxFit system dividers, two longer padded dividers for longer lenses and three padded soft dividers, enabling you to rearrange the interior of the bag to fit your equipment perfectly. The bag can fit up to 2 pro DSLR bodies, and up to 6 lenses. Thanks to grooves in the bottom of the case, it is capable of carrying up to 400mm lenses without issue.


This case is unique as far as I am aware, in that the main compartment can be unzipped from the case outer shell, turning it into a rucksack with two lightly padded straps, and leaving the shell with a lightweight flap front, allowing you to use it as a normal roller case if you wish.

Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Handling & Performance

We took the bag outside of ePz towers to test its rolling ability - it is remarkably smooth, even when loaded with heavy gear. The trolley handle expands to a good height, so even those that are quite tall can roll it comfortably without stooping. It's easy to deploy and retract the handle, too.



We managed to fit plenty of gear in the bag, including a chunky DSLR, a couple of mirrorless bodies, and a variety of mirrorless and DSLR lenses. The bag is ideal for travelling with either one camera and lots of lenses or a main camera and a couple of back-up cameras, with space to spare. The Maxi-Fit dividers are easy to deploy and mould around your lenses, enabling you to achieve a really secure fit.

The bag is well protected on the outside too, with extra protection on all four of the bottom corners, minimising the chances of scuffing damaging the fabric. The bag has an outer covering of ballistic nylon, which offers high impact protection.

We were a little vexed as to how having the main compartment as a pull-out rucksack would benefit the photographer because the straps on the rucksack aren't particularly well padded, and the bulky square shape could make it quite awkward in cramped situations. The built in grooves on the back do however provide good ventilation.

On doing some research, we found that the rucksack option is designed to be a failsafe in case by any chance you are on a full flight which will no longer let roll cases on, in which case you could take your kit on using the backpack and not have to worry about it being put in the hold. Lowepro says it's not meant to be designed as an everyday backpack.



Having a built in lock on the side of the case is a great idea - keeping your expensive camera kit really secure.

Value For Money

The Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW has an SRP of £316, which is roughly in line with the competitors pricing, but it is the only roller that can convert into a rucksack.

Bags of a similar capacity include the Think Tank Airport International V2.0, which is available for £389 on Amazon, which also has a security cable allowing you to lock the bag to immovable objects, and the Tamrac Big Wheels Speedroller, which is available for £256.13 from Amazon but doesn't feature a built-in lock or rain cover.

Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Verdict

Overall, the Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW is a sturdy, well made bag that will definitely keep your equipment safe when travelling. It's quite heavy, weighing almost 4 kilos before you put any kit in, meaning you may have to be careful with airline weight restrictions.

Despite this though, it features the added peace of mind of a built-in lock system for the main compartment and has the added benefit of turning into a rucksack as a last ditch resort, which is quite a unique feature.

If you travel lots by air, and want something that will hold all your professional kit with no problems, then this bag is a great choice. It rolls smoothly and the handle extends to a good height, making it a breeze to wheel along. We are happy to recommend the bag.

	The Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW is a sturdy, easy to roll bag with excellent security features.

Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Pros

Built in lock
Carries lots of kit
Airline carry on friendly
Sturdy, well padded dividers

Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Cons

Heavy
Rucksack feature is quite pointless

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW Specifications

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