Hi everybody,

I went to a bird sanctuary today and had my Photo Trekker loading with about 18kg of equipment. After about half an hour of walking, one of the shoulder straps gave way. Fortunately, the other strap was till intact and this prevented my stuff from free falling to the ground. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the stitching had given way.

Although I have had this bag for about three years now, it was used not more than 15 times. I normally switch between this bag and my Tamrac 777. This incident has caused me to become wary of Lowepro bags.

Anyone with similar experience?

-- Alan (afive@pacific.net.sg), April 03, 1999

Answers

From my perspective and experience LowePro bags seem well made. I would suggest you call, email, or write LowePro on this matter. I believe (and hope) LowePro will make good on this.

-- Geoffrey Grieble (ggrieble@gte.net), April 03, 1999.

Alan,

Alas, I feel your pain. I currently own two Lowepro bags (Photo Runner and Orion AW). While I feel Lowepro makes excellent bags, I have had an experience similar to yours. For me it was the hand strap on my Photo Runner. It actually broke within a month of buying it. I got it replaced at the store I bought it from, but the second bag also gave way in about 3 months (no excessive ware/abuse). The weakness was in the stitched connection to the bag as you described in your shoulder strap.

If I were you, I would try to write to Lowepro. Don't hold your breath, though. I wrote them twice with no reply.

Good Luck!

-- Tom Hammond (tom.hammond@m.cc.utah.edu), April 03, 1999.

Hi Alan,

sorry to hear of your bad experience. I have the Trekker as well and had it several times loaded as you did, but it is still intact. I even slided a few yards on it downhill when I stumbled over a root without any damage to the pack but to my arms.

I was wondering if you have received a lifetime warranty card with your purchase? I got one with my "Off-Trail" bag. They will repair whatever needs to be repaired. As Tom suggested, give them a call AND write them about the incident and ask if they are able to help you out.

Good luck....

-- Marcus Erne (mcerne@evansville.net), April 04, 1999.

LowePro's phone number is 1-800-800-Lowe. They are on the west coast, so call 8-5 pacific time.

-- Tamara Snyder (tsnyder@comp.uark.edu), April 05, 1999.

You could try to reinforce these attachments. Try all of the handles and connecting points under load and see if there is one spot where any two seams are pulling on stitching. Then get some nylon straps or nylon backpack material and make patches out of them. Have a local backpack or sewing manufacturer get out their heavy-duty needles to sew them on with strong, thick backpack thread.

-- Paul Runnoe (prunnoe@aros.net), May 02, 1999.

Hi Alan, Lowe Pro seems to have much light and shade. A friend of mine and I are owning the trecker, with the same result than you had. But Lowe has a very good service, send the Trecker to them and you will get it back like new. Maybe, next time the other strap will give up? We are looking for Tenba now. Some words to Tamrac: Not waterproof!!!

-- Ralf Grambrock (101.51955@germanynet.de), October 10, 1999.