Lowepro Pro Roller X200

On May 12, 2010 · 1 Comment

I recently purchased the new Lowepro Pro Roller X200. When I researched this bag, I found the following video the determining factor in my purchase, this is well worth the watch (also as part of this product page back at Lowepro):

On Location with the Lowepro Pro Roller x300 from Andrew Kornylak on Vimeo.

I received the bag this past Friday and flying with it for the first time as I write this post. Gotta love wi-fi on airplanes now!

I couldn’t find a single bad review and everything works as advertized except one minor thing. Some sites are listing the X200 as being able to fit a 17″ laptop into it. I can barely fit my 15″ and that is a tight fit (for my liking). And the documentation that comes with the bag states the X100 can take a 14.5″, X200 can take 15″ and the X300 is capable of a 17″ laptop. And! In order to fit in an overhead compartment, the laptop must be removed. I agree, I wouldn’t want to try and squeeze it in.

Other than that one fact, the roller bag works great on larger aircraft with the sizable overhead compartments.

What is not so great is if you often go on the smaller commuter aircraft where gate checking is always mandatory.

When I fly where the aircraft will be the smaller commuter jets (or smaller turbo props, ugh!) I use my Lowepro backpack (Nature Trekker) to ensure my equipment is safe from the bag handlers. (I grew up with American Tourister commercials of apes banging bags around, this is what I envision whenever a bag leaves my hands at the airport)

On this current flight, I had to take a jumper flight from Birmingham to Atlanta. Before I let go to the baggage handler, I pulled my laptop out and then used the handy TSA approved lock to secure the bag.

I wasn’t worried about the bag handlers fumbling through the equipment, but I was leery of a sharp eyed thief who could have disembarked the plane prior to me and grabbing my bag.

The lock wouldn’t keep a person from getting into the bag given enough time, but it surely would slow them down if they wanted to fondle their new found goodies somewhere in an airport terminal.

Luckily, the unloading of gate checked bags is by far the slowest process ever carried out by humans and my fear of losing $7,500 in equipment (much of which is leased) didn’t come to fruition.

So, in the end, is the Pro Roller X200 everything they say it is? I say yes, the wheels roll, the handle pulls, the equipment is padded, the kick-out to rest the bag on an angle is handy.

The only downside, if any, is it holds too much! Fully loaded, with an Apple 15″ laptop, the bag weighs 37 pounds. That much weight makes is roll great, but my little arms get tired lifting that much