I used the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 to carry my photography gear – and it's the best budget camera bag I've traveled with
A no-nonsense backpack with compact dimensions and modular storage, the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is the best budget camera bag you can travel with.
Lowepro Tahoe BP 150: two-minute review
The temptation for most photographers is to carry as much gear as possible. After all, you don’t want to get caught without the right kit for the situation. Many of the best camera bags will let you do exactly that: pack your entire arsenal of lenses and accessories, so you’ll never miss a shot.
That’s not what the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is about. This is a neatly packaged backpack with just enough space for your shooting essentials, plus a handful of extras. That limited capacity means most enthusiasts will need to leave a couple of lenses at home. But the pay-off is a pack that majors in portability.
It’s also one that balances functionality with affordability. One of the cheapest Lowepro backpacks you can buy, the Tahoe BP 150 is a no-nonsense solution for toting a lean photography setup on your travels. Impressively for the money, it’s also one that comes with very few compromises.
The main compartment might be relatively modest, but clever division allows you to make the most of the available space. The top third is taken up by a zippered box pocket which is stitched in place, with a flexible base that can be moved using velcro tabs. So can the padded walls which structure the rest of the space.
Depending on what you shoot with, you’ll need to spend a bit of time playing with the position of these dividers to find a layout which best suits your setup. With some experimenting, you’ll discover that the Tahoe BP 150 can carry quite a lot more than you’d first expect, although a couple more of the small dividers would make the space even more versatile.
As it is, the bag can comfortably fit an APS-C mirrorless body with a prime lens attached, along with a telephoto and a standard zoom, plus a charger with room to spare. You could squeeze a pancake lens and a small flashgun in there, too. A larger DSLR body makes for more of an awkward fit, while enthusiasts with top-tier glass will find that the capacity soon evaporates.
This might be a backpack for traveling light, but Lowepro has still put thought into optimizing it. There’s an SD card slot on the inside of the main flap, while the front panel is angled slightly to create a usable space in the secondary pocket. That’s where you’ll find a key clip, accessory slots and a tablet sleeve that’s just big enough to fit a 13-inch MacBook Air.
There’s also a solution for traveling with tripods. Elasticated mesh pockets sit on either side of the pack, together with clips for securing tripods in place. Realistically, the shallow depth of the pockets means you wouldn’t want to risk keeping anything taller than a mini-tripod on the outside of the Tahoe BP 150.
The only design blunder to speak of is the position of the tripod clips. These fasten across the zipper for the main compartment, which means you have to undo them every time you want to access your camera kit. This isn’t a quick-access pack at the best of times, with a fair bit of unzipping needed to get at your gear. Having clips in the mix quickly becomes frustrating.
Still, the LowePro Tahoe BP 150 is otherwise a camera bag that hits the sweet spot of practicality, price and protection. Despite its compact dimensions, the shell benefits from padding in all the right places. Granted, I wouldn’t want it chucked around on a baggage carousel, but I never felt that my gear was at risk while wearing it.
The same goes for the straps and back panel. This is far from a technical pack and you don’t get the kind of support or adjustment found on the Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III, but there’s enough cushioning to make the Tahoe BP 150 comfortable to carry fully loaded on a journey.
From the zips to the seams, the whole thing feels durable. That’s not a surprise from Lowepro, but it’s a welcome fact for the price. And it’s all the more impressive when you consider that the Tahoe BP 150 weighs just 800g, making it one of the lightest camera bags you can buy.
The one thing missing is a rain cover. The backpack is water-resistant enough to shake off a summer shower, but it’s not fully waterproof. Then again, given how affordable it is, you could always buy a third-party rain cover if you’re worried about downpours.
If you want an unfussy backpack with minimal bloat and travel-friendly dimensions, it’s hard to go wrong with the LowePro Tahoe BP 150. Other camera bags might be bigger and more adaptable, but this one gets the basics right at the right price.
Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 review: price
The Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 has been available to buy since 2015. At launch, it was priced around $95 / £85 / AU$175. The backpack’s price has dropped several times over the last few years and it can now be found online for around $75 / £65 / AU$100.
A quick look at price tracking websites also confirms that the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is regularly discounted during sale events, such as Amazon Prime Day. It’s already a great-value camera bag, but if you want an even better deal, we suggest holding out in case it’s reduced again in the next seasonal sale.
The Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 is available in four color variations: blue (as tested here), black, red and green (which features urban camouflage pattern detailing).
Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 review: specs
External dimensions | 27.5 x 21.7 x 40.3cm |
Internal dimensions | 25.5 x 12.8 x 36cm |
Weight | 800g |
Total volume | 11L |
Carry-on friendly | Yes |
Tablet sleeve | Yes |
Waterproofing | Water-resistant |
Should I buy the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150?
Buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget
Reasonably priced and often discounted, the Lowepro Tahoe 150 is the best-value camera bag you can buy. You won’t find a quality backpack with the same features for less.
You have a compact setup
Tidily designed with no wasted space, the Tahoe 150’s internal velcro dividers can be rearranged to fit an APS-C mirrorless camera body, plus a couple of lenses and accessories.
You travel with your camera
Padded straps make the Tahoe 150 a comfortable bag to carry. A lightweight build doesn’t add much to the load, while its compact dimensions meet most airline carry-on restrictions.
Don't buy it if...
You have a lot of gear
The Tahoe 150 is designed for traveling light. Photographers with a lot of gear will find its storage capacity too modest to fit their full setup, especially with larger lenses.
You use large tripods
Mesh pockets and securing clips mean you can stash mini tripods on the outside of the Tahoe BP 150, but this isn’t a practical solution for carrying full-size stands.
You shoot in all weathers
The Tahoe BP 150’s padded body has enough water-resistance to shield your gear from unexpected showers, but it’s not fully waterproof. You’ll need to look elsewhere for total protection.
Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 review: Also consider
Lowepro Tahoe 150 | Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III | Mindshift Backlight 26L | |
|---|---|---|---|
External dimensions | 27.5 x 21.7 x 40.3cm | 27 x 22 x 50cm | 29 x 51.5 x 20cm |
Internal dimensions | 25.5 x 12.8 x 36cm | 26 x 13 x 48cm | 26 x 49 x 15cm |
Weight | 800g | 1500g | 1800g |
Total volume | 11L | 24L | 26L |
Carry-on friendly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tablet sleeve | Yes | No | Yes |
Waterproofing | Water-resistant | Rain cover | Rain cover |
Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III
Another lightweight camera backpack from Lowepro, the PhotoSport BP 24L AW III is a premium solution for adventurous photographers. Technical straps and back support mean it’s comfortable to trek with. The padded insert has limited capacity, but packing space and a rain cover make it a good choice for expeditions.
Read more in our in-depth Lowepro PhotoSport BP 24L AW III review
Mindshift Backlight 26L
If you want a camera backpack with more capacity, the Mindshift Backlight 26L is a functional solution for toting your gear. Its main compartment has plenty of space, while a device sleeve, bottle pockets and nine liters of personal storage mean you don’t have to pack light for your trip.
Read more in our in-depth Mindshift Backlight 26L review
How I tested the Lowepro Tahoe 150
- Packed with a DSLR and two lenses, plus accessories
- Carried around daily for a fortnight
- Wore in all weather conditions
When testing the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150, my aim was to assess its real-world practicality for different photographers. That started with loading it up. To get an idea of its true capacity, I played around with fitting both APS-C and DSLR shooting setups into it. I re-arranged the internal dividers several times, to see what combinations of camera body, lenses and accessories it could take.
I also packed out the Tahoe BP 150 with as many accessories as possible, including a mini trip on the side and a laptop in the front sleeve. This was partly to see just how much gear it was realistically able to accommodate, but also to get a feel for how comfortable the bag was to carry when fully laden.
With that in mind, I walked with the Lowepro on my back every day for a few weeks. This first-hand experience gave me a genuine impression of what the Tahoe BP 150 is like to work and travel with, including how easy it is to access the various pockets and compartments on the move. I also wore the backpack in different weather conditions, to put its water-resistance to the test.
First reviewed June 2025
