Lowepro has produced classic, sensible bags that I’ve come to respect over the years. I have used a couple of their backpacks, with exceptional results. Their products have generally been geared toward folks who hike or are are looking for something rugged, but this month they launched the Echelon series, which is Lowepro’s first step into the luxury realm.

Photo courtesy of Lowepro

If you can get past the branding on the Lowepro website that’s a bit over the top, you’ll notice that the Echelon series isn’t over the top at all. In fact, it is a high-end series but quite sleek and understated. For that, I like it. The style suits my personality. Echelon bags are classy and feel reliable. Much like my personality? 🙂

Narcissism aside … you’ll like the bags and will feel professional using them. Too often while traveling and shooting, camera backpacks are practical but just don’t seem professional. Many shoulder or roller bags are also practical but don’t quite have much style. Echelon strikes a nice balance, being rooted in a company that makes very practical bags, yet has a desire to create something a little more high-end.

That said, you might not be one-upping your friends who store their Leicas in ONA messenger bags or Filson’s Magnum series bags but those bags are designed for a slightly different consumer. The Echelon has a sleek black finish, with brushed metal and a bit of black leather that creates a luxury look.

The Echelon Roller ($800) is not cheap, but it’s a solid piece of equipment that I can tell will last a long time. It’s big enough for two or three DSLRs and a bunch of lenses, and you could even put some clothes in there if you travel light. It’s a standard roller bag in many regards, but the leather details look good. After loading it with some heavy gear, the telescoping handle wiggles a little bit; we will have to see if that gets worse with time or if the handle is just designed to flex.

The Echelon Brief ($340) is my favorite of the three bags in the series. It doesn’t actually hold a camera, but there is room for lenses or other accessories if needed. It holds a 15-inch laptop, hard drives, etc. The Brief has a really nice, solid shell and is the coolest looking bag of the collection. The leather straps look really nice, especially paired with the brushed metal. The Brief easily attaches to the Roller for transport.

The Echelon Attaché ($420) is a really cool idea. It’s designed to be similar to an old school medical satchel, with a zippered top that opens wide for camera and laptop access. I do like the concept and the overall style, but I think it needs just a bit more leather, or similar material, on the top portion of the bag. The handles also need a bit more leather. Lowepro made just the top half of the handles leather and I think that hurts the design (whereas the Brief has fully leather handles that really look nice). Otherwise, it’s a sleek, modern bag in a style that you don’t see very often. You’ll stand out and look good using this doctor’s-style bag. It fits a tablet or 13-inch laptop, with plenty of room for camera bodies and accessories. The Attaché easily attaches to the Roller for transport.

All Echelon bags come with TSA-approved locks and removable rain covers, which are nice additions. If you buy all three bags together, the package is $1,300.