I was wondering if anyone has had experience with using the Lowepro Nature Trekker AW II as Carry-on luggage...I'm off on an international trip soon and want to take my video and camera gear. I already own this backpack.

I will be flying Qantas, Hawaiian and Japan Airlines, they all specify a maximum size of 115cm (45inches). Weight shouldn't be a problem.

This is the bag http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/trekking/naturtr.htm,
If you add the dimensions up, it will be 124cm, but that includes the waist straps....if this ignored, total dimensions will be around 110cm.

My concern is that I will be forced to check in the backpack as luggage.

Thanks for your time,
Andrew.

Andrew,

I haven't had experience of this bag but would like to know how you get on.

I've been looking to change to a backpack and this is one of a few on my shortlist.

Do you use yours for the Canon XL1/s ?

Hope you get some good responses.

In the U.S. different airport terminals have different size holes you have to stick your bags through to see if they fit on the plane. Even the same airline (Southwest, for example) has a smaller opening in Kansas City than they do at some other Southwest terminals in other cities. Last time that happened, my carry on camera bag wouldn't go through...so I took the camera out, squished the empty bag through the opening, then handed the camera through (they inspected it with one of those chemical sniffer patches), and then rebagged it on the other side of the checkpoint. The bag went through everyplace else on my trip OK. So, unless you really stuff the bag full, you can probably mash it down to make it fit if necessary, taking the camera out first. Looks like a pretty nice backpack type bag.