Proaim Bowado Pro 36 Review: A Great Value Camera Cart With One Major Drawback

Production carts have become an essential part of modern filmmaking. Whether you're working as a solo videographer, managing a small production crew, or transporting lighting, audio, and camera equipment between locations, a quality camera cart can dramatically improve efficiency on set.

Over the past decade, the industry has shifted toward compact, collapsible camera carts that are easier to transport while still offering professional-grade durability. The Proaim Bowado Pro 36" Video Production Camera Cart is one of the latest options in this category. It promises a practical, affordable solution for filmmakers who need a reliable cart without spending several thousand dollars.

After spending time with the Bowado Pro, I found a lot to like. It offers excellent value, solid construction, and a thoughtful design. Unfortunately, one major issue prevents it from being an easy recommendation.

Disclosure

Before diving into the review, it's important to mention that Proaim provided this cart for review. I was allowed to keep it, but the opinions in this article are entirely my own.

I'm also a previous Proaim customer. In 2023, I purchased the Proaim Victor Lite Camera Cart with my own money, so I have first-hand experience with the company's products and customer support.

Built for Solo Filmmakers and Small Crews

The Bowado Pro sits near the entry-level end of Proaim's production cart lineup, below the Victor, Victor Lite, and Atlas V2 models.

Unlike those carts, which are available in multiple sizes, the Bowado Pro only comes in a 36-inch version. In my opinion, that's actually one of its biggest strengths.

A 36-inch cart is large enough to carry a substantial amount of equipment while remaining compact enough to fit into most hatchbacks, SUVs, and elevators. For corporate videographers, freelance filmmakers, and small production teams, it strikes an excellent balance between portability and capacity.

At approximately 78 pounds, it's also one of the lighter carts in Proaim's lineup. While that isn't exactly light, anyone accustomed to transporting professional camera gear should have no problem handling it.

Build Quality

The Bowado Pro uses a simple two-tier design that provides easy access to equipment from either side. The open frame allows you to grab cameras, lenses, batteries, and accessories quickly without reaching through enclosed panels.

The frame is constructed from aluminum and mild steel and is rated to carry up to 440 pounds. Whether you're transporting heavy cases, using it as a workstation, or sitting on it during a long shoot, the cart feels solid and confidence inspiring.

Both shelves are lined with carpet, which helps protect expensive equipment while reducing noise. Cameras and lenses don't slide around nearly as much as they would on bare metal shelves, giving the cart a more polished, professional feel.

Adjustable Shelving

One of the Bowado Pro's best features is its adjustable upper shelf.

The shelf slides along the vertical support rods, allowing you to increase the space between the two levels whenever you need extra room for larger batteries, hard cases, lighting equipment, or taller accessories.

The adjustment process, however, could be improved. Since each corner must be loosened individually while supporting the weight of the shelf, changing the height alone can be awkward. It's certainly possible, but it isn't especially elegant.

Accessory Options

The Bowado Pro keeps things fairly simple when it comes to mounting accessories.

Unlike some premium production carts, there aren't integrated mounting points built directly into the shelves. Instead, Proaim includes a crossbar with multiple mounting holes and 3/8-inch threaded connections for attaching accessories.

Proaim also offers a wide range of optional accessories that allow you to customize the cart for different workflows. One of my favourites is the tabletop umbrella attachment, which is particularly useful when working outdoors.

Mobility

Moving the Bowado Pro around set is effortless.

The cart uses two swivel wheels and two fixed wheels fitted with large 9-inch pneumatic tires. These roll smoothly across studio floors, sidewalks, gravel, parking lots, and uneven outdoor terrain where smaller hard wheels would struggle.

Each wheel also includes a foot brake, allowing you to lock the cart securely in place while changing lenses or working directly from it.

The included metal push handle works well, although I would have liked to see some padding or a rubberized grip for additional comfort.

The Biggest Problem

Unfortunately, my biggest criticism involves one of the Bowado Pro's headline features.

Proaim advertises that the cart folds into a compact rolling case for transportation and can be assembled in just a few minutes. While most of the assembly process is straightforward, the locking system used when the cart is folded is frustrating.

To secure the cart, you install corner pins, position the upper shelf, and tighten long hex bolts into each corner. On paper, the design seems durable and well thought out.

In practice, I had repeated issues getting the bolts to tighten completely. The internal corner pins would begin rotating before enough pressure could be applied, leaving bolts sticking out instead of sitting flush.

The problem becomes even more frustrating if one corner begins spinning before the others are fully tightened. At that point, the only real solution is to remove everything and start over.

Eventually, I became frustrated enough to use a drill to loosen one of the bolts. The entire mechanism spun internally and scratched one of the corner pins.

I genuinely like the concept behind this locking system. Compared to the exposed latches found on older Proaim carts, it should be more durable during transport. Unfortunately, the execution simply isn't there. The system feels inconsistent, time consuming, and unnecessarily frustrating.

Warranty and Customer Support

One area where Proaim continues to impress is customer support.

From my own experience with the Victor Lite, replacement parts were shipped quickly after years of professional use damaged components on my cart. The process required little more than a single email.

Production carts inevitably take abuse over time, so responsive customer service is something I value highly.

Final Thoughts

At roughly $1,280 CAD, the Proaim Bowado Pro offers excellent value compared to many competing production carts.

It provides strong build quality, impressive weight capacity, smooth mobility, and enough flexibility to suit a wide range of filmmaking workflows. For solo operators and small production companies, it checks many of the right boxes.

Unfortunately, the folding and locking mechanism holds it back. My experience with that system was frustrating enough that I would likely choose one of Proaim's Victor series carts instead if I were purchasing another production cart today.

If Proaim improves the locking mechanism in a future revision, the Bowado Pro could become one of the best values available in its price range. Until then, it's a very capable camera cart that comes with one significant compromise.