Review on Woodland MindShift 26L Daypack Backpack For Outdoor Activities by Eder Boesel

I purchased this backpack for a recent trip to Arizona. I wanted a pack that was small enough to be my airline carry on while holding all the gear for my trip. The 26 liter size in the Backlight series fit the bill.Dimensionally the 26l qualifies as a carry on for most flights, but be aware that on some short-hop or commuter flights they may force you to gate check all bags. Technically this bag should fit under the seat ahead of you, but not if you want some place to put your feet during the flight!Inside I'm able to carry two Fuji bodies, one with grip and lens attached. Along for the ride are two zooms and five primes plus a Lowepro 100mm filter organizer. I can rearrange the dividers to include my full size flash if I need it, otherwise I put my smaller Nissin in one of the open slots.The dividers are thin though reasonably stiff, and the velcro used for placement is quite aggressive - I'm certain I won't have any of the cells collapse during a bumpy hike. The interior zippered pouches on the access panel though large don't offer a lot of carrying space. I tend to leave extra dividers in them plus neck straps and cables - anything not too bulky and that I don't need fast access to.On the exterior there are plenty of zippered or cinching pouches for water bottles, a tripod, maps etc. The main front side compartment easily holds my Lenovo 15" laptop plus my Kindle or other tablet-sized device. This pouch is gusseted and can also hold a poncho or windbreaker. The second, smaller zippered pouch is where I stuff snacks or other quick-access bits I'll need on the trail.The shoulder straps and hip belt system are comfortable enough. This is not a top-end suspension system but about the best I've found in a day bag at the price. I'm 6' 2" and the bag is long enough that the belt rides at the top of my hips rather than waist, pretty comfortable for 3 to 4 hour hikes. For longer hikes I'd prefer that the belt rode lower though that would mean a larger bag that might not qualify as an airline carry-on. I also would like to have a way to stow the belt when not in use but nothing is provided, usually I just wrap the belt around to the front of the bag and buckle it.The fabric is strong and even the red dirt of Arizona brushed off it quickly (I can't say the same for my shoes and socks!). I haven't had it out in any weather to comment on its ability to keep gear dry. The zippers are rugged and the looped pull tabs should make access with gloves on a breeze. It's a small thing, but I like that the bag will stand up when I put it down on the floor or on mostly level ground.What is missing? Side access to your camera, though when I hike I use a Spider clip for my main camera. An expandable top exterior compartment for additional clothing or hiking gear. More heavily padded shoulder straps. It would be nice if it came with a few additional straps to take advantage of the multiple lashing points on the bag, but that's picking nits.UPDATE: I mentioned that I use the Spider holster system but I've recently had the opportunity to use the Peak Design Capture Clip. While it was a bit of a fight to get the Capture Clip to clamp onto the Backlight bag's shoulder strap, once on it was a very workable solution. The Capture Clip and the Backlight bag are a great combination.Over 30+ years I've purchased so many camera bags, cases, backpacks and trunks that I could open a luggage store. I sold camera bags for decades and favored Tamrac and Lowepro for my customers. If this Mindshift series of bags from Think Tank had been available back then this would have been my top choice for prosumers wanting a pack for outdoor and landscape photography.