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Japan, Tokyo
1 Level
766 Review
65 Karma

Review on Charcoal MindShift Gear BackLight 18L Backpack - Ideal For Outdoor Adventure And Camera Daypack by Ryan Bowers

Revainrating 3 out of 5

Almost Great good for me

I bought this bag specifically for use with my Fuji mirrorless cameras & to transport lenses, a tripod, filters & extras for longer hikes & all day long outings. Mindshift makes awesome backcountry camera bags & although this one is quite compact it is almost too big for my needs & will fit a camera body, 50-140mm, 90mm, 10-24 & at least 4 more primes. In addition it has a compartment for a tablet & I stuff a thin goretex jacket & midlayer in the front pouch. Build quality & materials are good.A few downsides are.#1- There is no internal water bladder pouch but it is possible to stuff a 2 litre bladder in the side of the stretchy pouch.#2 To access the camera compartment you have to place the bag with the shoulder strap side down on the ground which is problematic in wet, muddy or sandy conditions as it will soak or get your back & shoulders dirty when you put the pack back on.#3- The compression straps don't have quick disconnect clips on them so if your trying to stuff a tripod or water bladder in the side pouches when the bag is full it's a bit challenging. Mostly an issue when your trying to photograph multiple locations quickly while hiking or in cold wet conditions. I will have to cut them & add the clips myself.#4- the camera compartment is too tall for a bag geared for mirrorless camera setups. The lenses & camera's move around too much inside. Even a 5d with battery grip fits in with extra room. Much taller than any other camera bag I've seen or used. I would rather have a thinner profile bag or use the extra room in the back zippered storage area for more items or a hydro pouch behind the padding that's close to your back.#5- This is the biggest issue with this pack. With a tripod, camera/camera's, lenses, filters, water, hiking poles, lunch & some clothing the pack gets quite heavy & the pack doesn't have a padded hip belt. It's just a thin piece of webbing which cuts into you on long uphill climbs or bush whacking. It's fine for quick trips to the sea side or a short walk but when loaded up on a trek unusable in my opinion. I was lucky enough to have a removable hip pad from an Arcteryx pack that will attach to this webbing which makes a world of difference. This is strange as all my other camera bags (even smaller ones) have a padded belt.

img 1 attached to Charcoal MindShift Gear BackLight 18L Backpack - Ideal For Outdoor Adventure And Camera Daypack review by Ryan Bowers



Pros
  • unisex-adult
Cons
  • The backpack may not be suitable for longer outdoor trips