MindShift Gear Backlight 26L review: Versatile and comfortable -

The MindShift Gear Backlight 26L is a medium-sized backpack for photographers made by the same company that makes the ThinkTankPhoto range. It’s priced at $249.99 (around £200 ex VAT).

For me, like a lot of photographers, I imagine, finding the right carrying solution for your gear is a tricky proposition. And of course, it’s dictated by the gear you’re carrying and the location you’re working in. Rollers are great for working from out of a car when you get to the location easily, but as soon as you have to move away from it (which is often the case), then a backpack is the most appealing solution. However, most backpacks are limited in some way, being either clumsy to work from or not being able to accommodate some crucial piece of gear all that effectively. Invariably, the option is to combine two pieces of luggage, especially one for the computer only and the other for the camera and paraphernalia.

For example, the similar size (25L) F-Stop Guru is one of my favourite packs and is one of the most versatile and stealthy around but it doesn’t hold as much camera gear as the Backlight 26L and while it does have room for a laptop in theory – there’s no padding for it. If I’m not using the car, I have to remember to find my Crumpler padded sleeve or pack the laptop in a ThinkTankPhoto My 2^nd Brain Briefcase – a purpose designed briefcase which can hold everything up to a 15-inch MBP including a medium-sized Wacom tablet.

The other important consideration for me, and one that backpack (and bag) makers in general always fudge is the bottom padding: there is usually no additional padding or even a stiffener to prevent the bag from deforming or aid protection when putting the bad down heavily. It would be solved easily by adding some (sealed) corrugated plastic boarding. That’s the F-Stop Guru’s main failing, which is okay if you’re transporting gear broken down, but a pain if you want a heavy lens attached to a big, heavy body. But the Backlight 26L has quite rigid (closed cell?) foam and so appears to support heavy gear reasonably in the base – which is important say if you want to place a heavy medium format camera there with a lens attached.

Check prices on MindShift Gear Backlight 26L 26 (affiliate links)

MindShift by ThinkTankPhoto

As one of four in a range that differs only by capacity, the Backlight series has one or two unusual features that make it stand out from the crowd. Firstly, it’s designed so that you can work out of it while it’s still attached to you. Secondly, the Backlight 26L is one of the few backpacks that can also accommodate a full-sized 15-inch MacBook Pro – the industry standard for tethering (but by no means the only solution) – though I ought to say at this point that you can combine both of those benefits simultaneously.

Straight out of the box, the MindShift Backlight 26L is notable for its weight – or rather, lack of it. It weighs next to nothing but Mindshift claims 1.8kg (3.9lb). Entry to the camera gear is via the rear, under the well-padded and comfortable harness. Not only does this design provide a level of security from potential pick-pockets (if travelling) it also means that when working from it the harness and amply padded hip belt isn’t face down in the dirt.

MindShift Gear Backlight 26L review showing the interior with Canon mirrorless cameras and lenses. A small DJI drone is also shown with its controller. — This image is from the maker’s site but it shows just what the bag is capable of carrying. What you can’t see is the sleeve for the 15-in MBP.

Inside, the bag is made of light grey nylon taffeta fabric. In other words, it’s easy to see into every corner even when the light fades – why bag some manufacturers continue to line their bags in black nylon beats me. And there are plenty of dividers – more than you will ever need. They’re thin but closed-cell and effective when the gear is packed tightly. As the mid-sized model and the best-selling one, according to my contact at Mindshift, it can hold a fair share of gear – easily a couple of bodies and several lenses. But if like me you have lots of filters, flash, triggers, a cleaning kit and a remote release like this then it starts to fill up quickly. Still, for a targeted and organized job, it’s a perfect size – by that I mean not too heavy when full of kit.

As stated earlier you can even access the gear without taking it off – you simply tighten up the padded belt the unhook the harness. If it’s really heavy you might want to keep one on! Then unzip the back – there’s an elasticated cord to throw over your head to keep it out your way. I’ve never really used it that way often, but you could if you need to.

Around the front, there are plenty of tie-points for an ice axe or two where appropriate, as well as walking poles or even a couple of Manfrotto Nano lighting stands. There’s also a tripod strap for a small-ultralight tripod such as one of the Gitzo Traveller series. Mesh pockets complete with tie-cords on either side are invaluable and can be used for various things throughout the day such as water bottles or as ideal temporary stash pockets for a mobile (cell) or keys, a lens hood or caps or a full-sized flashgun even.

Inside the zip access, there’s space for a thin windproof or waterproof jacket. On the rear wall, there are two lightly padded pouches – one for an iPad and the other for a 15-inch MacBook Pro or a slate or similar. At the bottom of the same pocket, there’s room for the power brick and a few cables and such. And there’s a second flat zipped pocket on the front for other items – how much though depends on what’s stuffed in the large pocket. With careful packing of the main pocket so as not to exert uneven pressure on the computers it’s large enough for maps, or a guidebook maybe. Remember its location is a bit vulnerable to wandering hands and it’s this side that will get pushed faced down into the dirt when opening the camera side, so a little thought here is required – you don’t want to put anything valuable or delicate in there.

Downsides are few for a backpack – to access the cameras you’ll be laying potentially heavy gear on top of the laptop – if it’s stored away that is. If you’ve packed a jacket carefully in the front it will provide extra padding when laying the pack down to access the camera gear – but it is in its padded pouch. If you’re working indoors or the location isn’t too inhospitable you can always remove the computer first!

The other is the internal depth, it’s not deep enough for a pro DSLR with a built-in battery pack – you must lay it down on its side taking up valuable space. Now that I’ve switched over to the EOS R (a great camera yet much-maligned by the photography press) and the EOS R5 from the hulking EOS-1 it’s much more suitable. If that’s crucial try the deeper Backlight 36L at $289.99 or the even larger Backlight Elite 45 instead. Be warned though, that model comes in at a thumping $399.99.

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