MindShift Gear 520354 FirstLight 40L Black

I bought this mainly for air travel and to have one big pack to stash most of my gear when at home and on road trips. Like most photo packs, the compromise is in the suspension, which pales in comparison to Gregory or Osprey backpacks. I'd never take this out for a 15 mile day on the trail, but for short stints, the suspension is comfortable enough. I can fit the Sony 600mm f4, 16-35, 90 macro, 20 1.8, 2 gripped bodies and a fair number of accessories in it, and with some creative divider spacing, could get even more inside. As usual, for Mindshift, construction and materials are top-drawer, and they provide plenty of dividers as well as a rain cover. For those considering a large pack, this should be at the top of your list.

Quest: find a camera bag that fits long lenses (mine is a 200-600mm Sony) plus a 17" laptop.Solution: MindShift Gear FirstLight 40L.This is a fantastic pack with really good build quality. The zippers are stout, which is a major point of failure on packs. The materials are rugged, and everything on my pack was sewn together flawlessly. You can tell that a ton of attention was given to how long this bag will last.The suspension system is fantastic as well. It is reasonably comfortable - maybe not quite like my full-on camping bags, but a very close second. The top straps that sinch the bag into my shoulders are a little difficult to grab and don't seem to sinch down quite enough for my liking, but beyond that, the rest is fantastic. Having a floating frame that allows me to customize the fit is a huge win. The hip belt is multi-day backpacing grade. And the clips are really interesting - maybe not as convenient as some, but built to prevent slippage, and I like them a lot.The way the tripod has two really convenient storage locations is a huge bonus. The one in the back is fantastic for longer trips when you aren't taking photos but just getting to location. The other is great when you need access to your camera more quickly.Only negatives I've found so far: (1) the top compartment where you store your keys is super small. It may work for keys or a wallet, but don't expect to put much of anything else in there. (2) This is my biggest complaint: the laptop and tablet sleeves are on the outside of the pack and has no padding. As a result, if you just throw your laptop in there, you are asking for damage. I don't take a tablet, so I put some padding in the tablet sleeve which protects the laptop to some extent. A laptop "sleepingbag" would be advised, but for 17" laptops there isn't much room for the machine plus the sleeve. Be aware.OH, bonus: it fits on standard jet overheads!!! Just barely, but it does. Small commuter jets will require storage under the plane, so be warned that you may have to travel with your lens(es), camera body and/or laptop in the cabin with you on puddle jumpers, but for the main flight you should be golden.Overall, this pack gets a B+/A- from me. It would be a solid A if there was laptop padding included.

I am using this bag mainly for travel. It is at the very limit of size regulations. It fits up to a 17" folded tripod inside (in my case the feisol 3441 sb-40). The bag is deep and can hold most lenses placed upright creating twice as much space for other equipment (a 70-200 barely fits when closed). The bag is is well made and I can see it lasting a long time. The main draw back to this pack is that the laptop space is unpadded and may leave it too vulnerable to damage. A good solution may be to buy a protective hard case, but this adds bulk to the outside of the pack. Overall I am in love with this bag!

Great quality bag with the best zippers I could imagine. They never get stuck or miss a beat. Plenty of room, perhaps too much, to carry all my gear. It was a tough choice and I'm glad to have made this decision (I've used it quite a bit now).UPDATE 3/31/2019 Great backpack and is holding up very well. Zippers are the best! If there was a con, it holds too much gear and can get really heavy.

I've had this backpack for approximately 3.5 years now, and I've been pleased with its durability.It's been to Guatemala, Mexico, Africa, and all over the USA with no issues.It fits in most overhead airline bins, but will need to be gate checked on small regional "puddle hoppers".The laptop pocket is on the outward facing portion of the bag and there is no padding. I've addressed this by using an inexpensive laptop sleeve.

If your out in the elements and need to carry a bag this one is amazing for the 600mm lens. I’d rather use a roller bag in airports but all my work is on the beach and no roller works. This bag holds up really well.

This a great backpack. Got all my cameras and acc. in it will still room. Thank you for a good product

Excellent bag. Well worth the dollars over a LowePro.

Ottimo prodotto, ottima fattura. Ho scelto questo modello per una motivazione specifica. E' una delle poche borse per attrezzature fotografiche con un a capienza tale da poter accogliere un apparecchio folding in legno 20x25, 4/5 obiettivi, e i vari accessori per la ripresa.

Top Produkt. Verspricht alle Erwartungen