MindShift Gear TrailScape 18L Backpack

2025-07-04T20:00:00

Leaving on a trip soon and I'm looking forward to testing it out.

Paul G.

Originally posted at

2025-02-24T19:00:00

I have a BackLight 18L and I love it but the thin grab handle at the top definitely needs work. I would suggest a thicker padded handle since for me at least, it is the most used and abused feature of the backpack. Hope they're reading,

Carl P.

Originally posted at

2024-06-14T20:00:00

This bag is perfect. Needed a bag small enough for a personal item when flying, but large enough to hold my 24-70, 150-600 lenses and two bodies. Glad I found this!

Nancy M.

Originally posted at

2024-05-29T20:00:00

Exactly what I wanted delivered quickly!

Stephen D.

Originally posted at

2023-09-06T20:00:00

Perfect for the 400 f/4.5 attached to the Z9 and a mid to wide extra lens with a few extra necessities for a day of run & gun. The only drawback is the bottom pad on the pack and the back-hip pad are separate so that the 'edge' between them is uncomfortable to wear (digs into my back) when it's loaded.

Charles H.

Originally posted at

2022-04-03T20:00:00

Great materials and craftsmanship thank you

Ray B.

Originally posted at

2021-11-26T19:00:00

Purchased this pack on Black Friday at Bedford's in OKC. By mid-day I was trekking around the Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge with it on my back. I typically carry my camera on a Cotton Carrier Harness system when in the field. If it happens to be a long distance to where I intend to shoot, this can be very cumbersome. With the Trailscape 18L I can now stuff everything in the pack but still unload quickly upon arrival at my destination. As currently configured, it contains my Canon EOS R with the RF 24-105 IS USM attached to camera. Also tucked away in one of the large compartments is my Canon RF 100-500 lens with the foot detached since I typically shoot in hand verses on a tripod. There is still plenty of room for the RF 1.4x Extender and my favorite little fun lens, the RF 35mm 1.8 Macro. In addition, I have partitioned off a section for miscellaneous items such as the telephoto lens foot, extra batteries, a small screwdriver to remove the Arca plates if needed, an extra shoulder strap with a quick release, and the rain cover than came with the pack. I use the outer pockets on the back for an SD card case, a small cleaning kit, and a spare rain cover in blaze orange for use during hunting seasons. Tucked in around the camera is a cold weather beanie with a small led light and a pair of touch-screen gloves help secure the 35mm lens as well. The versatility combined with the quality of workmanship in the Trailscape pack is unrivaled. I was also pleased with the high degree of comfort while wearing it off and on for several hours. As noted in the product video, I removed the belly strap since the pack was not all that heavy with what I had placed inside of it. Superb product all around!

D N.

Originally posted at

2021-10-15T20:00:00

Have only just purchased the bag . first reaction is I wish it had more than one Velcro strip down the length of the bottom of the floor of the bag ..would like keep my camera in the middle of the bag and accessories for weight distribution. lots of room for accessories along the outside edges .. otherwise great bag for its sized and quality.

Derrick

Originally posted at

2021-10-12T20:00:00

Great experience carrying a Sony A7RIV body and 3 lenses along with a tripod and water bottle across Galapagos. Just the right size for a day bag yet be able to carry multiple lenses.

Sanjay K.

Originally posted at

2021-09-23T20:00:00

What a great backpack. Took it on over 60 miles of hiking in the Grand Tetons and loved it. Carried my D500 and 3 lenses and all the accessories I needed plus snacks and two water bottles. Protects camera gear well on the trail and in the airport/plane. Design is amazing and easy to get to camera quickly. Comfortable on long hikes!

Hunter P.

Originally posted at

2020-05-31T20:00:00

Perfect fit for my wildlife kit: D500 with 500PF lens with hood in shooting position, D7500 with Nikon 70-300 (body position for and aft) and Nikon 18-55DX lens. Pack is typical Think Tank quality with heavy duty zippers. A trim, comfortable pack that is relatively light weight (2 lbs 9 oz in my configuration)

Philip L.

Originally posted at

2020-05-12T20:00:00

I’m primarily using this pack on my bicycle and it has been a perfect fit - both for my comfort and my system. I have a Nikon D800 with a mounted 80-400 on one side, and a 14-24 f/2.8 and 24-70 f/2.8 on the other. All have hoods on. Lots of room for water and a generous amount of room for cloths or food.

M S.

Originally posted at

2020-02-08T19:00:00

Time was spent researching all of the photo back packs available. Considering cost, size, weight, adaptability, I chose the TrailScape 18L. It has been great so far. It enables me to carry my photo equipment as well as my computer. I used to struggle with a few bags to carry it all. Now I just use the one bag to hold it all together. It's heavier, but it isn't falling off of my shoulders with the weight divided, but hard to hold together. I'm happy with my choice and will use it with great pleasure!

Sharon D.

Originally posted at

2019-07-11T20:00:00

My issue with many backpacks is that if you have a laptop in the laptop compartment and then access your camera gear on a table the weight will crush the laptop. Accessing the gear with the backpack on your waist is not ideal with some designs that have a waist belt. I had the Think Thank Urban Approach 15 and that would also crush my laptop if I set it down to access gear. The TT Airport Essentials had the laptop pouch on the outside and did not crush the laptop when you set it down but the straps on that backpack were really thin and cut into my shoulders. Finally found close to the perfect bag with the purchase of the Mindshift Trailscape18 which is perfect for mirrorless, does not crush your laptop, and has great straps. I wish there was a larger Trailscape. Amazing bag and it protects my Macbook Pro 13".

Jim

Originally posted at

2019-02-12T19:00:00

I use a Fujifilm X-System kit for studio and travel photography, and the MindShft Gear TrailScape 18L Backpack is a perfect travel companion for a Mirrorless (or small DSLR) kit! The construction is superb and on par with the renowned thinkTANKPhoto build quality. The interior is nicely padded, with highly configurable/removable velcro inserts of various sizes. For example, I can fit a Fujifilm body and 6-8 Fujinon lenses, plus a myriad of accessories in the 2 zippered internal pockets, plus 2 water bottles or a tripod in the outer side pockets.The shoulder pads are extremely comfortable and quite adjustable as well. The outer material plus the great YKK zippers, make for a rugged, water-resistant solution on hikes, and also a good storage system in the studio! As usual, a highly recommended product from the folks at MindShift Gear and thinkTANKPhoto!

Steve S.

Originally posted at

2018-08-06T20:00:00

For many of my photo hikes, I prefer to carry a single camera and 1 or 2 lenses. So I was looking for a lightweight pack, not a large carry-everything back pack. This one is superb! The side pockets fit a Camelbak 3/4 liter bottle perfectly, and my RRS series 1 tripod. I can also stuff a rain jacket in the ample back-side pocket along with a small first aid kit and some energy bars. I fit some stretchy paracord to the exterior tie downs and can carry a fleece if needed. The construction and materials are first rate.

Robert S.

Originally posted at

2018-01-19T19:00:00

I just got this backpack for my trip out of the country, I really like the design which makes many rooms but it is easy to access and to organize my stuff: 2 Canon 6D ,5D cameras with lens , photo accessories, laptop 13.3 inches, passport ,and documents...the backpack is very durable.....

DinhPham

Originally posted at

2017-11-12T19:00:00

My photography takes me into the Adirondacks and Catskills on day trips. I've owned a number of photo day packs that work well as far as carrying and protecting camera gear. But most fail to provide space for all the non-photographic essentials, e.g. water bottles, energy bars, first aid kit, and extra layers. Even a photo-essential like a tripod is often an awkward addition. But this back pack does it all. There's enough internal room for all the items listed above. And I always include a 'stow-away' rain jacket that doubles as a wind breaker. One side pockets hold a .75 liter Camelbak bottle perfectly; my travel tripod fits in the other. A smart phone fits in a dedicated external compartment, so my DOF tables are readily at hand without having to open the full pack. I also wove some shock cord between the external lash points to stow a fleece layer removed as temperatures increase. This is the most functional day pack I have ever used; highly recommended.

Bob

Originally posted at

2017-11-01T18:05:28

Hiking in the back country with this pack has been a blessing for me. Tripod on the outside. Inside, fits a Canon 6D, mounted to the Tamron 150-600, extra glass and room for odds and ends.

Barry B.

2017-01-03T19:00:00

The Trailscape 18L is a comfortable pack with nicely contoured thick straps and back pad. The chest strap is easy to adjust and the removable waist belt does a good job stabilizing the load. All the dividers should be covered with the same soft material that the main compartment is lined with The smaller dividers are covered with a slippery nylon material that allows small items to slide around too much. The materials used throughout the rest of the pack are quite nice and appear to be very durable. The capacity is quite large - I have a Fuji X-T2 with booster grip and 100-400mm attached, 10-24mm, 18-55mm, 35mm F2, 60mm macro, 90mm, and 1.4x teleconverter loaded with room left for a good sized flash unit. The side pockets will hold water bottles up to 3.5" diameter so they will hold a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle. The side pockets also work great for compact tripods though the top cinch strap should be a bit longer to make it easier to insert items from the top - it tends to catch on rubber tripod parts. My Sirui T-1205 compact tripod with C-10 head fits well in the side pocket. The rear compartment for laptops & tablets works well for storing other miscellaneous items such as gloves, cables etc. I will probably attach a different pull to the main zipper to make it easier to differentiate from the laptop compartment zipper in low light.

Joplin M.

Originally posted at

2016-12-08T19:00:00

The best pack I've ever owned. Small and light, comfortable to carry, plenty of spaces for extras like tablets, batteries, lens adapters, and even lunch and a raincoat. I can pack two mirrorless bodies (one full-frame), and 5 to 7 lenses depending on kit configuration, plus the little doodads I need. Perfect for architectural shoots because it's small and easy to carry and opens wide to find and change lenses. Doesn't have that "too-tech" look with loops and buckles that catch on everything. Sits upright without slumping down on the floor. Great job, Mindshift!

Bruce B.

Originally posted at

2016-11-30T19:00:00

I'd been looking for a daypack that would carry a substantial Olympus kit with water, snacks, first aid kit, and that would pass for a "personal item" on the plane, to slip under the seat. Everything was too big, too small, too heavy. The Trailscape 18L came the day before I left for a week in the Mojave Preserve. It slipped down between the seats for access while driving, and took my full kit- E-M1, E-M10, charger, two batteries for each, FL 300 and extra AAAs, TTL cord, _seven_ lenses, two extension tubes, Vello remote, Manfrotto mini pod, four filters and lens adapters, notepad and pen, cleaning brush and cloth, extra SD cards. Set up like that, it will easily slide under an airline seat and weighs 12#. Accessories went into another bag. When packing for the day, I took out one body and the lenses I wasn't going to need, and the front section held a reflector, jacket, wool cap, gloves, first aid kit, piece of yoga mat to kneel on, snacks. Water bottles in the side pockets. It rode great. Good straps, chest strap great. Even the waist strap worked well; for me (6' tall) the pack rode away from my back, so no sweat patch! A couple of suggestions for 2.0: There needs to be a grab loop on the bottom to be able to move the pack without zipping it up. More loops on the back to allow stretch cord for additional jacket..... And one tiny suggestion- build a whistle into the chest strap. The REI Flash 18 does that, and it is handy. A great pack.

Scott B.

Originally posted at

2016-11-13T19:00:00

If you still use film or smaller digital cameras try this bag out. Low profile, light weight but strong separators, and should be easy to store under your seat or even in small upper airline compartments. Should make taking regional jets or even props a breeze. Thanks Mindshift!

Barry P.

Originally posted at