MindShift UltraLight Dual 36L Photo Daypack, Twilight Blue

2019-12-13T19:00:00

I did received the midnshift ultralight dual 25l black magna. It looked alright but I will phone on monday to my retailer because there was no promissed raincover. I am very curious when I'm going to use the bag.

Antoine K.

Originally posted at

2019-11-18T16:19:16

The bag is the usual great Mindshift quality, the camera gear compartment is large enough for a DSLR with 2.8L lens plus an extra lens, so its just too deep to deal with for my Fuji w/2 lenses. I plan on using it for light hikes and city hikes, so personal gear to camera gear volume ratio is closer to what im looking for, its about 60/40 personal to camera gear, but for city hikes I prefer to ditch the waist belt and while the waist strap is removable the tabs that the belt attaches to are large and not removable.

Neal D.

2019-08-09T18:06:01

This is everything you'll need in a camera backpack.

David R.

2019-08-02T20:00:00

I just received this backpack yesterday and have not had a chance to 'test drive' it yet. It's difficult to find a good camera bag that is also good for day hikes and this bag has great features that other camera bags lack (e.g., a wide padded waist strap). However, while many features seem good, one complaint is that the shoulder and waist straps are not well designed for a smaller individual. In order to snug up the shoulder and waist straps while wearing summer weight clothing (i.e., one layer), I have to snug up the straps to the absolute limit. For the waist strap, this precludes using the little elastic retainers to secure the loose ends. For the shoulder straps, they could probably be snugged up an extra inch but this isn't available. Hopefully there will be a version 2.0 that is more user friendly for a smaller person.

Joan C.

Originally posted at

2019-06-02T20:00:00

I used the bag for a week-long trip to the Netherlands that included a 100-mile bike ride over two days. The bag was comfortable, balanced and left me enough room for all my clothes for the trip, plus a Nikon D800, 14-24, 24-70 and 300 - all f/2.8 - and a MacBook 15. On day excursions, I pulled the inner bag out and had plenty of room for gear (sans the 300). It fit without hassle in the overheads of Alaska Airlines and British Airways jets. Great bag.

M S.

Originally posted at

2019-04-18T20:00:00

I couldn't get this pack packed back into the box for return fast enough. It felt like I was carrying a much heavier load than 30lbs. I packed my camera gear in the bottom compartment first, which does hold an incredible amount (Nikon D810 w/o grip 2/Rok 14mm attached, 70-200 2.8 in the bottom, plus a 16-35mm f4 & another old small macro lens. Great capacity in the bottom. Personal gear packed in remaining space above camera area - Jetboil Flash, Profoto A1 + chargers & extra batteries, hammock, change of clothes and ipad, few other items. The shoulder straps cut into me in very weird ways and felt like my skin would rub off just trying to take the pack off. The pack sits way too low for proper load balance and the shoulder straps weren't adjustable with a huge gap between my shoulders and the top of the strap. Trying to remove the camera from the camera area was an awkward nightmare, and I felt like the pack was going to pull me over sideways or backwards if I wasn't standing straight up or tried to move it. I loaded the exact same load into my Osprey Ariel 55 and it was so much better! I could hike for 20 miles easily in my Osprey. My perfect solution? ThinkTank, merge with Osprey. Let them design backpacks and you tell them where to put cool and convenient features for photographers. I am finished trying to purchase camera backpacks. It's expensive and continually disappointing and I don't have time to keep trying. This pack might fit someone else better.

Leann

Originally posted at

2019-03-24T08:50:05

I really like this backpack, it is lightweight and has enough room for my mirrorless camera. Also, there is a bit place left to put some extra stuff like clothes and such. happy with the purchase.

siarhei k.

2019-02-09T19:00:00

The bag hung in my closet for nearly two years and I'd bring it out every so often to see if it would work for a certain trip. I finally used it on a recent trip to Lake Kertini in Greece to shoot the pelicans. It was just what I needed. It became my carry-on for the flights with two bodies and four lenses, a Mac computer and travel necessities such as change of clothing in case my checked bag did not make it to the destination. My RRS tripod was attached to the front. I simply carried the backpack through Philadelphia, Chicago and the Munich airports. I am a +75 year old women and am now packing it for a trip to Norway to shoot the Northern Lights. I am so glad I didn't return the bag and I expect it to go on many more photography adventures. Thank you!

Sue E.

Originally posted at

2019-02-01T19:00:00

This is a nice sturdy bag with lots of space to put your equipment. My favorite feature of the bag is the “lunch bag” portion that I often use separate from entire bag. The reason I deducted two stars is because although it’s a sturdy bag, it’s not as sturdy as I thought it would be. More importantly I haven’t seen/figured out how I can properly secure my secure my equient inside the bag with the included inserts.

Arlisa T.

Originally posted at

2019-02-01T19:00:00

I’ve just returned from a two week trip to Africa. I used the bag as one of my allowed carryons for some of my camera kit, along with ThinkTank’s Airport International V2.0. The UltraLight Dual 25L is light weight and adaptable. I used my DJI Mavic 2 Pro in the lower compartment. Nice fit! The top hatch packet was handy for my travel documents and readily accessible. When the overhead bins were full, the Dual 25L fit nicely under the seat in front. On trips into the countryside in various trucks, the bag kept my equipment both handy and dust protected. A quick damp cloth cleaned it up well. Overall, I’m very pleased.

J M.

Originally posted at

2019-02-01T19:00:00

Decent pack. Used it Nordic skiing recently and it allowed good arm swing. Too heavy with 3 lenses and my m4/3 body but excellent with just the camera and 1 or 2 lenses. Right size for day use with jackets and essentials, not too big like some bags

J M.

Originally posted at

2019-01-31T19:00:00

I love being able to fit all my gear into one bag and go. Prior I would have to drag 3 different bags, plus tripod, plus whatever else. Now I can fit it all in one and have arms to carry additional light stands... Or to simply have hands and arms to use. It's well laid out and had storage everywhere. My only negative on it (minor) is the fact that the bottom storage area has nothing to keep it open for easy reinstallation of the camera pouch. It's not a huge deal as its still relatively easy to put in, more of a nice to have. Otherwise super comfortable both as a full bag, or just the camera pouch. Highly recommend this product!

Brian R.

Originally posted at

2018-11-04T19:00:00

This is a great backpack for moderate amounts of photo gear. It is light, flexible and the right size for walking in both urban and outdoor environments. I love the pull-out case used for a belt or should bag. Two complaints: 1) the Rain cover should be integrated. I am going to lose it. Given where other bags on the market are, there is no reason not to sew it into its own pouch on the bottom and 2) a few more small pockets for the inside of the upper compartment. Nevertheless, I believe this bag is as close as I have seen to the ideal. Very happy with the purchase and the customer service I have received with minor issues or concerns from ThinkTank.

Adam W.

Originally posted at

2018-09-21T13:05:02

I found the Mind Shift Pack to be exceptionally comfortable. I carry a lot of gear while hiking and it was the most comfortable experience I have had in years. The upper section is large enough to have a jacket, food and other gear in it so if it rains or snows, I have something I can put on and not get wet. It's nice to have the extra space - Jim

JIM W.

2018-07-21T20:00:00

As a hiker that doesn't like to carry a ton of lenses, usually just my 18-400mm and my Canon. This is the perfect bag. Plenty of room for my water bladder as well as an extra bottle of water for even longer hikes. Camera is well protected with easy access when the mood strikes. I've used other bags for a while but nothing has compared to this one. Just hiked all throughout Arches & Canyonlands and love it!

Sarah

Originally posted at

2017-11-21T19:00:00

This is a great bag for traveling. I haven't found another bag that has the functionality, versatility and usability of this bag for photographers 1) It's lightweight, collapsible, strong, comfortable fit, with a solid removable camera pouch with good protection to your camera gear. 2) You can put a complete change of wardrobe (shirts, pants, etc.) , a very large toiletries bag, computer accessories bag, sunglasses case, food, as well as a laptop and iPad - & more in the slip pouch inside in the top pouch. 3) The camera pouch holds: Canon 5D, 24-70mm 2.8L lens, 70-300mm f4.5 lens, 40mm f2.8 lens, teleconverter, small flash, 6 filters in a slim pouch, 3 batteries, 1 charger, camera strap. Taking the camera pouch OUT, the bag collapses down to a size that will EASILY meet even the stingiest carryon size restrictions. Your camera pouch is then your PURSE (and smaller than most!) ISSUES: 1) VELCRO MATERIAL NOT ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF CAMERA COMPARTMENT: You have limited options to compartmentalize and can also only compartmentalize vertically, not horizontally and you can only compartmentalize the space in halves, not in quarters. 2) ELIMINATE CAMERA LOGO: It says to everyone: "This bag has camera equipment! Steal me!" 3) SECURE OUTSIDE POCKET: The current outside side "pouch" needs a secure latching mechanism, preferably a zipper. 4) KEY HOOK/Ring: A key hook on the inside pocket would be useful. 5) LOW PROFILE POUCH ON FRONT OF BAG: This bag needs another pocket.

Gary M.

Originally posted at

2017-11-07T19:00:00

The bag is a very good looking one with well thought and executed details. I could fit below equipment in the camera compartment in a relaxed way; writing just for a reference. Sony A7RII + 16-35 f/2.8 (hood upside down) Sony GM 70-200 f/2.8 (hood upside down) Carl Zeiss 55 f/1.8 Samyang 14AF f/2.8 x1.4 Teleconverter Concerning the camera compartment, I think that, it could be even better, if all internal walls were velcro, not just two; really made it difficult for the placement of the compartments. Another suggestion could be to have the raincover fixed and hidden somewhere, as most of the outdoor bags. Other than that, the shoulder straps look soft and ventilated; can't wait to be able to use it.

Umit C.

Originally posted at

2017-08-15T20:00:00

I love this bag, but my laptop won't fit in it (15" Lenovo P50). My girlfriend's 15" HP fits, but just barely. The thing that surprised me about this bag is that the 16l actually seems to have more room in the upper compartment than this one (it's deeper). The 25l definitely has more space for camera stuff though.

Justin M.

Originally posted at

2017-06-25T09:18:53

It's not perfect, but what bag is? The Ultralight makes easy work of carrying a camera and a healthy amount of extras as long as expectations are reasonable. I managed to squeeze a Nikon D600 DSLR, 45/1.8, 80-200/2.8 and 24-70/2.8 into the camera compartment, but it was a VERY tight fit. I don’t think I could have done it with an even slightly larger body such as a D800. Leaving out one of those lenses, which is more typical, is a comfortable fit. DSLR users should plan on carrying a simple kit. Note, the D600 with 80-200 mounted just barely fits and therefore isn't something I'd do regularly. A slightly larger body (e.g. D800) with the 80-200 mounted might be squeezed in without the removable padded flap for the camera case’s opening. The upper compartment is spacious and has been used to carry extra clothes for the kids, beach towels, and misc extras on various occasions. There is a lot of space available, but be mindful of using it all. Maxed out, the weight's more than I'd want to carry for any significant length of time. I still need to experiment to figure out how to get good effect from the waist belt. With a more reasonable load (i.e. not completely stuffed), it's fairly comfortable. As for the less obvious, the multiple large zippered “pockets” (outer flap, top interior, flap of camera case) are appreciated. They provide plenty of space for storing smaller items, and having three allows me to separate items into groups. It'd be nice if at least one pocket (preferably the one in the camera case) offered even minimal organization though. The side elastic pocket is generous without being bulky and can comfortably fit two 17oz water bottles. The tuck away tripod straps worked well for me the couple times I used them with my MeFoto travel tripod, but I’m not a heavy tripod user. The removable camera case, despite taking up space, is a welcomed choice. It creates rigidity where you want it most, and it provides an extra layer of separation between gear and anything above that might manage to eke past the top/bottom divider as good a barrier as it is. Nits are few. A little more padding in the straps would be nice. Also, the ability to position dividers vertically in the camera case instead of just horizontally would help with organization as would a shorter "shelved" divider. Carrying a smaller system (e.g. Fuji X) with 3 or even 4 smallish lenses might be annoying given the somewhat limited divider options, and a thicker body might be a challenge given that the shelved divider runs nearly the full length of the camera case. Borrowing dividers from another bag would probably be the way to go in those cases. For carrying multiple smaller lenses, smaller dividers can be loosely fitted. Finally, just an extra 0.5" of bag width would've made a mounted 70-200 more regularly doable, but then again, perhaps they don't want to encourage that as a regular load. All around though, I’m quite pleased with the Ultralight 30L and believe I made the right choice. Some of the other backpacks considered: Ultralight 20L (probably would be great for just my stuff but too small for covering the family), Lowepro Photo Sport (looked great but limited storage for small items), and the Peak Design Everyday Backpack (more configurable camera carry but expensive and seems less flexible in other ways). Other bags owned: Think Tank Retrospective 30, Peak Design Everyday Messenger 15.

ALAN L.

2017-03-25T20:00:00

I'm a backpacker/climber/hiker as well as a photographer, and I love the dual-purpose capability of the Ultralight. With the removable camera compartment that comes with a shoulder strap, I now have a pack that is made to carry camera gear that also carries climbing/hiking gear *comfortably* AND I have a travel pack that allows me to pull my camera gear out if they make me gate check the pack on smaller planes. I'm a fairly minimalist traveler, so I can get multiple days of clothes, toiletry items, etc. in the top easy, and the water bladder pocket fits my 13" laptop with some room to spare at top or bottom. Where other companies make you purchase a rain cover separately for another $30-50, MindShift Gear includes a rain cover for both the pack and the pull-out camera compartment, which is greatly appreciated. I can lash snowshoes to the outside of it, carry a tripod, etc., and it carries the weight similarly to an actual backpacking pack. Everything is so well thought-out and constructed. I'm not a big "gear" gal, but I'm super pleased when I find something that fits my needs so well. I've finally found a pack that covers both of my worlds (climbing/hiking and normal travel) perfectly and comfortably. *does happy dance* Thank you, Mindshift Gear!

Tif H.

Originally posted at

2016-10-07T11:08:35

So easy to use and comfortable. There is a place for everything with easy access when out on the trail.

Ronald M.

2016-09-20T20:00:00

Used the bag for a trip to Italy. Fits carry-on limits on international flights. On train trips between cities, it carried my computer and lots of extra stuff. When touring the cities and countryside, I used only the camera insert on a belt/shoulder strap combo. DSLR, 3 lenses, flash and filters. Totally comfortable and functional. And I also hung a water bottle holster on the belt (from Think Tank - it would be nice if there was a Mindshift version!). The light weight of the bag helps avoid the airline weight limits, it fits a full size laptop, and has plenty of space for lots of extra travel stuff. I've also used the bag for some day hikes. Obviously it does well there too, since that's what it was designed for!

Rocco

Originally posted at

2016-02-20T19:00:00

I have been searching for a great ski vacation bag for a recent trip out west. After looking at a bunch and deciding to move away from a small competitor bag, this was my choice for carrying my D810 with a 18-35 attached on the slopes for the day. In short, it worked very well as its a light bag, with easy quick side access for a large camera like the 810. The added bonus was that I was able to add the panorama/horizon insert in the top compartment and carry onto the plane ride, a 50m, 14-24 (on camera in lower section) and 28-300. In all 4 lenses, a small tripod along with some filters, iPad etc - a ton of stuff....and the bag fit under my seat on 4 plane legs. Overall, well built bag with a ton of versatility for this trip..one small improvement I might consider - a larger "zipper size" on the side access panel to allow for possibly a bit smoother "zipping" on the go (the quality was fine). In sum, very nice bag! ps- even holds a hydration pack for skiing at 11000 feet!

Steve

Originally posted at