Think Tank FirstLight+ Camera Backpack 46L

2025-01-21T19:00:00

I love the design and build quality of the backpack. I can store my larger telephoto lenses attached to my camera body. The feature enabling one to shrink or expand the width of the bag is brilliant. I also love the detachable top pouch and the ability to convert it into a ***** pack. The product appears to be well-constructed of quality materials. No backpack is perfect but this product comes very close!

Michael D.

Originally posted at

2024-12-15T19:00:00

Love it!!

Stephanie

Originally posted at

2024-10-22T20:00:00

I bought this pack a couple of months ago, and took it on a recent trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It worked very well. It's my first Think Tank MindShift, but it won't be my last. I have owned a number of backpacks over the years, and although this one is not perfect, it's close.  Very close.  I would not hesitate to recommend this bag to anyone needing a medium sized backpack to haul their gear.  It's a really nice, well thought out backpack.   So, the pros & cons: PROS:  It really is deep enough for a pro or gripped body, even with an L-bracket attached.  Everything is below the zipper level. This has been my main gripe about other backpacks, even those advertised to fit gripped/pro bodies.  This backpack solved this major problem beautifully. It's comfortable to wear. I don't hike miles and miles, but I do get out there (see attached photo), and I had no problem carrying this bag full of gear. The shoulder straps are comfortable and easily adjustable, as is the waist belt. It seems to be well made.  Of course, this is not a surprise from Think Tank. There is room for both Nikon Z7ii bodies with grips & L-brackets attached, three lenses (14-30mm f/4 S, 24-120mm f/4 S and the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 S), and all of my bits and bobs, all without needing to use the exterior pockets.  This means the exterior pockets are left for things that change from trip to trip.  If I'd cut back on the bits & bobs, or move them to the outer pockets, I could get another lens or so in.   I like the idea that the tripod can be mounted on either side or the back.  And I like that there are 2 water bottle pockets.  Nice touch. There is a nice little pouch on the left side of the belt.  Not sure what will go in that (snacks?), but it's there, and I'll use it.  Another very nice touch. It does stand up vertically.  I have at least one backpack from another maker that will not, due to a design flaw.  This is a major deal in my book. Padding is great.  Not worried about protection. LOTS of dividers included.  Far more than I need.  Makes for lots of versatility.   CONS (some picky, some not so picky): I wish there was another way to store the shoulder straps and belt.  Oh well.  The Think Tank method will work.  Speaking of the belt, it would be nice if it was removable. It's not, but I knew this going in. The removable floating top pocket seems pretty useless, especially in light of the need to unbuckle 2 of the buckles to access the main compartment.  Since it comes with a built-in waist belt, I thought I could use it for its secondary use as a ***** pack.  Sadly, I am not a small person, and unlike the main belt, which is just big enough for my girth, the belt on the floating top pocket doesn't come close.  Odd that.  I would think the second would fit anyone the first fits, but it's not so.  Another couple of inches of webbing, and this wouldn't be an issue.  This makes the removable floating top pocket pretty useless for me except as originally intended.  Don't see myself using it that way.  (BTW, if you take the floating top pocket off, there is no place to store the straps that attach to the pack itself.) The rain cover is not attached.  It does come in its own little pouch, but it must be stored either in the bag or in one of the side pockets (sacrificing valuable space).  This means I have to open the bag, at least to an extent, just to get to the rain cover.  I guess I need to pay more attention to the weather report. My 16" Macbook Pro barely fits in the allotted space, and it's quite difficult to get it in - the space is hardly wide enough, and if there is anything in the lid pockets thicker than a piece of paper, the laptop isn't going  all the way in.  If the laptop itself was any thicker at all, it would not fit.  Not good. I wish the side compression straps were removable. The top one on the left side makes getting into the side zippered pocket difficult at best. I'm not particularly crazy about how the sternum strap fits, but that may just be me. This last one is a really picky little thing, I know, but I think it matters.  All of the zipper pulls are identical.  This means I can't just glance at the bag and know if it's closed or not.  Other maker's bags come with brightly colored pulls on the main compartment, making it easy to see if the camera compartment is shut.  I fixed this with a couple of short pieces of red paracord. All-in-all, it's the best bag I've found to date and although it's not perfect, I like it and and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a new backpack.

Don R.

Originally posted at