Review: MindShift Gear’s FirstLight Outdoor Camera Backpack
1 July 2015

The MindShift Gear FirstLight 20L Bag in the wild!
It has been a while since I have gone on a serious hike, particularly now with other priorities taking up my time. But on the other hand, I can carry my gear (and a few snacks, drinks) rather comfortably whilst taking my boys to the park up the road.

MindShift Gear FirstLight Camera Bags. Ideal for every trek.
Being an avid hiker in a previous life, I am pretty pedantic when it comes to adjusting my pack for comfort. Afterall, when you are carrying about half your body weight over a couple of hundred kilometers on foot, you want your pack to sit just right. The FirstLight was obviously designed with comfort in mind with plenty of adjustment points to suit a range of body sizes. Aside from the usual strap adjustments, this backpack has an adjustable torso length, allowing the weight to sit just at the right spot. Importantly for me, this allows me to easily change the center of gravity depending on the load I have inside.

The MindShift Gear FirstLight 20L allows for plenty of adjustments to straps on the rear.
Unzip the FirstLight fully and all your gear is available for easy access. There is no shortage of included dividers to divvy up your bag as you see fit, all of these are velcro types which can be attached anywhere inside the bag. Three zippered mesh compartments on the inside of the cover allows for plenty of triggers, cables, spare batteries, cards and what not. Through a deceptively small top opening, the cover itself can hold a laptop up to 15 inch in size (actually it fits my work 15.6″ laptop – just).

The MindShift Gear FirstLight (20L) has plenty of room for gear!
After giving the 20L version of the MindShift Gear FirstLight a good work out, I can confidently say that it has all the hallmarks of a great gear bag in a good size for my purposes. The build quality is superb, with strong zippers and material that feels tough, while not abrasive. The bag just feels solid and well made. Of note is that the bag has a good amount of padding between the exterior and the interior, which is great for when hiking and moving through dense bush, to severely reduce risk of any gear inside being damage in the event of a stumble (and to reduce the risk of bruising my back). To date, I have not discovered any shortcomings, and with the larger variants offering hydration pockets, I strongly recommend this bag to anyone who likes to travel with plenty of gear. I am totally looking forward to putting it through the paces more thoroughly.
SPECIFICATIONS
FirstLight 20L:
Exterior Dimensions: 11.4” W x 18.7” H x 7” D (29 x 47.5 x 17.8 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 10.8” W x 17.5”H x 5.3” D (27.5 x 44.5 x 13.5 cm)
Front Pocket: fits up to 15” laptop
Weight: 4.4lb (1.9kg)
FirstLight 30L:
Exterior Dimensions: 12” W x 19” H x 8.7” D (30.5 x 48.3 x 22 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 11.2” W x 18.1”H x 7.1” D (28.5 x 46 x 18 cm)
Front Pocket: fits up to 15” laptop
Weight: 5.4 lbs (2.4 kg)
FirstLight 40L:
Exterior Dimensions: 13.8” W x 21.7” H x 9” D (35 x 55 x 22.9 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 13.4” W x 20” H x 7.3” D (34 x 51 x 18.5 cm)
Front Pocket: fits up to 17” laptop
Weight: 6.0 lbs (2.7 kg)
KEY FEATURES
• Dedicated 3L hydration pocket on side (30L & 40L only)
• Tablet or laptop fits into front pocket (20L & 30L = up to 15” laptop; 40L = up to 17” laptop)
• Includes tripod/monopod mounting system on front or side
• Better weight distribution for a more comfortable load enables easier all day use on the trail
• Seamless rain cover (included) doubles as a ground cloth
• When attached, rain cover allows small to medium tripods to be carried on front or side positions
• 2 front stuff pockets for travel or trail essentials; extra layers, a light jacket, headlamp, gloves, chargers
• Adjustable high-density closed-cell foam dividers for large telephoto lenses, traditional photo gear, or personal items
• Large water bottle or accessory pocket with drains and cinch cord for security
• Top zippered pocket for quick access to essentials
• Ballistic nylon bottom panel for durability in harsh environments
• Shaped aluminum torso stay for additional support
• Grab handles on 3 sides make it easy to hoist into an overhead bin, car, or trunk (2 handles on 20L)
• Interior mesh pockets for storing filters, batteries, cables, etc.
• Side compression straps with locking SR buckles for additional lash points
• Shoulder straps and waist belt wrap to front for compact storage in overhead compartment
• Whistle integrated into sternum strap buckle
• Compatible with MindShift Tripod Suspension Kit, Lens Switch Case, and the filter cases
GEAR PROFILE
• FirstLight 20L: Holds 1 standard-size DSLR and 4–6 standard zoom lenses. Holds 2 large Mirrorless DSLRs and 5–7 lenses plus a flash. Maximum lens size: 200–400mm f/4 detached or 300 f/2.8 attached.
• FirstLight 30L: Holds 1 gripped DSLR and 4–6 standard zoom lenses, and 1 flash. Maximum lens size: 500mm f/4 lens detached or 400 f/2.8 attached.
• FirstLight 40L: Holds 2 gripped DSLRs with 6–8 standard zoom lenses and 1–2 flashes. Maximum lens size: 600mm f/4 lens detached or a 500mm f/4 attached.
PRICE
FirstLight 20L: USD$229.99
FirstLight 30L: USD$279.99
FirstLight 40L: USD$329.99
A collection of images from MindShift. Click to cycle through images.
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Kevin Cheng is a product of East colliding with West, a juxtaposition of old culture and new. Eternally juggling his roles as husband, father, IT boffin, engineer, chef, photographer, gadget reviewer, writer, whisky connoisseur, wine lover and dreamer. He is generally found in a highly keffinated state and is a workaholic who does not understand the meaning of slowing down. He can be found sporadically on Flickr or say hello on Twitter @aerokev.
Hi Kevin,
It was a nice review and I need your advice.
I have zeroed in on Firstlight and Fstop Ajna but I am unable to decide which is ibetter for my needs.
I have a neck problem (C3/C4) and get easily fatigued with 3-4 hours of travel with my cullman sydneypro backpack.So I now use a sipderpro holster for minimal kit .
However for a workshop I need a good day bag with excellent weight distribution of hiking bags ,which provide excellent support and comfort.Could you help me choose between the same.
Mygear is
D5100
18-55 kit lens
35 prime
70-30 tele
SB700 flash
vanguard tripod
macbook 13
batteries,remote control etc
Believe you’ve been in touch with Sime, so will leave you in his capable hands :) – Peter