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

MindShift Gear is no stranger to outdoor gear with their fantastic Rotation line of backpacks. VoTogs was lucky enough to receive the production version of their latest product, the FirstLight (20L), a few weeks early. Unlike the Rotation series, the FirstLight does not have a built in belt pack that can swing around without getting the pack off your back. The FirstLight is a more conventional backpack format, with a bucket load of carrying space, ability to customise the compartments inside and a whole lot of comfort when wearing.

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.

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 back of the FirstLight has three separate regions of padding for the shoulders level, middle back and lower back. MindShift Gear certainly did not skimp on the padding as there is plenty of it between my back and the gear. A wide strap fits snugly to my hips and I found it a nice touch to have an elasticise loop to tuck in the stabiliser strap that is usually left dangling. In fact, all the little pull straps have elasticised loops to keep them close to the main ones.

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).

On the outside are attachment points for a tripod or a few. The options are to use the side pockets for the feet and a compression strap at the top, or the front of the backpack with a small pouch for the leg which is neatly tuck away when not in use. And no outdoor gear bag would be complete without a rain cover, which is included by default.

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.

 

If you’d like to purchase a MindShift product, please consider visiting their store via this affiliate link. It helps us with running costs and occasionally buy a beer.

 

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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If you’d like to purchase a MindShift product, please consider visiting their store via this affiliate link. It helps us with running costs and occasionally buy a beer.

 

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.