"I decided to purchase the MindShift Gear Backlight 36L Backpack after viewing numerous YouTube review videos of several camera backpack manufacturers options. The "perfect" camera backpack is very subjective and personal, based upon the specific equipment carrying needs of the particular buyer - and there will always be something in any given backpack that doesn't quite meet that person's 100% perfect tick-list. In my case, after seriously considering upwards of half a dozen backpack possibles over a period of several weeks, it became obvious that the MindShift Gear Backlight 36L came closest to my personal idea of perfection. It goes without saying that the backpack had to be extremely well constructed, rugged and durable, have excellent rain penetration resistance and, sufficient space and partitioning options to arrange the camera gear exactly how I wanted it. - The MindShift 36L easily meets all of those requirements. My requirements also included a separate storage partition capable of holding full outerwear clothing kit - weatherproof hard-shell jacket, over trousers, hat and gloves, and with still enough space to accommodate a typical fleece/duvet jacket, and food for the day, when needed.- Again, the MindShift 36L meets those requirements. The carrying straps and waist-belt are comfortable when the pack is fully loaded, and the padded gear storage lid is again very comfortable against my back when walking. As mentioned, no backpack will ever be "perfect", and the MindShift 36L is no exception.- In my case I will never be carrying a laptop, so the dedicated laptop compartment is an unnecessary element, as is the extremely small top pocket which might carry a few keys or a small phone at best! I will never use the central tripod carrying pocket & straps, as I much prefer carrying the tripod on the side of the pack, using one of the side pockets and side straps. (A small gripe, but it would have been a better design if both ends of those side straps were connected to the main gear compartment rather than one end being on the outer storage compartment - which potentially makes the tripod less secure when needing to fully access that outer compartment). The two side pockets are excellent. - Either pocket (when not containing tripod legs) will easily hold two 500ml water bottles side by side, and the pockets (each complete with tough drawstring closures) are deep enough to prevent any reasonable possibility of whatever is in them from falling out. All in all, the MindShift Gear Backlight 36L meets my requirements better than any other camera backpack of which I'm aware - And with the exceptionally competitive price at which I purchased it from castle cameras, it became the one and only option left on my list. I'm certain it will give many years-worth of productive use enabling the carrying and protecting of my gear during my photography jaunts!"

"I have used mindshift before. Their products are well thought out and robust, and even comfortable. This backpack means I can put the majority of my kit including a zoom and prime lenses and a teleconverter covering the range from 19mm to 280mm. The bag also carries batteries, cards and filters, and any tablets or laptops if I wished to carry more than 10kg. In addition there is room for drinks, spare clothes as well. It does require me to think before I pack the bag. T about what I should take, which is no bad thing. The real advantage is the bag itself is very light."

"Big and comfortable. This holds everything I need to take out for the day. Camera gear, tripod, waterbottle, waterproofs and anything else you need for the day. Been one 5 mile with it loaded up and it never rubbed anywhere. Great service from Castle Cameras as always. "