The features that attracted me to the bag:
- It's a bit smaller than my Loka.
- It looks like a fairly ordinary pack, albeit stiff from padding.
- It has back panel access.
- The camera compartment is more than long enough for the 100-400 mounted. In fact, I can store it with my hood in the ready position and still have the 1.4x mounted as well.
- It can hold two water bottles, one on either side.
Other features:
- Tripod carry system on the front of the pack
- Can use the side compression straps to carry a tripod on the side
- Rain cover included
- Front pocket is big enough for a thin layer and snacks
- Lightly padded laptop sleeve
The Backlight 26L comes in green and black. I choose green.
Fit and Quality
It is nicely made, with thick padding that is both soft and firm enough. The belt wings are stiff enough to let the weight sit on my hips. I find the pack comfortable enough if I don't overload it; If I completely fill the camera section with lenses, it feels heavy. It does not have an internal frame, but is stiff enough that I don't think that matters for how I use it. It holds its shape whether fully loaded or empty.
The padding on the shoulder straps and back is thick and well-cushioned, with nice mesh to let some air flow and wick moisture. It doesn't breathe quite as well as a good hiking pack, but it isn't bad.
The zippers are high quality and easy to use. The big zipper pulls make opening and closing while wearing gloves easy. Access to the camera compartment is as quick as it gets and you can see everything at once when open.
Being a smaller pack, it does not fit my back perfectly, nor does it have load lifters, and so it can't replace a serious hiking backpack. For reference, I have an 18" torso. I believe the Backlight fits a 16" torso.
Space
I measured the Backlight at about 18" tall, 10.5" wide, and 5.5" deep (interior dimensions). This is usually more space than I need. However, it is nice to be able to hold my 100-400 mounted with 1.4x and lens hood in the ready position (then again, to be ready you really need the camera in your hand), and still have room along the sides for extra lenses and filters.
It has a lightly padded laptop sleeve inside the front pocket, away from your body. I like this light padding because it doesn't add much thickness to the pack when it isn't used. It also has an un-padded sleeve just outside the laptop sleeve that will fit a large tablet, and a couple of shallow organizer pockets. Overall the front pocket is large, deep and expandable. I can fit thin layers in it like a rain shell, but at the expense of other items. It works well as a travel bag.
The two side stretch pockets are very deep and completely swallow my 18 oz water bottles. This actually makes it hard to pull the bottles out while the pack is on my back, but the bottles have never fallen out.
Cons
While the camera compartment layout is great if you have a longer lens or two, that means the accessories pocket is on the front. You have to change the bag orientation to get to it. It is deep and shallow and you can't see everything, so you have to feel around for items. Also, if the items you put in there are small and all fall to the bottom, you can't lay the camera completely flat when you get into the camera compartment. It also means that soft items like a sandwich will get squished when you access the camera compartment. This is the result of the design choice. Everything is a trade-off in design.
The organizer pockets are too shallow for a mini-maglight, which I always carry.
The camera compartment opening has a loop inside which is meant to go around your neck and hold the camera compartment open when the backpack is on your waist, slung in front of you to change lenses. Neat idea. I expected it would have a hook to stow it when not needed. No such luck. It just floats around loose and gets in the way. Every time I zipped the bag closed, I had to push the loop out of the way. I ended up removing the loop.
The top pocket is too thin for all but the smallest items. I've stuffed small tools like my hex and star wrenches, and AAA batteries in it. Not much else will fit. If I were to design a mark II version, I would move/remove the tripod carrier and make this pocket more like a "brain" used on hiking packs, with a rear opening and more space. I asked Mindshift for this feature in the next iteration.
It is a good thing that I rarely use my backpack to carry my tripod. The built in tripod carry system puts the tripod on the front of the pack, away from your body, making the bag hard to set down when you need to access your camera gear. I prefer side carry... but honestly I usually just carry my tripod in my hands.
$250 is pricey for a pack this size.
Summary
If you need a backpack this size with the features it has, it is a great pack.
I've started using it on my commutes since I sometimes need to carry my laptop to and from work, and I like photographing flowers and sunrises on my way in. With the stiff hipbelt, it carries the laptop and camera much better than my old student pack (shoulder straps only).
I use it for travel, short walks around small lakes, and urban trips such as zoo visits.
I am still searching for a great hiking pack that can carry my camera gear comfortably and has easy access. Finding the balance between all the things I need has proven difficult.
Since buying this pack, Mindshift has released two other sizes of this pack, an 18L and 36L. For simple zoo outings, the 18L would work just fine, though I'm not sure about the fit and comfort vs my 26L. The 36L is meant for pro DSLRs and I don't need that much depth.
Update: Mindshift and Thinktank have remerged (Thinktank is the parent company), and came out with a 45L Backlight. I like the feature set but have to try it on for size.
