Mindshift BackLight 18L

£199 www.snapperstuff.com If you’re looking for a backpack that’s designed specifically for outdoor use, the Mindshift BackLight range offers three bags with capacities of 18, 26 and 36 litres. In this test, we’re looking at the Mindshift BackLight 18L – the most compact bag in the range but one that provides enough space for a landscape photographer to carry up to one pro-spec DSLr without a grip attached, a 16-35mm, 70-200mm, filters and accessories. you could also carry up to two cameras if you didn’t carry a telephoto zoom.

As an outdoor daypack, the BackLight offers space for camera gear with two pockets at the front of the bag providing five litres of space for personal items. At just 1.6kg the BackLight is joint lightest in this round- up alongside the Manfrotto redBee. It’s much smaller than its rival with less space for kit, although it is more comfortable to wear with superior airflow.

Kit is accessed only from the back, but the bag is designed so that you can swivel it to your front on the waistbelt and access kit at waist level. once the back is open it will support itself on your hips and a loop on the rear flap can be placed over your head to hold the rear flap up, making it easier to access your gear.

Additional storage comes in the form of two large elasticated side pockets that can carry a jacket, bottles of water or anything else of this size. one of the pockets doubles up as a tripod connection with a robust elastic loop for extra support. The main tripod connection, however, is found on the front of the bag.

The Mindshift Backlight 18L is incredibly comfortable and can carry enough kit for a day’s shooting. If you’d like to carry minimal kit this bag is ideal, but if you require more space the 26L and 36L are worth a look. All in all, this is a practical option for outdoor photographers.