MindShift’s latest backpack is a trail blazer — in the literal sense at least. The new TrailScape backpack is designed to pack lots of gear in a slim profile designed for outdoor shoots.
The TrailScape is a new line for MindShift, which is a branch of Think Tank Photo dedicated to products specifically for outdoor photography. The bag can pack in 18 liters of gear — or in case you do not measure your camera kit in liters, a DSLR with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with the hood attached in the shooting position as well as four to six lenses — or five to seven lenses for mirrorless shooters.
Both a 13-inch laptop and 10-inch tablet can slide inside the front pocket, along with smaller accessories and personal items.
But the bag is designed to carry more than what can fit on the inside — the front of the pack includes four attachment or lash points to expand the bag’s capacity using a mesh sling or other accessories. An attachment system is also situated at both sides for carrying a tripod, monopod or hiking stick or simply a water bottle inside the lower pocket portion.
Photographers that fill the bag to its capacity will have a pretty heavy load on their hands, even though the bag itself only weighs 2.8 pounds. To compensate, MindShift added a five-point harness system with a removable waist belt to help ergonomically distribute the weight of the pack. MindShift says the straps are thick but use a mesh to help on warm hikes.
The exterior of the bag is constructed with water-resistant coatings, but MindShift also includes a built-in rain cover for downpour conditions. On the inside, Reinforced Nylex dividers designed with high-density foam help keep gear protected.
Priced at $170, the TrailScape also sits as one of MindShift’s more affordable packs.