Backlight Backpack

A photographer's best friend is their backpack. After 6 years of abuse my current backpack broke down and finally kicked the bucket. I resisted buying a new one until literally the zippers fell off. Could I get a replacement or send it in to be fixed? No that model and branch of the brand was gone. Where do I go to find a new one? Buying a backpack is no easy decision. It’s not just something you carry your gear in. It’s hopefully the start of a partnership that lasts for years, supporting you, and literally carrying your pallet of tools to paint your picture and get the job done. Almost like an inanimate golf catty. It’s also nearly impossible to find a retailer where you can pick up, try on, see, and feel the product.

What am I looking for in a backpack? After years of adventure photography and video work I have a good idea of what I want. Something that is durable, practical, accessible, and a good value. Scouting the internet market and even getting to see backpacks in the flesh I finally landed in the Backlight by Think Tank and I’ll tell you why based on all categories listed previously.

Durability

Adventure photography by nature has me hiking through the coldest, hottest, wettest, and driest of places. I’ve climbed crazy rock structures, scaled mountains, waded through rushing waters, slept in the snow, and repelled into sea caves. So obviously I need to know that my gear is going to come out unscathed after traversing some challenging conditions. This backpack so far has proven to be just that. Its exterior design and sturdy hard dividers keep gear not only protected for the outside environment, it also keeps it in place. So many times with old backpacks have I finished a hike and opened my pack to find dividers smashed, velcro loose, and gear strewn about. This backpack has a deep organizer and sturdy dividers that hold their ground after being jostled around. They are easy to customize to fit multiple camera bodies, large lenses, a drone, and all accessories just in the main compartment. I could drop this backpack from shoulder height and not worry that gear will get smashed or displaced. It’s got excellent weather proof material, water resistant and a rain cover too.

Practicality

Next on the importance list of backpacks is its practicality. Adventuring in wild places means needing to be efficient with what to bring and how to bring it. Whether it is on a plane, in a vehicle, or on your back you need to be able to take it anywhere with ease. This back panel has got it all. Multiple exterior compartments for tripods of different sizes, water bottles, carabiners and strapped clips for almost anything. It's got front pockets designated for a tablet, laptop, and any other loose gear. It is very comfortable for hiking with extremely soft and sturdy shoulder straps and a very padded back panel. My favorite part is the padded waist strap. It allows for lots of comfort, support, and keeps the bag close to you when making difficult hikes.

Accessibility

Normally I am searching for a backpack that has quick and easy access to the interior through the top or side pockets. This backpack does not have such features. It has something even better that I didn’t know was the answer to my needs until I tried it! It has an extremely sturdy waist strap so that you can remove the shoulder straps, spin the pack around and access the main compartment without needing to put the backpack down at all. This is a huge plus, easy to use, quick access to everything, and keeps your gear out of the elements. So many times when I’m shooting in the dark I would need to put my backpack down, and not see that I was putting it in mud, dirt, a cactus, and/or lose something in the process. This feature removes all of that from the equation and allows you to throw it back on quick and easy. I also love the zipper system. A sturdy and fluid double zipper system allows me to throw open that main compartment in one fell swoop. Again, making all the goods quick and easy to access. 

Value

With 18L, 26L, 36L, and 45L as options, the cost of this backpack ranges from $219.75-$439.75. To me this gives photographers great options to select a size that matches their needs without needing to break the bank. This size and price spectrum is somewhat rare in the photography world and makes it really easy to select the backpack that’s right for you without the fear of overpaying. It also has a limited lifetime warranty which means any defect in the craftsmanship of the pack can be repaired. It does not cover normal wear and tear(but who does anyways) and they do offer replacement parts which I think is a plus.

Overall I’m pretty happy with my decision to purchase the Backlight. It suits my needs quite well as an adventure photographer. It has the capacity, durability, accessibility that I’m looking for while I’m out in the wild and it fits my budget. It’s an investment that will keep my gear safe, hopefully keep me from ever missing a shot, and it does look pretty cool with the either black or green options. If you’re interested in this backpack or any Think Tank gear click the Affiliate link below for discounted pricing.