First test
PRICE: £218
SNAPPERSTUFF.COM
MindShift Rotation 22L Taking a great shot can depend on having your camera handy. But that’s not always been easy with photo backpacks – until now
SPECS › Prices Rotation 22L £218. Rotation 22L rain cover £26. Other Rotation sizes available: 34L £262, 50L £375 › Exterior materials All exterior fabric is covered on both sides with a durable, water-repellent coating YKK AquaGuard RC Fuse zippers 100D high-tenacity Triple Ripstop material 100D high-tenacity Ace Twill 1680D nylon ballistic bottom panel Triangle perforated high-density cross-linked angular foam 580G honeycomb air-mesh 350G air-mesh Nylon webbing Three-ply bonded nylon thread › Interior materials Closed-cell cross-linked foam Three-ply bonded nylon thread › Backpack exterior 32x52x22cm › Backpack interior 28.5x29x15cm › Belt pack interior 27x17x15.5cm › Weight 1.8kg › Contact snapperstuff.com 200D polyester lining Belly-o mesh pockets MINDSHIFT GEAR DESIGNS carrying solutions for experienced and pro photographers, especially those keen on the great outdoors. Its Rotation series is available in three sizes: 34L, 50L and the 22L model tested here, priced £218, with a rain cover at £26. Getting to your machine quickly when it’s stored in a backpack can be a problem. By the time you’ve swung the bag round to the front, or laid it
“ATUGONTHE LOCK’STAG FREES THE FLAP, AND BY GRIPPINGTHE WAIST STRAP, THE BELT BAG CAN BE BROUGHTTOTHE FRONT QUICKLY” lens fitted, plus a couple of extra lenses or filter system, can be put inside; dividers are supplied to tailor the interior. The waist bag can also be removed and used on its own. on the ground to remove the camera, that wonderfully photogenic splash of light might no longer be there. The Rotation concept gets around this. It is a single unit with stiff internal backing, but the bottom third is a belt pack you can quickly bring round to the front of your body to access your kit. It’s like having two bags in one, and means you don’t have to take off the backpack. A cover flap on the right side protects the waist bag when it’s not in use, and this is held in place with a magnetic/slip-in catch. I found that releasing and locking could be done by touch. A tug on the lock’s tag frees the flap, and by gripping the waist strap, the belt bag can be brought round to the front quickly. The waist bag is well made, with a deep, magnetic lid to hold it in place securely, even without the zips. The lid opens away from the body, and straps adjust how far it opens. An SLR or mirrorless camera with
BACKVIEW This backpack has great carrying comfort. Torso height can be adjusted to suit different body shapes, and the shoulder straps can also be tailored to your needs The belt pack’s capacity is six litres, which isn’t huge. If you need more room, one of the bigger models would better suit. In this test, I squeezed in a Nikon Z 7II fitted with 24-120mm lens, a 35mm f/1.8 and my speedlight – plus spare batteries/ memory. A Canon EOS R5 fitted with 100mm f/2.8 macro was another successful combination. A single large compartment can be accessed from the top. This is for personal items or food – as well as more photo kit. It isn’t lined to take dividers, and there’s only one elasticated pocket: if you want to add extra lenses or a speedlight, keep them protected with pouches. This compartment is also firmly stiffened.
A tripod can be fitted on the back or left side, so this has no impact on the belt bag. Carrying comfort rates highly. The waist bag is on a wide strap, shoulder straps are padded and there’s also a sternum strap. A ten-point harness and torso height adjustment mean the bag can be fine-tuned to your body shape – and back padding is perforated to aid air flow. WC
Bag choice is always a personal thing, because we all have different needs – whether that’s outfit size or working style. The MindShift Rotation 22L certainly does a great job of keeping a modest camera outfit accessible. And if you need to take more photo kit with you, there’s ample storage in the main body – subject to any other provisions you may want handy.
Verdict The MindShift Rotation 22L is a well-made backpack – a rotating waist bag is a great idea that works effectively. For its build quality and clever design, this is good value. PROS Build quality, rotation idea, solid waist bag with magnets to keep the lid in place, comfortably wide belt, good to carry CONS The capacity of the waist bag is limited
THREE, TWO, ONE... ACTION! When you need your camera, it takes just seconds to open the protective flap and slide the waist bag round to the front of the body. Just open this to access all the photo gear you require
Issue 96 | Photography News 51
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