subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 29 June 2019 51At a glance
● Side-opening design
● Fits full-frame DSLR
with 3-5 lenses
● Pocket for 15-inch laptop
● 33x50x19cm, 1.4kgCHOOSING a camera bag usually
involves making some sort of
compromise. Shoulder bags give
quick and easy access to your
camera and lenses, but limit the
amount you can carry comfortably.
Backpacks are much better for your
shoulders and back when you’re
lugging around a large amount of kit,
but generally make it more awkward
to get at. With its side-opening
design, the Mindshift Gear
Photocross 15 might just offer
the ideal balance.
The basic idea is that all your kit is
accessed through a single zipped fl ap
that covers the entirety of one side.
When you need to get at your
camera, you simply slide one strap off
your left shoulder and swing the bag
round to your front. This isn’t quite as
convenient as a proper shoulder bag
for shooting on the go, but I prefer it
to any other backpack I’ve used.
Inside you’ll fi nd a sizeable space
that’s easily suffi cient to hold a
full-frame DSLR with a 28-70mm
f/2.8 or 24-105mm f/4 zoom
attached, and at least three or four
other lenses as large as a 70-200mm
f/2.8 or 100-400mm telezoom.
Indeed some users might fi nd the
bag too large, with small lenses at
risk of rattling around inside. There’s
also a padded compartment that will
take a 15-inch laptop, while two
large mesh pockets inside the fl ap
can be used to organise smaller
items. A zipped pocket covering the
front face of the bag is perfect for
items such as maps or snacks and a
small internal pocket will keep your
phone or passport secure.
Mindshift Gear has prioritised
ruggedness and light weight in
the design and construction, with
high-quality, waterproof nylon forthe exterior and a tough tarpaulin
base. Both zips are waterproof and
employ T-shaped pulls, making them
extremely easy to open and close.
There’s a separate rain cover for
particularly challenging weather,
which folds away neatly into its own
integrated pouch. The harness is
relatively lightly padded, but in practice
I found the bag very comfortable to
carry, even with a 10kg-plus load.Ve r d i c t
There’s a lot to like about the
Mindshift Gear Photocross 15.
It’s superbly made of premium
materials, and capable of
holding loads of kit. If you
want the carrying comfort of
a backpack but with camera
access similar to a shoulder
bag, it’s a fi ne choice.ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE STREET PRICES
Our review sample of the Photocross
15 came in black and grey with
bright orange zips, which Mindshift
gear calls Orange Ember. If you
prefer a subtler colour scheme,
there’s also this Carbon Grey version
that’s made of two-tone grey fabric
with pale grey zips.COLOUR CHOICE
Mindshift Gear
Photocross 15
backpack
This neatly designed backpack
gives unusually quick access to
your kit, says Andy Westlake
● £169 ● http://www.snapperstuff.comGrab handles
Top and side handles help
with grabbing the bag from
luggage shelves or
overhead lockers.Water bottle
pocket
A stretchy side pocket with
a drawstring closure will
securely hold a drinks
bottle or flask.ACCESSORIES Testbench
GOLD
Tripod
attachment
A tripod can be carried on the
front of the bag using the two
supplied straps. Or you can
strap one to the side, using
the bottle pocket to
hold the legs.Removable
waist belt
If you want to reduce
bulk or are travelling light,
the entire belt can
be removed.