MindShift Rotation180 - an outdoor bag from the people behind Think Tank

I'd rather see someone partner with Osprey (or similar pack maker). Start with a proper backpack design (hint: it really is all in the hips!) and extend that design for camera gear, rather than trying to start with a camera bag morphed into a backpack.

The only problem I see with this design is that a properly fitting backpack is supposed to rest more on your hips then your shoulders. With this design it seems as though ALL of the weight will need to be on your shoulders to allow the lower section to easily swivel around your waist.
For those that don't hike regularly you may not realize that but walk into an REI and get fitted properly and ask the employee, they'll tell you the same thing.

Looks like a good idea, but too heavy like the other ThinkTank bag. 2.5kg for the bag?????

I dunno. I'd rather just use a cotton carrier AND a backpack.

Looks like a great pack for my needs, been trying to figure out the best system for hiking and taking pics on the go. When I hiked the Grand Canyon I tried lashing a small Think Tank holster bag to my chest and while it worked OK for getting the camera out, it was a pain to put on and take off.

For me I hate loss momentum by having to take a pack off to pull the camera out and don't want my camera just dangling around my neck especially when I am scrambling. And like others have said here I need space for all my hiking essentials too like hydration, first aid, rain coat, etc.

Yeah its expensive, but I've always had great experience with Think Tank bags and if this lives up to that kind of build quality then I think it is worth it.

Looks interesting indeed. But even if the rotating belt pack would not compromise the stability of the backpack (which it may or may not), I think that the remaining volume of the backpack is too small for serious day hiking where one needs to carry clothing food and possibly other supplies too. And indeed the provided belt bag is too small for (most) serious camera equipment so one will need to use the insert and then there is really no space left.

So, guys, interesting, but give us a pro version.

I thought Kickstarter said recently that they were trying to reduce the number of "product" projects on their site. Product projects are fine and all but let's see some "real" innovation. Not incremental improvements to a "technology" that's been around for thousands of years, from an already wealthy businessman.

Whilst I like the concept surely the nature of the quick access compartment compromises the bag's load bearing abilities?

In theory you want as much of the load as possible transferred the waist belt and therefore the belt wouldn't be able to move as easily as the video makes out.

Also putting a 3 quart hyrdation bladder on one side could seriously unbalance the pack either when the bladder is full (no compensating weight) or when it's empty (compensating weight in the form of a tripod etc...)!

Looks like the bag is giving birth.

Anybody here explain to me what this bag is supposed to do that my ThinkTank Rotation 360* doesn't do?

I can't help thinking how outdoors packs for sensitive equipment should be hardcases. It's all nice and dandy, but soft bags just can't prevent breakage, although they're enough of protection against scratches.
There are enough lightweight and sturdy materials today enabling manufacturers to produce really tough boxes, equipped with soft, anatomically correct frames for backpacking. Such cases could really be what is meant by "environmentally protected".
Think of carbon or glass fiber, for instance, or profiled aluminum along the lines of Auer (firemen breathing-gear protective box). Organize all access through the back (drawers?) for urban safety, with some mechanism to slide / swing the box sideways. Add the connecting points (D-rings, cleats, Velcro straps...) to the sides to fasten things like a tripod, water bottle, windbreaker, whatever... and it will sell - especially to those who know what Outdoors means, and what it can do to your sensitive gear.

No place to strap skis, board or snowshoes. People who design these outdoor packs need to go outside. There's more to being in the backcountry than carrying your camera gear. I'll pass!

ThinkTank have never been short on sweating the details. But this design has always struck me as overengineering. Perhaps there are a lot of wilderness photogs who shoot on the march and don't want to doff their packs at all, but so many others pack in to a location and set up, which makes the advantages of this pack somewhat moot. If I'm carrying a single camera and a couple of lenses (what the Speed Demon sized waist pack is capable of) for the day, I'd probably opt for a 3lb hiking pack with an insert, or maybe one of the side-portal loaders at about 30L. If I'm hiking into the backcountry for a few days, that's 45L territory. This is great for a semi-pro/pro camera+lens kit. This design might work better in a 50L trekking format. It's tough designing quick access for wilderness shooters.

interesting, but i'll wait to see how it performs in the real world. i have a clik elite probody sport which is much smaller than this but which performs much of the same function as this pack for less than half the cost. i usually use my gura gear kiboko when i need to take my 500mm vr, and it sounds like this new pack won't take that long piece of glass, which is a shame. i take my gura gear when i need the long glass, and the clik when it's more landscape and general scenic photography.

Pity it's no good for us in Oz and the other countries not in their list.