No backpack of any kind (hiking, day pack, trekking, photography, video, wilderness, climbing, etc., etc.) can be designed to suit all body types. The Shape Shifter is a terrific design, but you're well-advised to try it in-store before you buy it (in-store, online or elsewhere). If it fits even only reasonably well, it will break in beautifully and you'll likely have a pack that will outlive you. If it doesn't fit, try one of Think Tank's other excellent packs instead. Just make sure you get the right fit. The integrated Shape Shifter waist belt is very securely mounted and specifically designed to place the load on your hips (where it belongs), so use it all the time. Choosing a backpack takes time. Always remember to bring a full range of gear with you in order to load each pack you're trying and get a real sense of how each one carries on your particular body.

Cons: Only two things bugged us about the Shape Shifter. First, when the grab handle sewn into the top rear seam breaks in nicely, as it did during the review period, it will re-contour from its flat factory-fresh position into a loop shape that brushed the necks of two of the three dozen people who tried on the Shape Shifter after it completed the review ordeal. Second, the thickly padded lower lumbar pad is finished on its lower edge with a velcro flap which can be opened to partially lift the pad so that an accessory waist belt (such as Think Tank's Pro Speed Belt) can be substituted for the normal integrated waist belt supplied with the Shape Shifter. The problem is that the velcro flap contains a piece of stiff material of some sort, and with certain loads, the stiff edge can put some pressure against you. It bothered three of the people who tried it - two men and one woman.

Pros: Think Tank Photo continues to impress us with the quality of its approach to design and construction. We've yet to find any construction problems - nothing even close to a flaw - in any of the Think Tank products we've reviewed. Backpacks are particularly difficult to design because of the wide range of body types which must be accommodated. At the same time, designers must resist the urge to make compromises which lower the overall quality of a backpack's suitability for it target users. So Think Tank's designers seem to be, again, keeping their eyes firmly on the ball. Working pros and serious amateurs appreciate Think Tank's thorough attention to usability and construction details. The Shape Shifter is very quiet in use, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. The YKK zippers are supremely reliable, but the design and construction of the zipper tracks (more importantly) result in opening and closing operations which never bind, kink or delay access to any gear. Neoprene gear pouches are roomy enough to hold big stuff, but can also be cinched down to securely hold small lenses, bodies and flashes. Although the Shape Shifter looks big, it's carry-on legal for use on all domestic North American airlines and, judging strictly from actual dimensions when loaded, should be carry-on legal everywhere else as well (always check with your airlines to be sure about anything you're considering as a carry-on). The waist belt ladder locks and main clasp don't budge, yet remain easy to adjust - a very good design - and the Rock Lockster clips lock up tightly and securely. It's all made to last through years and years of heavy use. No special knowledge needed. If you're a working pro or a busy amateur shooter in need of a photography & laptop backpack for events, day trips, light trail use, or urban walkabouts, the Shape Shifter is a terrific choice. Good stuff from Think Tank Photo. Highly recommended.