Think Tank Photo's sister company, MindShift (www.mindshiftgear.com), just had its rotation180° professional backpack named a winner of Photo Industry Reporter's  2013 7th Annual Rudy Awards.  The criteria for selecting a Rudy Award winner include “ingenuity, practicality and marketability, but also for items that possess an indefinable and scintillating offbeat quality.”

In naming the rotation180° professional a Rudy Award winner the editors said, “MindShift Gear, formed by a group of professional photographers and product designers who support the conservation of natural resources, developed rotation180° technology that targets outdoor professionals and enthusiasts who need quick access to gear. Their first product is the rotation180° professional, a photo backpack featuring an integrated waist pack that rotates out of the lower section to the front of the body, allowing full access to gear. It has four ways to carry a tripod, five outer pockets, one for a full-size hydration bladder and an optional insert to carry additional gear.”

The rotation180° professional ‘s rotating waist pack allows nature and adventure photographers to maintain creative momentum by offering immediate access to primary photo equipment in the most precarious situations without having to take off the pack, sling it over one shoulder, or even stop hiking.

The rotation180° professional’s integrated belt pack holds a pro sized DSLR and two lenses, or a 70-200mm f2.8 attached to a body. Additional photo equipment, such as a spare body, flash, and up to five lenses, can be stored in the upper compartment’s removable camera insert. For minimalist excursions the insert can be removed and the top section will accommodate a variety of outdoor gear. An internal aluminum frame supports and stabilizes heavy loads and the side pocket holds up to a three-quart optional hydration bladder. 

The Rudy Awards are named for Rudolph (Rudy) Maschke, who teamed up with his longtime buddy, Ed Wagner, to found Photo Industry Reporter, 20 years ago.