I thought I would post a couple of reviews of my recent purchases in case it is helpful to anyone else on this thread.
FLM CP30-S4 II 10X Carbon Fiber Series II Tripod-
This has been a great tripod for me so far. I was looking into buying a TFC 14 travel tripod to combine with my TVC 33 Tripod, but decided to "split the difference" since I don't need a heavy tripod for my gear and usage right now. After carefully considering all of the options, I landed on this FLM tripod. It is 19" collapsed and reaches a height of 54". This is good enough for me since I generally use my LCD when doing tripod work and don't need it to reach eye level. FLM makes a L4 tripod that goes up to 68" tall, but the collapsed length is longer than I was looking for. Part of the reason I went with this model is it is similar in size to high end travel tripods, but taller and has very high stability ratings according to "The Center Column" ratings. I also am transitioning into carrying a tripod regularly on my outings and this fits great on a camera bag. I'm able to carry it in the water bottle pouch or the dedicated tripod pouch without sticking out over my head. The TVC 33 was 6" longer and this made it a lot more clumsy on a bag, especially when walking through the woods where it would get caught on branches.
Fit and finish are very high end. I'm coming from Really Right Stuff, so I'm familiar with high quality. Twist locks easily turn, are secure and seem to have decent sealing. All the parts are high end and everything seems machined well. One thing I noticed is that the legs do get small scratches as well as the twist locks. The twists locks are metal instead of rubber, so that is why they scratch. One of the most impressive aspects of the RRS tripod I had was that it was in great shape despite being used in the field and being very old. I had the Series 1 version and was the second owner. I give RRS the upper hand for fit and finish by a small margin, but the reasonable price of the FLM makes up for it to me. If you are an aesthetic snob (I'm not bothered much and regularly buy beat up used gear to save money) I might suggest looking elsewhere.
Stability is very good and I would compare to Gitzo or RRS 2 series tripods. Pairs nicely with the BH40 head. I think this is probably one of the better options for mirrorless shooters without sacrificing stability in wind, moving water etc.
Mindshift 26L-
This has been my favorite photo bag yet. I have shot with a Streetwalker for the past several years and became a big fan of Think Tank products. As much as I like my Streetwalker bag, it is a little small for my gear and not ideal for outdoor use. I prefer having the opening be facing my back to prevent getting dirty in field conditions. I also wanted to be able to take a 2 body kit into the field on a regular basis.
The 26L is just big enough for me. The 36L would have been perfect to fit everything, but I wasn't willing to add the larger size. I prefer the 26L since it is "good enough" and can be used as a carry on for flights and it is a lot less cumbersome to carry around. I am able to fit the following gear into the bag: D500, 500 PF, A7r III with 16-35 f/4 mounted, Canon 70-200 f/4, 90 Macro, filters and rain cover. All of this goes on the inside. I also like the outside pouches which fit a laptop, ipad and extra gear. I plan to use these to carry rain and cold weather gear as needed. The only downside is that there isn't much in the way of organization in these pouches, but it allows more free space for something like a jacket.
The tripod mounting options are great as well. The bag has a large water bottle holder on each side that can easily accommodate a small/medium tripod. There is also a dedicated tripod holder on the back that I'll use for longer hikes to better balance the weight. My tripod with RRS BH 40 is near flush when carried in the water bottle holder in the side. I generally prefer carrying the tripod on the side so I can more easily access gear on the move. I wouldn't recommend tripods over 23" or so in general, but that's my personal preference to not get "snagged" when going through brush. A larger "3 Series" tripod is too large for this bag in my opinion. You can probably make it work, but I wouldn't recommend it myself.
Fit and finish is typical Think Tank quality. Zippers are high quality and open easily and materials seem to be decently water proof and tear resistant. My previous bag looks almost new after several years and I have no reason to think that this one won't offer the same quality. The shoulder harness system I would rate as "good." It's the best for a photography bag that I've used, but it's not up to the standard of a quality hiking bag with a support system. That being said, I'm fine with this for my usage which is 5 miles or less walking on a given outing.
What cracks? I ask, “I have had cracks in my head and you haven’t even told me about this?” [Or had she told me and I’m a bad husband for having not listened to her?] Are my cracks bleeding? Is my brain exposed?? “Oh no, no, no!!” she said, I’m talking about your iPad screen. (It has recently developed some cracks from an impact). 
