I typically don’t write entire posts about a single product but when I find something I really love and use I like to share it. Hence, my wet kiss below for the Gura Gear Kiboko 2.0 DSLR backpack.
Finding the Gura Gear Kiboko DSLR Backpack
Years ago, I needed a decent camera bag for a big trip.
One night, I was looking at wildlife images online and I came across a video of professional wildlife photographer Andy Biggs, talking about a bag he helped to design under the Gura Gear label. The Kiboko 22L.
It looked awesome, very streamline and sexy looking. That caught my attention. It was made of lightweight nylon and far less bulky than bags I’d looked at before.
It was perfect but pricey so I held off. Two days later after the bag haunted my dreams (You know how that is, right?), I bought it and have used it religiously for years.
Gura Gear Kiboko 2.0 Backpack
The Kiboko 22L ($349.00) is awesome. It has everything I love in the old bag but with a few great tweaks.
It has butterfly dual-flap openings for easy retrieval and protection (meaning the gear on the side you don’t open isn’t exposed to the elements); two zippered external and internal pockets; two mesh side pockets with fasteners for water bottles, tripod, or monopod; nicely padded shoulder straps; an attached rain cover; a wealth of padded dividers for endless configurations, and padded top and side handles.
This bag is light at 3.7 lbs and the 15″ laptop pocket is on the side for easy retrieval. There’s also a handy-dandy clip that holds the butterfly wings open for packing.
I spoke to Andy Biggs, with whom I am now friends, and he sent me the Kiboko 2.0 for a trip to Kenya. Because of the weight limit on our domestic flights, I brought just a few lenses for portraits, landscapes, interiors, and wildlife. I borrowed the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4 Extender—the gargantuan 8lb lens you see in my profile photo. That filled the righthand compartment.
On the flip side, I packed 2 camera bodies a Canon 5D Mark 3 and 4, a 24-105mm f/4 for portraits, etc., the 16 – 35 mm f2.8 for interiors and landscapes, and my 50mm f 1/8 as well as basic accouterments such as lens cleaners, memory cards, batteries, 2TB external hard drive and the like. It all worked perfectly. (BTW – the Kiboko 22L is one of the items on my Great Gifts for Photography Lovers post.)
According to the stats on the B & H website, the bag holds “2 DSLR’s and 6 lenses. It also holds 2 DSLR’s and up to an attached 300mm f2.8 lens, unattached up to 500mm f4 lens.”
Other Photography Posts You Might Like
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Kiboko Backpack 16L
For mirrorless systems, there’s a smaller 16L bag with all the same design elements, except the laptop pocket fits a 13″. “The bag holds 2 mirrorless cameras and two lenses. The bag also holds 2 mirrorless cameras and four lenses up to full-frame 70-200 f/2.8.” $269.00 (3lbs)
Kiboko Backpack 30L
For photographers with really long lenses (600mm+), there’s a larger 30L bag Kiboko DSLR backpack but in order to make it carry-on compliant there’s no laptop pocket. It holds “2 Pro DSLR’s and 7 lenses or medium format Kit. It also holds a Pro DSLR and up to an attached 400mm f2.8 lens, unattached up to 800mm f5.6 lens.” $399.00 (3.9 lbs)
Things to Note
For photographers who use pro-sized DSLR like the 1DX, the camera is a little higher than the depth of the bags. That said, you’re still able to close it without feeling like you’re cramming it in.
If you’re an avid hiker and looking for a bag that will work over long distances, I’m not sure this is the ticket. And I say I’m not sure because I’m not a big hiker. The waist straps aren’t padded, which makes me think it’s better for short hikes, everyday shoots, and wildlife where you work from a vehicle.
Airport Tip: I wheel my Kiboko on an inexpensive folding trolley. If I don’t have to stand in a god awful security line with a heavy bag on my shoulders, why would I?
Don’t Take My Word For It.
What Fstoppers has to say about the Kiboko “My favorite bags are back: Gura Gear has introduced, or I should say reintroduced their Gura Gear Kiboko bags. Now on version 2.0, they look to bring back everything that made the originals so highly regarded…”
And Canon Rumors “Our absolute favourite camera backpack manufacturer Gura Gear has returned with a new range of Kiboko backpacks…We’re excited to see the brand come back, and they truly make the best travel backpacks on the market. The second versions of the Kiboko bags have the same fantastic build quality and can carry pretty much anything you throw at them.”
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Hey. I travel a lot for business selling aviation spares and repaires around the world. I’m often in search for a decent back-pack. I’ll 100% buy the Gura Gears Kiboko back-pack after reading this article. Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you found the article helpful. It’s a great bag.
Nice post. I need a well-constructed, well-padded waist strap to support the weight of the fully loaded backpack I use (LowePro Fastback BP250 AW II); maybe Gura Gear will consider that upgrade. But I am interested in your trolley. Doesn’t that add one more thing to deal with?
You never know, they may offer a version with more padding or up the padding for all of them. It’s the first season of the reintroduction of the line so I’m sure they’re pacing themselves and will evaluate feedback.
Yes, the trolley is one more thing by not annoying. I use a carabiner to a attach it to the bag as I’m moving things around and as soon as I check my main bag, I put the Kiboko on the trolley and it’s great.
If I knew I could keep moving through security etc to get to my gate I probably wouldn’t use it. But I get held up so many times in one line or the other I’d rather not have something that heavy on my back when I’m barely moving. 🙂
You are the best Patricia! So glad you like it. Great to hear about the computer slot.
Haha!
NOw that is service, why can’t I get that service here in Australia, LOL, no seriously why can’t I. I have never heard of those bags, I might have to check out to see if you can get them here.
That is so awesome of Gura Gear and I love the shot of you and the bag 🙂 Did you have this large bag PLUS a carry-on bag? I’m always scared I’ll get told to put one in the hold on smaller planes.
I had a duffle, carry on and the camera bag.. Thankfully, I didn’t have any issues…phew..
Wow, seems like I get all concerned about nothing 😀
Its definitely a concern. Some countries are real sticklers about. But thankfully in Namibia I was ok.
I do try and keep to the weight and not go overboard with other stuff. I’m enjoying your blog and the adventures you’ve been on so far.
I’m so glad. Thank you very much!