GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 Camera Backpack Review

The GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 series of camera backpacks are aimed at people who want just one backpack to carry everything they own.

Available in 16L, 22L, and 30L, these camera backpacks have enough pockets, pouches, and storage capacity to stow and arrange everything you own, including the kitchen sink.

While I’ll also discuss the smaller two sizes throughout this article, the backpack I’ll be exploring in detail is the larger 30L.

GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 Camera Backpack Specs

 

• Deep main compartments
• “Warning” blue lining
• Sized for carry on
• Removable padded dividers (plenty!)
• Large zipper pulls
• Lightweight and durable X-PAC® VX-21
• 14x accessory sleeves and pockets
• Butterfly-style front openings
• Padded top and side grab handles
• Side cargo straps
• Side pockets
• Packable rain fly
• Stowable shoulder straps
• Removable waist strap
• Water-resistant design and materials
• Laptop compartment (16L and 22L only – not 30L)

Build & Appearance

TLDR version: This thing is an awesome beast.

The long version: The GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 30L is a large, statement-making, utilitarian-designed camera backpack. It’s big, bold, tough, and ready for you to stuff your entire life into it.

A signature design feature is the wide-opening butterfly-style front lids, which allow you to clearly segment your main compartment into two defined regions.

The lids also contain a large number of organisational pockets both on the front and back.

Admittedly, the split design and layout will probably not be for everybody at a glance, but it’s a bold move considering the usual format that we often see. It’s actually pretty useful since, in fact, it can help when compartmentalising your loadout.

There’s a stowable strap that buckles both lids together to keep them open. It’s easily adjustable and tucks away nice and cleanly.

Cameras, drones, snacks, pets, and children all fit easily within its large cavernous interior.

You can get organised within inches of your life thanks to the absolutely excessive number of padded interior dividers proudly supplied by GuraGear.

Artillion Foam padding (the same found in motorcycle helmets) provides a high level of impact protection, low weight, and a slim profile. I’m glad to say the dividers are not unnecessarily thick as with many other backpacks.

Made from ultra-lightweight and extremely durable X-PAC® VX-21 manufactured by Dimension Polyant, this helps the Kiboko V2.0 series of camera backpacks to be one of the lightest in their respective classes.

Exterior Features

If you like big chunky grab handles, easy-to-find zipper pulls, and a serious amount of padding, you’ll definitely appreciate the Kiboko V2.0 camera backpacks.

The chunky, utilitarian design of these backpacks allows for all of the above and more, without “design” getting in the way of things.

It also features thick padding and air-mesh along the back panel to keep you cool, and shoulder straps that pack away beneath for convenient stowage in overhead compartments.

Bottle pockets. I love bottle pockets, and fortunately, the Kiboko V2.0 backpacks have two. Above both are chunky expandable cargo straps for stowing tripods and other tall items.

The only complaint I have is the side grab handle getting in the way of one of the bottle pockets. But luckily the mesh allows for a large amount of stretch around large bottles.

Travellers will greatly appreciate the stowable nature of the shoulder straps, and the included removable waist and sternum straps. Simply unbuckle all the straps at both the top and bottom and tuck them within the zipper area that runs down the back panel.

Access to the main compartment and additional storage pockets is through the butterfly-style front lids. These have two sets of zippers that run 3/4 of the way around each side providing access to two separate regions of storage options.

I’ll showcase the storage in the following section.

Interior Features

Oh the interior, the storage options, oh the joy! GuraGear stuffs the Kiboko V2.0 backpacks with way too many dividers. It has dividers coming out the wazoo… Whatever a wazoo is.

Anyway, whatever you wish to load up, you can surely arrange the main compartment to accommodate! GuraGear designed the Kiboko V2.0 camera backpacks in a way that intentionally cuts the main compartment into two set regions.

How you choose to load either region is obviously up to you. Camera gear in the left, drone paraphernalia in the right? Kitchen pantry top left, bedroom bottom right further down the hallway? However you choose.

The frontmost zippers on the lids provide access to the accessory pockets, which contain a variety of different-sized zipper pockets and elastic storage pouches.

Once you open up the main compartment, you’ll also find an additional set of zipper pockets for even more accessories. There’s a good amount of soft flex in the materials so you can confidently stock them rather well.

While the butterfly design is great and interesting, you do lose out on a little bit of space within the interior compartment with the forced divider down the middle.

Storage Capacity

You really can pack a lot of gear into the Kiboko V2.0 30L camera backpack – everything but the kitchen sink as the saying goes. Although, if you’re clever, you could probably pack that too.

On the GuraGear website, you’ll notice how each of the bags in the Kiboko V2.0 camera bag lineup will suit different types of photographers who have different sets of gear.

For me, the Kiboko V2.0 30L handled every piece of camera gear that I own, and a whole lot of other non-photography-related items. But unfortunately, I’m going to have to either leave my laptop at home or carry it separately.

On the Kiboko V2.0 16L and 22L camera backpacks, you’ll find a laptop pouch which can hold a 14″ or slim 15″ laptop respectively. The Kiboko V2.0 30L backpack, unfortunately, does not contain a compartment for a laptop, nor any area that would make do either.

I managed to fit a small A5-sized notebook and a Samsung tablet in the front compartments, but anything larger than an iPad Mini won’t fit.

For a bag that can handle so much gear and contains so many storage options, it’s a shame that there are no dedicated compartments for laptops or tablets. Especially given that the smaller varieties provide this!

Here’s what I fit in the 30L Kiboko V2.0, with space to squeeze in more – I just ran out of relevant items to pack!

• Sony a7 III with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
• Canon 5D MkIII with Canon 24-70mm f/2.8
• GODOX TT350S TTL flash
• Canon 600EX RT Speedlite
• Canon 50mm f/1.8
• McKinnon battery case with 3x Canon batteries
• McKinnon memory card case
• 2x Sony batteries
• DJI Mini 3 Pro
• DJI RC Controller
• DJI Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit (2x batteries, multi-charger, etc)
• 1x Lens filter for the Sony
• 2x Lens filters for the Canon
• Manfrotto Tripod
• Small Samsung tablet
• A5 notebook
• Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con
• Sony battery charger
• Canon battery charger
• SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD
• USB battery charger with 3 sets of cables
• Apple AirPods 3
• GuraGear rain fly
• Large water bottle
• Various other small bits and pieces…

Ease of Use/Comfort

GuraGear seem to have intentionally designed the Kiboko V2.0 range of camera backpacks to be both utilitarian and functional, but also very comfortable and easy to use.

Whether you’re taking yours hiking or on long strenuous adventures, or moving through a bustling city, you won’t struggle to access your gear or have additional discomfort from the touch points on the backpacks.

The adjustable and stowable shoulder straps wrap comfortably across your person while the extra thick padded air mesh on the back panel provides a good level of comfort.

If you’re one to wear gloves or you face dexterity challenges, the zipper pulls contain a large soft loop to help you grab and use the main zippers.

If you experience neither of the aforementioned challenges, it’s still a nice quality-of-life inclusion.

The internal zippers also contain long zipper pulls for ease of use. Additionally, the main compartment has a bright blue edging to help indicate when it’s not completely closed. Just a subtle touch.

The rather boxy shape also provides you with the ability to maximise your storage capacity by not restricting the size of items with a slim form or fancy aesthetics. Some backpacks might boast a large capacity, but restrict the storage of bulky items through aesthetic design.

There’s a smaller, more discrete pocket on the lower side of the Kiboko V2.0 backpacks, and that contains the included rain fly. GuraGear have included one with each backpack which is greatly appreciated, as many other brands will charge for this.

Alternatives

Considering the range of capacities available from GuraGear’s Kiboko V2.0 lineup, that opens up a lot of doors for alternatives. One thing to think about when looking at the variety of options out there is the shapes and configurations of the backpacks.

If you’re looking at the GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 range of camera bags, you’re probably also considering similarly designed clamshell bags. Alternatives along the lines of Mindshift First Light, Manfrotto, Lowepro ProTactic, or even the two McKinnon Camera Backpacks.

Large capacity, boxy clamshell designs, with deep compartments for extra-large cameras and lenses… You have your pickings, so what differences are there between them?

Well, other than pricing (some of which may be higher), there’s build quality, comfort, feel, and considerate design. The pricing generally reflects the materials used, durability, and how economical the combination of all that is.

To give one example, the Kiboko 30L Camera Backpack is a completely different shape to the 30L Peak Design Everyday Backpack. The former is a convenient boxy shape and has a flat arrangement for loading, and the latter offers a tall slim profile with vertical loading.

You’ll fit larger bodies and lenses in the Kiboko V2.0 far more easily than in the Peak Design backpack. The Kiboko would be more for heavier-duty dedicated photography usage, while, as the name indicates, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is more convenient for casual or mixed usage.

So, it really comes down to what your individual needs are and what you intend to use the bag for.

Value for Money

Priced from USD$299 for the 16L, USD$360 for the 22L, and up to USD $434 for the largest 30L variation, the Kiboko V2.0 range is fairly priced considering the “everything but the kitchen sink” capacity of the camera backpacks.

With all the pockets, pouches, straps, handles, and deep design main compartment, they could easily become your “one and only” camera bag.

While there may be cheaper options, other things to consider are the build quality, comfort, durability of materials and stitching, as well as the type of padding used to protect your expensive gear.

GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 Camera Backpack Review | Conclusion

The GuraGear Kiboko V2.0 30L camera backpack offers a bit more capacity than I would ever need. Being able to fit all of my camera-related gear, along with entertainment and other goodies, means I will never long for more.

I could have easily gone one of the smaller sizes, and they’d do quite well for me, but it is what it is!

Build quality, durability, design considerations, and comfort are all very important factors when deciding on camera bags. This one ticks all of the boxes. Although, the missing laptop compartment is certainly something to keep in mind if you’re considering the 30L variation.

Other GuraGear backpacks are something I certainly would love to experience. If you own any, hit up the comment section below and let me know your thoughts!

Additionally, if you have further questions or comments about the Kiboko V2.0 range, definitely don’t hesitate to reach out through the comment section.