any users here, would be nice to hear anything about this bag. i was about to buy but i heard more than one saying that its bulky, yes light but big. when i heard that i thought it might be practical to use alot, like many of my big bags. but still i am so interested in buying one, so whats your take?
thanks

well it is designed to hold 500-600's. its packed dimensions are 8.5x14x21 inches. it has a cleaner external design too. it has depth unlike others that allows easy storage of 1 series cameras ad others like the D3 . reference the image on the website on the photographer for a body to pack ratio
http://www.guragear.com/

the take is simple: if you have the gear to put in it it is the best option at this point for its size. most others in this type are overpadded semiflexible igloo cooler types that actually have more padding then useful space

It is designed to carry the maximum amount of gear as efficiently as possible. It is well designed, very well built, comfortable to carry (good harness system), very light (4 lbs), and airline carry-on legal. IMO, it is the best large bag solution.

i think i am getting one soon, ppl seem to love it alot.

I like mine! Though, when loaded with all your gear, it can get pretty heavy.

The bag is too short for someone like me - and I'm only 6'. It is very well made, but I quit using it after just a few weeks - the "hip" belt hits me across the stomach, and I don't like to lower the bag (by extending the shoulder straps) so that it rides low on the back, which is what you have to do in order to get the hip belt to work properly (for someone 6'). This bag is certainly made for folks that are less than six feet tall. It sits on the shelf right next to my Lowe Pros that have the same problem. VERY well made bag, just not tall enough...

Tim, thanks for the feedback. Do you have a feeling of how much taller the bag would need to be to fit you properly?

Andy Biggs wrote:
Tim, thanks for the feedback. Do you have a feeling of how much taller the bag would need to be to fit you properly?

i think its time to start to branch out a bit in sizing with adjustability and frame length

From a bag size standpoint, we are already working on other sizes. Smaller is for sure, and taller is something we are talking about internally. There are 2 approaches for a taller bag: make the existing bag slightly taller or create another, separate size.

you need to decide if harness adjustability is an option too. a better backpack is one that fits each individual as well as possible. you also might find that the rear lower pad can be reduced in thickness by using a denser foam there. reference the backpacks being produced today. compression molding allows for tweaking in design and better integration of the harness overall.

I hear you. Definitely keep in mind that the Kiboko bag has been designed to be a traveling bag that is ultra lightweight and also has a harness sysytem that is comfortable enough to work for a number of hours. It isn't designed to be the back country, long-haul backpack type bag. This is something that we are thinking about offering, and have made some prototypes on already. We like to think that there are ultralight bags, there are hiking bags, and one needs to determine which is more important, as the lightweight feature does limit us with the harness system.

it can still be done within reasonable constraints. again thare are example out in the regular pack making world to reference from. you have your basic design. integration is how much or how little.

Andy Biggs wrote:
From a bag size standpoint, we are already working on other sizes. Smaller is for sure, and taller is something we are talking about internally. There are 2 approaches for a taller bag: make the existing bag slightly taller or create another, separate size.

I was on my way to buy the bag a couple of months ago. But it was a bit too tight for my equipment (800/5,6) if it was a few cm. taller inside I would have bought it. Instead I bought the TinkThank Airport Addicted. The bag is great but I would like it to be 3-4 cm taller. Or if there where 2 versions in different sizes of the bag.

Andy: If you can make a pack suitable for that's comfortable for hiking with a good harness system, can hold a pro sized body with a decent amount of of lenses, and has a compartment big enough to carry a day's worth of food, some layers and a bit of other gear, I'd be all over that

i am 6'3, is that mean i am going to have problems. i would suggest Andy Biggs something like my lowepro nature which can be adjusted so that the harness can go up and down to help tall ppl like myself. its very nice bag, however its heavy and the design isnt as good as Kiboko. what i like about kiboko is the butterfly division, because i want to have like two tall lenses mounted at the same time that would be great. something like the 400f5.6L and 70-200f4L IS.

Tim Ernst wrote:
The bag is too short for someone like me - and I'm only 6'. It is very well made, but I quit using it after just a few weeks - the "hip" belt hits me across the stomach, and I don't like to lower the bag (by extending the shoulder straps) so that it rides low on the back, which is what you have to do in order to get the hip belt to work properly (for someone 6'). This bag is certainly made for folks that are less than six feet tall. It sits on the shelf right next to my Lowe Pros that have the same problem. VERY well made bag, just not tall enough...

I'm 6'4" and I'll admit after several 2 mile hikes to a bird blind carrying 35lbs. of gear the Kiboko bag was extremely comfortable. The weight was there but there weren't any raw shoulders or sore back to complain about. It doesn't bother me a bit to adjust the shoulder straps to position the waist belt into the proper position. In fact the weight was mostly carried through the waist belt, the shoulder straps being used mainly to keep the bag in place. My body structure must be different bacause my hat's off to Andy for making such a superb bag.

Regards,

Roger

Kamil Kisiel wrote:
Andy: If you can make a pack suitable for that's comfortable for hiking with a good harness system, can hold a pro sized body with a decent amount of of lenses, and has a compartment big enough to carry a day's worth of food, some layers and a bit of other gear, I'd be all over that

that will be the F Stop Satori 2009 version once its off the blocks. 62L but it will be a 6lb pack w/ICU. but it will pack in its own right. not the equivelent to the K in that it is a true hybrid design. it is the first pack to support the open Molle accessory attachment system

shutterbug guy wrote:
Tim Ernst wrote:
The bag is too short for someone like me - and I'm only 6'. It is very well made, but I quit using it after just a few weeks - the "hip" belt hits me across the stomach, and I don't like to lower the bag (by extending the shoulder straps) so that it rides low on the back, which is what you have to do in order to get the hip belt to work properly (for someone 6'). This bag is certainly made for folks that are less than six feet tall. It sits on the shelf right next to my Lowe Pros that have the same problem. VERY well made bag, just not tall enough...

I'm 6'4" and I'll admit after several 2 mile hikes to a bird blind carrying 35lbs. of gear the Kiboko bag was extremely comfortable. The weight was there but there weren't any raw shoulders or sore back to complain about. It doesn't bother me a bit to adjust the shoulder straps to position the waist belt into the proper position. In fact the weight was mostly carried through the waist belt, the shoulder straps being used mainly to keep the bag in place. My body structure must be different bacause my hat's off to Andy for making such a superb bag.

Regards,

Roger




and you used it as it should be fit and used. believe me most do not.

Kamil Kisiel wrote:
Andy: If you can make a pack suitable for that's comfortable for hiking with a good harness system, can hold a pro sized body with a decent amount of of lenses, and has a compartment big enough to carry a day's worth of food, some layers and a bit of other gear, I'd be all over that

I hear you loud and clear!

Lars Johnsson wrote:
Andy Biggs wrote:
From a bag size standpoint, we are already working on other sizes. Smaller is for sure, and taller is something we are talking about internally. There are 2 approaches for a taller bag: make the existing bag slightly taller or create another, separate size.

I was on my way to buy the bag a couple of months ago. But it was a bit too tight for my equipment (800/5,6) if it was a few cm. taller inside I would have bought it. Instead I bought the TinkThank Airport Addicted. The bag is great but I would like it to be 3-4 cm taller. Or if there where 2 versions in different sizes of the bag.

Lars, the 800mm lens fits perfectly fine in the Kiboko bag....