best brief case style I ever had for flying. Holds computer, Ipad, body, 24-105, 100-400, and essential chargers, batteries, cables, glasses, etc. Glad to see it back. Hope they don't "improve" it too much. The 30L backpack for example was not near as good for me as the 32L it replaced (too shallow).
It has been my everyday work bag for the past 5yrs or so, so I can attest to the durability of the fabric, zippers, and stitching. I love the arrangement of the pockets. When I fly, it becomes my personal item and in its collapsed mode, it fits under the seat. In it, I'd carry my 13" MBP, car GPS, various chargers/cables, sunglasses, extra layers, headphones, Omnicharge power bank. All my camera stuff goes in a backpack in the overhead bin.
I've tried looking for a replacement. Looked at Think Tank, Tom Bihn, and others, but nothing seemed to work for the workflow and size that I've become accustomed to. At $299 for the 16" though, seems more expensive than I recall, and that's without the camera insert. I might pick one up if there is an early price KS pricing.
With my v1, I've not had problems getting it under a seat even if expanded. Actually always use it expanded. Overhead on a peanut jet can be a tight squeeze. Hard to tell about size as dimensions of expanded bag not give. Unexpanded appears to be similar. I've done two kickstarters for other products from a different manufacturer and I'm still waiting. As I said, it carries all my essentials for a photo trip. A thinktank international goes in the overhead or is varlet checked at plane door. The Chobe carries enough that even if the think tank is lost or damaged, I've got the camera and lenses with me that I use the most.
Flowernut wrote:
With my v1, I've not had problems getting it under a seat even if expanded. Actually always use it expanded. Overhead on a peanut jet can be a tight squeeze. Hard to tell about size as dimensions of expanded bag not give. Unexpanded appears to be similar. I've done two kickstarters for other products from a different manufacturer and I'm still waiting. As I said, it carries all my essentials for a photo trip. A thinktank international goes in the overhead or is varlet checked at plane door. The Chobe carries enough that even if the think tank is lost or damaged, I've got the camera and lenses with me that I use the most....Show more →
Actually, for the 16" version, I think it will be about 0.75"-1" smaller in each dimension, unexpanded. The large insert is also smaller than the insert I currently have from v1. You can see photos of the large insert in the Gura Gear website and its internal width is about the width of a Fuji XT body, which is about 5.25" wide.
I use it expanded on a daily basis too. It's less tippy that way. As long as the zippers are open, I have easy access to most things. It's like a giant purse without a flappy lid. Love it.
don't know it makes much difference. The original according to B&H spec page
Normal: 15.0 x 11.5 x 6.0" / 38.1 x 29.2 x 15.0 cm
Expanded: 15.0 x 11.5 x 8.5" / 38.1 x 29.2 x 21.6 cm
version II External Dimensions: 15.7 x 6.5 x 10.6 inches (39 x 14 x 24 cm)
no dimesions given for expanded
Unzipped it is certainly less tippy. I also use the thinktank shoulder strap with it. That strap has a slot that I can put over the roll aboards handle. When tiped to roll it lifts bag off ground. When returned to verticle, bag is on the ground. Makes set up less tippy than using the slot in back of Chobe over handel of roll aboard.
I've had version 1 since release and its durability has been exceptional. The bag has been utilized for photo equipment transport, with the insert, as well as general use luggage (in the expanded form.) Multiple useful and well thought-out compartments, very easy and comfortable to carry, and no difficulties with carry-on airline usage.
Great item and very pleased with overall construction and utilization of features.
EB-1 wrote:
It's a Kickstand deal. I'll believe it when BH and the Adormama sell the bag.
Does the 16' Chobe fit under the aircraft seat?
EBH
BH and Adorama had the original Chobe in their inventory. Furthermore, Andy Biggs and others behind this company are working photographers who are unlikely to risk their reputation peddling dubious projects. They also have a proven track record - the original Chobe was the best shoulder camera bag ever made.
As someone said above, there is very little room for improvement over what was a perfect 10 to begin with.
it wasn't a yes no question it was an which one. and of course if you say "fact" a detail explanation demonstrating it. that will be interesting with infinite variables that are involved. mostly human in nature.
of course "opinion" will be accepted as just what it is.
just remember the history of Gura Gear and Tamarac.
you would think that their reference to their "Pro Team" they would get Andy Biggs name correctly
EB-1 wrote:
It's a Kickstand deal. I'll believe it when BH and the Adormama sell the bag.
Does the 16' Chobe fit under the aircraft seat?
EBH
Rajan Parrikar wrote:
BH and Adorama had the original Chobe in their inventory. Furthermore, Andy Biggs and others behind this company are working photographers who are unlikely to risk their reputation peddling dubious projects. They also have a proven track record - the original Chobe was the best shoulder camera bag ever made.
As someone said above, there is very little room for improvement over what was a perfect 10 to begin with.
Oh, I'm thinking that the quality may be worse than the old one.
The problem with kickstarter is you don't know for sure what or when you will be getting it. I'm sure others are happy with the results. I've yet to receive any of the two items I ordered going on a year. One of the two, I would not order if I knew then what I know today. It became obsolete. I'm glad to see the bag back. I actually bought a backkup during the closeout of the version 1, since I thought so much of it.
it wasn't a yes no question it was an which one. and of course if you say "fact" a detail explanation demonstrating it. that will be interesting with infinite variables that are involved. mostly human in nature.
of course "opinion" will be accepted as just what it is.
just remember the history of Gura Gear and Tamarac.
you would think that their reference to their "Pro Team" they would get Andy Biggs name correctly
IIRC we used to see him sometimes in the Serengeti leading a group, but that was quite a long time ago.
I'm not sure what that has to do with manufacturing bags.
define that.
i have a few bags that can be described as the best for their purpose.
is what you're saying this one bag does it all?
how does one define "the best bag ever made"?
sjms wrote:
define that.
i have a few bags that can be described as the best for their purpose.
is what you're saying this one bag does it all?
how does one define "the best bag ever made"?
or
is this just another commercial
Shoulder style messenger bag.
Pockets all in the right place to hold the right stuff.
Can expand to accommodate camera gear or just be used without camera gear. I stuck a Canon 200-400 in it to get another big lens on the plane when heading to Antarctica.
Material looks like it did 7 years ago the day I bought it despite travelling all over the world.
