GuraGear made headlines with the new Kiboko City Commuter. The bag promises to be the perfect combination of capacity, durability and weight. Made not only for photographers but also for content creators in general, this bag has a lot to live for. Let’s see how it works in the real world.
Introduce
Let me start with a little background. As a photographer, I buy something and use it to death. That’s why I only have a few camera bags, and one of their favorites takes me on trips, even without a camera (it’s great for cheap flights). cheap). My so-called everyday bag isn’t made to hold a camera, it’s made to hold a laptop and a few notebooks. So to have something that combines a camera and an everyday bag is a relief.
My first impression of Kiboko City Commuter mostly positive. Made for urban-focused environments, this bag looks like any other backpack. This is a huge positive security measure, as walking around with an “I’m carrying an expensive camera” sign on your back is hardly a good thing. There are accessories such as a waist belt, rain cover, and tripod mount that you can purchase separately. Those things will make the bag more suitable for long trips. For now, however, the bags are shipped without them for good reason: there will only be a handful of people who will need them for everyday carrying around the city.
Exterior
The outside is made of very high quality material, giving the feel of a bag. For example, the nylon outer layer is tear resistant and inspired by sail fabric. I am very pleased with the wear-resistant, tear-resistant and water-resistant X-PAC material used for the bag. There is an option to purchase a rain cloth if the X-Pac is not waterproof enough. However, getting caught in the rain won’t be a problem with this bag, as the nylon is water resistant.
The outer straps are adjustable, and are pretty standard except for one thing: seams. A common problem with shoulder straps is insufficient padding and the seams on the sides start to bite into your skin. City Commuter uses a different way of stitching the shoulder straps together, which eliminates that problem.
Both the straps as well as the back are well padded. Carrying two camera bodies, lenses, and loads of other stuff won’t be a problem. For those who sweat a lot, the back of the machine is well ventilated.
The zippers on the bag have one major drawback: while the zippers on the back can be locked with a TSA buckle, the side zips cannot be unlocked, nor can the back pockets. If I put my precious Ukrainian passport, keys, money etc in my back pocket, I don’t want it stolen because of poor protection. The same applies to the side access pocket. Would be great to see a solution to lock the side pockets, as well as the rear pockets.
Magnets, Magnets and Magnets Again
The keys are made by Fidlock and you are happy to use. They may not be as strong as a traditional lock, but they’re definitely prettier and after all: magnetic (if magnets are your thing). The good people at GuraGear are certainly competent with magnets. Because they put them wherever they can. The smartest water bottle holder design is… magnetic. The roll top, which adds a few liters to the bag, closes using magnets, and so do the straps that hold it in place. So are the extra straps: another use for the magnet. In general, if you see small random metal objects flying towards your bag, don’t worry: it’s a magnet. Jokingly, magnets are a very clever way to use on bags, however, they tend to wear out over time depending on the type of metal used.
Is it fashion?
The bag’s classic black design may look dull to some, while others will appreciate the simplicity and mindless color choices. This design is without a doubt more masculine than feminine, but it would be wrong to say it was made for men. Without a bulky waistband, this bag goes well with light denim, a long coat or even a classic jeans and t-shirt combo. If you’re so inclined, wear it with a felt jacket and feel appropriate. The only distraction would be the zipper, made for comfort rather than fashion. Add the waist belt back and put on the rain cover, and the bag goes well with hiking outfits. Overall, I’m satisfied with the look of the bag.
inland
There’s a lot to unpack (pardon the pun). GuraGear’s butterfly design is featured on this bag and the two outer pockets use it. There are four pockets to organize small things like memory cards, cables, etc – two on each cover. The lid on the left is a good place to put the charger, power bank and other slightly bulky things, while the right cover is made for thinner things. There is a special RFID-protected pocket for your passport, pen holder and other small bags. A good feature that I like are the two carabiners: one for the keys and one for the memory card pocket. The fact that they are of different lengths makes life a lot easier when I have to find my keys or the memory card pocket. One feature that’s intentionally barely noticeable is the bag’s air tag, which helps you track the bag’s location. 
The compartment on the top of the roll fits Canon EF 70-200 lenses, and a hoodie or pretty much any t-shirt. Your heaviest items should be in the top drawer. There are additional mesh pockets inside, which will hold more small items that would otherwise be pushed into the cracks between the compartments or thrown in random places. The small number of pockets is a very noticeable design feature from the company’s side, as there are so many little bits and bobs that photographers need to sort through.
There is a way to expand the main compartment by flipping the scroll from the inside out, but that’s likely a bug rather than a feature.
Finally, go to the main compartment, which is a regular camera bag design: Velcro compartments, which you can organize as you like. The depth of the main compartment is specially made for mirrorless cameras without a handle, which is a drawback for me: like a DSLR user. You will also have difficulty placing a large camera such as A1or one Z9 into this bag. It fits a R5though, and yes, I managed to slip two 5D bodies into my pocket, with a laptop on the back.
Finally, the back is suitable for MacBook 16 inch, iPad Pro 12.9”, and two extra mesh pockets. If you’re going to put two devices and then use the bags as filter compartments, think twice. It wouldn’t be surprising if the filters broke as it’s pretty cramped even with a 15-inch MacBook and a camera (albeit a DSLR) on the other side.
What I like
- Reliability
- Smart and practical design
- Choose a style
What can be improved
- Does not fit DSLR or camera body
- Magnets may wear out a bit
- Security on the zipper
Stop thinking
General GuraGear Kiboko City Commuter is a good choice for those who use mirrorless cameras and need a stylish daily carry bag, it can also be transformed into an outdoor bag. Although the price drops a bit, you will get a lot. It’s well made, as well as smartly designed. The advantages outweigh the cons by a large profit. If you ask me, I recommend buying this bag if you are shopping for one.
What do you think about GuraGear Kikoko City Commuter? What would you like to see in a perfect EDC camera bag? Let us know in the comments section!
