Field Ready - My New Workhorse

Initial Impressions of the Gura Gear Kiboko 2 – A Field Photographer’s Perspective*

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After four solid years of loyal service across some of the most extreme environments on Earth, my Lowepro ProTactic AW 450 has finally retired. That bag has lived with me everywhere from penguin colonies in Antarctica, lashed to dogsleds across Greenland, from dusty savannahs in Africa to countless salt-spray-soaked zodiac rides. It’s taken a beating — and for a long while, it kept up. But the demands of my current kit, particularly my wildlife lenses, eventually outgrew its frame.

I’ve spent the last few months hunting for a replacement — a serious piece of gear that meets the challenges of remote travel and a professional photographic loadout. After a lot of dead ends and head-scratching, I’ve finally settled on the Gura Gear Kiboko 2 (30-litre version). I’ll be putting it through its paces on assignment in Zambia next month, but here are my early impressions.

I should add at this point I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned and the gear was purchased at full retail price and as such, is an impartial review.

What I Carry – The Non-Negotiables

My basic working kit isn’t minimal. On any given trip I’ll typically carry (at the very least)

• 2 x Fujifilm X-H2, each with battery grips attached

• Lenses: 10–24mm, 24–80mm, 80–140mm, and the 150–600mm

• 6 x CF Express Type B cards

• Filters, cleaning kits, microfibre cloths

• 2x GoPros, mounts and batteries

• A 16" MacBook, cables and SSDs, adapter plugs.

• Torch/headlamp

• Multitool, rain cover

• Passport and essential documents

And that’s just carry-on....

My Bag Criteria – Lessons From the Field

When you work in remote, often hostile environments, your gear bag has to be more than convenient — it has to be a mobile base of operations. I need something that:

• Holds everything in one place. No separating out lenses or leaving bodies exposed in pouches.

• Can stand up to the elements - rain, dust, snow, and decks that pitch 30 degrees in the Southern Ocean.

• Fits as carry-on. This is non-negotiable. I can’t risk checking vital kit.

• Allows quick access to camera bodies packed with lenses attached. I don’t have time (or clean surfaces) to rebuild a setup every time and I dont want to expose my sensors to dust, spray, ice etc.

• Protects gear properly, even when thrown in a Land Rover or hauled across rocky terrain.

• Feels comfortable and balanced on the back, even after hours of wear.

  
  

Many bags I looked at, and I looked at a lot, seem designed for photographers with minimal kit. Compact, tidy, aesthetic — but woefully impractical if you're working deep in the field. Some high-end options came close, but ultimately couldn’t accommodate my larger lens or required too much compromise on access.

First Thoughts on the Gura Gear Kiboko 2

it’s clear from the design that Gura Gear, as well as being photographers themselves, they’ve been listening closely to other working professionals. The Kiboko 2 30L immediately struck me as different — not flashy, not over-engineered, just well thought through.

What’s impressive is how it’s managed to keep within carry-on limits while swallowing a remarkably large amount of kit. More than my previous Lowepro Protactic despite their similar size. The internal layout is clever: modular, deep enough to hold two lens-mounted X-H2s securely, and tall enough for the 150–600mm to stay on-body — which very few bags at all manage.

The materials feel purposeful — water-resistant with reinforced stitching and quality padding where it matters. Build quality seems excellent; nothing unnecessary, nothing delicate. It opens smoothly and gives full visibility of the layout, which is ideal for the field and airport checks alike.

Other practical features I like:

• Dedicated laptop sleeve that fits my 16" MacBook snugly without strain

• Easy and swift access to equipment - particularly ideal while working from safari vehicles

• Balanced harness system, early signs suggest it’ll wear well over longer hauls

• Zipped internal compartments, for cards, filters, and the little things that go walkabout

• A large number of velcro internal dividers to customise your carry

Next Stop: Zambia

I’ll be field-testing the Kiboko in June during a month-long assignment in Zambia, working primarily on foot and from vehicles. The heat, dust, and need for rapid access to gear makes it the perfect proving ground.

But so far, I’m quietly impressed. For once, this doesn’t feel like a compromise. It feels like a proper tool — designed by people who’ve actually been out in the wild with a camera.

Full field review to follow!