Gura Gear is best known for its Kiboko backpack, popular among wildlife photographers for its unique butterfly opening, durable build, and travel-friendly size. Building on that success, the US brand envisioned what a Kiboko would look like if designed for a more urban setting, which led to the creation of the Kiboko City Commuter line. This line features rear panel access, a side hatch, a roll-top, and enhanced organization for EDC tech accessories. Now, the Kiboko City lineup includes a new flagship: the fully-equipped Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+.
In this review, we’ll examine the flagship bag’s features in detail, comparing it to other bags in Gura Gear’s roll-top Kiboko City lineup, as well as the popular Kiboko 2.0 backpacks. What makes this bag especially interesting is that it incorporates the urban access features favored by users of the 18L version, but scales them up into a bag capable of handling large telephoto lenses used by many of the brand’s wildlife photographer customers.
Disclaimer: Gura Gear supplied me with this backpack for review, but they were not allowed to see it before it was published, and no money changed hands.
Table of Contents
Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L Specifications
- Weight: 2.6kg / 5.7lbs
- External Dimensions: 12.6″ x 20.4″ x 8.6″ (32 × 52 × 22 cm)
- Volume: 26 L (roll-top rolled) / 31 L (roll-top extended)
- Side Access Hatch: 7.5 × 6 in (19 × 15 cm)
- Main Compartment: 13.5 × 11.8 × 6 in (34 × 30 × 15 cm)
- Roll Top Compartment – No Extension: 11 × 6 × 5 in (28 × 15 × 12.7 cm)
- Roll Top Compartment – Fully Extended: 11 × 6 × 10.5 in (28 × 15 × 26.6 cm)
- Laptop: Up to 16″
- Tablet: Up to 12.9″ iPad Pro
- Fidlock® magnetic fasteners
- X-Pac® VX21 fabric by Dimension Polyant
- YKK Zippers
- Apple AirTag pocket
- RFID-blocking passport pocket
- Bottle pockets with magnetic closure
- Luggage Pass-Through
- Removable Shoulder Straps
- Included Rain Cover
- Removable Hip Belt
Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ Design and Features
Roll-Top
The Gura Gear City Commuter bags feature a roll-top design, providing access to a padded compartment floating above the bag’s main camera compartment. In the case of the Pro 26L+ model, using the roll-top to its maximum can expand the bag’s volume from 26L to 31L.
The expandable design allows you to carry a smaller backpack until you need the extra space. The roll-top section of the City Commuter, separate from the main camera compartment, makes it ideal for organizing all your non-photographic gear during an adventure. Alternatively, use this as an overflow space for camera gear that doesn’t fit in the main compartment or that you want quick access to from the top of the bag. The padded cell inside the roll-top provides ample protection for this purpose.
In the photo of the roll-top section’s interior above, I have included a Sony full-frame camera with a 20-70mm f/4 lens for scale. You could also use a lens like a 24-70mm f/2.8. I appreciate that this section of the bag is accessible from the top when you set the camera down on its base. In some environments, particularly urban ones, it may not always be convenient to lay the bag on its front to open the large rear access hatch. For this reason, I prefer keeping a camera with a good walk-around focal length in the top position. The photo above also reveals the four elasticated pockets in the roll-top section.
A clever feature is the inclusion of an access hatch to the roll-top section within the bag’s main camera compartment. This means that if you store a camera in the roll-top section but wish to switch that camera to a lens stored in the main compartment, you don’t need to open both the roll-top and the rear hatch. Both are accessible from the main compartment. If you use the roll-top for camera accessory storage, the same thing is true. If you pack a lot into the roll-top, and wish to get you hands on something at the bottom of the pile, this zippered hatch also gives you a convenient way to reach lower items without completely unpacking the roll-top. It’s an immensely useful feature.
Gura Gear created an optional padded insert that slots in the roll-top section of the City Commuter 18L+ backpack. A similar accessory is unfortunately not available for the 26L+. Although the same insert designed for the 18L+’s roll-top section could be used, it floats around awkwardly and doesn’t utilize the space efficiently. I don’t recommend doing that. Perhaps Gura Gear will offer a similar accessory down the line, but for now, you have to treat the padded top section as a single space.
Top Handle
A nicely padded top handle is included at the top of the bag. It’s helpful for lifting the bag into vehicles, overhead luggage compartments, or simply shuffling it along the floor while waiting in check-in or security lineups at the airport.
Camera Compartment
A zippered back panel provides access to the bag’s main camera compartment. I’ve included a dedicated sub-section of this review that explores exactly what you can fit into this area. To help you visualize the possibilities, I’ll add a photo of the included dividers.
Side Hatch
The Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ features a zippered side access hatch large enough to extract a pro-size or gripped camera body with an attached standard zoom lens like a 24-70mm f/2.8. Inside the hatch door is another elasticated mesh pocket, nicely sized for a single filter in a case. The zippers around the hatch door are lockable for use in tightly packed public spaces.
Side access hatches are handy for travel and street photography, where standard zooms or shorter prime lenses are often used. When the backpack is slung off one shoulder and swung around to your front, you can quickly grab the camera— with a bit of practice—in just a few seconds. Hopefully, this helps you capture some unexpected moments. Although the hatch is too small for wildlife photographers’ telephoto lenses, I find it extremely useful for storing binoculars for quick access.
Front Pockets
The Kiboko City Commuter has a front pocket organization setup that will be familiar to anyone who has previously used a Gura Gear camera backpack. Both sides feature a pair of zippered mesh pockets. One side features an additional pair of pockets sized to accommodate Gura Gear’s Et Cetera zippered accessory pouches, and the other side has an RFID pocket for your passport, a pair of pen holders, and another slip pocket. This side also has a key clip, and a lanyard to attach to your memory card wallet, such as Gura Gear’s matching X-Pack Tembo card wallet.
This collection of pockets provides all the accessory organization most people could ever need. I particularly like the zippered pockets for camera batteries. There is plenty of room to designate one side for full batteries and the other side for depleted batteries.
Hidden AirTag Pocket
Just like Gura Gear’s other camera bags, the City Commuter Pro 26L+ features a hidden Apple AirTag pocket. This time, hidden inside the zipped rain cover compartment of the bag. I’m a huge fan of Apple’s tiny tracking devices, so this is a welcome inclusion.
Side Pockets
Twin side pockets flatten themselves with magnets when not in use. These pockets are large enough to store a 1L Nalgene bottle.
Laptop and Tech Organization
Inside the lid of the rear compartment, you’ll find a dedicated section for your laptop (up to 16″), tablet, and related accessories such as a charger and USB cables. The laptop is secured by a magnetic FidLock buckle, while the tablet sleeve is covered with a plush fleece material to protect the screen. The two zippered mesh pockets have a little stretch to them, and comfortably handle my laptop charger and cables.
Tripod Carry
The City Commuter Pro 26L+ features a folding pocket on either side of the bag. These pockets use magnets to keep them flush with the bag when not in use, and either one can be used to carry a tripod when combined with the adjustable side webbing strap. One side will interfere with the use of the side access hatch, so keep that in mind when you’re packing the bag. For size reference, the photo below shows a Peak Design Travel Tripod strapped to the side.
In addition to the side pocket option, a pair of optional ($35) tripod straps can be purchased. These attach to the front of the bag, providing a second carrying option that keeps the side hatch clear for use when you are using the other side for a water bottle. The downside of a tripod strapped to the front is that it puts your potentially expensive set of sticks right in the dirt when you lay the bag down to extract gear from the bag’s back panel hatch.
Luggage Pass-Through
The bag features a sturdy, VX21-wrapped luggage handle pass-through. Allowing for convenient transport through an airport if you’re also traveling with a rolling piece of checked luggage. The pass-through is also a convenient second grab handle that can be used in conjunction with the top handle to hoist the bag into an overhead luggage compartment or vehicle.
Shoulder Straps
The Pro 26L+’s shoulder straps are a favorite feature of this bag. Not only are they fully removable and interchangeable with the straps on the Gura Gear Mara duffel bags, but they are also the most comfortable, well-cushioned straps of any Gura Gear backpack.
Sternum Strap
The bag’s sternum strap has a magnetic FidLock buckle and a strap keeper to manage excess strap. FidLocks are convenient for a sternum strap because you don’t have to perfectly line them up to connect. Just bring them close, and the magnets snap the buckle securely into place. With some practice, you can connect it without even looking at the buckle.
Hip Belt
The City Commuter Pro 26L+ features a wide, well-padded, removable hip belt. Excess webbing from the buckle is kept neatly in place with hook-and-loop strap keepers. This belt isn’t an afterthought like so many on other camera backpacks. It’s broad enough to take some serious load off your shoulders and place it onto your hips. The fact that it’s removable is appreciated, as it’s bulkier than I would like to have on a backpack for air travel. Just as I always do with the hip belt on the Kiboko 30L+, I’d take this off and toss it in my checked Gura Gear Mara duffel bag until I reach my location.
Back Panel Padding
Thick, aerated mesh covers a generously padded back panel and lumbar support. The spacing between the padding promotes airflow, and overall, I found this to be the most comfortable Gura Gear backpack I’ve used to date when carrying a heavy load. Although this bag was created with the idea of making a more urban-centric version of the Kiboko backpack, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend all day hiking my local Yukon mountains with it.
Rain Cover
Unlike the smaller City Commuter 18L+, the top-of-the-line Pro 26L+ includes a waterproof rain cover. The cover comes in a small pouch and can be stored in the dedicated rain cover pocket on the front of the bag.
What Fits in the Kiboko City 26L+?
When it comes to buying larger camera backpacks, many people’s choice is heavily influenced by the lens capacity. In particular, a common question is “What’s the largest lens the bag will hold?” Among wildlife photographers — who make up the majority of Gura Gear’s fans — this question is even more likely to be at the forefront of a potential purchaser’s mind.
Telephoto Lenses
While I don’t have every telephoto lens, I do have a good selection, and the fit of lenses that I do not own can be inferred by comparing the photos I’m about to show you with the dimensions of the bag and other lenses. For example, I don’t currently own the Nikon 180-600mm lens. However, it is identical in size to the Sony 200-600mm, which I do own, and have photographed in the bag.
Camera Bodies
The 6″ depth of the bag’s main camera compartment means that the Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ is capable of carrying pro-sized camera bodies like the Nikon Z9 or Canon R1, as well as gripped bodies from the likes of Sony, Canon, or Nikon. Do note that the 6″ depth is also useful for non-pro or non-gripped camera bodies, as demonstrated in the photos above. This depth means you can spin the camera 90 degrees to lie it on its side instead of on its base in the back of the bag, opening up considerably more space in the bag.
Expansion Hack
While experimenting with load-out options on the City Commuter Pro 26L+, I found that you can easily fold in the corners of the bag’s padded top section to expand the maximum lens length the bag can accommodate. Of course, you lose some space from the padded volume within the roll-top, but it opens up some interesting new options.
For one, it allows Nikon users to carry the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 lens comfortably in this bag. It also allows you to mount non-pro, non-gripped full-frame cameras to the Nikon Z 180-600mm, Sony 200-600mm G, Sony 400-800mm G, or Canon 200-800mm. This is pretty great if you want to have one of those popular telephoto zooms ready for a surprise wildlife encounter. The corner of the top compartment folds easily like this, and it doesn’t pop back into its unfolded state when you remove the camera and lens from the bag, making it simple to put your gear back in when you’re finished shooting.
What About a 400mm f/2.8 or a 600mm f/4?
I tried my Sony 600mm f/4 GM lens, and it doesn’t fit in the Pro 26L+. Even if you use the little trick mentioned above to fold the top section padding. 600mm f/4 users should opt for the Kiboko 30L+, which has been my go-to for carrying that focal length (of all brands) for many years.
As for the 400mm f/2.8 users, you have a choice. If you use the folding technique demonstrated above with the Nikon 800mm f/6.3 lens, Gura Gear says you can fit the length of a 400mm f/2.8 lens into this bag. The caveat is that the lens hood is too big and will need to be stored in a checked bag for travel. The problem with that is that it means you can’t easily carry the hood into the field unless you strap it to the outside of the bag. In my mind, this makes the bag incompatible with a 400mm f/2.8 lens, contrary to what Gura Gear says.
In addition to the lens hood caveat with the 400mm f/2.8, both the Sony 400mm GM and the Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 L have maximum lens diameters (6.2″ and 6.9″) that exceed the 6″depth of this bag. I’m unclear on the Nikon 400mm, but the same is likely true. This means that even though Gura Gear suggests you can squeeze the lens into the bag without the hood, it will cause a bulge that protrudes into the laptop compartment—a slight bulge with the Sony and a significant one with the Canon. If you have a 400mm f/2.8, this just doesn’t seem like a great camera bag choice, but I suppose you mileage may vary, and you’ll want to allow for some testing of your own setup to confirm your choice.
On the other hand, you can fit the lens hood of a 400mm f/2.8 (and 600mm f/4) into the trusty Kiboko 30L+. Technically, this slightly exceeds some carry-on size limits, but I have traveled this way many times without any issues. Even if you prefer to be cautious and check the hood while carrying the lens in the 30L+, you can at least install the hood and keep it in the bag once you reach your destination, which is not possible with the City Commuter Pro 26L+.
Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ Vs. Commuter 18L+
If you’ve been drawn to this review of the City Commuter Pro 26L+ because you like the volume expansion convenience of the roll-top design, you may also consider the smaller 18L+ version. In most functional respects, the 18L+ version is identical, albeit slightly smaller in most dimensions, including, crucially, the depth. The shallower depth of the 18L+ is not suitable for gripped or pro-sized camera bodies. The shorter length of the 18L+ also counts out larger telephoto zooms in the 200-600mm range.
While the feature comparison table highlights the black and white differences, a less obvious aspect, unless you have worn both bags, is their overall feeling of size. The 18L+ is a bag that I have been using for years as my around-town EDC bag. It’s the bag I grab when I’m out and about, wanting to carry my tech gear and a small camera kit just in case something catches my eye. In this guise, the smaller of the two bags is easily manageable in crowded places and on public transportation. On the other hand, the 26L+ feels like a much bigger bag. This has pros and cons, of course. I’m less likely to use the 26L+ as a supplementary EDC city bag, but far more likely to use it as my main camera bag for an international adventure since it’s vastly more capable of carrying the type of gear I generally shoot with while I’m visiting far away places.
| City Commuter 18L+ | City Commuter Pro 26L+ | |
|---|---|---|
| External Dimensions | 18.5” x 12”x 8” | 12.6″ x 20.4″ x 8.6″ |
| Main Compartment Dimensions | 11” x 11” x 4” | 13.5″ x 11.8″ x 6″ |
| Side Hatch Dimensions | 6.5” x 4.5” | 7.5″ x 6″ |
| Weight | 3.7lbs / 1.7kg | 5.7lbs / 2.6kg |
| Volume | 18-22L | 26L-31L |
| Laptop | Up to 16″ | Up to 16″ |
| AirTag Pocket | Yes | Yes |
| Rain Cover | Optional ($29) | Included |
| Removable Shoulder Straps | No | Yes |
| Hip Belt | Optional ($35) | Included |
| Padded Top Insert | Optional | No |
| Tripod Carry | Front or Side | Front or Side |
| Carries Pro-Sized Body? | No | Yes |
| Magnetic Side Pockets | One | Two |
| Price | $299.95 | $469.95 |
Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ Vs. Kiboko 30L+
| Kiboko 30L+ | City Commuter Pro 26L+ | |
|---|---|---|
| External Dimensions | 12.6 x 20.47 x 6.69″ | 12.6″ x 20.4″ x 8.6″ |
| Main Compartment Dimensions | 11.81 x 20.08 x 5.5″ | 13.5″ x 11.8″ x 6″ |
| Side Hatch | No | Yes. 7.5″ x 6″ |
| Weight | 6.1lbs / 2.8kg | 5.7lbs / 2.6kg |
| Volume | 30L | 26L-31L |
| Camera Access | Butterfly Front | Rear Panel + Side Hatch |
| Laptop | Up to 16″ | Up to 16″ |
| Tablet Pocket | No | Yes |
| AirTag Pocket | No | Yes |
| RFID Pocket | No | Yes |
| Rain Cover | Included | Included |
| Removable Shoulder Straps | Yes | Yes |
| Hip Belt | Included | Included |
| Tripod Carry | Side | Front or Side |
| Carries Pro-Sized Body? | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $459.95 | $469.95 |
The Kiboko 30L+ is the best-selling Gura Gear backpack, and since it is the largest model in the Kiboko lineup, it’s natural that some people might compare it to the largest bag in the Kiboko City Commuter lineup, the 26L+. The 30L+ can accommodate longer lenses than the 26L+, supporting focal lengths of up to 600mm f/4 or 800mm f/5.6. The Kiboko 30L+ features the butterfly opening that works so well when using the bag alongside you in a safari vehicle.
Conversely, the City Commuter Pro 26L+ has a separate roll-top section that allows for efficient organization of photographic gear, such as clothing and food, or related items like drones and gimbals. Items stored in the 26L+’s top compartment are quick and easy to access. The 26L+ also functions better as an all-in-one travel bag, offering dedicated sections for a laptop, a tablet, and tech accessories in the main compartment’s lid. In comparison, the Kiboko 30L+ only has a basic laptop sleeve. If I want to travel without a separate laptop bag, the City Commuter Pro 26L+ is a more suitable choice.
I should also point out again that the term “City Commuter” in the Kiboko Pro 26L+’s name can be confusing. While I agree that this bag works better as a daily city bag than standard Kiboko backpacks, I worry that many people will dismiss it immediately as unsuitable for wilderness adventures. That’s definitely not true! The City Commuter Pro 26L+ is just as tough and durable as the standard Kiboko backpacks. It features the same X-Pac materials, along with identical buckle and zipper hardware. If the City Commuter Pro 26L+ meets your needs in terms of features and capacity, it’s a great choice even if you never plan to take it anywhere near a city!
Also worthy of more detailed discussion are the interior depth dimensions of these bags. The Pro 26L+ has a 6″ depth, while the Kiboko 30L+ lists a depth of 5.5″. These numbers don’t tell the whole story, though. In the Kiboko 30L+, the camera compartment has a 5.5″ depth below the zipper line, but the lid of the bag offers a lot of volume, allowing you to easily store a lens that protrudes above that 5.5″ height. The lens or lens hood simply bulges into the bag’s front pocket section. Since this pocket is on the front of the bag, facing away from your back, it doesn’t matter.
Conversely, the 6-inch depth of the Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ is a hard limit because the camera compartment backs up against the laptop compartment and faces your back. If you put a lens or lens hood in the Pro 26L+ that extends beyond the 6-inch depth, it will push into the laptop or tablet compartment and create a bulge that you can feel on your back. The result is that, while technically considered a shallower bag based solely on the official dimensions, the 30L+ actually has much greater usable depth than the Pro 26L+. This is why you can carry lenses with large lens hoods, such as a 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4, in the 30L+, but not in the City Commuter 26L+.
What about comparing the Commuter Pro 26L+ to the Kiboko 22L+? I thought about this, and I do keep a Kiboko 22L+ in my gear closet. While the 22L may seem close to the 26L+ in terms of capacity, I view the 26L+ as more akin to a 31L bag, given the ease of use of its roll-top volume. The maximum lens length is nearly identical in the 22L as it is in the 26L+, but the 22L can’t carry pro-sized or gripped bodies. In the end, I think the comparison to the 30L+ is more valid, and the one that more people will be considering.
Conclusion
Adding a larger, more telephoto lens-compatible 26L+ model to Gura Gear’s City Commuter lineup makes a lot of sense, considering the brand’s loyal base of wildlife photographers. This bag takes all the great features of the original urban-inspired 18L+ City Commuter model, such as the roll-top, side access hatch, and full-featured tech organization, and adds in pro-camera, or gripped body compatibility, with main compartment that’s capable of holding lenses up to something like a Sony 400-800mm, Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 or Canon RF 200-800mm with a body attached.
While the bag cannot carry larger primes like a 400mm f/2.8 or a 600mm f/4, this becomes less of a concern for wildlife photographers as trends favor highly capable telephoto zooms such as the Sony 400-800mm or 200-600mm, the Nikon 180-600mm, and the Canon RF 200-800mm, all of which fit perfectly in the City Commuter Pro 26L+. Alongside these more affordable telephoto zooms, lightweight prime lenses such as the Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3, Z 400mm f/4.5, Sigma 500mm f/6.3 and Sony 300mm f/2.8 are all popular now, and pair just as well with this bag.
Of course, you don’t need to be a wildlife photographer to use this bag. The beauty of this design, with its multiple access points, is that it can meet a variety of needs. The reduced emphasis on telephoto lens use makes the Kiboko City Commuter series the best Gura Gear bags for both travel and landscape photographers. The Kiboko 30L+ has always been the darling of the brand’s lineup, but I can certainly see this new City Commuter Pro 26L+ capturing many customer’s attention moving forward.
Where to Buy – Save 10%
Gura Gear has offered Shutter Muse readers a 10% discount on anything purchased in their online store. Just use the discount code SHUTTERMUSE10 after clicking here to access their store.
I always appreciate it when you use my links for your purchases. Of course, you should try shopping directly with Gura Gear for the 10% discount mentioned above and for their exceptional customer service. They offer international shipping at very reasonable rates so that you can shop with confidence from anywhere.
Shipping Times: USA and Canadian warehouses will be ready to ship from Monday, 13th October 2025. Due to a shipping delay, stock for the UK warehouse has been delayed and won’t be available until the beginning of November. UK readers will, confusingly, see that the bag is currently missing from the Gura Gear website, and some of my links will return a 404 error for those readers. Unfortunately this quirk is out of my control. Readers elsewhere should have no such problems. UK-based readers should sign up to my newsletter and I’ll let you know when the bag is available in the UK warehouse.
- Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter Pro 26L+ – Gura Gear / B&H Photo
- Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L+ – Gura Gear / B&H Photo / Amazon
Would you like a matching X-Pac VX21 sailcloth travel bag for all your non-photographic gear? Check out Gura Gear’s new range of ultralight, ultra-tough Mara Duffel bags in four sizes.
- Gura Gear Mara Travel Duffels (40L-100L) – Gura Gear
Great review, Dan. Very comprehensive. Thanks for sharing all of this!