The Camera Bag: Gura Gear introduces Bataflae 18L travel photography backpack with laptop slot

 

 

Gura Gear added to its Bataflae line-up of camera backpacks yesterday with the new, portable Bataflae 18L ($349) pack for travel photographers. The 18L is the smallest in the Bataflae line but still has enough room to cary multiple, full-size professional digital SLR or medium format bodies, a 300mm lens and up to a 70-200mm lens attached to a camera body.

The Bataflae (pronounced "butterfly") 18L also has a key feature -- a padded slot to fit a laptop or tablet computer -- not available on the larger 32L and 26L models, which were unveiled earlier this year at Photokina

So while it looks and feels slim and trim, the Bataflae 18L has 6.5 inches of interior depth, letting you stuff big lenses, camera bodies and other photo gear that may not fit in most small backpacks. The padded slot, which closes with a weather-resistant zipper, can carry up to a 13-inch laptop. Meanwhile, the compact bag complies with international carry-on requirements for airlines.

In the past, Gura Gear packs have used a simple butterfly flap system, which opens only half of the main storage compartment, letting you grab the important gear quickly while keeping other stuff stowed away safely. The company's latest Bataflae bags improve on that with the company's "patent pending" butterfly multi-access system, which gives you both half access and full access if you need it. Switching from half access to full access takes just one click of a buckle on the packs, according to the company.

 

 

Along with basic black, which has been the signature color of Gura Gear's bags in the past, the Bataflae models also come in subtle but stylish grey and tan colors. The bags have new YKK RC Fuse zippers with weather resistant coating to prevent dust and water from seeping in, while still being easy to pull open when you're in a hurry to get to your gear.

Other features include a "M.O.L.L.E. compatible" side attachment system, that lets you attach multi-point tripod/monopod configurations, along with other accessories, via quick-hook side straps. As with the other Bataflae packs, the 18L has a removable seam-sealed adjustable rain cover/ground cloth, riveted handles and big, color-coded zipper pulls than can be accessed even if you're wearing gloves.

 

 

According to Gura Gear, Bataflae is a word from the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and means, surprise, surprise, "butterfly."

The Gura Gear Bataflae 18L is available for pre-order at at www.guragear.com.

In other photo bag news, Think Tank photo unveiled a new rotating outdoor photo backpack yesterday under its new MindShift Gear brand. More details here.