Mara Travel Duffel

I was off to the Masai Mara 2 weeks ago with a Pelican case that I wanted to camouflage from thieves and customs officers while flying into Africa and I wanted it to double as a camera bag in the vehicle where it would keep cameras safe away from dust. What better than the Mara bag in the Mara! This one looks excellent and made by GG - my favorite goto camera bag people so I was excited. The size accommodates a camera with a 600mm f4 and hood and the extra pockets on top and inside are just perfect for batteries remotes and all the gear I needed. Perfect design in every sense until I checked it in at the local airport and the agent grabbed it by one handle and the material ripped where the handles are stitched. Not up to your normal quality GG! The answer is simple they should have the webbing go all around the bag and yet the webbing stops for a couple of inches between the handle and theback of the bag so it rips easily - seems like a sensible solution to me GG - make it better and then Ill buy a new one. Anyone want a MM bag used once with ripped handles?

It is the perfect size for a weekend getaway. Love all of the different pockets that are available to put different items for easy access.

I went on a birding and national park tour in Alaska in June. I wanted a bag to better conform to the space available in the vans the tour company used. The Mara Duffle was a good choice. It easily held my clothing and such for a trip that required some bulky warm clothing. The only thing that was difficult was toting it, my camera bag, and Chobe in the airport without a sternum strap. I now have a set of shoulder straps with the sternum strap. I think the shoulder straps with a sternum strap should be standard.

So far I have not tested the duffelbag in real world ... and I have no travel plans for the coming weeks. So this is just a first impression. Having used Gura Gera camera bags for years, I started with the Kiboko 20L (Version 1, before the comeback of version 2) ... I use daily the Kiboko City Commuter and I I need more gear I take the Kiboko 20 L version 2. I also have the sling bag and love it. ... But my point is at first I was slightly disappointed at the duffle bag ... it was soft and thin and did not feel anything like what I was used to. BUT, of course I the realized this is not a camera bag. It is a bag for the other stuff I use on on a trip, my extra clothes, my toothbrush and shampoo ... and for that it will work perfectly. It will replace a well used duffelbag from PacSafe ... or maybe not replace it fully, they will serve me side by side. Hopefully for a long time time. I will definitely take it with me to Africa!!! Both my Kiboko 20L have been there ...

I love the look of my bag (Sahara) the material feels as good as what I am used to with GurGear. And since it is not a camera bag it does not need the padded protection inside :)

Our team at Felis is constantly on expedition... and this bag is perfect to fill up and throw up on top of the truck and head out into the field. It's lightweight, water resistant and the zips are tough. I love the colour as well!

Great weight and size to fit the bush planes. Plenty roomy for our adventure gear. Solidly built and the backpack straps are a nice add.

I have the 80L Mara in the excellent Sahara colour. For me it's the perfect size to carry all my checkin gear and tripod. It weighs a lot less than my previous bags, packs up small when needed - ie working on yachts. I've even used it for a packrafting adventure with the included backpack straps. It's also super stylish and easy to identify in baggage claim.

I recently purchased this duffel and took it on its first trip (to Africa). The bag is bigger than expected, extremely light (great for little planes with strict bag weight limits), and has tons of useful pockets (the downfall of most duffel bags). The removable backpack straps are a good addition. Very happy with the bag so far!

Absolutely love this duffel bag! It easily held everything (including my tripod!) for a 7 day trip. Favorite feature so far is the backpack straps.

Rated as 5 * in a dry environment. Well built and light. I am deducting 2 * for use in wet conditions. Though described as built with X-Pac performance fabric which is "100% waterproof and constructed to the highest quality standards". Without taped seams the stitching is not waterproof and the bag wets out at seams. This is especially problematic on the bottom when the bag is placed in wet areas.

I'll be on Safari come July and the internal airline we'll be requires using completely soft luggage. The exceptionally strong materials and craftsmanship of the Mara Travel Duffel make me confident my stuff will be well protected. The size is just right for a two week trip.

Will be Perfect for African Safari where only Duffel Bags can be used!😁

Having owned many duffles over the years (rolling and backpacks) and some in the high end category (such as Patagonia and North Face) this one is not only durable, but fills a need the other bags do not. I usually travel with a roller duffle, but for some destinations, notably Africa, I need a non-roller bag to comply with the weight and non-rigidity requirements of the bush plane flights. This one complements my old Gura Gear Bataflae (yes, it STILL is the best comprehensive camera bag I have ever owned) and now my only problem is figuring out which I can carry in my arms and the one I wear on my back for getting across the ground when I don't have access to a cart or a person who is meeting us at the airport who takes care of the bags.
But aside from this logistical issue which is a situational one, this bag is simply the best. I love the light lining/interior. My husband is eternally losing one of his many "small black items"( stuff sacks, small electronics, small clothing items that are black and have escaped from stuff sacks, etc.). The light interior makes it easy to spot small dark items. I love the AirTag pocket since this is now an essential travel item as well. The fabric is durable without the heavy, non-flexible feel of the Patagonia black hole bag, it is also easy to recognize from a distance because it is in BRIGHT YELLOW and not just another "big black duffle bag". Love the smooth locking zippers and the interior compartments which help with organization and mean I have to worry about fewer stuff sacks. The x-pack case is also a great interior stuff sack for items as well. Love the "easy to quickly detach" carrying straps that slide into the top pocket with ease.
I loved the design so much that I bought TWO of these bags for both myself and my husband for out anniversary this year...and we both LOVE them and hope to take them on an overseas trip to Morocco this fall.

Nice colour, strong and light, airtag slot

The bag is well made. Love the many zipper pockets inside. Materials are good. But it lacks a shoulder sling. I often use a sling on some occasions but it doesn't have one.

I picked the 40L for a carry-on duffle especially for my upcoming Safari to Africa. Perfect size, light weight and looks very durable and should be very water resistant. Fits my 17kg limit perfectly.

I bought this bag to organize my gear and haul it for shoots that require a lot of kinds of gear, including video gear in the field. It's proved up to the task already.

The Mara Travel Duffel is well designed and thought out. I have the 60L version and it can hold all me gear with room to spare. I have also used the duffel for clothing and the included insert for shoes and accessories at not extra cost was a nice bonus. This duffle is durable enough to go into checked luggage or in the overhead if you keep the weight below airline restrictions. Plenty of space and waterproof as well, this durable duffel is what you would expect from Gura Gear. Highly recommend!

Just returned from my first trip to Botswana with the Mara Duffle. Great carry-on bag for the trip to SA, but I checked the bag from Johannesburg to Kasane. The bag arrived on the belt at Kasane with the Main Zipper blown out. Only a small area of the zipper was open, and the lock was still in place;, nothing was missing. A reverse zip of the zipper resolved the issue, but it was concerning that the zipper had failed so easily. Not sure how I can trust the bag fully if the zipper can fail so soon.

Love it, wish colors were available when I ordered.

Just love this bag, it's light, spacious and very practical!

Iv'e owned gura Gear products since 2010 and never looked back. These duffles are no exception and are of the highest quality. I expect they will last for a long long time. Great job guys

This understated bag looks simple enough, but packs a technical punch for a reasonable price. I won't buy any other carry-on bag since traveling with my Mara duffel. It is so light, so durable, so water resistant and so meticulously manufactured, the idea of wheels on luggage now seems pointless. Professional but distinctive style, it holds more than the typical roller suitcase and fits in the overhead better.