Kata Bumblebee UL-222 Backpack -Gray

This is my 2nd Kata bag. I also own (and still use) a DR-466. I needed something larger to hold my 70-200 2.8 mounted or un-mounted that was also a daypack. I had looked at the quick access offerings (Fastpack 350, Aero 85, 3N1-33, Evolution 8) but decided that quick side access was not that big of a deal. For me, a light, comfortable daypack type bag with plenty of space for gear is what really mattered. I also felt like the quick access bags were just a tad shy on the space I was after. I bought and returned and Aero 85, bought and returned a 3N1-33, considered the evolution 8, but kept coming back and eyeing this bag. I loved the space it offered and it appeared to be the highest performance as far as comfort (weight of pack, weight distribution, and air flow on my back). I also really liked the design. The one thing holding me back was the color. I looked for as many reviews as I could, and it appeared in some of them it was a little bit darker than the Kata produced images. So... I ended up ordering it. I was really excited about what it could carry, the layout, and the comfort potential. After it arrived it did appear slightly darker, but not much. I immediately noticed the quality of materials and felt like I was in a different back pack/daypack league than I have ever been before. So that was my thought process, this is what I think of the bag. The color is fine and it's growing on me. It is light weight (until you load it of course). I am very extremely impressed how it distributes the weight and feels on my back. It is extremely comfortable and distributes the weight so well, it felt like I had much, much less gear in my bag. It felt that good on my back! My back did not get super hot like it has with other packs. You will still experience some warmth in certain temps, but that should be no surprise. But this bag is better than any I have ever owned (this is my 5th camera backpack). The shoulder straps are super nice. I read some people are concerned, don't be. That same material I have had in one of their straps (can't remember what it is called, it was just a bag strap I bought a couple years ago for switching between shoulder bags and my 70-200 2.8 bag). Very nice straps, comfortable and they conform to your shape. I don't care about the included camera strap. Nice idea - if I use the loops for a camera I will modify something from the brands of straps I use. Plenty of space throughout the bag. The top compartment is a nice size, plus the laptop sleeve is great for many things when not carrying a laptop. If your carrying a netbook then you have room for that and other stuff in that compartment. The tripod mount is nicely done, blending in well and I like the side or back option. Not sure what else to say, I am very impressed with this bag, glad I went for it, and am so glad I have it. I love the performance and functionality, as well as the layout and features. I personally would like an option for a slightly darker gray version, but it really is not that big of a deal.

I'm not really sure what to make of this bag. It's pretty. It's very light. It has a lot of very well thought out pockets for non-camera things. The straps are very comfortable. Overall, there are a lot of very well thought out parts to this design. Then there are several not-so-well thought out parts. First, it is made for a 17" laptop. Yes, the description is clear, but I frankly bought it in spite of that. I can't imagine lugging a 17" laptop very far. I need to fit a 9-12" laptop, which unfortunately seems hard to combine with lots of camera gear. Second, the bag is very, very, deep. Kata calls it "width", and it is almost 12 inches. The interior compartment is 7.5" to accomodate a pro-size SLR, but in return, it means that a lot of other things will flop around. If you have a non-pro size SLR it will not fit very well. I personally want to keep a 24-70 lens mounted to the camera, and a 70-200 in the compartment. The 24-70 and camera will have a couple of inches of vertical space, and the 70-200 has almost four inches of space to move around because the compartment is so deep. I think the only way I would feel comfortable carrying the 70-200 in this bag is if I propped it up on top of a bunch of bubble wrap, which seems to somehow defeat the purpose of the bag. The bumblebee is just so deep that it does not have a good way to carry lenses very securely. Even carrying a 60mm macro lens vertically leaves several inches for that lense to jump around in. In addition, the exterior width of 12 inches is three whole inches more than the legal carry on size so you may not be able to carry this bag on with some airlines. Finally, the flap for the camera compartment is very poorly designed. It won't stay open so you will find yourself doing something to force it open while you are accessing that compartment. It ought to be possible to include some kind of strap or something to keep that flap open. I'm a bit disappointed in this bag. I had really hoped it was going to hold a standard set of lenses more securely than it does. It may work very well for you, but I am returning mine.

I've had this bag for about 2 weeks and used extensively on a recent field trip out of town with my daughter. I do have numerous camera bags, but I was looking for a travel bag that can double as a camera bag. Things I like: Ergonomics: The bag has many pockets allowing you to carry a large DSLR (Canon 1D series), including 4 lenses, one of which a 70-200 f/4.0, an additional PS camera, charger, extra batteries, laptop, and a small compartment for day travel. The harness does a great job at distributing the weight on your bag, Ease of use: All pockets and compartment are easy to get to, the adjustable belts are easy and quick to adjust. Capacity: See above Padding: Very adequate. Weight: feels extremely light. Things I do not like: Color: just ugly color, I prefer darker colors, and more rugged looking exterior (similar to the 3-N-1 series) Space efficiency: The lower padded section can be removed and a zipper opened to connect both the top and bottom sections providing you with a larger space, however the combined space is not padded, ergo defeating the purpose. I was hoping to stow a small tripod along the the camera equipment, but that is not possible. Tripod harness: A vented somewhat rugged looking pocket can be attached to the bag and act as tripod harness/carrier. From experience, you end up losing any additional accessories that are not permanently attached to the bag. It would ave been nicer to provide for a permanent tripod solution. Size: The bag is actually larger than it seems from the pictures on the web, however it does hold a lot. Overall I am pleased with the purchase and would recommend it. I am planning on using it for an oversea trip to carry 2 cameras, few lenses and small accesories.

two features I like, 1) well designed pocket/cusion/fabrics, very durable, large space. My stuff list, Sony A-99, 24-70mm, 70-400mm G, Minolta 70-210mm, Minolta 50mm, Rokinon 8mm. Accessories including vertical grip handle, extra battery, tripod, extra filter lens, extra SD cards, clean cloth, data cable. Well, a 15 inch laptop still can put into it, but usually I won't take it with me for a short trip and it's too heavy in total weight. Don't forget a bottle of water, you can still put it on the side bag. The fabrics of side bag is flexible enough to let you put a 500ml water bottle. 2) The whole bag is very light weighted, but still put enough focus on the shoulder strips. The shoulder strip is very very durable and provides comfort even your back pack is very heavy. Dislike The only dislike is the open method. With all equipment I have it's not very easy to open it from bottom and grab them out. You can't do like the video shows, one should still have the bag strip on and move the whole bag to the front, so it will lay down, your other hand can reach the bottom zip and open it and have your camera. The problem is with fairly amount of equipment, the bag is too thick and too heavy, you cannot do that easily. So my suggestion is take the camera out before the hike or other activity start, put on your back pack and hook the camera on the shoulder strip. Another way is recommanded by Kata is to use the torsso bag, combined them together. Anyway, I like the bag very much and it does provide mobility and protection to my equipment. I feel a very worthy investment.

Good to carry some gears, difficult to handle when you want to quickly take out something. Good built quality but heavy. The color looks good when you are not using it, not recomended for landscape and travel photographer as it catches the dirt very quickly and they are visible

Light weight, comfortable camera bag. Sturdy aluminum frame. Nice external pockets and attachment points. Large upper compartment for non-camera gear (jacket, snacks, etc). Well protected laptop sleeve. Camera gear compartment is 3 sections which hold many small & large lens, camera bodies, accessories. Well padded and internally re-arrangeable. A bit stiff to get into top of compartment and somewhat bulky from depth perspective. Cannot use external compression straps to reduce depth due to stiff compartment. Overall very good for base camp type travel....not so much for group touring.

As an amateur photographer, I've tried several backpacks in the past years and did a lot or research (and I mean, A LOT) before buying this backpack. It is the best I have come across. Please see below a summary review: *Pros* * Lightweight, yet sturdy construction. This backpack has been designed keeping those two concepts in mind: aluminum frame, lightweight padded inserts, rubber straps (it's not actual rubber, but a sturdy, flexible material that repels moisture), minimalist zippers, etc. Im not sure if the actual construction material is abrasion resistant, but I have put it in really tight places with no scratches at all. * Tripod add-on included. * Excellent padding for camera and lenses. * Lots of room and pockets. * Chest and weist straps to minimize stress on shoulders. * Padded computer area (easy access). *Cons* * It's a big backpack. Sometimes I have a hard time fitting it in the overhead compartment in some air planes. * There is no easy access to the camera when walking around. This is inherent to all backpacks, not just this one. I Just thought it was worth mentioning it.

It is a really good product but the size is over what I expected by the picture. It is not practical.