Peak Design’s Outdoor Backpack is a more versatile everyday bag

Perfection is a high bar, but it’s the word I used to describe my experience with Peak Design’s first backpack eight years ago. The 20 liter Everyday Backpack for techies and camera geeks was extremely popular. Verge Staff said bags often get mixed up when people gather at technology events.

Back in 2016, I carried my laptop with me. A DSLR with an external flash and at least one long lens. tripod. And a portable battery or two to keep everything charged. In 2024, you will also need a bag to carry your drone, controller, and other equipment. Action camera with wireless microphone and selfie stick. There might even be a Starlink Mini dish with a portable solar panel to connect and charge everything.

I now like to work remotely as much as possible, often from the limited confines of my adventure van, so a unique bag that can quickly adapt to hiking, biking, trips to the gym, and trips to the store. I’m also looking for , the office, or a weekend getaway by train or plane. It should be stored quickly and compactly until the next use.

During my two months, I tested Peak Design’s new lighter and more versatile products $249.95 25L Outdoor BackpackI can say this: It’s not perfect — but it is teeth Even better, as long as you are prepared to spend more money on accessories.

The 25L outdoor backpack is a good size for day trips, holding your laptop, camera, and other gadgets, as well as food, water, and even extra clothing. Unlike the 45L model, the much smaller pack I tested is frameless, and the hipbelt must be purchased separately for $44.95.

In contrast to heavier everyday backpacks, the outdoor backpack’s weather-resistant and abrasion-resistant nylon shell offers no protection or structure for your gear. Compatible with Peak Design’s ecosystem of accessories, including ultralight packing cubes, quick-release capture clips, and protective covers. camera cubethe last one is a must-have addition to this bag.

The 25L Outdoor Backpack has a deep main pocket that can be accessed either with a rolltop for top-down access to all your gear, or with two zippers that allow you to open the bag completely like a clamshell to access the cubes. Other storage is categorized as follows:

• External “flex” pocket suitable for rain jackets and hydration bladders.
• Two zippered side pockets built into the Flex Pocket’s outer shell can be fitted with elastic key lanyards to carry passports, documents, wallets and more.
• A suspension sleeve mounted inside the back panel is suitable for laptops or hydration bladders up to 16 inches and has integrated routing for a drink tube.
• Two deep side pocket holsters for storing water bottles, tripods, trekking poles, etc.
• The wide plush shoulder strap features mesh pockets for quick access to your phone, snacks, glasses, and more.
• Gear loops are integrated throughout the bag and can be carried or compressed externally using a pair of long attachment cords, two included elastic gear straps, and two sternum straps.

Peak Design sent me the Cloud White version of their 25L Outdoor Backpack to review. Adorned with gray, black, and orange embellishments, this bag’s combination of smooth, soft recycled materials looks great, and it only takes minor scratches when placed on top of dirt, coarse gravel, and the congealed slime that collects on barroom floors. Unfortunately, Peak Design says that these white people Turns a little yellow over time Due to exposure to ultraviolet light. If that bothers you, like I do, you can choose a black or purplish colored option instead.

The first time I saw all those messy loops, cords, and other snag-prone parts, I was a little discouraged, but I realized that many of them could be rearranged or removed entirely. I also didn’t like how the fabric crinkled when the bag was empty, but Peak Design solved that too.

The 25L Outdoor Backpack is designed to be used with Peak Design softshells. “smedium” $69.95 Camera cube — Not small, not medium, but just the right size for the main storage compartment. We highly recommend purchasing the 25L model. Not only will the bag be stiffer and look better, but it will also protect and easily access the gear inside. The remaining space can be filled with small camera cube ($59.95).

The “UItra Cinch” system of cords that controls access to the exterior flex pocket and roll-top opening is nice but unwieldy. It locks into place when you finish pulling to adjust the width of the opening, but it requires both hands and the dangling cord can get in the way.

Despite all the groaning, I’m a big fan of the new Flex pockets. It’s my most used pocket because it’s easily accessible throughout the day. I also like that I have access to internal storage and can expand upwards with a roll top. But the Ultra Cinch cord system is certainly not the pinnacle of design.

Although I never had a problem with the comfort of the original Everyday backpack, even at my 6-foot athletic build, others have. Peak Design claims that the new 25L Outdoor Backpack has improved fit and comfort, and we found this to be true in a variety of scenarios carrying both light and heavy loads.

It was stable and comfortable even during my regular bike rides to the gym or co-working space, carrying a change of clothes, my laptop, charger, cables, glasses, and other miscellaneous items. Compression straps allow the bag to be thinner and fit snugly to the body. It also worked well for multi-day hikes and when attaching a hipbelt to support a very heavy remote office load with a satellite dish.

Other notable findings:

• On the white model, the Flex’s outer pockets are transparent, exposing items pressed against the outer shell. Black and purple-ish colors don’t seem to have this problem.
• My review bag withstood light rain just fine, but if you’re going to be out in a storm, you’ll need the $29.95 rainfly accessory to keep everything dry inside.
• I found the flex pocket to be a good place to temporarily store sweaty gym gear rather than having it pinned to the outside of the bag. This is because it has good ventilation and is easy to wipe off.

If you set perfection as your standard, you’ll always find some nonsense.

I like that it’s lightweight, The 25L Outdoor Backpack’s unstructured design allows you to layer in protection (and weight) as needed. That’s smart. With the addition of a camera cube, it looks and functions better than Peak Design’s original Everyday Backpack, allowing you to protect and organize your expensive gear.

in $249.95 / €279.99This is the most versatile backpack Peak Design has ever made. But for the gadget and photography geeks it targets, its true potential only comes into play after purchasing a Camera Cube or two. But now you’re looking at a pack that costs at least $320, so it could easily exceed $400.

This still isn’t too outrageous for a full-featured camera bag. For something small but heavy, you can pay around $215. Manfrotto’s 22.5L PRO Lite Backloaderthe larger one costs $324. 31L Prvke Top Loader with Camera Cubeor almost $400 Nomatic’s 25L McKinnon Camera Pack and Cube.

I love Peak Design’s 25L Outdoor Backpack and will probably be asking Santa not to let me personally betray my Everyday Backpack, which has served me well for years. But my colleague on the video team, Vjeran Pavic, who regularly travels the world with bags full of cameras and drones, has already switched his everyday bag to a white 25L outdoor backpack .

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge