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Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L Review


I’m excited to share the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L review because finding reliable gear is essential to keeping ourselves organized and efficient.

Regarding camera backpacks, we need something that can carry all of our gear comfortably while also protecting it from the elements.

A good outdoor backpack also needs to be easy to access.

Finding an all-in-one solution that’s versatile, durable, comfortable, and convenient is a game changer for photographers who need gear that keeps up with our demands.

As you read through this article, I’ll walk through the pros and cons of these Peak Design outdoor bags as well as how they live up to the needs of outdoor photographers.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L

Versatility, comfort, and smart storage for adventure-seekers with adjustable fit and rugged design.

Check Current Price

Peak Design is known for innovative and thoughtful design. They’ve launched 13 highly successful Kickstarter campaigns for a reason!

With this outdoor backpack, they seem to have a clear and specific end user in mind.

As an outdoor adventure photographer, I need a bag that doesn’t slow me down.

I need it to be comfortable even when loaded down, and quick to access so that I don’t miss a shot.

Let’s dive in and talk about how this bag meets my needs and where it might fall short.

What is the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L?

 

  • Volume: 45L
  • Full adjustable suspension
  • Rolltop and big zipper access
  • Laptop Sleeve up to 16″
  • Water-resistant material
  • Exterior: 30.7 x 12.2 x 6.7 in (78 x 31 x 17 cm)
  • 3.97 lb (1.8 kg) with hip belt
  • Hydration bladder compatible
  • No side access
Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Customizable
  • Option for a smaller 25L size
Cons

  • On the expensive side, especially with the added cost of a camera cube
  • Main pocket is a little slower to access than I’d like

Peak Design just launched a new outdoor line featuring this 45L pack to function as both a camera backpack and the perfect bag for outdoor adventures.

This pack is aimed at outdoor photographers who need something rugged and durable while also being lightweight.

The pack is also scalable and customizable so that you can adapt it to a variety of adventures.

And like all Peak Design products, it’s full of thoughtful design features that make a photographer’s life easier.

Design and Build Quality

Person wearing an orange beanie and gray jacket with a large black backpack, standing on a road with trees in the background.

The 45L Peak Design Outdoor Backpack is designed with a comfortable and slender build.

It has padding where you need it to carry a heavy load, but there’s not a lot of extra fluff, which keeps it lightweight.

It’s clear that this bag is durable and built for the outdoors so that we don’t have to worry about our gear being protected from the elements.

From an aesthetic perspective, this bag is very clean and attractive.

I appreciate that it’s not busy with zippers and has some cool design elements, like the clamshell back panel. I was initially confused by the clamshell but have come to really like it.

There are a lot of features on this bag that might initially seem confusing, but once you give them a chance, you realize how well thought out they are.

The thoughtful design extends to the latch mechanism of the hip belt and the padded shoulder straps, which help you carry heavy camera loads long distances.

A bag with a good quality suspension system is key to staying comfortable on adventures. This bag’s suspension can be customized and has the flexibility to fit a wide variety of people.

In terms of quality, you can really tell that peak design thought of the smallest details, like the magnet closures on the rolltop and the daisy chain style attachment points surrounding the bag.

The hip belt latch is small but has a nice confidence-inspiring click to ensure it’s latched.

All these small things added up to me really enjoying the discovery process of using the bag.

Storage Capacity and Compartments

Person in red jacket placing a camera inside a black backpack on snow-covered ground with trees in the background.

At 45L this bag can handle a lot.  It feels scalable with the ability to get larger or smaller depending on how you pack it.

Despite the large 45-liter capacity, it’s sleek instead of bulky, which I appreciate. While some bags feel super rugged, I think this bag strikes a balance of svelte durability.

Whenever trying a new bag, there’s a little bit of a learning curve, and it took me a minute to figure out the purpose of the design.

The more I dug into it the more I appreciated the big zipper, back hatch, stretchy pockets, and lots of customizable attachments like the attachable sling bags.

It gives quick, full access via the main zipper compartment, which is something that I like in my camera bags.

While some photographers like the side access, I tend to put my bag down and open it up to fully access my gear.

I think this is more of a professional feature because it means I’m getting to a location and really working there, as opposed to grabbing my camera for an occasional shot via the side access.

Once opened, this bag can be customized and organized with various camera cubes.

Peak Design offers a variety of camera cubes so that you can organize various quantities of gear as you need. There is everything from a large cube that holds a professional camera kit to an extra small cube that holds a small mirrorless camera.

On the suspension shoulder straps, the small details are all there. With a running vest inspiration, they have a nice capture clip camera mount (a handy accessory from Peak Design, read more about it here) and a stretchy yet accessible phone pocket. 

I really appreciated that the capture clip mount was wide enough and padded enough that mounting my camera to the shoulder strap didn’t make it less comfortable because it didn’t press into my shoulder.

The roll top gives expanded capacity, and the sneaky back pockets keep small items easily accessible.

I especially like these zipper pockets for items like keys, wallet, headphones, etc, that I want safely stored in a zipper compartment but still accessible when I need them.

The hip belt and shoulder straps are durable and fully featured with load lifters that help transfer the weight to the internal frame and waist belt of the pack.

One of my favorite features is that the hip belt folds away when not in use, which adds to the sleek design. You can have the hip belt when you need it, and it’s completely hidden and out of the way when you’re only carrying short distances. 

The hip belt can also be removed if you don’t want the extra weight. Additionally, the hip belt contains a handy little zipper pocket for quick access items.

In the outdoors, it helps not to have things that can get caught anywhere or broken, so the sleekness is more than just visual appeal.

Protection and Security Features

Person holding the open top of a black backpack outdoors, wearing a grey long-sleeve shirt and mustard pants.

The Outdoor Backpack has several features that keep your gear safe.

You’ll notice weatherproofing, padding, and anti-theft features.

This pack looks very well sealed and waterproofed; it’s designed as an outdoor pack after all, and while I haven’t tested it in all conditions yet, I’m confident in Peak Design to keep my gear safe.

In an all-out downpour, I’d suggest putting on the rain cover, but for the occasional weather event, this bag seems more than adequate.

In terms of anti-theft features, this pack doesn’t yell camera bag and it doesn’t have a lot of external zippers you need to worry about people accessing while you’re moving through crowded spaces.

The most valuable items, such as your camera gear and laptop, are stored in the main compartment. 

The small zippered pockets on the back are not easy to spot. 

In terms of internal protection, the camera cubes launched with this pack are great. They offer good padding without feeling bulky, and I feel confident in the protection of my precious camera gear.

The cubes fit nicely inside the bag and seem to hold their position and shape. While testing the frameless 25L pack, attaching the camera cubes to the pack was essential to give the bag shape – but since the 45L has a frame, this is not necessary.

The hatch on the back of the pack also secures snugly when you pull up on the drawcord. While the contents of this compartment are not zipped in, they do feel secure because of the compression of the latch design.

Accessibility and Ease of Use

A person wearing a gray shirt carries a camera attached to their chest harness, with sunlight highlighting the equipment.

I love that the back panel opens completely to give full access to my gear, although I do feel like it’s a little more challenging to operate the zipper than I would like.

Other bags I have used, like the Shimoda’s, have a larger zipper that inspires more confidence.

Another component that I noted was the chest strap hook latch system. It felt good when I was able to make it latch, but I think it would take some breaking in for the loops to stretch and be easier to hook.

This hook/latch strap system is employed on the accessory mounting straps as well, and I felt like they were equally challenging to operate. Maybe I just need some time to break things in.

Generally, the thoughtful design results in great organization and access to all of your gear and accessories.

The inclusion of magnets to make things like the roll top snap into place shows how Peak Design actually got out and tested their products thoroughly in the design process.

Peak Design bags have unique design features that take a little getting used to at first but seem like they would make life easier in the long run. It almost seems like they know what I need more than I do sometimes.

Comfort and Portability

Person adjusting straps on a black backpack outdoors.

As I already mentioned when talking about the build quality, this camera bag is durable and built for photographers on the go in the outdoors.

With features like the rugged, waterproof fabric and rolltop closure, this backpack is mountain-ready.

You’ll also see a lot of rugged attachment points for extra gear which allows this bag to feel bigger than it is. You can strap on accessories to the back or sides to allow for more carrying capacity.

The comfortable hip belt and adjustable shoulder straps support the weight of all your gear in a nice, balanced, comfortable way. I wouldn’t hesitate to carry my gear for a long distance.

It also has adjustable torso height on the suspension to dial in the fit just right. This allows you to carry the majority of the weight on the hip belt and off your shoulders.

Versatility and Travel-Friendliness

Person organizing a backpack with compartments, placing a small item inside.

This Peak Design outdoor backpack was clearly designed for outdoor photographers but is also quite appealing to a wider audience of adventurers.

And as we know, outdoor photography can mean a lot of things.

This outdoor backpack is great for a variety of photographers, from rugged adventurers to wildlife photographers to urban photographers who want something with a high-quality suspension system.

It’s adaptable to a variety of scenarios and can be customized with Peak Design’s camera cubes.

Some of the travel-friendly features I like include the sleek and slender laptop pouch.

It has super quick zipper access for removing your laptop at airport security.

I also appreciate the customizable and removable camera cube sizing that allows me to scale this bag up or down.

Maybe you need more camera gear and less extra stuff, or maybe you need a lot of adventure gear and a small camera kit.

This pack can be transformed to fit all of those needs with interchangeable camera cubes.

There are also sneaky zipper pockets on the back to keep any valuables you need quickly accessible.

Peak Design also makes sling bags that can be attached in a variety of ways to add capacity.

The adjustable shoulder straps, waist belt, and suspension also add to the versatility, as you can make this comfortable regardless of how much gear you need to carry.

Organization and Accessibility of Accessories

As I mentioned, this pack is loaded with special features to help you keep your gear organized.

Without overwhelming you with miscellaneous zippers and compartments, there are just the right amount of places to store everything you might need.

Outdoor bags can get full of gear, so little touches like mesh pockets help you stay organized. If you like to keep everything perfectly sorted, you should also consider some of Peak Design’s ultralight packing cubes. These pouches can keep all your items separate and sorted.

I love to access gear through the back panel because it’s the simplest way to get into the main compartment and open up the bag to see everything. I think many people will come to love this design.

This is also a great feature of outdoor bags because you often set them on the ground and then want to be able to flip open the back panel rather than getting your waist belt and shoulder straps dirty.

The rugged exterior of the pack keeps the interior dry even when you set it down in the snow.

How I Tested the Peak Design 45L BackPack

Person in a red jacket placing a camera into a black backpack in a snowy outdoor setting.

I’ve spent a few months checking out the new Peak Design line-up and getting comfortable with their latest innovations.

Playing with this bag, as well as the 25L version, has increased my appreciation for the thorough feature set.

After years of shooting outdoors and relying on rugged gear, I feel like I can make a good assessment of durability despite the fact that I haven’t had this bag for years in order to test it over time and abuse.

Alternatives to Peak Design Outdoor 45L

For the last several years, I have personally been a fan of the Shimoda Action series of bags – like the Shimoda Action X30 and Action X40.

They are backpacks designed for a similar target audience – outdoor photographers and adventurers.

Peak Design has always been an admirable company as they’re always doing new things, but their backpacks haven’t been previously targeted at the outdoor-specific crowd.

Having used Shimoda for several years, I have some loyalty and familiarity with their bags.

They are solid and burly packs that have held up under wilderness abuse.

I’ve never had to worry about a thing with the rugged zippers and material.

However, Peak Design is definitely showing them some competition with their attention to detail and refined design.

Price and Value for Money

The peak design 45L pack goes for US$330 plus around US$100 for the camera cube.

Peak Design is known for its thoughtful design and high-quality build, which makes it a premium brand.

As these aren’t targeted to the budget crowd, they offer solid value where you get what you pay for.

In addition, Peak Design offers a lifetime warranty, which adds to the value, especially if there are any concerns about durability.

Therefore, in my opinion, the quality and versatility of this bag justify the cost – especially as it’s a comparable price to the Shimoda Action X40, which I’ve mentioned in the above section about possible alternatives.

FAQ’s

How does the outdoor bag compare to other Peak Design Bags?

While it’s from the same company, the outdoor backpack is much different. It’s designed to be lightweight, comfortable, and efficient in an outdoor setting. It has less shape and padding than other Peak Design bags and features suited to adventure rather than travel.

Features like a good suspension and hydration compatibility are prioritized over airport-ready features.

Is it waterproof?

Not completely, but the fabric is designed to be water-resistant. You wouldn’t be able to dunk it in a lake, but laying it in the snow shouldn’t be an issue. There is a rain cover available if you’re going to be out in a downpour.

Will it fit my torso?

It’s designed to fit people 5’8″ to 6’2″. That said, based on user reports, it should fit people 5’2″ to 6’6″. The adjustability of the harness only goes so far, but it seems like it has a wide range of adjustments.

Do the cubes come with the backpack and how much camera gear do they fit?

No, you’ll need to buy the camera cube separately. There are several sizes of camera cubes but the large one works quite well for a pro mirrorless kit. The medium gives a good balance of outdoor gear and camera gear, while the medium and small are for just a camera and lens or slightly more.

Does it come in other sizes?

Yes, this bag also comes in a 25L version.

Does it come in other colors?

Yes, it comes in black, white, or maroon.

Peak Design Outdoor Backpack Review | Conclusion

A person wearing a brown beanie and a gray shirt stands on a snowy forest road, carrying a large black backpack.

In conclusion, I’m really excited that Peak Design has launched its new outdoor backpack series.

With their attention to detail and refined design skills, Peak Design has definitely put together an awesome bag for outdoor photographers and adventurers.

This is great for those of us who are always on the go with our camera gear and want to know that our gear is safe in a waterproof and durable bag.

The comfort and aesthetics are also a plus when it comes to an outdoor backpack.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L

Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L

Versatility, comfort, and smart storage for adventure-seekers with adjustable fit and rugged design.

Check Current Price



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