If you haven’t heard of Peak Design as a company, no one would blame you. Their product lines are aimed mostly at photographers, videographers, drone pilots, and travel enthusiasts that embrace those occupations. Their line of bags and backpacks have historically been launched and supported by crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and today this long history gains a new entrant – Peak is introducing a travel line of backpacks and accessories that might just tempt people from ALL walks of life.
Before we dive into what’s new, you might want to see who the folks at Peak Design are, and what they are all about. You can find their website here to see what their existing product lines are like, and see if it might be for you. After that, you can check out what’s new from Peak below!
Since travel and cameras are kinda what they do, it makes a certain amount of sense that their newest product line encompasses both of those things in a unique way. The new Travel Backpack is the hero product of this line, and comes in a generous 45L size. The bag is designed in such a way as that it can be used on its own, or also to contain the series of travel accessories that are being introduced as well. The bag itself is constructed with a 400D nylon canvas shell, which is made from 100% recycled materials and makes the bag extremely water resistant. My Everyday Backpack from Peak is made from this same material, and has survived not only my daily commute, but also a recent 2 day turnaround media trip to NYC without showing a scratch. And believe me, it experienced plenty of carry on abuse during that quick trip. Most of the other pertinent details are outlined from the press release below:
Access
- Full back panel-load access for packing
- Dual zippered side hatches for instant camera access
- Quick tablet & laptop access
- Dedicated front organization panel
- Soft-lined sunglasses pocket
- Hidden passport/document pockets
- Bag sits upright on floor when packed or empty
Expansion & Compression
- Maximum international carry on size in normal 35L state
- Expansion zip gives additional 10L of storage (45L max)
- Compressible down to 30L day bag size
- Expandable side pockets for water bottles, tripods
- Tuck-away external carry compression straps
Organization
- Rigidly supported sidewalls for easy packing
- Zippered dividing panel separates bag into 2 compartments, or stows away for 1 large volume
- Front organization panel contains 4 zippered mesh pockets for smaller items
- Mount Camera Cubes (sold separately) internally for back or side access to photo, drone, or video gear
- Protected luggage tag holder
Comfort & Portability
- Magnetic strap storage system
- 360-degree grab handles
- Full-size padded hip belt with additional pockets and attachment points for Capture & Range Pouch (sold separately)
- Axial strap attachments for shoulder & hip straps give constant comfort for all body types and carry loads
- Proprietary sternum strap
- Luggage pass-through and duffel grab handle
- Back panel folds under for increased ventilation & comfort
The Travel Backpack’s function can be expanded with a number of module accessories, all featuring Peak’s signature layout of internal flex-fold dividers, or other modular pocketing designs. The launch accessories will include camera and packing cubes, a tech pouch, a wash pouch, and a shoe pouch. A rain fly will also be sold separately. You can get an idea of what these will look like from the photos below. But I also own a Field Pouch from Peak for my backpack, and these new cubes look like they will have the same durability and flexibility as their pouch lines do.
If any (or all!) of this sounds good to you, let’s talk pricing. As with many things Kickstarter related and/or funded, you can save quite a bit of money on most of these products by getting in on the ground floor. If you do want to be among the first to own the new Travel Backback, you can head over to their Kickstarter page using this link, and then make your pledge. Pricing will be as follows:
45L Travel Backpack
MSRP: $299.95
Available on Kickstarter for a Limited Time: $235
Packing Cubes (MSRP: Sm – $29.95, Md – $39.95) – Compressible, easy to access, and dividable, Peak Design Packing Cubes are available in 2 sizes. A tear-away main zip lets you access contents instantly, and an internal divider allows separation of clean and dirty clothes. An expansion/compression zip doubles available space or compresses clothes so you can fit more in your bag.
Wash Pouch (MSRP: $59.95) – Dedicated, easy-to-clean pockets for toothbrush and razor. Hangs or sits upright on sink for easy access in tight spaces. Unique folding pocket layout keeps toiletries neatly organized and easy to find.
Tech Pouch (MSRP: $59.95) – Designed to store small items like cables, cards, batteries, and travel essentials, Tech Pouch’s unique origami-style pockets create enormous spatial efficiency. Pack more into a smaller space, yet keep all items organized and easy to find.
Camera Cubes (MSRP: Sm – $49.95, Md – $69.95, Lg – $89.95) – Camera Cubes provide protection, organization, and instant access to camera, video, and drone gear. Securely mount Camera Cubes inside the Travel Backpack and access your gear via the rear or side zips. Tuck-away lids let you access camera gear from outside of the bag via a single zip, while a system of intelligently designed dividers allows for endless organization and customization.
Shoe Pouch (MSRP: $24.95) – (not shown) An ultralight, durable, weatherproof pouch for shoes or additional clothing storage.
Rain Fly (MSRP: $29.95) – (not shown) Provides complete waterproof protection to an already weatherproof bag. Rain Fly is made of durable, ultralight 200D rip-stop nylon, adjusts via cinch cord for snug form-fit, and stuffs into a convenient storage pocket.
While not inexpensive, Peak Design does offer a lifetime guarantee for ALL of its products. I’m a big believer in their stuff, and the internet has many more testimonials of folks who swear by their gear. Even if you aren’t a photog, and just travel a lot, I think just about anyone would benefit from Peak’s unique approach to carrying your stuff. Try something out and maybe you’ll end up agreeing with me.
Silicon Theory 