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

The 25L model is an improvement on perfection, but not without some help. Continue reading…

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Nov 21, 2024 - 21:01
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Peak Design’s Outdoor Backpack is a more versatile everyday bag

Perfect is a high bar to live up to, but it’s the word I used to describe my experience with Peak Design’s first backpack eight years ago. That 20-liter Everyday Backpack aimed at techies and camera nerds was so popular with Verge staff that we would often get our bags mixed up when gathered together at tech events.

Back in 2016, I was hauling around a laptop; a DSLR with external flash and at least one long lens; a tripod; and a portable battery or two to keep everything charged. Here in 2024, I need a bag to also carry gear like a drone and controller; an action camera with a wireless mic and selfie stick; and maybe even a Starlink Mini dish with a portable solar panel to keep everything connected and charged.

As someone who now likes to work as remotely as possible, often from the limited confines of an adventure van, I’m also looking for a singular bag that can be quickly adapted for a hike or bike ride, a trip to the gym, store, or office, or a weekend away via train or airplane. It then needs to stow quickly and compactly until its next use.

In my two months testing Peak Design’s new lighter-weight and more versatile $249.95 25L Outdoor Backpack, I can say this: it’s not perfect — but it is better, so long as you’re ready to spend even more on accessories. 

The 25L Outdoor Backpack is sized for day trips with your laptop, camera, and other gadgets, alongside some food, water, and maybe an extra layer of clothing. Unlike the 45L model, the much smaller pack I’ve been testing is frameless, and the hip belt must be purchased separately for $44.95. 

In contrast to the heavier Everyday Backpack, the Outdoor Backpack’s weather- and abrasion-resistant nylon shell lacks any gear protection or structure. It’s compatible with Peak Design’s ecosystem of accessories, like its ultralight Packing Cubes, quick-release Capture clips, and protective Camera Cubes, the last of which I’d consider mandatory additions for this bag.

The 25L Outdoor Backpack has a deep main pocket that is accessible by a roll top for top-down access to all your gear or via two zippers that fully open the bag like a clamshell. Other storage breaks down as follows:

An outer “Flex” pocket suitable for a rain jacket and hydration bladder.Two zipped side pockets built into the outer shell of the Flex pocket, where you can attach the stretchy key lanyard and carry things like passports, documents, and a wallet.A suspension sleeve attached to the inside of the back panel, suitable for laptops up to 16 inches or a hydration bladder, with integrated routing for the drinking tube.Two deep side pocket holsters for things like water bottles, tripods, and trekking poles.Mesh pockets on the wide and plush shoulder straps for quick access to a phone, snacks, glasses, etc.Gear loops integrated all over the bag for external carry and compression using a pair of long attachment cords, two included stretchy gear straps, and two sternum straps.

Design

Peak Design sent me the cloud white version of the 25L Outdoor Backpack to review. The bag’s combination of sleek and soft recycled materials adorned with gray, black, and orange embellishments looks fantastic and has only minor blemishes after sitting in dirt, rough gravel, and that congealed goo that accumulates on barroom floors. Unfortunately, Peak Design says those whites will yellow slightly over time due to UV exposure. If that concerns you, as it does me, then you can opt instead for the black or purple-ish color options.

The 25L Outdoor Backpack with two Camera Cubes inside next to the original 20L Everyday Backpack, which still looks great after years of usage. That white will yellow over time from a UV-induced “patina” that won’t be covered by the company’s lifetime warranty.

The 25L Outdoor Backpack with two Camera Cubes inside next to the original 20L Everyday Backpack, which still looks great after years of usage. That white will yellow over time from a UV-induced “patina” that won’t be covered by the company’s lifetime warranty.

I quickly came around to Peak Design’s modular approach that combines lightweight (but not ultralight) materials of the backpack with impact protection provided by Camera Cubes like the “smedium” (top) and small (bottom), shown unzipped here.

I quickly came around to Peak Design’s modular approach that combines lightweight (but not ultralight) materials of the backpack with impact protection provided by Camera Cubes like the “smedium” (top) and small (bottom), shown unzipped here.

The Outdoor bag fully unzips like a clamshell, making it easy to access your gear. The lower half contains the laptop sleeve, which can also hold a water reservoir.

The Outdoor bag fully unzips like a clamshell, making it easy to access your gear. The lower half contains the laptop sleeve, which can also hold a water reservoir.

The pack is covered in gear loops where you can attach gear straps (top) and attachment cords (below) to compress the bag and add external storage. The straps and cords can be removed from the bag if not needed.

The pack is covered in gear loops where you can attach gear straps (top) and attachment cords (below) to compress the bag and add external storage. The straps and cords can be removed from the bag if not needed.

Seeing all those untidy loops, cords, and other snaggy bits for the first time was a bit of a downer, until I realized many could be relocated or even removed entirely. I also didn’t like all the rumpled fabric when the bag was empty, but Peak Design has a fix for that as well.

The 25L Outdoor Backpack is designed to work with Peak Design’s soft-shelled “smedium” $69.95 Camera Cube — it’s not small and not quite medium, but it’s just right for that main storage compartment. I highly recommend buying it for the 25L model, as it not only stiffens the bag, making it look better, but also protects the gear within and makes it easily accessible. The remaining space can be filled with a small Camera Cube ($59.95).

The “UItra Cinch” system of cords that control access to the outer Flex pocket and roll top opening is fine but finicky. It locks in place when you’re done pulling it to control the width of the opening, but it requires two hands, and those dangly cords can get in the way.

It takes two hands to open the Flex pocket. I find the mechanics of the Ultra Cinch system satisfying if inelegant compared to the one-handed magnetic closure found on the original Everyday Backpack.

It takes two hands to open the Flex pocket. I find the mechanics of the Ultra Cinch system satisfying if inelegant compared to the one-handed magnetic closure found on the original Everyday Backpack.

Closing the outer Flex pocket also requires two hands. The outer Flex pocket is never actually closed at the top, relying upon gravity and pressure to keep things from falling out — something that happened to me rarely and only when the bag turned upside down.

Closing the outer Flex pocket also requires two hands. The outer Flex pocket is never actually closed at the top, relying upon gravity and pressure to keep things from falling out — something that happened to me rarely and only when the bag turned upside down.

In profile, you can see the Cinch cord holding the roll top in place when the Flex pocket is pulled tight. The roll top could use another magnet or two to keep it from unwinding into a bunch of disheveled-looking fabric.

In profile, you can see the Cinch cord holding the roll top in place when the Flex pocket is pulled tight. The roll top could use another magnet or two to keep it from unwinding into a bunch of disheveled-looking fabric.

The two loosened retention cords often need to be pushed out of the way to access the roll top opening or to grab a jacket tucked inside the inner Flex pocket.

The two loosened retention cords often need to be pushed out of the way to access the roll top opening or to grab a jacket tucked inside the inner Flex pocket.

Despite my moaning, I’m a big fan of the new Flex pocket — it’s the pocket I use the most because it can be quickly accessed throughout the day. And I like that I can access the internal storage and expand it upward with the roll top. But the Ultra Cinch cord system is certainly not the peak of design. 

Gear hauling

I never had a problem with the comfort of the original Everyday Backpack on my six-foot athletic frame, but others did. Peak Design says it improved the fit and comfort of the new 25L Outdoor Backpack, and I found this to be true in a variety of scenarios when carrying both light and heavy loads. 

It remained stable and comfortable during my regular bike rides to my gym and coworking space, carrying a change of clothing, laptop, charger, and miscellaneous items like cables and glasses. The compression straps helped keep the bag thin and snug to my body. It also worked well on several day hikes and when attaching the hip belt to support a very heavy remote office load complete with a satellite dish.

Accessing the key lanyard after a 15km hike while testing a few drones and carrying food and two liters of water for me and my dog, as well as a few layers of warm clothing and rain gear. The bag shape-shifted easily to accommodate the addition and removal of items throughout the day as the rain stopped and temperatures changed.

Accessing the key lanyard after a 15km hike while testing a few drones and carrying food and two liters of water for me and my dog, as well as a few layers of warm clothing and rain gear. The bag shape-shifted easily to accommodate the addition and removal of items throughout the day as the rain stopped and temperatures changed.

I attached the hip belt to help carry my “extremely remote office” setup. The entire pack weighed 26 pounds (12kg) and consisted of a one-liter water bottle, lunch, a 14-inch MacBook Pro, my Starlink Mini, and a 245Wh River 3 solar generator with folding 45W panel from EcoFlow. It’s not something I’d like to wear over great distances, but it worked well tossed into a van and then carried a few hundred meters into the wilderness after the road ran out.

I attached the hip belt to help carry my “extremely remote office” setup. The entire pack weighed 26 pounds (12kg) and consisted of a one-liter water bottle, lunch, a 14-inch MacBook Pro, my Starlink Mini, and a 245Wh River 3 solar generator with folding 45W panel from EcoFlow. It’s not something I’d like to wear over great distances, but it worked well tossed into a van and then carried a few hundred meters into the wilderness after the road ran out.

The shape and cushioning of the shoulder straps surely accounts for the improved fit and comfort. Inspired by running vests, the straps grow wider as they move over and down the chest to more evenly distribute pressure. The padding is also much thicker now, especially near the neck and collarbones, where it wraps around the entire circumference of the strap.

The shape and cushioning of the shoulder straps surely accounts for the improved fit and comfort. Inspired by running vests, the straps grow wider as they move over and down the chest to more evenly distribute pressure. The padding is also much thicker now, especially near the neck and collarbones, where it wraps around the entire circumference of the strap.

The small Camera Cube can also be worn across the chest, held in place to the Outdoor Backpack’s shoulder straps by the included two sternum straps. This configuration gives you super-quick access to a camera or drone, and I found it reasonably comfortable to wear like that over a few hours of hiking.

The small Camera Cube can also be worn across the chest, held in place to the Outdoor Backpack’s shoulder straps by the included two sternum straps. This configuration gives you super-quick access to a camera or drone, and I found it reasonably comfortable to wear like that over a few hours of hiking.

Other notable observations:

On the white model, the Flex outer pocket is transparent enough to expose items pressed against the external shell. The black and purple-ish colors don’t seem to have this issue.My review bag has weathered light rain just fine, but if you’re out in a storm, you’ll want 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 instead of lashing it to the outside of the bag — it’s airy and easy to wipe down.

When perfection is the benchmark, there are bound to be quibbles.

I like the lightweight, unstructured design of the 25L Outdoor Backpack, which lets you layer on the protection (and weight) as you need. That’s smart. Once I added the Camera Cubes, it kept my expensive gear protected and organized while looking and functioning better than Peak Design’s original Everyday Backpack.

At $249.95 / €279.99, this is the most versatile backpack Peak Design has ever made. But it only reaches its true potential for the gadget and photography nerds it targets after you buy a Camera Cube or two. But now you’re looking at a pack that costs at least $320 and could easily exceed $400.

That’s still not too outrageous for a full-featured camera bag. You can pay about $215 for the smaller but heavier 22.5L PRO Light Backloader from Manfrotto, $324 for the larger 31L Prvke top-loader with camera cubes, or almost $400 for the 25L McKinnon Camera Pack and cubes from Nomatic.

I do love Peak Design’s 25L Outdoor Backpack and will likely ask Santa for it to avoid personally betraying my own Everyday Backpack, which has served me well for many years. However, my colleague Vjeran Pavic from our video team, who regularly travels the world with a bag full of cameras and drones, has already switched out his Everyday bag for the white 25L Outdoor Backpack.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge