Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L, Sage

I really wanted to live this backpack and to retire my old faithful 2018 Dell Professional 17 back, which had Pack all my shut and travelled 3x around the globe to USA, Thailand Taiwan, Malaysia etc. But this bag some how at many times (2022) has got beaten by a at that time 60 $, I usually pack a few note books chargers(phone and laptop) a 15in laptop, 2 pens and a few days clothes with room to spare in the Dell backpack;And a small Canon camera. But with this I feel there could be an additional compartment at the front which is deeper, and more use able upright wise compartments. The clam shell design is great but for a travel bag, sometimes you sorta want some privacy and not opening the whole bag to access something at the bottom. Maybe I'm nitpicking but for ... MoreI really wanted to live this backpack and to retire my old faithful 2018 Dell Professional 17 back, which had Pack all my shut and travelled 3x around the globe to USA, Thailand Taiwan, Malaysia etc. But this bag some how at many times (2022) has got beaten by a at that time 60 $, I usually pack a few note books chargers(phone and laptop) a 15in laptop, 2 pens and a few days clothes with room to spare in the Dell backpack;And a small Canon camera. But with this I feel there could be an additional compartment at the front which is deeper, and more use able upright wise compartments. The clam shell design is great but for a travel bag, sometimes you sorta want some privacy and not opening the whole bag to access something at the bottom. Maybe I'm nitpicking but for future buyers do be wary of hoe to access things.I like the stiffness of the bag and the magnets at the front, but I believe it could be more useful if the ID pocket had a small magnet too.Also for this current bag the max I could pack is one t shirt one regular m size hoodie not book laptop N charger and it already feels pretty tight and full;Same gear as I used with the dell backpack. Not sure if it's a got used to it thing or I'm just breaking in the bag;But at a day to day, I still use the beat up dell 17' cause for its practicality and ease of access.Also the bloody side pockets are bloody tight when your bag is somewhat full compared to the dell Pro 17 where you CAN still fit your regular size water flask( like a 5inch diameter size). I feel like some woke guy Design this for woke people that wanna be non woke, and the woke people bit the bait. Idk, just a gut feeling. Hey peakdesign, fly me out so I can show you my 2 year old well used 60dollar dell bag most of the time does the job better.

A nice travel backpack

I think everyone agrees that no bag is perfect designed, this one is no exception. Based on what my expectations, I would give this bag a 5 stars, but I am not saying this is a perfect bag.I am looking for a backpack that can be used for everyday uses and/or traveling, and the specs of this one fits to more of my requirements.Pros:Good size for traveling and/or every day carryingAlternating to be a regular backpack or a camera backpackClean and nice design and madeHandles in all placesBackpack straps can be hiddenExpandable to add more spacesShould be qualified for airlines carryon standards without making adjustmentsCons:Some interior zipped spaces are difficult to access if filling stuffsNeed to purchase the hip belt separately (Although I ... MoreI think everyone agrees that no bag is perfect designed, this one is no exception. Based on what my expectations, I would give this bag a 5 stars, but I am not saying this is a perfect bag.I am looking for a backpack that can be used for everyday uses and/or traveling, and the specs of this one fits to more of my requirements.Pros:Good size for traveling and/or every day carryingAlternating to be a regular backpack or a camera backpackClean and nice design and madeHandles in all placesBackpack straps can be hiddenExpandable to add more spacesShould be qualified for airlines carryon standards without making adjustmentsCons:Some interior zipped spaces are difficult to access if filling stuffsNeed to purchase the hip belt separately (Although I use it on certain occasions only)The locking clip positions are not perfectly matched with the purchased small camera cube but I manage to make it workThe straps are not very comfortable for long day carrying

Almost perfect backpack

I have the Peakdesign 45-65L dufflebag in Sage and decided to get the backpack to match as a travel backpack/carry-on. Quality-wise the bag is top notch, beautiful and seems durable from the materials (although time will tell). The stowable shoulder straps make it much easier to stow away when not in use, the 360 zipper for the main compartment is great for packing/unpacking. Overall a great, high-quality backpack that I am extremely pleased with. My only gripes/complaints which result in a 4-star: no hip belt included (though you can purchase one separately, but it also doesn't come with pockets which I think are extremely useful when traveling), and the front of the backpack, aside from the quick-access compartment at the top, doesn't have a larger/deeper ... MoreI have the Peakdesign 45-65L dufflebag in Sage and decided to get the backpack to match as a travel backpack/carry-on. Quality-wise the bag is top notch, beautiful and seems durable from the materials (although time will tell). The stowable shoulder straps make it much easier to stow away when not in use, the 360 zipper for the main compartment is great for packing/unpacking. Overall a great, high-quality backpack that I am extremely pleased with. My only gripes/complaints which result in a 4-star: no hip belt included (though you can purchase one separately, but it also doesn't come with pockets which I think are extremely useful when traveling), and the front of the backpack, aside from the quick-access compartment at the top, doesn't have a larger/deeper compartment which I think is a waste of unused space.

Functional, but many opportunities missed

I have too many bags - as the perfect bag has yet to be made. I was already in the PD ecosystem with the 45L Travel Line along with the tech pouch, wash pouch and camera inserts. Problem is, it is just too big for everyday carry. I also have a Nomatic Peter McKinnon backpack and generally prefer it over the 45L for photography-focused use around town, but find the PD 45 a little better adapted to actual travel. But again, they are both too bulky to be my everyday backpack.Enter the 30L PD, for which I had tremendous hope as being the perfect bag for everyday use as well as airline travel. I deferred reviewing until I had used it locally for several weeks and now after a family vacation where I put it through the its airport paces.First - the good. It is compact ... MoreI have too many bags - as the perfect bag has yet to be made. I was already in the PD ecosystem with the 45L Travel Line along with the tech pouch, wash pouch and camera inserts. Problem is, it is just too big for everyday carry. I also have a Nomatic Peter McKinnon backpack and generally prefer it over the 45L for photography-focused use around town, but find the PD 45 a little better adapted to actual travel. But again, they are both too bulky to be my everyday backpack.Enter the 30L PD, for which I had tremendous hope as being the perfect bag for everyday use as well as airline travel. I deferred reviewing until I had used it locally for several weeks and now after a family vacation where I put it through the its airport paces.First - the good. It is compact enough that I can use it daily and don't feel like I'm at too much risk of taking out the person next to me on the elevator or mass transit. It is nicely compatible with the PD photo cubes in its expanded mode, which is a plus if you are already invested in the PD ecosystem. Zippers seem high quality and hopefully will hold up to heavy loads. The ability to fold in the straps and tuck them away is not quite as clean as on the 45L, but still a nice feature for minimizing snag risks on the plane. I find the PD 5L sling or the Nomatic McKinnon Cube pack are perfect pairings to give me a lightweight carry option when I get to my destination. Both of these are able to pack in the bag without it being expanded, which is key to my everyday use needs. On my recent trip, I carried a very small camera kit in the McKinnon Cube pack and the PD tech and wash pouches in addition to 15 inch laptop. (Please note - I think using a PD 6L sling may need the backpack to be expanded if you want to use it as part of your camera packing. I'm glad I have the 5L as it works beautifully with the backpack still compressed.)The acceptable - The straps are surprisingly adequate for their svelte design with typical everyday loads. I have not yet max loaded it and I suspect it will not be as comfortable as the more padded McKinnon straps, and neither the PD 30L or 45L have the top load adjust straps that really give the McKinnon pack a leg up on comfort with heavy loads. Access to the main compartment is simple and works well so long as you have an internal organization system with pouches or packing cubes. I have a waist belt from an old pack that works fine with this backpack, but does not fold like the PD option. I don't use waist belts often, so I don't find this a big deal. However, for the price of admission, including the PD belt would have been nice.Finally - the missed opportunities. The single external pocket is disappointing. I cannot understand why they would not place one or two additional pockets for easy access without having to go into the main compartment. Most specifically, I would like an RFID secure pocket against my body for carrying my passport. This could have easily been done. Additionally, making the front accessory pocket a little larger and using a fold down design would have made it more practical for mobile office organization. The water bottle/tripod holders on the sides are very tight and I worry about the longevity of the elastic when having to shove items hard into these holders over time. I much prefer the magnetic fold-down of the McKinnon backpack water/tripod carrier. Also, the magnets securing the bottom pocket for the exterior straps and optional rain cover simply are not very strong. I wouldn't trust them not to dump whatever I put in the bottom pocket if any tension is put on the magnets. Last - I strongly wish they would not have made the tablet pocket larger. With my 15 inch tablet in the main pocket. I can just fit my Remarkable2 into the tablet pocket. My 11-inch Ipad Pro simply will not fit in the tablet pocket. Given this backpack is geared toward photographers and professionals, I consider this a big miss, as the only option is to jam larger tablets in the main laptop compartment or have it loose in the main bag opening.In summary, I had high expectations and I would give this a 3.5 stars if that were an option. PD has opted for extremely clean lines at the expense of improved functionality. I'd much prefer a little more function and don't think it would impact the form or cost much at all. I'm just not convinced they had enough real-world users beta testing before they went to production. Overall it is working well for me, but only because I already had the right options for my needs. Out of the box, this backpack is pretty bland. As outlined above, it lacks some simple features that would greatly enhance its functionality. That said, it probably bridges daily carry and travel needs better than any other bag in my experience. The ability to tailor it for travel for photography and compatibility with the very solid PD camera cubes is major positive. I could see some refinements in version 2 making this bag as close to perfect as one can expect.

Great Travel bag that might be able to work for EDC

I bought this bag for double duty as EDC and short travel trips (specifically 1-2 day work trips). the environment I work in is business causal, so keep that in mind, but I'm able to successfully pack 2+ days of clothes in here, including gym clothes.For EDC, this bag is a bit big, but I use the Peak Design Tech pouch, plus a roost laptop stand and travel sized keyboard. Since I switch between multiple bags, the large open clamshell design is perfect.The laptop sleeve easily fits my work PC and personal Ipad Pro.If you're looking for a clean/minimalist design that can fit in anywhere and has a large clamshell opening for packing, this bag is great. If you want large amounts of organization in the bag itself, this is not the bag for you.Overall, I think this is ... MoreI bought this bag for double duty as EDC and short travel trips (specifically 1-2 day work trips). the environment I work in is business causal, so keep that in mind, but I'm able to successfully pack 2+ days of clothes in here, including gym clothes.For EDC, this bag is a bit big, but I use the Peak Design Tech pouch, plus a roost laptop stand and travel sized keyboard. Since I switch between multiple bags, the large open clamshell design is perfect.The laptop sleeve easily fits my work PC and personal Ipad Pro.If you're looking for a clean/minimalist design that can fit in anywhere and has a large clamshell opening for packing, this bag is great. If you want large amounts of organization in the bag itself, this is not the bag for you.Overall, I think this is another great product from the innovators over at PD

Great weekend pack and carry on!

4.5 stars! I bought this pack after a fair amount of research looking for a go to carry on. It feels incredibly well constructed and looks great. The interior provides a great amount of space, and is expandable to a small degree. There are 2 interior zippered pockets on the main compartment which are nice, but are essentially inaccessible once it's full. Additionally there are 2 long zippered pockets on the edges of the main compartment, and they were great. The side exterior pockets are great and held my water bottle securely. The top quick access pocket provides a decent amount of room, although I wish it were just a little bit larger. The reason for the 4.5 and not an actual full 5 stars is because of the interior zippered pockets aren't super accessible once the ... More4.5 stars! I bought this pack after a fair amount of research looking for a go to carry on. It feels incredibly well constructed and looks great. The interior provides a great amount of space, and is expandable to a small degree. There are 2 interior zippered pockets on the main compartment which are nice, but are essentially inaccessible once it's full. Additionally there are 2 long zippered pockets on the edges of the main compartment, and they were great. The side exterior pockets are great and held my water bottle securely. The top quick access pocket provides a decent amount of room, although I wish it were just a little bit larger. The reason for the 4.5 and not an actual full 5 stars is because of the interior zippered pockets aren't super accessible once the pack is full, and I wish the top storage area were just a little bigger, but honestly those aren't that big of details. Overall I'm very happy with this pack. I've used it on a week long trip to Montana and a couple of weekend trips since purchasing it.

Not for a small person

I purchased this bag as an underseat carry-on. I used it during a 3 week trip to Italy where it was also toted on several trains. I would not buy it again. I’m 5’1” tall and have narrow shoulders. This is not the bag for my sized person.First, the good stuff: It’s a beautifully made bag; quality workmanship, quality parts. It’s sturdy and should last for years. Zippers are waterproof and durable and contents are well protected. Just top notch goods. It’s also sleek and attractive. I like the slim trolley strap for putting it on a rolling suitcase. It used compression packing cubes and was able to fit quit a bit into it.However: It’s very heavy. Empty it weighs about as much as my hard-sided rolling carry-on. With a full load it was extremely heavy for a ... MoreI purchased this bag as an underseat carry-on. I used it during a 3 week trip to Italy where it was also toted on several trains. I would not buy it again. I’m 5’1” tall and have narrow shoulders. This is not the bag for my sized person.First, the good stuff: It’s a beautifully made bag; quality workmanship, quality parts. It’s sturdy and should last for years. Zippers are waterproof and durable and contents are well protected. Just top notch goods. It’s also sleek and attractive. I like the slim trolley strap for putting it on a rolling suitcase. It used compression packing cubes and was able to fit quit a bit into it.However: It’s very heavy. Empty it weighs about as much as my hard-sided rolling carry-on. With a full load it was extremely heavy for a backpack. I’ve considered purchasing the optional hip belt but I’m afraid it will not fit my size either (the bag would ride above my head if the bottom were on my hips). And that not only adds a significant cost, but more straps to manage. The shoulder straps are not comfortable (too stiff and not enough padding) and didn’t fit my narrow shoulders well at all. When worn on anything slippery like rip stop or GoreTex, I always had to have the little strap across the chest hooked, or it slid right off. That was really inconvenient and difficult as the hook mechanism isn’t easy to hook/unhook. My husband had another brand with the classic plastic slide-in clasp and it worked so much more easily than the metal hooks on the Peak. The pockets for stowing the shoulder straps when not in use don’t hold well; the straps were always falling out, especially on overhead train shelves. The small pocket on the top for quick access is way too small. The tiny slip pockets in it are useless. The smallest one couldn’t even hold a chapstick. The pocket for my ipad was very inconvenient when on the plane and difficult to get to when the bag was full. It also didn’t fit well as an under-seat carry on; it was too long and stuck out quite a big leaving no foot room, even for my short legs and small feet.

Overall a solid minimalist design

Overall this backpack is a solid minimalist design, but I would suggests a couple of changes for a v2.1) Use denser and slightly thicker padding on the shoulder straps.2) For the sternum strap I would use a buckle design rather than the current design which could fall off an get lost.Overall, I am very impressed with the amount of storage that one gets with the relatively low weight. I weighed the pack using a luggage scale and got a measure of 3.29 lbs empty.I also like the minimal access.

Perfect Travel Size Bag

I got this bag to be my personal travel size bag to carry on to short weekend trips to avoid the carry-on luggage fees. The size is perfect for packing my mirrorless camera, along with a couple of packing cubes of clothes. The way the bag folds out makes it easy to pack like luggage. The laptop and iPad compartment also makes it easy to pull out my devices while on a flight. The included straps make it easy to tie my jacket on it when I'm not wearing as well. The side pockets for bottles are rather small and tight, so it really will just fit one bottle. The shoulder straps can be uncomfortable after some lengthy wearing as well. Besides that, it's a great backpack. Love the sage green color as well!

UPDATED REVIEW - The more I use it, the more I love it!!

I wrote a review previously after purchasing this backpack and using it for several trips. I was a bit critical in my initial evaluation, and wanted to update my review after a much longer period of use.This backpack has been the one I use around town 90% of the time. I carry my PD tech pouch, 16 inch MBP, rain jacket or other items, as well as a fixed lens camera with charger/batteries in a Nomatic McKinnon collapsible backpack or the PD 5L sling. This gives me the option of a very light carry option whenever I get where I'm going. I rarely use the PD camera cubes in this bag as I have several other dedicated photo bags for those occasions, but I appreciate the design versatility PD put into this. For someone with a tight budget and a small-medium mirrorless kit, ... MoreI wrote a review previously after purchasing this backpack and using it for several trips. I was a bit critical in my initial evaluation, and wanted to update my review after a much longer period of use.This backpack has been the one I use around town 90% of the time. I carry my PD tech pouch, 16 inch MBP, rain jacket or other items, as well as a fixed lens camera with charger/batteries in a Nomatic McKinnon collapsible backpack or the PD 5L sling. This gives me the option of a very light carry option whenever I get where I'm going. I rarely use the PD camera cubes in this bag as I have several other dedicated photo bags for those occasions, but I appreciate the design versatility PD put into this. For someone with a tight budget and a small-medium mirrorless kit, this bag could potentially be the one to rule them all.Finally, I ended up getting this bag (again!!) in the coyote X-Pac material which they did in collaboration with another vendor. For me, the colorway and additional waterproofing this added really took this to the next level. That said, the standard black is perfectly fine and unassuming, which sometimes serves a little better.Backpacks are obviously a very personal item and each person's needs are different. Additionally, needs can vary day-to-day and trip-to-trip. In light of this observation, I can say this is best everyday and 2-3 day travel bag I have in my rather absurdly growing collection. While I initially gave it 4 stars and stated in my review I'd have given it 3.5 stars if it was option, I am now giving it 5 stars to balance out my previous review and would say it is most accurately a 4.5/5 stars. A major reason for this upgraded rating is reliability. I have had ZERO issues with zipper performance and reliability. I cannot say the same about some its direct competitors, much to my dismay and disappointment. PD is definitely doing things right in this department!!I do still wish it had a larger front flap external pocket for sunglasses and daily driver/airplane needs as well as a larger tablet pocket to fit my 11 inch ipad. But I feel this are quibbles that don't impact my typical usage and gives them a little room for improvement if they ever role out a v2.