Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Outdoor Backpack 45L - Black
Average customer rating
4.3
(276 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 276 reviews
5 Stars
171
4 Stars
59
3 Stars
25
2 Stars
11
1 Star
10
87%of customers recommend this product.
(
202 out of
232)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Outdoor Backpack 45L - Black
Customer Rating
5
Amazing Functionality with Great Aesthetics
on June 22, 2026
Posted by: Jeff Lee
The design and color are 10/10. It’s light, comfortable, and highly expandable using the external cords. The only minor downside is that it lacks a rigid internal frame, so it loses its shape a bit when completely empty. However, once packed with a camera cube or gear, it sits perfectly. Great hybrid pack!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Great bag, but not for a tropical summer
on June 21, 2026
Posted by: OttosPhotos
from San Francisco, CA
I bought the 18L for a trip to several countries. A Hasselblad X2D and two lenses easily fit in the bag, along with a DJI Pocket 3, spare batteries, and a jacket. There was also enough space for some stuff that I bought as I walked around the cities I visited. There are enough pockets on the outside to keep things separate, and the pocket for a drink bottle is tall enough so the bottle won't fall out.
I have two issues with the bag:
1. The strap and back padding don't have enough ventilation to handle a tropical country in the summer. My shirt was soaked after walking around for 30mins in the hot sun.
2. The clip for the sternum strap is fiddly, especially if you have arthritis. Sometimes I could fasten it easily, but more often than not, it took a minute or more to get it to attach to the shoulder strap. I don't have this problem with my other PD backpacks that have a large metal fastener.
1. The strap and back padding don't have enough ventilation to handle a tropical country in the summer. My shirt was soaked after walking around for 30mins in the hot sun.
2. The clip for the sternum strap is fiddly, especially if you have arthritis. Sometimes I could fasten it easily, but more often than not, it took a minute or more to get it to attach to the shoulder strap. I don't have this problem with my other PD backpacks that have a large metal fastener.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
awesome features.
on June 16, 2026
Posted by: jamesxmac
i purchased this and i’m over the moon with it. great accessibility. secure pockets. reliable zips. weather resistant. very comfortable. use it as a commuter bag as i like to take a lot of stuff with me. and even fully loaded this is still very comfortable on back / shoulders.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Not for me
on June 10, 2026
Posted by: seadog59
I hate to give one star. This pack was just not for me. The old medium insert did not.seem to fit properly. Because the bag is tapered the insert did not fit into the bottom of the pack. Access is limited to the back panel. The computer sleeve is not padded and with the old insert it was difficult to close the pack. It is well made. Just not for my needs. The return was easy and quick. I love Peak Design products and will continue to be a customer.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
on June 6, 2026
Posted by: corking photography
Just back from a trip to Mauritius with the Outdoor Backpack 25L in Cloud, and it's earned its place as my go-to travel and camera bag — with one colour-related lesson learned the hard way.
The bag itself is brilliant. 25L hits the sweet spot for a day pack — enough capacity to carry everything you need on a full day out without feeling like you're hauling a house. The build quality is exactly what you'd expect from Peak Design: solid, thoughtful, and clearly designed by people who actually use their gear.
A bonus I didn't fully anticipate was the water resistance — the bag took a little dip in the sea and everything inside survived without a problem.
The real star of the trip was pairing it with the Smedium Camera Cube. It slotted in neatly, kept my camera gear organised and protected, and — crucially — made airport security an absolute breeze. Being able to pull the cube straight out and drop it in the tray without unpacking half the bag is a genuinely great feature that I didn't fully appreciate until I was standing in a busy queue.
One word of warning though: think carefully before choosing Cloud for anything involving red earth, mud, or dust. Mauritius is stunning, but it's not kind to pale fabric. Mine has picked up some staining that I'm not sure will fully come out. If I were buying again I'd go Black or Eclipse without hesitation — same great bag, much more forgiving. If you expect your bag to take a beating in the dirt, give the colour choice some serious thought.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Does everything I needed all in white
on June 5, 2026
Posted by: Steve8702
from NE
Bought a month ago for a Yosemite NP photo shoot. I have the 30L but I use it differently.
I bought the white one because it was on sale, I added a rain cover that cinch’s down and after a week in Yosemite’s dirt and granite dusk it’s still really clean.
I love the contrast we shot at night and everything was easy to find and change with a red light. PD gives plenty of separators with Velcro on the edges so I tore it all apart the get equipment to plane- car-hotel-car-hike-location…then configured as I needed. Hip straps were a huge aid, comfy shoulder straps with plenty of adjustments. I love the assortment of tiedowns and straps, everything was very secure. The product was a bit better than I was expecting!
I bought the white one because it was on sale, I added a rain cover that cinch’s down and after a week in Yosemite’s dirt and granite dusk it’s still really clean.
I love the contrast we shot at night and everything was easy to find and change with a red light. PD gives plenty of separators with Velcro on the edges so I tore it all apart the get equipment to plane- car-hotel-car-hike-location…then configured as I needed. Hip straps were a huge aid, comfy shoulder straps with plenty of adjustments. I love the assortment of tiedowns and straps, everything was very secure. The product was a bit better than I was expecting!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Very nice bag !
on May 29, 2026
Posted by: Seb78420
from Paris, France
I love my new Peak Design bag. It's beautiful, spacious, sturdy, versatile and waterproof. It would have been perfect if the handle were wider and more comfortable. The Camera Cube tends to stick out, despite the straps and clips.
A Velcro attachment to the bottom of the
bag and to the cube itself would have provided better stability. Finally, I wish the large external pocket had a connection to the inside of the bag. A fully enclosed compartment would have been more practical and secure !
A Velcro attachment to the bottom of the
bag and to the cube itself would have provided better stability. Finally, I wish the large external pocket had a connection to the inside of the bag. A fully enclosed compartment would have been more practical and secure !
I absolutely don't regret my purchase and I highly recommend this fantastic bag !
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Cool Backpack
on May 27, 2026
Posted by: kurt
Was on two bigger hikes with this already, and I quite like it, the removeable hip belts are wonderful, so I can use one backpack for everyday stuff as well as hiking. Also really love the quality of the zippers, especially at the hip belt, just so great to have it running that smooth :)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design