Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Travel Backpack 30L - Black
Average customer rating
4.6
(285 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 285 reviews
5 Stars
205
4 Stars
56
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
5
1 Star
6
91%of customers recommend this product.
(
215 out of
236)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Travel Backpack 30L - Black
Customer Rating
5
Simply the best bag
on January 11, 2025
Posted by: Ben
After 3 years of use in all conditions in the four corners of the world, I can say... this is a perfect bag. Tested by the Indonesian rain, covered by snow on the Swiss peaks, splashed in the middle of the Andaman Sea in Thailand, deposited in the burning sand of Egypt, whipped by the winds of Spain, exposed for hours to the sun of Tazmania. This bag is all-proof, it is the perfect travel companion for small and large journeys. With its adjustable size it allows you to go from one size to another in a fraction of a second. You can put all your equipement of photo for a perfect security.
It is an integral part of each of my trips as much for its practicality as for its quality.
Ingenious and really well thought out I recommend without hesitation to anyone who wants to invest in a quality bag for many year.
It is an integral part of each of my trips as much for its practicality as for its quality.
Ingenious and really well thought out I recommend without hesitation to anyone who wants to invest in a quality bag for many year.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
30ltr Travel Backpack. Total genius companion
on February 26, 2025
Posted by: Paul
from Somerset UK
I bought the 30L Travel Backpack a couple of years ago. As a frequent flyer who also likes to take along a camera from time to time, this pack has been a perfect companion over many flights around Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. When traveling for work, this is the only bag I pack for a week away. My work laptop and iPad are safe in the internal pocket, and I use a selection of packing cubes to make a secure and tidy load.
I use a large packing cube for my shirts and work trousers, along with a couple of t-shirts for the evenings. A small packing cube contains all my electronics, charging cables, razor, power brick, etc. (you need to remove all electrical items for screening in India, so this makes it very easy). The back pocket of that cube holds my non-liquid bathroom items. Another small cube contains my underwear and pyjamas. This all fits nicely in the 30L without it being expanded. Using the cubes means nothing falls out if I have to open it at the airport.
I have the tech pouch and the wash bag, but they are not so compatible in size and, while very nice, just don't fit with the system. When traveling in the cold, I wear a compressible down jacket and either stuff it under the magnetic flap of the bag for temporary stowage or undo the expansion zips and pop it inside the bag under the packing cubes. When I travel with my camera for a short hop, I substitute the large cube with a small camera cube that fits my Sony mirrorless and an extra lens nicely. I use a small packing cube for clothes in this setup.
I’ve been working this way for a couple of years, and it has been great. I am off on a vacation that will involve a bit more photography, so I just purchased a smedium camera cube. The reason I bought this is because I am flying with EasyJet, who are pretty strict on their carry-on allowances. The 30L Travel pack is technically too big to qualify on EasyJet. Their limit is 30cm tall, and the 30L is 34cm tall. Now, I’ve taken the bag many times on EasyJet and not been called out, but I don’t want to risk having to check a bag full of expensive camera gear. For this trip, my 30L Travel backpack will hold a bunch of additional lenses in the smedium photo cube while my camera will live in a PD 6L Sling, which will be my personal item. If EasyJet does become unEasyJet and force me to check the 30L Travel pack, I can remove the camera cube and just bring that as my carry-on item.
Oh, and another great finding with the 30L is that the smedium cube along with the 6L sling are a perfect fit. Now that is just genius design!
I use a large packing cube for my shirts and work trousers, along with a couple of t-shirts for the evenings. A small packing cube contains all my electronics, charging cables, razor, power brick, etc. (you need to remove all electrical items for screening in India, so this makes it very easy). The back pocket of that cube holds my non-liquid bathroom items. Another small cube contains my underwear and pyjamas. This all fits nicely in the 30L without it being expanded. Using the cubes means nothing falls out if I have to open it at the airport.
I have the tech pouch and the wash bag, but they are not so compatible in size and, while very nice, just don't fit with the system. When traveling in the cold, I wear a compressible down jacket and either stuff it under the magnetic flap of the bag for temporary stowage or undo the expansion zips and pop it inside the bag under the packing cubes. When I travel with my camera for a short hop, I substitute the large cube with a small camera cube that fits my Sony mirrorless and an extra lens nicely. I use a small packing cube for clothes in this setup.
I’ve been working this way for a couple of years, and it has been great. I am off on a vacation that will involve a bit more photography, so I just purchased a smedium camera cube. The reason I bought this is because I am flying with EasyJet, who are pretty strict on their carry-on allowances. The 30L Travel pack is technically too big to qualify on EasyJet. Their limit is 30cm tall, and the 30L is 34cm tall. Now, I’ve taken the bag many times on EasyJet and not been called out, but I don’t want to risk having to check a bag full of expensive camera gear. For this trip, my 30L Travel backpack will hold a bunch of additional lenses in the smedium photo cube while my camera will live in a PD 6L Sling, which will be my personal item. If EasyJet does become unEasyJet and force me to check the 30L Travel pack, I can remove the camera cube and just bring that as my carry-on item.
Oh, and another great finding with the 30L is that the smedium cube along with the 6L sling are a perfect fit. Now that is just genius design!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Made Euro Travel a breeze
on July 16, 2022
Posted by: Trav30L
I recently returned from an 8 Day trip to Europe. I was highly satisfied with the Travel Backpack my onebag for the trip . The back has many carry options, with multiple handle locations and stow-able straps. I found that the Bag fir just fine underneath the seat all Aircraft that a flew on (Embraer 195, 175; Boeing 737-800,; Airbus A330, A321).
I used Eagle Creek packing cubes with this bag as well. (1) Med. Pack-It Garment Folder Packing Organizer and (2) Pack-It Garment Folder Packing Organizer. I did not have a Laptop on this trip. Simply used my mobile for all my internet needs.
I really feel that this bag played a big part in the success of the trip. being able to get right of the plane or train and onto local mass transit, was liberating for sure.
I think that 8 Days may be on the limit for this Bag, however, it really did an impressive job!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Nice bag, but Peak Design left out some things
on January 26, 2023
Posted by: Gabe
from Las Vegas
This bag is alright. I own two of the 45L bags and i just love them. I was just looking for something a little smaller for shorter trips. Comfort is normal, nothing too exciting. Nice looking bag. BUT, left out the side access and the better design features of the 45L. Traveling with this bag not so great, when you have to access something mid-flight or on the street. For the price i would have expected all the great design ideas of the 45L. I would recommend you just spend the extra cash and go with the 45L for better on the go accessibility. In the end i just went back to using the 45L and gave the 30L to my friend.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Nice pack but too few access points
on August 1, 2022
Posted by: Whiskey
from London England
Overall its a nice pack. Smaller than I anticipated and with only one access point to the main compartment. I expected more as the 40 litre pack has. Overall no practical for me gave it away after one trip due lack functionality
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
BEST TRAVEL BAG EVER
on August 30, 2024
Posted by: Bob22
from ERIE PA/Bag was used in Italy
I took this bag on a 10-day trip to Italy, and it exceeded all my expectations. With an average of 25-30k steps each day, the bag remained incredibly comfortable throughout. One day, I carried two bottles of wine and a quilt around Capri with ease; on another, I transported five bottles of wine from Ischia to Sorrento without a hitch. The clam shell design was a game-changer—when I nearly got pickpocketed in Rome, the thief couldn’t get into the bag, thanks to how I secured the zippers. Initially, I was concerned the bag might be too big, but when it came time to pack souvenirs and wine, the extra space was a lifesaver.
I even used it as my carry-on in the airport, and it held everything I needed with room to spare.
This bag was, without a doubt, the best travel companion I could have asked for.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Good space, but the shoulder straps are terrible.
on October 25, 2025
Posted by: Michael
from Medway, UK
I bought the sage travel backpack in March at the Photography show. First, let's talk about the positives of the bag. The most noticeable thing about the bag is the look; it is easily one of the best bags I have seen, and the sage really suits the bag. The build quality is also very good; it feels expensive and built to last. Inside the bag, the space is impressive, and the fact that you can zip and expand the bag from 27 litres to 33 litres. I also like the laptop pocket, which is really practical.
For all the positives, unfortunately, the backpack is let down for a couple of reasons. The first is the hooks for the carry straps. Generally, it is nice to have them, but the 2 hooks at the bottom of the bag rub against my lower back, which is annoying. Also, I find the sternum strap pretty useless; it doesn't store particularly well and is always dropping out of its stored position.
The main issue, though, is the shoulder straps, which are absolutely awful. When I tried the bag out, it was empty, and the bag is OK, right up until you fill the bag up with equipment and books for university, the thin straps just put so much pressure on my shoulders that I have to take the bag off.
So whilst the bag has good space, I have to be so wary of what I put in the bag, because I can't carry around anything really heavy, which is pretty useless for a lot of what I would want to use the bag for.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Good bag but some part should be improved
on December 30, 2022
Posted by: Katan
from Hong Kong
Things to be improved:
Expandable water bottles pocket( too small now)
Small and midsize cameras cube can’t fit well for the clipping points
Large camera cube doesn’t fit( even expanded )
Should have side access
Should have bigger quick access in the front
Bigger ID pocket
Add more little pocket at the side/ back for small things ( key, cards, wallet
Expandable water bottles pocket( too small now)
Small and midsize cameras cube can’t fit well for the clipping points
Large camera cube doesn’t fit( even expanded )
Should have side access
Should have bigger quick access in the front
Bigger ID pocket
Add more little pocket at the side/ back for small things ( key, cards, wallet
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design