Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Travel Backpack 30L - Sage
Average customer rating
4.6
(314 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 314 reviews
5 Stars
225
4 Stars
61
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
7
1 Star
6
91%of customers recommend this product.
(
237 out of
260)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Travel Backpack 30L - Sage
Customer Rating
5
Last Backpack I Will Own
on May 9, 2025
Posted by: MJY
from Palmyra
Traveled extensively, multiple countries, durable engineering and clever design. Will certainly last my lifetime.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Perfect “one bag” travel bag
on April 16, 2025
Posted by: BenS
from Manchester, U.K.
Very happy with this bag! Quality is amazing and it’s the perfect size for a weeks worth of clothes and toiletries (in the peak design small wash bag) AND I can also fit my tripod inside the bag as well as my 3L everyday sling (which houses my camera and lens). I’ve not even had to expand it to 33L, I’m comfortably running it at 27L.
Being able to travel internationally for a week with only this bag in the overhead locker is amazing.
Being able to travel internationally for a week with only this bag in the overhead locker is amazing.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
My daily bike commuter backpack (30L Travel)
on April 14, 2025
Posted by: scuderiaseb
from Stockholm, Sweden
I commute by bike 11 km to work and 11 km back and I love it since I get a little bit of exercise but then I need a good backpack that can store all my clothes, a towel and some toiletries so that I can take a shower. I bought this bag about 2 months ago to replace a 10 year old Thule backpack that was 24L that was almost always a little too small and poorly designed since the small accessories were fighting for room in the bottom of the bag that was always the most packed part of the backpack.
I'm so happy I bought this bag, it's 27L in its non-expanded state but that actually feels so much larger for some reason. My old backpack always felt so small when packed and this one handles it so gracefully and I've only needed to use the expnaded 33L once when I was carrying a lot and got a bouquet of flowers which I could safely strap to the outside of the bag. My toiletries and other essentials are at the top quick-access compartment and it works so well, not only does it have great organization and is easily accessed, it doesn't compete for space at the bottom.
My cycling bottle does fit on the side compartment but that is the only con I can think of that they're pretty narrow and I wish they were a little bigger. I was also a little worried about people writing that the straps were uncomfortable but that has certainly been untrue in my case. It's the most comfortable backpack I've had by far. I've had my backpack loaded very heavy and it was still pretty comfortably distributed and the sternum strapped helped. However I was "just" biking then for 30 minutes and not walking around all day with the backpack.
I can't wait to go on my next trip where this will be my carry on. So very happy I got this bag!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
can’t go wrong
on April 5, 2025
Posted by: Noah.jpgs
bought this for a documentary trip and traveling in general, quality is surpreme as always
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
*heart eyes emoji*
on April 2, 2025
Posted by: jsunshines
I've been using this bag for about four months as my daily driver to the office, which I know sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. :) I was tired of juggling a medium-sized backpack full of stuff, plus a lunch bag and two drink containers that wouldn't fit in it. This holds my lunch bag, tech pouch, large water bottle, protein shake bottle, letter-size notebook, and iPad, plus an umbrella, my wallet, a couple pouches with first aid–type items, and various other bits and bobs all in the Standard, non-expanded configuration. I have definitely gotten some "dang that's a big bag" comments from people in the office (I'm 5' 3", so it takes up my whole back and then some, lol), but it's totally worth it to have my hands free!
I do agree with the folks who have mentioned that the compression snaps do not stay connected to keep it looking a bit more streamlined—they pop open with the slightest pressure—but this isn't a big deal to me.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
The perfect back pack for my needs
on March 11, 2025
Posted by: Petroff
from Atlanta, GA
This bag is great. I carry it every day riding to work. And the best part is how well it adapts to my needs. The bag can adjust so well to carry a little or a lot. I love this bag!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
1
Straps don't hold up, LOOSEN often
on March 10, 2025
Posted by: MinTavelerPIX
from Canada
I initially loved this bag when I was gifted it, but after using it, I started noticing some major design flaws. The biggest issue is that the straps simply don’t hold up. The sternum/chest strap loosens within minutes, and unfortunately, all the other straps do too. When my bag is fully loaded with a laptop, one camera body, three lenses (12-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm), a tripod, and my travel essentials, the straps fail to stay secure. Even when carrying just my camera gear, they constantly come loose, which is incredibly frustrating.
Another major design oversight is the lack of external straps to secure a tripod or other gear. I learned this the hard way when my Peak Design Carbon Fiber tripod slipped out and hit the ground as I bent over to take a quick photo—damaging an expensive piece of equipment I needed later that day.
Comfort is also a concern. After just a few hours of walking around the city, the shoulder straps started rubbing against my neck, causing irritation and discomfort. It became so bothersome that I couldn't fully enjoy my day.
Overall, while this bag had potential, its poor strap design and lack of essential features make it a disappointing choice for serious photographers or travelers. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone carrying a significant amount of gear.
No, I would not 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