Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Travel Backpack 45L - Black
Average customer rating
4.8
(1,113 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 1,113 reviews
5 Stars
937
4 Stars
129
3 Stars
33
2 Stars
8
1 Star
6
96%of customers recommend this product.
(
616 out of
641)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Travel Backpack 45L - Black
Customer Rating
5
6 month review
on April 3, 2026
Posted by: Bread
from North Vancouver, BC
I have a lot of different backpacks - hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, ski touring, work, you name it. The 45L is by far my favourite backpack.. So much so that apparently I feel compelled to write a review about it LOL
First off, if you're thinking about buying the bag, watch the video walkthrough of it on YouTube. That was extremely informative for me before purchasing. It's just so versatile. I travel alot for work - every 6 weeks - and this bag has been a gamechanger for me. Its extremely well organized, fits with various packing cube systems (I have a 3rd party brand), and fits my big honking hydraflask water bottle on the outside of the bag which I appreciate.
The ability to shrink the bag to a 30L size is useful once I'm at a destination and want a slightly smaller, more work oriented laptop.
I've started to use it as a duffle bag too now for personal vacations/road trips/weekend getaways. I tuck away the shouldwr straps, unzip the middle divider, and now I have a duffle that I can just carelessly toss clothes into.
Seriously great bag. A pricey bag, but an incredible bag.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Great backpack - horrible returns process!
on May 18, 2026
Posted by: stort1
from London, UK
The backpack was great - good quality and excellent design. The larger Travel Backpack was too large for me so I returned 2 of them (one black and one ocean). The return process was a nightmare however. I had to chase the returns department multiple times and provide proof of posting and delivery to them several times before the return was issued weeks later.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Best Backpack Ever!
on August 16, 2023
Posted by: Tamzin
from UK
Return to Office when one has moved to the country had created a whole new problem set for me. How to carry around luggage for a 2 night stay every week. At first I used my draggable wheelie bag - after a few weeks of clipped ankles and much frustration at navigating pedestrian curbs, and the noise of dragging it around, I gave up.
Luckily someone recommended Peak Design and I won't look back. First and foremost, I am 170cm female, and the 45L is SUPER comfortable. The Peak people have clearly put the user first when designing this. It has all the zips and access to compartments you need. It has straps EVERYWHERE so whatever position it's in, it can be picked up. It also stands upright so no dramas when on the tube or train worrying whether if you let go, will it fall on someone.
It's got heaps of compartments - perfect for gym gear. I love the small zip pouch on the outside - easy to access headphones, keys etc.
It also looks great. If it came in leopard print I'd give it 6 stars ;-)
It's got heaps of compartments - perfect for gym gear. I love the small zip pouch on the outside - easy to access headphones, keys etc.
It also looks great. If it came in leopard print I'd give it 6 stars ;-)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
45L Travel Backpack for 2 Week Trip to Mexico
on November 16, 2022
Posted by: ElPakin09
from Mexico City
I did my research on several backpacks before ultimately buying this one. It’s kind of hard to compare when you are watching videos of the backpacks, instead of having them physically with you. With that in mind, I want to say that I picked this one based on the look, but mostly on the fact that it can expand from 35L-45L.
I traveled on several flights in Mexico with the backpack fully expanded to 45L and had no issue taking it as a carry on. The material and durability was great.
One of the best features I liked was the anti pick pocketing details the backpack comes with. I didn’t take my laptop, and instead used the laptop sleeve to put a big envelope with all my important travel documents.
Overall I this this backpack was worth it. Great quality, looks good, and worked for me. The capacity was more than enough for me.
As a reference this is all I was able to fit in my bag for my trip. For info I used the roll method to pack my clothing which helped fit more items.
2 Pairs of Jeans
2 Pairs of chinos
7 XXL Shirts
1 Long Sleeve
2 Sweats
1 Pair of Shoes
1 Pair of Sandals
1 Light Sweater
6 pair of socks
6 pairs of underwear
3 Undershirts
1 Baseball Hat
2 Shorts
1 Light Rain Jacket
Peak Design Small Wash Pouch
6 100ml bottles
Cellphone charger
Cellphone battery pack
A small Book
2 Pairs of chinos
7 XXL Shirts
1 Long Sleeve
2 Sweats
1 Pair of Shoes
1 Pair of Sandals
1 Light Sweater
6 pair of socks
6 pairs of underwear
3 Undershirts
1 Baseball Hat
2 Shorts
1 Light Rain Jacket
Peak Design Small Wash Pouch
6 100ml bottles
Cellphone charger
Cellphone battery pack
A small Book
Hope this review helps. Happy travels!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
2
Disappointed quality
on November 7, 2024
Posted by: Steve
from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I bought this bag a couple of months ago and am very disappointed with the quality. The edges of the bag are peeling, and the stitching has come undone as well. I’ve owned several Peak Design products and had no issues with them. Peak Design should consider reviewing the materials used for their backpacks, especially the zipper.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Fits bigger glass than listed with Large Cube
on September 3, 2023
Posted by: Wils
from Sherwood Park
Bought this bag a year ago, it’s great for carry on and for general carry for big glass with gripped cameras. With the large PD camera cube I can fit a Nikon Z9 with the 800mm 6.3 pf attached which is longer than the listed max carry size of the cube. Note that the cube won’t zip up with something this long but the bag will zip around it without issue or strain. The camera and lens are 18” long from front of lens cap (zemlin) to the edge of the camera eyecup, with the hood in reverse. I feel you could squeeze it up another 0.5” to 0.75” if your setup was longer but that’s pushing it. Hope this helps for someone wondering the real maxed out internal length of this setup
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Beef up shoulder straps
on November 7, 2019
Posted by: Anonymous
I thought these bags were designed for photographers by photographers, I don't know what feather light equipment they put in it (maybe a point and shoot pocket camera), but when I put my Nikon FX set in it the shoulder straps dig in after a few minutes. I believe most photographers have equipment like mine as a posed to a pockets camera that they can put in there shirt pockets. PD fix the problem already there are a lot of reviews pointing this out once you start checking.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
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