Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Outdoor Backpack 45L - Black
Average customer rating
4.3
(216 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 216 reviews
5 Stars
136
4 Stars
44
3 Stars
18
2 Stars
9
1 Star
9
87%of customers recommend this product.
(
165 out of
190)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Outdoor Backpack 45L - Black
Customer Rating
4
Almost perfect, but hip/shoulder fatal flaw?
on September 5, 2025
Posted by: volcanogeek
from Denver, CO
I bought this June 1, '25. I use it for geology fieldwork that I need to fly to, carrying camera, drone, and laser scanning gear. I love the airline carry-on size and the ability to easily fit in tripods, laptop and/ or a small field chair, and the material fends off rocks, water, and scrapes really well, and the easily configurable inside is exactly what I had in mind. The closing cords are...ok. They can be a bit balky, or tend to snag as other reviewers have noted, and I added a neoprene pad to the top grab handle, as it will definitely cut into your hand if the pack is heavy (also noted by others). And the top gap can let in rain to the outer stuff pocket area. A lash point or two on the outer back would have been useful, but maybe I could add that. I am 6'1", and I find it very comfortable under different load conditions, including lots of weight. ****However despite it being nearly everything I wanted, there is one major issue: when loaded with more weight, the hip belt and shoulder strap now and then detach when you pick it up to put it back on. I have almost lost half the hip belt several times, and almost dropped the pack a few times when the shoulder strap let go at the top as I picked it up. This may be a fatal flaw, as thousand of $$ of gear could bit the dust over a cliff, and half a black hip belt is invisible against many backgrounds and is easily missed. I am considering sending it back.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Fantastic Backpack for Work or Play!
on September 17, 2025
Posted by: RocketPL
from Austin
I bought this after my Camelback backpack of 20 years finally bit the dust. I was looking for something that held a water bladder/laptop and was flexible enough to use for weekend hikes, trips, and work. I had looked at some of the other Peak Design packs, but this one better fit my hiking lifestyle best. My first use was a trip to Iceland, and boy did it work out great! The straps are wildly comfortable (I'm 6'1 and muscular build) and the open/close system is fantastic. My only wish is that they had made it 30L in size. I am amazed at how much it can fit, but with the small camera cube, that fills up quite a bit of space. The quality seems to be impeccable and overall, I'm very pleased.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Great first version - NEED to fix some things
on October 5, 2025
Posted by: tc53259
from Kickstarter
I bought this as part of the kickstarter with the camera cube. So my review is as follows - in random order:
- Love the light weight !
- 25L was just right for me
- Love the padded backpack straps. If Osprey did this, I would return to them asap (my previous bag)
- Love the special sleeve for laptops
- Love the backdoor opening
- Love the light weight !
- 25L was just right for me
- Love the padded backpack straps. If Osprey did this, I would return to them asap (my previous bag)
- Love the special sleeve for laptops
- Love the backdoor opening
This is the parts I don't like:
- The front top is a VERY INSECURE setup. Please redesign version 2 with a zipper. My wallet - which I keep in the front comparment - has almost come out a few times. Plus it's a target for pickpockets. PLEASE REDESIGN WITH ZIPPERS or something more secure.
- If u can make it stand, that would be great - like the Tumi ones
- I don't like the Camera Cube - too big. I just put a foam at the bottom to protect my camera
- Needs to fit somehow with carry-on luggage - I do have a 3rd party contraption but it's not perfect.
U should design a sleeve in the back to slide the carry-on handle
- The front top is a VERY INSECURE setup. Please redesign version 2 with a zipper. My wallet - which I keep in the front comparment - has almost come out a few times. Plus it's a target for pickpockets. PLEASE REDESIGN WITH ZIPPERS or something more secure.
- If u can make it stand, that would be great - like the Tumi ones
- I don't like the Camera Cube - too big. I just put a foam at the bottom to protect my camera
- Needs to fit somehow with carry-on luggage - I do have a 3rd party contraption but it's not perfect.
U should design a sleeve in the back to slide the carry-on handle
Overall it's my main one - but I'm still continuing to look.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Solid backpack for travel and hiking, with quirks
on October 18, 2025
Posted by: noknowngnome
from Adelaide, Australia
I’ve been using my Peak Design Outdoor Backpack to haul camera gear and a few essentials around Iceland, and overall, I really like it. It’s sturdy, carries weight well, and feels like it’s built to last.
Let’s start with what I don’t love:
The tie-down straps: honestly, a bit annoying. I get that they’re useful, but I often find myself wrestling with them or getting them snagged on things. That said, they do a great job securing items in the side pockets so nothing slips out easily. So it’s a love-hate relationship there.
The tie-down straps: honestly, a bit annoying. I get that they’re useful, but I often find myself wrestling with them or getting them snagged on things. That said, they do a great job securing items in the side pockets so nothing slips out easily. So it’s a love-hate relationship there.
The roll-top opening works well if the bag is packed full. When it’s not, the top flap feels a bit floppy and can unravel if you don’t clip it properly. Not a dealbreaker, just something to be mindful of.
Then there’s the top-front pouch. I like the idea of it, but it tends to “eat” into the main compartment, which makes squeezing in bulkier items (like a rolled-up puffer jacket) a bit fiddly when the bag’s already full.
Now for what I do love:
This thing carries weight beautifully. You really feel the heft when lifting it by the handle, but once it’s on your back and the straps are adjusted right, the load just disappears. I’ve carried it for hours without any major fatigue. The chest straps are great, though I do wish they were magnetic as that would make clipping in and out a lot faster.
This thing carries weight beautifully. You really feel the heft when lifting it by the handle, but once it’s on your back and the straps are adjusted right, the load just disappears. I’ve carried it for hours without any major fatigue. The chest straps are great, though I do wish they were magnetic as that would make clipping in and out a lot faster.
The mesh pockets are a big win. Super handy for stashing my phone or small items when I’m on the move. Exactly what I want when traveling.
A few extra notes:
If you get the Cloud colour, you’ll definitely see signs of wear pretty quickly. But honestly, I kind of like that. Like a well-used pan, it shows character. Also, there’s a small hidden pouch inside the main compartment that’s easy to forget about. I’ve definitely thought I’d lost things a few times before remembering it exists.
If you get the Cloud colour, you’ll definitely see signs of wear pretty quickly. But honestly, I kind of like that. Like a well-used pan, it shows character. Also, there’s a small hidden pouch inside the main compartment that’s easy to forget about. I’ve definitely thought I’d lost things a few times before remembering it exists.
Because it's in the Peak Design ecosystem, their camera cubes clips in easily (I have their small sized cube semi-permanently attached).
All in all, it’s a great backpack if you’re okay with a few quirks. It’s comfortable, and feels adventure-ready. Just don’t expect perfection.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Almost perfect!
on October 19, 2025
Posted by: Anna
from Oregon
For me, his bag is almost perfect and I've been searching for the perfect "everything" backpack for many years. While I'm mostly commuting with my pack, I also want something I can carryon and fit 3-5 days worth of gear/clothing/tech in when needed. I love the multiple access points, to the main compartment, pull-to-open/close and ease of access to various deep storage compartments from the front. Lots of points for looks too. It's simple and sleek with minimal branding while still having loads of storage.
Now for my wish list: I wish there were a couple more zippered compartments for storing small things like cords, charging blocks, glasses, etc. (maybe a couple of the mesh compartments on the side could have closures). I understand cubes can be purchased but I'm talking zippered storage accessed from the exterior. I worry a bit about the durability of the various cords rather than using webbing but I'm putting my trust in PD to have sourced the best and repair them if they do fail. I wish the internal frame was adjustable. I have a very short torso and while I appreciate the adjustable shoulder straps, getting those to a spot that fits my torso just means the top of the pack is hitting me in the back of the head rather than the nape of my neck. I'm hoping this will improve with a heavier load pulling the pack away from my neck/head a bit. I actually popped the frame out of this pack and it improved this issue a bit but there's no way I'd be able to wear this pack with a helmet on as the pack would push on the helmet forcing me to lean my head forward awkwardly. I ended up daisy chaining the two cords that can wrap up and over the roll top, on the inside of the front flap to keep them a bit more contained as I don't think I'll need those unless I'm traveling with a large load. It would be cool if there were small pouches or pockets to stuff those cords into when they aren't needed. To me, none of these things are deal breakers.
All in all, I'm happy with my first impression of this pack and that's coming from a seasoned backpack critic. Unlike some reviewers, I found the various ways to access and store things quite intuitive. I'll definitely be hanging onto this one.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
4
Great Overall EDC Backpack
on December 4, 2025
Posted by: RayD
from San Francisco
Great EDC backpack. I wish it had a few more compartments inside for organization, but overall it is very comfortable and durable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Great bag.......glad I bought it.
on December 8, 2025
Posted by: Ken01
from Connecticut, USA
This backpack turned out to be as good as I had hoped. The compression straps on the sides are easily removable, improving the looks and usability. The water bottle pockets are made of sturdier material than many other bags. Interior accessibility to the main section is fine when the zippers are pulled down halfway. A single sternum strap seems to be adequate for my needs. The attachment points for a capture clip work perfectly. The shoulder straps are a bit stiff, but only in comparison to a Nemo bag. The color (eclipse) looks better than in some of the online photos.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Very good backpack
on December 9, 2025
Posted by: sinolight
I have used this backpack (25L black) for half a year now and I am very satisfied with it, I would recommend it to anyone. The build quality is good and we see and feel it is well thought. I use it as an everyday bag, a travel bag when I leave for 2-3 days and a hiking backpack (for day hikes) ; in any case I don’t use water bladder. I especially like the mesh pocket on the straps, the capture clip mount points and the camera cube compatibility. Being able to load/unload the backpack either from the top opening or the back opening is really helpful both when preparing and when on the go. I take advantage of the sides pockets by storing a 1.5L water bottle and a XS ultralight packing cube. The Ultra-Cinch is very practical and never fails on me !
Few improvments suggestion : I would mention that the exterior shell wears-off quickly on « pointy angles » especially because when using the back opening (to access camera cube for example), the bag usually sits on the ground (meaning dirt, rocks and stuff when hiking). The side pocket with my water bottle became semi-floppy though the bottle is not small. Lastly, the torso belts feel sub optimal to me, it’s often hard to find the hook on the strap and hard & slow to unlock them as well. Nothing major though.
Few improvments suggestion : I would mention that the exterior shell wears-off quickly on « pointy angles » especially because when using the back opening (to access camera cube for example), the bag usually sits on the ground (meaning dirt, rocks and stuff when hiking). The side pocket with my water bottle became semi-floppy though the bottle is not small. Lastly, the torso belts feel sub optimal to me, it’s often hard to find the hook on the strap and hard & slow to unlock them as well. Nothing major though.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design