Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Outdoor Backpack 45L - Eclipse
Average customer rating
4.3
(242 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 242 reviews
5 Stars
147
4 Stars
51
3 Stars
25
2 Stars
9
1 Star
10
86%of customers recommend this product.
(
179 out of
207)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Outdoor Backpack 45L - Eclipse
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
Customer Rating
5
Rugged and sleak
on December 13, 2025
Posted by: EDC Enthusiast
from Pennsylvania
I never liked most hiking backpacks because they always looked bulky. This one, however, breaks that mold. Not only is it built well from great materials and is modular enough to fit your needs, but it looks so good and sleek that I wouldn't mind using it as an everyday backpack, either. Can't wait to put it through its paces on my next hiking trip!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Great but not perfect
on December 13, 2025
Posted by: mgl
from Austin,TX
I had a decent experience with this bag and overall I like it but not perfect. I don’t use it as a hiking or outdoor backpack; I primarily use it as my daily bag. I carry my MacPro 14-inch and iPad Pro M4 13-inch, lunch container, headphones, water bottle, jacket, pens, and a calculator. It works well for my needs and can handle small loads. Occasionally, I also carry a PD xsmall camera cube with my Sony A6700 camera and a Sigma 18-50mm lens set at the bottom.
The best upgrade from my old daily bag (a PD 20-liter everyday bag) is the harness system. I would go back to the everyday bag if PD introduced the harness system to their everyday bags. It’s very comfortable, especially with heavy loads and while riding a bicycle. Every review praises the long side pockets, but I’m not a fan. I can’t reach my water bottle or anything from the pockets while walking, I have to remove the back to do so, which is something I can easily do with my everyday bag or even with a real outdoor backpack from other companies. I think one long pocket and one regular pocket would be better.
The top handle is too small and takes time to grab in certain quick situations, like when jumping in or getting out of an Uber. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. As I said before, PD should bring the outdoor line harness system to their everyday bag packs. I wouldn’t buy this bag at full price; it’s not worth it. Other outdoor brands offer comparable and cheaper options. Wait for a sale; I got it with a 30% discount, and I believe that should be the actual price.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Great features and design
on December 22, 2025
Posted by: Allen
from Boise ID
I bought the Outdoor Backpack coupled with the Travel Tripod and the backpack is well designed and manufactured and works great. The primary purpose is for hiking and photography.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design