Customer reviews from Peak Design
Peak Design - Travel Backpack 45L - Ocean
Average customer rating
4.4
(106 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 106 reviews
5 Stars
80
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
5
1 Star
6
86%of customers recommend this product.
(
72 out of
84)
Customer Reviews for Peak Design - Travel Backpack 45L - Ocean
Customer Rating
1
Brown color materials are frail and comes apart
on February 11, 2025
Posted by: Nick V
from Seattle WA
I bought the backpack about a month ago and I see that material (brown/gold) is frail and starts to come a part little by little on shoulder straps. And it's after very gentle use to office and back. I own same one in sage(green) color and it comes built with different materials, and I have no issues with it. I traveled half the planet with that backpack and still look good. If you are looking to purchase this backpack I would suggest to pick other colors/materials. This one in brown definitely not sturdy and won't last long for you.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
2
Great Pack, terrible harness.
on October 17, 2024
Posted by: Sparkdog
This system has the best camera cubes I have tried, but the pack has the worst harness ever. The straps have almost no padding on either the shoulders or the waist belt, and carrying a pro sized kit for any length of time is torture. The straps dig into your shoulders and hurt. The connectors on both the shoulder and waist section is a fiddly frustrating mess, very hard to fasten. I get that the harness is minimal to make it stowable, but it also means that the pack fails at it's most basic task...carrying a load in comfort.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
3
Mostly good
on January 22, 2025
Posted by: Sarah
from Seattle
I’ll be honest, I love nearly everything about this bag (I have the 30L one. As a photographer I can use a camera cube, the large toiletry bag and still have space for 2 laptops and a lot more. My qualms is that the handle/luggage pass through is AWFUL. This bag is heavy, it has a lot of important stuff in it so having it on my roller suitcase is ideal and yet the luggage pass thought is nothing like any of their other backpacks. The other style works SO much better and I often find myself debating whether to take the everyday backpack or the travel one. Like once this bag is all loaded up if I use the luggage pass through it will literally fall off when I’m rolling through the airport.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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
2
great bag with horrible comfort
on October 31, 2024
Posted by: xxx
one year with it and i can't use it anymore because of that horribly painful straps. If they could just redesign that back part prioritizing comfort (like the tortuga backpack, for example), they could have the perfect bag but right now, at least for my body, it's unusable.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
3 years / 100 Countries
on May 22, 2025
Posted by: Full time traveler
from Idaho
I traveled with and tried several packs before settling on the Peak Design 45L three years ago. It is one of very few pieces of gear I haven’t traded out. I travel with it almost exclusively in the 35 L configuration but the ability to expand it to the 45 on occasion when I acquire gifts I need to ship home has been a great asset. The pack itself is almost bulletproof. The only issue I’ve had is the plastic coating on the mesh interior pocket, flaking away and the mesh fraying. I’m confident Peak will fix this anytime I was to submit it based on their impressive warranty. Outside of this, the bag looks almost new, shocking given the rather hard life it has seen.
Even fully loaded, the bag is comfortable and the hip belt does a great job of distributing weight. Carry time exceeding 45 minutes will make you feel the shoulder straps, but this is a travel bag and not a hiking pack. The looks are fantastic and make it easy for carry-on even when the bag has exceeded weight limitations. I have traveled exclusively, carry-on, and never been required to check the pack.
For being such a rugged pack, it has great aesthetics, making you feel good carrying it into even the nicest hotels. I do carry a rain cover but solely for when we tuck it into dirty areas as the pack itself is so water resistant there really is no need outside of keeping it clean. Inside there are more pockets than I would prefer, but it is great for those who want them for organization. We found the water bottle pockets to be outstanding. Even after three years of use, they lie flat when when empty and securely hold multiple sizes of bottles. Just as an aside, the small zipper pockets concealed within the water bottle pockets are very handy. My wife and I travel with only these packs and no other bags. The ability to use the zipper configurations to access different parts of our gear without opening the entire pack is one of those small things which makes travel easier, particularly airports. Although I don’t carry a laptop, I found the laptop compartment to be perfect for my Zero Trail sandals and the lockable zippers are a must have on any travel pack though I’m shocked at the number of companies who don’t include them.
I am 6’2”, 205lbs and the pack fits perfectly. It was too large for my wife, but she now carries the 30L model, which has been great for her (she is 5’3”, 130lbs). I will note the straps on the 30 L model are narrower, less comfortable, and have shown some fraying. They are definitely a different type of material and not up to the standard of those on the 45 L.
These are not the lightest packs on the market, but I believe they are the best built and have some of the nicest aesthetics. The detail work which has gone into all the little things like handle, comfort, access, hidden pockets, hideaway, straps, anchor, points, etc.. clearly comes from both an eye for detail and experiencing using them for travel. You won’t go wrong with this pack. Peak design, my thanks for making a product which is contributed so much to ease of travel.
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Better than expected! (and looks amazing)
on January 8, 2026
Posted by: greliak
from Krakow, Poland
I bought this backpack mostly for traveling. However I have used it also for ski-touring and hiking as I haven't took any different backpack for vacation. After few hours I would say all features are useful. Great thing it that it keeps its shape and always looks good. Some reviews says it is heavy. It is, but it comes with all features and ways of opening it. I have used all four sides for access, what is perfect to find exactly what you need. Also it is really comfortable, even more than other outdoor backpacks I have. After 5 hours I haven't feel any discomfort.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for a large personal item
on December 20, 2024
Posted by: ButchT
from North Bend, WA
Used this as my personal item and was able to take so much more with me. Love the small zippered section at the top. easy access.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting Peak Design