We bought our 30L Peak Design Everyday Backpacks in the fall of 2020. Since then we’ve traveled to over 10 countries and 20 US states with our backpacks so it’s safe to say we’ve thoroughly tested them in almost every scenario possible.
In this guide, we’re sharing if we think the Peak Design Everyday Backpacks are worth the hype including what we like and don’t like after 4 years of using them for both photography and travel purposes. We’ll break down the difference of the V1 and the V2 models as well as what makes the bag unique.
Who Are Peak Design?
Before we get into our review, it’s important to know a little background about Peak Design because we think this company has an interesting and motivational back story.
In 2010, Peter Dering traveled around the world for a few months with a really nice big camera. But he quickly learned traveling with a bulky camera wasn’t easy and he didn’t have a great way to store it. So he returned from his trip, quit his job and spent the next year designing a device that would change the photography world as we know it.
But instead of looking for big investors, Dering used the newly implemented Kickstarter program to connect with like minded photographers to help fund his new project. It received tons of support and boom, Peak Design was born. Today, the company is still backed by people like you and us as opposed to corporate sponsors.
We, the creatives, come first and long may it continue. This was one of the main reasons Peak Design grabbed our interest.
Everyday Backpack Overview
When it first hit the market, the Everyday Backpack was different in many ways. It pushed the limit with design, materials and organizational capabilities.
The Everyday Backpack was first introduced in 2017 with a minor redesign in 2019. This original design is known as the V1, but it has since been upgraded to the V2. We purchased the V1 models in 2020, but have since replaced one of our bags in 2023 with a V2 model so we’ll discuss both options throughout this review.
Here’s a quick summary of the key features:
- 20 or 30L volume capacity
- Weatherproof and 100% recycled 400D nylon canvas shell
- Three FlexFold dividers to keep bag organized
- Top loading sleeve for 15” laptop (or 16″ MacBook Pro)
- Unique MagLatch hardware
- Bag opens at the top and on both sides
- Double UltraZips allow entry on either side of bag
- Both exterior and interior side pockets stretch for flexibility
- Three padded carry handles for versatility
This is not a sponsored post because we purchased our own backpacks. It’s our honest opinion after using the bags for 4 years to travel and hike around the world.
V1 Versus V2
If you’re wondering about the difference between the V1 and V2 model, here’s a list of changes:
- Outer fabric is 100% recycled and Bluesign certified (except Black)
- Aesthetic improvements including a more rounded profile
- Increased laptop space (20L now fits up to 15” laptops) with adjustable sleeve
- Reconstructed shoulder straps for more comfort with magnetic hold straps
- More internal pockets for better organization
- Additional volume in external side pockets
- UltraZip external zippers which are more durable
- New external carry straps with updated Cord Hook connectors
- Updated MagLatch hardware for improved ergonomics
For us, the main difference between the V1 and the V2 was the interior pockets. On the V1 model, there were 3 small pockets we used to store additional camera batteries so we could easier grab them in the field. But in the newer V2 model, these pockets were combined to one large pocket. It might not be a deal breaker for you, but it’s certainly one aspect we wouldn’t have changed.
We do like all the other changes the Peak Design team have put into the V2. Overall, the functionally of the bag seems to be just a little bit better with updated zippers and a rounded profile compared to the V1. We think the V2 also feels a bit more rigid which hasn’t made a difference in functionality. But we still use these bags interchangeably so you can’t go wrong with either one.
20L or 30L?
The Everyday Backpack comes in both a 20L or 30L size. We recommend you think about what you’ll actually want to store in your bag before choosing a size. Here are the specifications for each one:
20L Specs:
- Dimensions – 46cm x 33cm x 21cm (at maximum)
- Capacity – 17L min or 20L max
- Weight – 2.01kg (4.43lb) with dividers
- Max laptop size – Holds 15/16” Macbook Pro or 15.6″ Windows Laptop
- Available colors – Black, Charcoal, Midnight and Ash
30L Specs:
- Dimensions – 48.5cm x 33cm x 27cm (at maximum)
- Capacity – 22L min or 30L max
- Weight – 2.11kg (4.65lb) with dividers
- Max laptop size – Holds most 16” laptops
- Available colors – Black, Charcoal, Midnight and Ash
Initially, we bought one 20L and one 30L bag. Mark bought the 30L option in black to hold most of our camera gear, while Kristen bought the 20L in tan because she wanted a more compact backpack (the tan color is no longer available). But once we received the 20L backpack, we knew it wouldn’t be big enough to meet our needs. So we sent it straight back to Peak Design with no problems and replaced it with a 30L Ash color.
For both sizes, the backpack will only reach its capacity once it has been fully packed and the top notch on the ladder is used. So the 30L backpack has a minimum volume of 22L and then can expand to the full 30L. The same applies to the 20L option, it has a minimum volume of 17L and then expands to 20L. We don’t always fill our backpack and it’s really nice to have extra room to maneuver our expensive gear around.
Interested In Peak Design?
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Versatile Design And Sleek Aesthetics
Personally, we think Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack showcases unique innovation. Just when we think we’ve found every pocket, carry strap and zipper, we discover something new. Every element has been thoughtfully considered with no space wasted and there’s no wonder it’s now an award winning bag.
The outer canvas shell is made from 100% recycled 400D double poly-coated DWR-impregnated nylon. The D stands for Denier which is a measurement of how much a single thread weighs in grams. So the higher the D number, the stronger and more expensive the material. And as soon as you feel the bag for the first time, you know it’s made with quality materials. The Charcoal, Ash, or Midnight colors are also Bluesign approved meaning they are certified for safe use by removing hazardous chemical.
Taken straight from the Peak Design website, the outer shell is DWR impregnated and double PU-coated making the backpack very water-resistance, but not entirely waterproof. However, we’ve hiked a lot of miles in the heavy rain with our backpacks and while the outside does get wet, all of our expensive camera equipment stayed bone dry. When we hike or travel in light rain, the water droplet seem to run right off the strong nylon material with little to no penetration.
From the outside, both the V1 and V2 Everyday Backpacks look incredibly sleek and modern. It features a stylistic design with large top lid that opens for easy access coupled with MagLatch hardware and heavy duty UltraZips that allow the user access to both sides of the bag easily. But it was the rigid structure that won us over because we always know our camera gear is well protected.
Accessing The Contents
First let’s start with the MagLatch system. This is essentially how you can access the top portion of the bag. The top lid closes over the top opening of the backpack and latches onto the front using a magnetic hook. And because it’s a magnet, you can just let the top part fall and it will easily attach to close.
If you want a secure attachment, you can pull the handle down and attach it under one of the four rungs. This MagLatch system took us a little while to get used to since we’ve never had a backpack that functioned like this. But we like it because it’s extremely adaptable and easy to use.
One issue we did notice was that if the MagLatch is fastened in the highest position, the top of the bag can stick out so it may allow water or pickpockets to get into the bag. But we found this gap to be much smaller on the V2 version. We typically hook it on the lowest setting for the best fit because we don’t over fill our bags and never have any problems.
Another great feature of the Everyday Backpack are the side panels. These panels are what makes the backpack extremely accessible and there’s one on each side. We like that we can access the main compartment without taking the bag off. You can swing it around your shoulder to either side or you can have someone easily access what you need with the bag still on your back.
However, the side pockets have given us a problem in airports. We always use our Everyday Backpacks as a carry-on and they often get pulled for an additional check when going through airport security with multiple cameras and drones. When the airport staff look into our bag, they have on several occasions opened the side pocket and almost dumped our very expensive camera gear directly onto the floor. So just a word of warning, if your bag gets pulled at the airport, make sure you’re present when they search it and be ready to tell them how it works.
Organizational Capabilities
We think the organizational features of the Everyday Backpack are what makes it so special, especially if you’re a photographer. The FlexFold dividers are a game changer and we couldn’t imagine a bag without them at this point. Almost the entire interior of the backpack is made from velcro so you can easily adjust the position of each divider. You can also shape and fold the dividers to lay flat or make various pockets to hold smaller items. Or you can remove any of the dividers if you want more space.
We can easily fit our camera and lens in one of the shelves when the dividers are in a flat position. For extra padding, we wrap each camera and lens combo in this drawstring bag when traveling and hiking.
The laptop sleeve is another important aspect for digital creators or photographers always on the go. We can easily store our 13″ and 14″ Macbook Pros along with this laptop sleeve for extra protection. But the Everyday Backpack will hold up to a 16″ Macbook. Next to the laptop sleeve, there is a smaller sleeve for a tablet. It will get a bit tight if you pack both a laptop and tablet, but they will fit. At the top of the laptop sleeve, there is also a small pocket about 6″ deep that we use to store our personal items such as phones and passports.
Once you’ve opened the side pocket, you’ll have direct access to the internal storage pockets. They are covered by a stretch fabric and feature individual slots for storing SD cards, batteries, headphones and other small items you’re prone to losing. The V1 model has zippers that encompass the entire side pocket, while the V2 has a zipper and a magnet combination. We prefer the interior pockets in the V1 because we can fit our camera batteries easily and everything feels a bit more secure.
>> Buy the Peak Design backpack here
Comfort And Carry
Another innovation we really appreciate about the Everyday Backpack are the shoulder straps. Unlike most backpacks where the straps are sewn into the top of the bag, the straps on the Everyday Backpack are anchored with a mechanical axial joint so each strap can function individually. These axial points pivot to help optimize comfort for all body types. We alternate backpacks depending on where we’re shooting or traveling for the day so we can verify these bags work for different body types and frames.
The Everyday is also fitted with quick drying and ventilated padding running along the back of the bag from top to bottom. The padding allows for breathable comfort and allows the air to circulate around the remaining surface of your back which is critical on warmer days. A quick release sternum strap is removable and added for support higher up in the backpack. You can also purchase a hip belt at an additional cost if you want to distribute the weight onto your hips.
There are four removable straps that can be used to attach a coat or a tripod to the front of the bag. We rarely ever use these, but some people might find them useful. Two can be found in the bottom front of the bag and the other two are placed in each side of the bag at the top of the external side pockets. A keyleash will also come attached to the one of the outside handles and this feature has a buckle so you can detach your keys whenever you need them. Again, we rarely use this because we don’t like the idea of having our keys easily accessible when traveling.
But for those who do travel, the anti-theft zipper tabs are great and we highly recommend using them. Both zippers on each side of the bag have a strap that can be buttoned to securely close the backpack so it can’t easily be opened. It won’t be completely locked, but it will be hard to open which is why we only use this feature when traveling in big cities and on mass transit. They are so efficient, we find this feature inconvenient to do on daily basis!
Price And Lifetime Product Warranty
One of the most pertinent of all the considerations will be price. And we’ll be honest because the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is expensive. If you’re looking to purchase a brand new backpack, it will set you back about $280-300. But we like that Peak Design also offers used bags for a cheaper price which is good for both you and the environment. You can shop their pre-owned items on the official website here.
Over the years, we’ve learned it’s important to pay for quality backpacks and clothing because they just last longer. If you buy a cheap product, it won’t last as long so you might spend more anyway. For the high price, you’ll be paying for quality design, quality materials and a quality company. Not only is the outer shell made from 100% recycled materials, but Peak Design tries to offset carbon emissions from start to finish. They also donate a portion of their revenue to environmental nonprofits. So this purchase was a no brainer for us.
Once you’ve bought a backpack or accessory, we highly recommend you register the product because Peak Design offers a lifetime product warranty. So if you’ve registered the product, this will make your warranty claim a whole lot easier. We also think the price is justified by this warranty.
After traveling with his Peak Design Backpack for 3 years, Mark’s black bag had a significant tear where the strap met the top part of the backpack which meant we could not longer use it. So we contacted Peak Design about the problem and they replaced his V1 bag with a V2 bag no questions asked at no extra cost. They also sent us a box to send the older V1 bag back in and we didn’t have to pay for shipping.
We were completely impressed with their warranty as we had no problems and the service was absolutely wonderful! So while the backpacks might be on the pricier side, they certainly back their word on their warranty which made our purchase completely worth it.
The Everyday Backpack Put To The Test
To make this a believable review of the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, we wanted to include a few real life examples using the bag in different scenarios. Here are our results:
1. Travel Backpack
We always use our two Peak Design bags as carry-on luggage for every flight when we travel. Over 6 years of travel, we’ve never had a problem with an airline telling us our bags were too big (knock on wood). The best part about traveling with these backpacks as a carry-on is no one questions you. We’ve boarded several flights where the airline attendants are weighing passengers checked luggage, but we’ve always breezed right on with our backpacks.
Between road trips, countless flights, train travel and ferry rides, our backpacks have not only held up to the challenge, but made the journey easier because our backpacks have easily fit in various luggage bins and we didn’t have to fight for space like other travelers.
We’ll conclude this section by saying, your carry-on might get weighed if you travel with a budget airline. We had this happen once when we left Cambodia with Air Asia. Our carry-on limit was 7lbs which we quickly reached thanks to our heavy camera and video equipment, but with some reshuffling we were able to just make the limit. We were the only passengers on that flight who didn’t have to pay an additional fee for our carry-on, thanks Peak Design!
2. Camera Backpack
This is where the Peak Design Everyday Backpack basically transforms into the sunglasses emoji. Photography is a huge market and there’s never really been a company who provide such great solutions to the problems experienced by the everyday photographer. Maybe this is why every photographer in the field we meet is always decked out neck-to-waist in Peak Design gear?
But our experiences when using this bag purely for creating content is why we are blowing such smoke. The ability to configure 3 custom dividers to guide the gear we have on any given day is the reason we’d never leave home without it. Typically, we carry two Sony cameras (α7R IV and α7 III) along with two Sony lenses (24-105mm and 16-35mm) plus occasionally a DJI Mavic 2 Pro with Smart Control.
Between both of our bags, we can easily fit all of this gear in addition to snacks and extra layers if we’re hiking. We use the side pockets to store extra straps, batteries, SD cards, ND filter and microfiber cloths. We always joke these backpacks are the equivalent to Hermione Granger’s magical handbag where we can continually pull out any item we may need.
READ: Best gifts for photography lovers
3. Hiking Backpack
This is where the Peak Design Backpack may not be the best choice because it was not deigned primarily for hiking. We think there may be better options on the market if hiking will be one of your main priorities. But it also depends what type of hiking you plan to do.
We’ve used our Everyday bags to hike hundreds of miles on various long distance hikes including Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks, the Enchantments in Washington and Rim to River in the Grand Canyon. We found the bags are great for storing our camera gear, but when it came to hiking trails longer than 10 miles, these bags became uncomfortable. Another issue is that its difficult to store multiple layers within the bag unless you take out the dividers which makes the bag more difficult to use.
But we did find the bags were great for shorter trails under 10 miles. We didn’t have issues with comfort or friction if we chose shorter hiking distances. Peak Design included sternum straps which can also help with extra support when the bags are packed more heavily.
The Morgan Conclusion
Overall, we love our V1 and V2 Peak Design Everyday Backpacks. And while they can be used in a variety of different scenarios, we think these bags are best used for video and photography equipment.
Here’s what we love:
- Extremely well built with quality materials to hold its shape
- Incredible design and thoughtful extras
- Versatile organization with endless options
- Various ways to access the inside of the bag
Here’s what we don’t like:
- Both the 20L and 30L weight over 4lbs which is quite heavy
- Most people will know you’re carrying expensive equipment in this bag
- Limited exterior pockets
- Complicated organizational design can be confusing
If you’re a creator, we highly recommend the Peak Design Everyday Backpack.
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But if you plan to hike long trails or of you’re traveling long term, this bag might not be the best option for you. If you have specialist gear for cold weather, climbing, rafting or golfing, this wouldn’t be a good fir either. We do use our Peak Designs for shorter hikes under 10 miles, but anything longer than 10 miles, we’d recommend an Osprey technical backpack.
Or if you’d prefer a bag with a zipper as opposed to a MagLatch, the Everyday Backpack Zip is a popular option. The Peak Design accessories are fun to shop for and we use the Slide Lite Camera Strap as well as the Capture Clip.
More Packing Guides
- Ultimate travel packing checklist
- What we always pack for a road trip
- Best things to bring on a day hike
- Is the Osprey Farpoint 40 worth it?
- Level 8 luggage review
Want more travel planning content? Head over to our Travel Planning Guides to see how you can travel better!
We hope our review for the Peak Design Everyday Backpack helped you decide if this is the best option for you!
Please let us know if you have any questions about the backpack or using it to travel in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.