In the same style and featuring many of the same advancements (such as Peak Design's MagLatch) as the original Everyday Messenger bag, Peak Design is back, this time with four new bags based on a backpack (in two sizes), tote, and small sling design. If you want to get in on the best prices, you still have time to save an additional 10 dollars on early bird pricing. But the campaign is already more than 15 percent fully funded, and it's moving fast.
The Everyday Messenger was one of Kickstarter's most successful campaigns, and this could break those records. Funding for production of the new bags is rising faster than I can keep track of while writing this article, and for good reason: These are some awesome bags.
For the family man or woman, the tote brings much needed design in an original style that's perfect for the growing family that cares about always having at least some gear with them to capture that growth as it happens.
The sling is a small bag that looks a lot like a miniaturized Everyday Messenger, but that hugs the body more for the urban shooter that travels light.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack
Finally, the two 20L and 30L backpacks bring an extremely popular bag type in line with the rest of the Peak Design lineup. They are certainly exciting for shooters such as myself who tend to travel with a lot of gear. You get the expandability when you need it and portability when you don't.
Check out the Kickstarter campaign today, and stay tuned for a special look inside Peak Design's facilities (and hopefully the bags themselves!) soon. Meanwhile, keep your fingers crossed for yet another new product teased in the Kickstarter campaign.
WTF would they need yet another Kickstarter with a string of successful products? Taker profit from first products invest in later products how hard is that?
I agree and of course Trey Ratcliff is involved in this collecting a rather nice pay day. Kickstarter should be limited to new companies and clearly the previous product was an overwhelming success, generating revenue far higher than required.
Nowadays, companies use it to gauge the potential success or flop of a product by seeing what the customer response/demand is. Also gives them the chance to make adjustments based on feedback before bringing it as a finished product to market. Kickstarting has its place for already established companies as well.
For you as a customer, you have the chance to get a discount and will be one of the first ones to get your hands on the new gear. If you want to wait until general release, maybe until the initial kinks are worked out, and pay full retail price, you can do so as well. - No one forcing you to either of the options.
As a customer, I don't mind being a backer for a company that has had multiple successful kickstarter campaigns.
They do it just for the free marketing.
It's very smart business. They can fund marketing, product development, and production without dealing with banks and investors.
With this model, everyone wins. They can set their price based on expected sales, and if they exceed those figures, their cost is lower, which means better margins. In the meantime, the consumer benefits because there is not as much markup for advertising and marketing.
I don't have any of their bags (although I'm sure I would only need to ask), but their CapturePRO and CaptureLENS are necessities in my kit.
Unfortunately the bags are exceptionally ugly. Form vs function with the latter winning by a country mile here. For me the aesthetics do matter and in terms of a bag it doesn't need to be perfect since after all it is only there to hold stuff.
In terms of appearance, speak for yourself. I find them very well designed and appealing, as well as robust/durable looking. Industrial design, just like their other gear.
As for function, if you own PeakDesign gear, you know that function is their main objective. I just recently bought a ThinkTank Trifecta backpack and while they create some great products as well, I may have to reconsider. The PeakDesign one trumps the ThinkTank one in functionality.
How is the 20L heavier than the 30L?
Good point! I'm sure that was accidentally switched, but I'll get on top of verifying that.
Meh... The straps with quick disconnect links were simple and practical = winner. The Capture Clip accessory was unique and somewhat useful when it was launched = sorta a winner. The bags - nah, waaay overhyped with numerous issues. These new "bestest ever" backpacks - yeah, absolutely nothing special. PD is riding the wave of success supported by excellent marketing, overly relying on celebrity backing, and loyal, but gullible, customer base. Using Kickstarter as their personal risk management platform at this stage of their company is just shady.
I'm in the market for a new backpack, because of the two limitations of my ThinkTank Airport Antidote V2- firstly, I bought it for a DSLR kit and now I shoot mirrorless; and secondly, because the tripod attachment is off-centre. I would much prefer if the weight on my back were evenly distributed.
The first bag that Peak Design released wasn't really appealing to me. Despite of the great reviews, I just didn't care. Next their straps and holster thingy, still, I didn't find it interesting.
But now, these backpacks are really looking great - design wise and function wise. I'll just have to see a good review of this bag.
I'll be reviewing the 30L at some point. I'm on board because I've been extremely happy with the performance of most of their other products. I use the Clutch and CapturePRO all the time. I was indifferent to their strap, but I'm also not a fan of any strap. It will be interesting to see if their bags match the qualities of their other gear.
I get confused by 'bag manufacturers'.. Every week another joint comes out trying to reinvent the wheel on these. I HAD over 20+ bags here I'd collected since the mid-70's, all collecting dust for one reason or another.
Where this all came to a head was.. I had a favorite bag that seemed to see more daylight than any other, it took a header, and when I called to have the warranty work done -- DENIED. So in looking through some comments, looking at what other were using and their comments, I took up Think Tank. Now over the years I've had 3 or 4 issues.. Instead of being told to sod off, I was over-nighted either a repair, or replacement. So for me, service after the sale is 90% of what I'm looking for.
I use Think Tank exclusively now, and just use it for the intended purpose without worry.