Peak Design is responsible for running some of the most successful Kickstarter projects to date. The company has now launched updates to its existing series of popular Everyday bags while adding a few new ones into the mix. This time, they’re even skipping Kickstarter: everything ships today.
Peak Design made a name for itself by rethinking every aspect of the camera bag, from the materials used to the exact dimensions and placement of every zipper pocket, magnetic closure, and flexible dividers. The new lineup is no different and comes after several years of refinements, while staying true to the unique organizational concept the company introduced with its first releases.
New Ultrazips zippers slide smoothly while providing an industry-leading 20x improvement in anti-tear strength compared to standard zippers. The famous Maglatch closure system on the front of the Everyday Backpack and Everyday Messenger bags is also refined into a smaller, smoother system. And new styling adds rounder edges and a more structured top flap that feels more protective than the original. While I always personally enjoyed the styling quite a bit, my girlfriend much prefers the newer bags, as do others I casually polled at recent meetups; so, they may be onto something. Certainly, the toning down of the harder, more geometric lines in the original bags may be easier to visually digest for some.
At the end of the day, these are just bags. But they’re some of the best. I had the chance to play around with several before today’s release, so we’ll do a light review of the updates to those while we cover the other updates below.
Everyday Backpack
Identical in styling, the larger 30L Everyday Backpack is more of a main photo bag due to its size, while the smaller 20L ends up filling in for the urban bag slot with its more compact and agile shape. Both solving a real first-world problem and so nice you never knew you needed until you had it, built-in magnets in the straps and on the back of the bag hold the straps in from flopping around when you stow it under a seat or in an overhead bin. Super tight — literally.
Additionally, new organizational layouts on the interior are better suited for stowing smaller items. The large side flaps now feature two smaller pockets instead of a single large one. Up top, a pouch is secured with a single magnetic closure in the center, while just below it, a zipper reveals a pocket with additional mini pouches for things like extra batteries and memory cards. Although the original featured similar micro-pockets on the inside and a large pouch at the bottom as well, this is much more useful and more accessible than the original, where everything was revealed behind that large zipper flap.
Finally, a new design for the top zipper pocket allows for easier and even adjustable laptop storage and better layouts for storage alongside or above the laptop in the secondary pouch. Many other smaller touches like the now-stretchable key lanyard are welcome additions that help make what was my favorite bag even better.
Everyday Backpack Zip (All-New)
The Everyday Backpack Zip is very similar to the backpack, but ditches the top Maglatch closure for a design that zips all the way around the bag. With dual zippers, you can easily access the main top compartment or the side compartments. The two 15L and 20L sizes are on the smaller side compared the standard backpack, but almost everything else is very, very similar. Still, it doesn’t feature some of the nicer touches of its original sibling, such as the magnetically held backpack straps. Because of this, I still prefer the Backpack with Maglatch, but that might very well be out of habit. Anyone wanting a smaller bag (or identical if you had the 20L anyway) at a better price should definitely look into this one.
Everyday Messenger
The Everyday Messenger is where it all started with this lineup. Take the new refinements from the Everyday Backpack, copy and paste them into the Messenger, and that’s what we now have with the new Everyday Messenger. Refined shaping and touches like a new, padded strap for added comfort sit alongside features like external carry straps (which are also redesigned and feature more tie-down points on the other bags) and increased laptop and document storage. The best part: it’s 24 percent lighter.
Everyday Sling
The Everyday Sling comes in 3L, 6L, and 10L sizes, and once again, features the same styling language of the other Everyday V2 bags: wider access points, a more comfortable shoulder strap, and new materials and shaping round out improvements to an already great bag. Although in this case, I have to say the styling is particularly welcome. I didn’t not like the original, but the newer Sling is undoubtedly more attractive and modern. I’ll take it.
Everyday Tote
The Everyday Tote became quite popular with parents, and this V2 Tote should be no different. Again, new handles, straps, and wider top access complement the same 100-percent recycled materials and new Midnight Blue and Bone color ways that are featured across the lineup.
What I Liked
- New styling
- Better organization
- More comfortable shoulder straps
- Magnetic security for the straps on the Everyday Backpack
- New color ways offer more variety
What I Disliked
- I’m going to throw one in here others say: price. But honestly, if you find a bag that gets you to stop buying bags, isn’t that value enough? It was for me anyway.
Peak Design’s bags have been my favorite since they launched. I’ve finally stopped looking. The only thing their lineup is missing is a roller bag for the wedding or even photographer. But that’s not necessarily up their alley of ultra-portable, ultra-convenient travel bags. That’s not “Everyday.” And this everyday mentality is what they do best, continually improving upon what’s already there before we even ask for it.
You can find the entire lineup today at B&H. If you want to learn more about the features of each bag (there are a ton), the best way to check that out might be through Peak Design's YouTube page, where they have product videos for each of the V2 updates.
I'm very curious if the shots of the bag standing up are actually free standing or supported.
I was sucked into buying an Everyday Messenger and it's the worst every camera bag I have used.
I doesn't stand by itself, you lower it to the deck and it'll immediately lunge forwards onto the front, consequently attempting to spill the contents at every opportunity.
It's fine as a laptop, notebook carrier for when you're riding your fixie to a coffee shop, anything more than a compact camera in there and you're fighting the weird dividers and pressing the camera into the laptop lid.
The shoulder strap pad can't be moved either, so any attempt to lengthen the strap results in the shoulder strap pad being way off centre.
It might all look posh and trendy but the bag is an Utter design failure as far as I'm concerned.
Seeing this one, my alarm bells are already ringing.
I'll be sticking to less glamorous but practical bags for my kit.
> I doesn't stand by itself, you lower it to the deck and it'll immediately lunge forwards
> onto the front, consequently attempting to spill the contents at every opportunity.
Totally same experience I got with the balance standing on the floor. But besides that, I found it a great bag, and it is still my first choice of several bags I have and have tried.
I solved the balance problem by putting on some adhesive "rubberfeets" in front of bag-bottom.
But I wonder if balance has been improved in latest version?
I agree with your statement. I bought quite some items of PD. At first, I was impressed about their products. But then. It began with the severe failure of the Velcro strips of their Field Pouch. The lid opened and my brand new mobile phone was gone (shattered on the ground). I contacted PD and they offered an exchange with the second generation of the field pouch. I thankfully declined and threw version one in the bin. Never ever I will take that risk again. Then one bracket for mounting the lid of my Everyday Messenger Bag came off. Had to replace the whole bag. Then off their slides came the black rubber and spoiled my clothings. IT dissolved. I took a knife and removed the rest. Answer from PD: contact your local dealer and get it replaced. I did not, still keeping the now rubber less two slings. They work, but that was not a good experience. - But that is not all of it: The bottom plate of their 'clutch' destroyed the bottom rubber of my D800E. Not to mention it tends to get loose, almost dropped my camera. Either you tighten it and destroy the bottom rubber shield or do not tighten that much and risk getting the screw loose.
I spent about 600$ on peak design items. I only use the slings any more. The Everyday Messenger Bag I use for other things, but not my camera gear.
I am not impressed with PD any more and I stopped looking for bags and keep on using the Elinchrom ProTec Location Bag or my almost 30 year old Tenba 695 which is still in very good condition. As backpack I use a simple Nikon bag. Anybody wants to buy my Peak Design Gear?
Funny you mentioned about the anti slip rubber strips on PD Slide Lite strap. Mine started to melt few weeks ago and left sticky stuffs on my clothes & camera. I tried wrapping it off but it got worse and smeared all over. Thought of throwing it, I even bought PD Leash to replace. But last minute I tried soaking the straps in dishwasher liquid and hot water and it seems working. I did it 2x and did final rinse last night. Now it’s in the drying rack, hopefully I managed to remove those sticky strips. As much as I hate having these rubber strips melted, I still love PD straps due to their universal anchors as I have several camera bodies and only need to bring 1 strap and 1 cuff.
I scratched it off. Thank you for the hint. I'll try to get off the little rest with dishwasher liquid. You certainly are right about the straps. PD's strap and anchor system is working very well. I began with that and I should have stayed with that. All the rest of the PD gear sits in a box only gets older.
Yeah, me too. Started with Slide & Cuff, then added Everyday Sling and Everyday Backpack 20L. Still using the sling but less frequently now due to the size and the rigidity. Only used backpack once for our holiday in NZ only to leave it in the car most of the time as it gets too heavy for our hikes and I ended up using unbranded messenger bag to keep things light.
I've never bitten their marketing, but they seem to me to be one of those YouTube brands, like no one would care if they hadn't sent out hundreds of their bags (for free) to YouTubers (who probably don't even have the time to really use them) who give glowing reviews and behave as though they're somehow an industry standard. I've seen this happening more and more with gear companies recently. Their products have always looked overpriced and a bit hipster for me. Reassured to hear people who've spent hard earned money on this stuff feel the same way, I'm not missing out. My ultimate bag search continues!
In a few photos, they were standing on their own, and in others, they were not. But either way, I would never buy a photo backpack and expect it to stand on its own. There are so many different ways it could be loaded where the center of gravity would push it one way or the other. Just impossible for something in a backpack shape to stand up in every scenario. That's where a messenger or larger shoulder bag comes in.
The falling over messenger bag was my point though. It shouldn’t. It has a massive design flaw. As a result I’m Steering clear of Peak ‘design’
Probably a ton of people love what they do Though or they’d be out of business.
I see your point and what you'd like, but that would simply be a different bag then, of course. And no, PD doesn't currently offer something like that. I think what you're talking about would require a different form factor like the Filson shoulder bag or those older Tamrac bags... I don't know any messengers without a wider base that wouldn't fall over in many circumstances. It's just kind of physics at some point :-/ But there's plenty of stuff out there that does what you're asking ;-)
I really don't get the peak design craze. I have a friend who preordered the original peak design messenger bag. that thing is so big and boxy. i am currently traveling in asia with mindshift trailscape 18L and it fits sony a9, a7riv, 100-400, 24-70/2.8, 35/1.4, 50/1.4 and 13" macbook pro. The 100-400 and 24-70 are attached to the cameras for quick access. The two outer side pockets for water bottles also allow me to store an extra lens such as 35/2.8 if I need to swap lenses frequently.
Just watched the product video of the Mindshift Trailscape and I don’t think it’s a smart design. It has a traditional front zipper that you have to open to get to all of your gear and you have lay it down flat, otherwise all that gear falls out tumbling. Never mind that you have to lay the back of the backpack, the side that touches your body, onto whatever dirty terrain you’re currently in.
Not necessary with a PD bag that has accessible side pockets. I can sling the bag from one shoulder to the front and literally take out gear while walking. Never do I have to lay it down in dirty places to get to anything.
Furthermore, the MS bag handle up top doesn’t fit a carryon suitcase, the PD does. There’s also a carryon latch on the back in case you want to put it sideways onto your suitcase. PD also has side handles just to conveniently carry it in other situations. It also has additional stowed away straps to tie down stuff you attach to the outside of the bag, whether that’s front, sides or bottom. It has lockable zippers to prevent easy theft. The dividers inside are multi-functional and can change without having to rip out the whole layout.
Sure, the MS bag is $80 cheaper but the PD bag is a lot more functional. With the v1 bags now discounted, it’s only a $30 difference for a more thoughtful design.
Hi, the reason I chose this particular MS bag after looking at dozens of bags(including Peak) is that I DO NOT want to crush my laptop! Many of the bags I have used in the past have the laptop compartment tightly sandwiched between your back and a ton of equipment. Even the Think tank shapeshifter has this issue. I now do not have to worry about crushing my Macbook Pro 13" 2019 2.8ghz i7.
Since the tolerances are so tight with such laptops as the new macbooks any pressure can be harmful to the laptop. Not sure if this is what caused my older macbook 12" to get crushed but it ended up costing me about $475 for an out of warranty repair. I also got keyboard and trackpad marks if I did not put keyboard cloth and that was enough for me to look for a solution that did not stress such a vital component.
With PD bag I imagine the equipment can fall out if you do not close the zipper, right? Try it and let us know.
The Peak is also a lot heavier than the 2.8 pound MS:
20L
Without Dividers: 1.66kg (3.66lb)
With Dividers: 2.01kg (4.43lb)
30L
Without Dividers: 1.76kg (3.88lb)
With Dividers: 2.11kg (4.65lb)
I guess the Peak can do anything and that extra material hurts at the end of the day. Does it have harness points that allow you to attach it to the seatbelt, too?
Peak might do it all at the cost of a bad back. My friend switched to smaller bag after using Peak.
Manfrotto fan here, much better value for money and if you want to look cool you can get the Windsor range.
PD straps are amazing though ill give them that, oh and i have the everyday wash bag and its very good, just not a fan of these camera bags.
Yeah absolutely, the Cuff is the best one for me, rarely use the others these days as i prefer to just carry the camera in my hand with that attached.
Ah yeah mine is normally the Fuji, unless i have the 16-55 attached its pretty light so the cuff is perfect.
I think the biggest strap is overkill for any camera so i use the slide lite, works well on my mirrorless and DSLR.
I bought the (original) Everyday Backpack 30L... it's absolutely useless as a backpack because the straps will not stay tight, requiring near-constant re-cinching as you hike.
The "backpack" is now just an overpriced spare lens case.
A lot of people say the same thing about loose straps!
The Peak Design lineup is certainly very trendy -- on their website they announce that, for example, the Everyday Bags range is ". . .a pack that adapts to your ever-changin gear, lifestyle, and environment." So it´s actually the hip street / landscape photographer with the loose buck they´re trying to sell their products to -- which is totally ok. It´s certainly not aimed at professional photographers, who usually don´t have "ever-changing gear" or "ever changing lifestyle". The most important aspect of a good camera backpack is durability, not versatility. I worked as a ship´s videographer/photographer for 12 years travelling the entire globe. In my case, the Lowepro Protactive 450 has been along with all the time and still is. It´s been through rain, sleet, snow, ice, temperatures in the upper 40s (Celcius) and below zero, it´s been in the rainforests, through Patagonia, on jeep-tours in the Namib Desert and safaris in South Africa, and it´s been more or less been in contact with saltwater throughout, whether on the beaches of the South Pacific or in the Carribean Sea. In all this time and through all this wear and tear, it has never failed in any respect. The most important elements - the zippers - are still working perfectly and smooth. The form of the body did not alter, and it still stands upright even if I load it unproportionally. So if you´re looking for a professional backpack for intensive traveling, I would recommend you turn to the "traditional" vendors for this kind of equipment.
So hopefully they use better zippers and sew them on better? Because of their warranty I am on my 3rd bag of the 20L everyday backpack. The first two, the zippers bent out of shape or broke off of its seam of the main camera/cargo chamber.
JFC. You'd think they'd get the ONE thing that you don't want to fail RIGHT? I guess that nixes dred lews comment that "There’s also a carryon latch on the back in case you want to put it sideways onto your suitcase." This is like Nikon focusing on a .95 lens while their Z6/Z7 can barely focus on release date. I've had Think Tank equipment since 2008 and have not broken a zipper since they believe good zippers are important.
I don't think I would go back to these bags. They are also pretty uncomfortable when loaded up with gear. I don't fill mine up to the brim, but just enough.
Bought my Domke in 1990. Yes it is classic . Yes it is black. But it still going strong after many miles. But then again I dont follow You Tube.
"Peak Design’s bags have been my favorite since they launched. I’ve finally stopped looking. The only thing their lineup is missing is a roller bag for the wedding or even photographer. But that’s not necessarily up their alley of ultra-portable, ultra-convenient travel bags. That’s not “Everyday.” And this everyday mentality is what they do best, continually improving upon what’s already there before we even ask for it."
The only thing missing from this "review" is a "I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest, unbiased review." disclaimer.
"That’s not “Everyday." - LOL. "what they do best, continually improving upon what’s already there before we even ask for it." - you should really apply for PDPR job.
I guess thousands of photographers do not need to carry all their gear around "Everyday" in roller cases as they move from one location to another, or arrive at a wedding or race to the next concourse to the next plane.....praying the zipper on their PD backpack holds doesn't break due to the stress.
I wouldn't recommend replacing your ThinkTank roller with a PD backpack. I still have and use both quite a bit. Different bags for different purposes. And some people are going to have a need for something completely different, while this won't be good for them whatsoever. Of course, if you don't like the backpack, no need to get it. But for a street-shooter or smaller shoot in general, yes, I personally love these bags for the flexibility in the dividers especially (as well as the other very thoughtful and utilitarian design choices). It's a review, but yes, it's also my opinion ;-)
Hi Adam, definitely not replacing TT roller with PD backpack. I looked at the PD messenger bag and it was like slinging a fed ex package on your shoulder. The PD backpack empty was way heavier than MS empty.
I'd like to see pd come out with a security travel backpack for us photographers. Cut resistant straps, lockable flaps, built in rain cover, RFID pocket, etc. for those of us that travel with gear, security becomes a factor.
I do think they have some of the best security out there. The zipper pulls "unhook" so you can loop them around built-in attachment points and hook them back on, which keeps them from being able to be casually pulled open from either end. And the maglatch — you're going to notice if someone is messing with that on your back... Other pockets within the bag are pretty well hidden if you need discrete storage for things like passports, etc.
Cracks fingers*
I honestly don't want to be negative but the Peak Design Everyday Pack is one of the useless packs I ever bought. I gave it a year and we are getting a divorce.
The pack looks great but the functionally is bad. It actually comes down to the stiff divider system. I rearranged those dividers so many times and could never find a way to keep everything nice and snug and protected. It' doesn't form fit. It's mostly wasted space no matter what you do. I even tried using another bags foam velcro dividers and make my own interior. It was better but because of the bags shape it created other problems. There is also no padding on the bottom so you're forced to use one of the dividers to protect it if want to put a longer lens on the bottom.
I bought the 20L version. I also have an older smaller Lowepro Pro Runnner AW200 I got off craigslist for $40 when I got into photography. I can fit more in that bag than the Everyday Pack. It also has thicker sidewalls for protection. There isn't much padding on the sides of the Everyday Pack. There are some cloth slots you can put accessories but if you have anything thicker than a cable, those accessories are just going to push up against your gear once you close it. You have to be careful not to put anything that will push up against your camera screen when you close them. This means even less functionally if you don't use them or you're spending time trying to rearrange just to make things work.
As someone who has several hiking backpacks, it was very uncomfortable too.The canvas straps just never broke in either. Even after a year of use.
Overall the bag was frustrating and useless to me. If you're carrying very little or not using it as a photography bag, It might be fine. Although I never thought to use it when I just wanted to bring some shoes and a hoodie somewhere. The bag is heavier than any other normal backpack it's size.
I both had the 5L and 10L sold it as they are either too small or too big, plus the issue with the strap is worrisome. But I am fan of their camera straps (slide lite) as well as their clutch.
For everyday camera bags, the Wandrd Duo looks much more interesting as it has the cool concept of PD, ThinkTank bags in one.