Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L Review
Summary Verdict
The Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack is a versatile and well-crafted bag that can switch seamlessly from a hiking backpack to a camera bag. Its dual access points and compatibility with Peak Design’s Camera Cubes make it an excellent choice for photographers wanting versatility, comfort and style. Despite a couple of minor quirks, its overall performance and comfort make it a robust option for various needs. Initial impressions suggest it’s also well-suited to female users.
Score: TBC
For
Comfortable to carry
Versatile
Rear or top entry to the main compartment
Against
The Camera Cubes are an additional cost
The top-opening mechanism takes a little getting used to
A small top pocket would be nice
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L (shown here in the Eclipse colour) has a wipe-clean front that houses two flat side pockets and a 'kangaroo pouch'. The top flap extension of the front covers the roll-top of the main compartment.
What is the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L?
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L is part of a new line of ultralight technical bags designed to work with the company’s Camera Cubes V2 and the recently launched Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cubes. Pairing the Outdoor Backpack 25L with a Peak Design Camera Cube converts it into a camera backpack, or it can be used like a regular backpack.
The other bags in the Peak Design Outdoor line-up include the Outdoor Backpack 45L and the Outdoor Sling, available in 2L and 7L versions.
Read our Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L Review
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L Price and Availability
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L is set to retail for $249.95 (around £190) however, along with the other Peak Design Outdoor bags, it is being launched on Kickstarter on 3rd September with a discount of 20-25% for early backers. The campaign will run until 15th October and the products will be shipped in January 2025. The bags will be available from retailers at the standard price from November 2024.
Visit the Kickstarter Page
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Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L Specifications
Product type: Modular backpack
Announced: 3rd September 2024
Capacity: 20-25L
Main fabric: Terra Shell 210D Ripstop Nylon, frameless
Waist belt: Optional extra (the same as the one supplied with the 45L Outdoor Backpack).
Shoulder strap adjustment: No
Available colours: Black, Eclipse (purple), Cloud (white)
That cord seen hanging down the middle of the backpack is the cinch cord that pulls the front pocket closed and holds the magnetic roll-top section down.
Key Features
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L is frameless and features an expandable ‘Ultra Cinch’ roll-top plus weatherproof rear panel access. It’s made from a lightweight material, Terra Shell 210D Ripstop Nylon, which looks smart and feels tough.
To give easy access to the main compartment contents, the whole rear panel opens with zip going up and around the shoulder straps.
Meanwhile, the roll-top section, which bumps the capacity of the bag from 20L to 25L, uses a magnetic closure with a cinch cord pulling it and the front pocket (AKA kangaroo pouch) closed. This cord has a clever locking mechanism that stops the front pocket from falling open without having to tie it. If you just pull the front pocket flap, nothing happens, you have to pull the black loop at the top.
There’s room inside the main compartment to fit a SMedium Peak Design Camera Cube and an XS Camera Cube. There’s more storage space in the roll-top section but it’s advisable to put smaller items in an Ultralight packing cube to stop them falling into the main compartment.
Helpfully, there are deep Flex Pockets made from stretch fabric on either side of the backpack, giving scope to carry a tripod and a water bottle. There’s also a sleeve for a hydration pouch (up to 3L) on the inside of the back section. This doubles as a laptop sleeve (up to 16-inch) — but it’s one or the other! Also, it’s not advisable to store a hydration pouch inside the bag while carrying camera gear.
Examine the sides of the large wipe-clean front pocket carefully and you’ll find two slim pockets, one with a key tether. In addition, each of the shoulder straps has a stretchy pocket, which are useful for carrying your phone, a simple wallet or train tickets etc.
The shoulder straps also feature Capture Clip attachment points and dual sternum straps.
Although the backpack appears shower-proof, Peak Design sells an optional Rain Fly cover for better protection from the elements.
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L sits in a nice position on my back, just above my backside.
Build and handling
Peak Design’s Outdoor Backpacks look very different from its Everyday Backpacks and Travel Backpacks. They look more like hiking backpacks than camera backpacks or luggage. However, they convert very well to a camera backpack with the addition of a Camera Cube or two.
Inside the main compartment of the 25L Outdoor Backpack there’s room to fit a SMedium Peak Design Camera Cube and an XS Camera Cube. The Camera Cubes can just rest inside the main compartment, but there are mounting points for the Camera Cube clips that line-up with the SMedium’s loops.
Fully loaded with the SMedium and XS Camera Cubes, you can expect to squeeze in a full-frame mirrorless camera and around 4 lenses - including a 70-200mm f/2.8. Of course, if you prefer, you can use a smaller Camera Cube and carry less camera gear.
The main compartment of the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L can accommodate an SMedium Camera Cube (right) and an XS Camera Cube.
The shoulder straps are well-cushioned and have a rounded profile, which makes them comfortable and avoids rubbing. They are also nicely shaped, so they don’t rub my bust - I’ll update you on how they feel on larger busts after the bags are announced and they can be used in public.
There are five loops along the inside edge of each of the shoulder straps for attaching the sternum straps. These use a simple loop-through and hook mechanism, so there’s no buckle that can press into your sternum if you lie on the ground to take a photo while wearing the bag. It also means that there’s more scope to pull the shoulder straps in if you have a small frame.
I find the upper-most sternum strap attachment the most comfortable. This means the strap sits about 5cm below my collarbone. I didn’t use the second strap, and it’s nice to be able to tuck it into a pocket and out of the way.
Peak Design doesn’t supply a waist belt with the 25L Outdoor Backpack, but there’s one available separately. This is the same as the waste belt that comes with the 45L backpack, and it snaps into place easily, only taking a few seconds to fit or remove.
Unlike the 45L Outdoor Backpack, however, it’s not possible to store the waist belt behind the back panel of the 25L backpack.
The main compartment of the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L opens from the back with a zip going around the outer edge of the sides and top of the bag.
Performance
I’m around 5 foot 1.5 inches, or 156cm, tall but I’m happy to carry a large backpack if I need to. I’d class the the 25L Outdoor Backpack as a medium-sized pack. It works very well for me either as a bag for carrying camera gear, or for carrying a camera and other stuff for a day out or a work event.
Unlike the 45L Outdoor Backpack, there are no lifters at the top of the shoulder straps and it’s not possible to change the height of the straps, however, the 25L backpack fits me well. The bottom of the pack rests just below my belt loop without sitting on my backside.
I also appreciate that the shoulder straps are fixed fairly close together so, even without using a sternum strap, they don’t feel like they are going to slip off to the side. And as I mentioned, they’re comfortable.
While I would like a small pocket at the top of the backpack, I like the pockets in the shoulder straps. They kept my card wallet and phone safe during a trip to London. Similarly, the pockets to the side of the kangaroo pouch are easy to access when you swing the backpack around one shoulder by a single strap.
The Peak Design Travel Tripod fits very neatly in a side pocket of the Outdoor Backpack 25L.
Another plus is that the deep pockets on either side of the backpack hold a Peak Design Travel Tripod or water bottle very well, with no flapping around. They even do a decent job with a longer tripod like the Gitzo Mountaineer GT2542 with a geared head, although the stretchy cord comes in handy for a bit of extra security.
The Camera Cube fits in neatly, especially if you remove the foam in its lid, which can then be folded back to allow the back panel of the main pack to protect the contents.
One note of caution, while the front kangaroo pouch is handy for stuffing things in quickly, its flap is longer than the sides, so it’s important to avoid overfilling it and something spilling out sideways
The top sternum strap is at its highest setting here. The second strap is tucked into a strap pocket.
Verdict
Modular backpacks, which convert from a hiking backpack to a camera bag, often feel compromised, fulfilling neither brief well. The Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack is a notable exception. It delivers on its promise of being a versatile, well-constructed bag that's ideal for everyday use, outdoor adventures and photographic days out. Its clever design, with dual access points and the ability to convert into a camera backpack with the addition of a Camera Cube or two, makes it a great choice for photographers who need flexibility without compromising on style or functionality.
While the top-opening mechanism may take a few minutes to get used to, it's fast and convenient once you've mastered it. The additional cost of Camera Cubes might also be a consideration, but these minor drawbacks are easily outweighed by the backpack's overall performance and comfort. It's a thoughtfully designed, robust option that caters to many needs.
Although I’m reserving final judgment on the fit until more women have had the chance to test it, the initial impression is that this backpack works exceptionally well for female users.
