Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L Review
Summary Verdict
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L builds on the 25L version by offering significantly more capacity and enhanced functionality. Thanks to its compatibility with Peak Design’s Large Camera Cube and a ladder system for adjusting the shoulder straps, it transforms from a robust hiking backpack to a high-end camera bag. While the 45L backpack shares some of the minor quirks of its smaller sibling, its added capacity and customisation options make it an excellent choice for those needing more room and flexibility.
Read our Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cube Review
Score: TBC
For
Generous storage capacity
Adjustable shoulder strap height
Rear and top access to the main compartment
Against
Camera Cubes are an additional expense
The top-opening mechanism requires familiarisation
A small top pocket would be a welcome addition
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L (shown here in Black) has a wipe-clean front that houses two long side pockets and a 'kangaroo pouch', with the top flap covering the roll-top of the main compartment.
What is the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L?
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L is part of Peak Design’s new line of ultralight, technical bags, designed to meet the needs of both adventurers and photographers. Like its smaller (25L) counterpart, the 45L version is compatible with Peak Design’s Camera Cubes, specifically accommodating the Large Camera Cube (3 Peak Design Cube Units), enabling it to carry more camera gear. This larger version offers an impressive 34.5L to 45L capacity, thanks to its expandable Ultra Cinch roll-top.
The other bags in the Peak Design Outdoor line-up include the Outdoor Backpack 25L and the 2L and 7L Outdoor Sling bags.
Read our Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L Review
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L Price and Availability
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L is priced at $329.95 (around £250). Like the 25L version, it will launch on Kickstarter with a 20-25% discount for early backers. The campaign kicks off on 3rd September and runs until 15th October, with shipments expected in January 2025. It will be available to order at the standard price from November 2024.
Visit the Kickstarter Page
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Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L Specifications
Product type: Modular backpack
Announced: 3rd September 2024
Capacity: 34.5-45L
Main fabric: Terra Shell 210D Ripstop Nylon, internal frame
Waist belt: included & removeable
Shoulder strap adjustment: 4-setting ladder system
Available colours: Black, Eclipse (purple), Cloud (white)
The cord hanging from the top of the backpack is the cinch cord that pulls the front pocket closed and holds the magnetic roll-top section down.
Key Features
Unlike the 25L Outdoor Backpack, the Peak Design has an internal frame. It’s also larger, offering even more space for gear. Its ‘Ultra Cinch’ roll-top closure extends the bag’s volume from 34.5L to a maximum of 45L, making it suitable for longer trips or more substantial camera setups.
There’s a large front pocket or ‘kangaroo pouch’ at the front of the bag. This has a wipe-clean front that extends up over the top opening of the main compartment. Magnets snap shut the main compartment opening ready to be rolled down and held in place by the cinch cord that holds the kangaroo pouch closed. The front flap is opened by tugging the black loop at the top, it won’t open easily if you just pull the flap. It takes a few uses to become familiar with this mechanism, but it works well.
A significant upgrade with this version of the 25L pack is the ladder system for adjusting the shoulder straps. This system allows you to change the strap height to fit different body lengths better, which is particularly beneficial for those who carry heavy loads or walk long distances.
The zip-close rear panel also provides full access to the main compartment, making it easy to reach your gear. Unlike the 25L backpack, the 45L version’s padded back panel sits within the curtilage of the shoulder straps.
The main compartment of the 45L OutDoor Backpack opens via a weatherproof zip that runs underneath the shoulder strap attachments. It has two large loops that are easy to grab with your finger.
The 45L Outdoor Backpack can house a Large Peak Design Camera Cube in its main compartment. This can hold a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera with several lenses, including a 70-200mm f/2.8. On one occasion, I fitted in a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 70-200mm f/2.8 mounted and six other lenses with ease. In the past, I’ve carried a Nikon Z8 with the Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR attached, plus a few other lenses, including a 24-70mm f/2.8 in the Large Camera Cube. Naturally, the number of lenses you can squeeze in depends upon their focal length and aperture, but there’s oodles of space in the Large Cube.
When the shoulder straps are attached at their lowest point, the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L sits at a good height on my back, but if I look up, the back of my head touches the top.
The backpack also has two stretch pockets on either side (four in total), with the deeper two being suited to carrying a tripod or water bottle. Meanwhile, inside the back panel, there’s a sleeve that can hold a 3L hydration pouch or a 16-inch laptop - although I wouldn’t recommend mixing them or carrying a hydration pouch with camera gear!
Like the 25L version, the 45L Peak Design Outdoor Backpack includes several thoughtful design touches, such as stretchy pockets on the shoulder straps for quick access to small items like your phone or wallet and Capture Clip attachment points for carrying a camera outside of the bag. A rain cover is available for purchase separately, providing additional protection from the elements.
Peak Design offers all of its new Outdoor Bags in three colours: Black, Eclipse (purple) and Cloud (white). Eclipse is easily my favourite, it looks great. Cloud also tempted me (I have an Ultralight Packing Cube in Cloud), but my concern is it would show the dirt quite quickly. I think a law says all camera bags must be available in black. Oddly, that doesn’t seem to extend to most hiking backpacks. I’m sure many people will love the black backpack, but it looks too military for my taste.
The top sternum strap is one down from at its highest setting here and it feels comfortable, but it's good to have a higher option. In this image. The second strap is tucked into a shoulder strap pocket and the waist belt is stowed behind the back panel.
Build and handling
The 45L Outdoor Backpack shares the sleek, technical design and styling of its smaller counterpart but with more substantial storage, a lightweight internal frame and the added benefit of adjustable shoulder straps. This makes it a more versatile option for those who need a backpack that can handle a heavier load.
The main compartment of the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L can accommodate a Large Peak Design Camera Cube.
As I mentioned, the backpack’s main compartment is spacious enough to fit a large Camera Cube or multiple smaller cubes, allowing you to customise it to your needs. The well-padded shoulder straps are designed to distribute weight evenly, reducing strain during long hikes or while carrying a full load of camera gear.
The ladder system for adjusting the shoulder straps is an excellent feature not seen very often on camera backpacks.
With around 10L of expansion room provided by the roll-top upper opening, you can carry a light jacket or extra layer plus a few essentials above the main camera section of the backpack. When you close the roll-top, it’s important to ensure that the cinch cord passes over the top and not to the sides. Pulling the cinch cord in then compressed the top of the pack.
It takes a few minutes to wrestle the strap hooks off their mountings to move them up or down the 'ladder', but once you've done it, it doesn't need to be repeated.
Performance
As I am 5 foot 1.5 inches (156 cm) tall, I set the 45L Outdoor Backpack shoulder straps to the lowest setting and it made for a comfortable fit, even when fully loaded. Cinching in the load lifters at the top of the shoulder straps pulls the backpack up and in towards the top of my back, giving better weight distribution.
Unlike the 25L Outdoor Backpack, the 45L version comes with a waist belt. These are often too big for me unless I’m wearing a coat or a few layers, but the waist belt on the Peak Design 45L Outdoor Backpack one comes in nice and tight over just a T-shirt. Because of their poor fit, and they sometimes make me feel very warm, I tend to avoid using waist belts, but the Peak Design one fits well just above my hips, taking a significant amount of weight off my shoulders (with the correct strap height selected). Consequently, I would use the waist belt with heavy loads or at the end of a long day out, but keep it tucked away behind the back panel for short walks or when the bag isn’t fully-laden.
It’s worth noting that the 45L backpack comes with the same waist belt that is available as an optional extra for the 25L backpack. It uses a neat snap-in and snap-out attachment that makes it easy to remove or attach.
There are two large stretchy pockets on either side of the 45L Backpack.
Naturally, setting up the Backpack’s straps and waist belt correctly doesn’t make the load any lighter, but it makes it more comfortable and there’s no rubbing or scratching, or unwanted lumps and bumps. However, because I use the lowest settings for the straps, if I look up, the back of my head touches the top area of the backpack. This becomes more noticeable when the roll-top area is filled.
The expandable roll-top design is incredibly practical, offering flexibility in how much you can carry, there always seems to be room for one more thing. On that note, it’s important to be careful about how much you stuff into the large front pocket because there’s a risk of things falling out of the sides if it’s packed too high.
The larger of the two side pockets easily swallows up a Peak Design Travel Tripod.
The large side pockets hold a Peak Design Travel Tripod or a water bottle very neatly and securely.
Verdict
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L is a versatile and thoughtfully designed bag that works well as a hiking backpack and a camera bag. Its larger capacity and adjustable shoulder straps make it a significant upgrade from the 25L version, catering to those who need more room and customisation options.
While the top-opening mechanism and the additional cost of Camera Cubes may be considerations, these are easily outweighed by the backpack’s overall performance and comfort. This backpack is a robust and flexible option for anyone looking for a bag that can handle both outdoor adventures and photography with ease.
It’s worth noting that while the 45L billing of the backpack sounds huge, it’s actually closer to 35L in capacity as the extra space is from the roll-top expansion area.
The initial impressions suggest that, like the 25L, the 45L version will also work well for female users, thanks to its adjustable fit and comfortable design.
