Peak Design has an all-new line of bags, and its specifically designed for us outdoor lovers. The Outdoor Line just dropped on Kickstarter, with some impressive intro deals to be had (20-25% off).

　　More importantly, I got my hands on an early sample of the Peak Design Outdoor 45L Bag. Ive been using it for about a month, both on some local photoshoots as well as a fly-in off-road vehicle shoot in Colorado.

　　In short: The Peak Design Outdoor Bag 45L is a super-refined product ideal for outdoor photographers and travelers alike. Its lightweight, super comfortable, securely carries a ton of essentials, and will likely hold up to some serious abuse.

　　Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L

　　(Photo/Phil Hurd) Specs MSRP $330 Weight 3.97 lbs. Size 34.5L-45L Color options Black, Cloud, Eclipse Materials Terra Shell 210D Ripstop Nylon Fit 17-20 torso length, 24-52 waist size Features Magnetic roll-top cinch main closure, zippered back-entry to main compartment, adjustable fitment shoulder straps, removable/stowable hip belt, laptop/hydration sleeve (up to 16 or 3L), padded/ventilated/quick-dry back panel, Pros Lightweight Super versatile Very comfortable Great details Cons Can feel overly complicated Elastic mesh doesnt usually hold up over time Bryon Dorr Peak Design The Outdoor Line Kickstarter Peak Design The Outdoor Line

　　(Photo/Peak Design) On offer at launch in The Outdoor Bags Line are two backpacks and two slings. This includes the Outdoor Backpack 45L, Outdoor Backpack 25L, Outdoor Sling 7L, and Outdoor Sling 2L.

　　All the bags in this new Outdoor Line are PFAS-free and made of a 100% recycled exterior fabric. Peak Design calls it Terra Shell. Other rad materials in the construction of these bags are abrasion-resistant and super strong Ultra Zips as well as slash-resistant UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) cording.

　　Peak Design Outdoor Bag Rainfly, Ultralight Packing Cubes, and Camera Cubes (S and M) are all great accessories for The Outdoor Line; (photo/Bryon Dorr) Accessories at line launch include a rainfly for each backpack and a hip belt for the slings. Ultralight Packing Cubes, which launched in June, and Camera Cubes V2, which launched in late 2023, are also perfect complements to the Outdoor Bags.

　　Whats always cool with all of Peak Designs products are how seamlessly they work together. As an example, the new Outdoor Slings can be used across the chest or on the hips of the Outdoor Backpacks.

　　Play “Our very first product — Capture — was a clip that let you carry your camera on your backpack strap while hiking,” said Peter Dering, Peak Design Founder and CEO. “Since then, Peak Design has been synonymous with ‘outdoor photography.’ Yet we still haven’t created true outdoor bags … until now. The Outdoor Line is not only the culmination of everything we’ve learned as bag designers, it’s also a giant nod to our most loyal and longest-tenured customers.”

　　Peak Design Outdoor 45L Bag Review

　　(Photo/Seiji Ishi) This is a big bag, which I need for all the camera gear and general stuff I carry with me on my travels. The Outdoor 45L bag has quickly replaced the Peak Design Travel Backpack that Ive been using for years now. Its lighter, more rugged, and more comfortable to carry. This is a versatile bag that is great for air travel, kicking around town, and weekend outdoor adventures alike.

　　Carry Comfort

　　(Photo/Bryon Dorr) The backpack is internally framed and weighs less than 4 pounds. It can also swallow a lot of heavy gear, and not only carry it all securely but also impressively comfortably.

　　The harness system on it is super customizable to fit a wide range of body styles.

　　The Shoulder straps have tons of padding, front pockets for snacks or your phone, and have Peak Design Capture Clip mounts built-in. Dual sternum straps and load lifters also help keep this big bag secure and comfortable.

　　The hip belt is well-padded and offers super-useful pockets. But, if youre like me and rarely use hip belts then they can be stowed or removed easily.

　　Hip belt buckle and adjustment details; (photo/Bryon Dorr) The attention to detail that Peak Design puts into all its products continues to impress me. Every zipper pull, buckle, closure, etc is thoroughly thought out. They are not only super functional but feel great when being used.

　　Carry All the Gear

　　Front kangaroo pocket with quick draw closure; (photo/Bryon Dorr) Besides the expected massive rear-entry zippered back panel, my favorite part of this Outdoor 45L is the quick-access kangaroo pocket and expandable roll-top pack access. The quick-draw cord lock setup on this is impressively simple and usable with one hand but does take a little practice to get good at.

　　The roll-top is basically a normal drybag style closure but has magnets to help it close with ease. Inside the top access is also a mesh pocket at the back of the pack. It is the perfect size for storing valuables you want to keep secure, like a passport.

　　(Photo/Bryon Dorr) Inside the main compartment of the pack, on the zippered access, padded back panel is a pocket that can handle a 16-inch laptop or 3L hydration bladder. If you want to carry a laptop and hydration bladder, the bladder can be put in the front kangaroo pocket.

　　A key feature of this Outdoor Line is the Cord Hook external carry system. This setup makes it super easy to quickly, securely, and easily attach and detach loads of gear to the outside of the pack, and bulky items on the top roll-top and in the side pockets.

　　Its nice to have, but I honestly think its a bit overdone. Im someone who likes to have nearly all of my gear secured in the bag and not attached to the outside of the bag — a tripod and water bottle are my exceptions.

　　I also love the mesh pockets, two on each side of the bag, which are perfect for water bottles, tripods, light stands, canned adult beverages, and the like.

　　(Photo/Bryon Dorr) The two zippered pockets in the front of the kangaroo pocket are also great for those items that you want quick access to. Ill mostly keep things like business cards and snacks in these pockets.

　　Peak Design Outdoor Camera Bag I love that this bag is designed to be tossed on the ground, the back panel zipped open, a camera or two grabbed, and the shooting to begin. The burly outer panel on the backpack is weatherproof and seems to hold up well to dirt and abrasive surfaces — its also super easy to wipe clean.

　　Im a photographer, and Ill primarily use this bag as a camera bag. Because of that it will most of the time have a Large Peak Design Camera Cube in it, to keep all my equipment secure, protected, organized, and easy to access. The main compartment of the Outdoor Bag 45L fits up to three Peak Design Cube Units (one unit = one small camera cube), so you can configure it in a variety of ways.

　　(Photo/Bryon Dorr) Camera Cubes V2 While testing this bag, I was also able to spend some time with the latest Peak Design Camera Cubes V2 — which were updated in late 2023. Ive got years of experience with the V1 Cubes and Peak Design Travel Backpack, which has been my go-to setup for travel and photography around the globe and in all conditions.

　　The latest version of Peak Designs Camera Cubes is just as impressive as the first iteration, just with some great refinements. Weatherproofing is greatly improved through the use of weatherproof Ultra Zips and external seam taping.

　　Access to the gear inside the cubes has been improved with an expanded opening while finding that gear has gotten easier through a lighter color interior fabric. The interior dividers have also been redesigned to offer even more functionality. Topping off the upgrades are a 360-degree exterior grab handle and a 10-15% reduction in weight.

　　Peak Design Camera Cubes V2 are now offered in XS, S, SM, M, and L. These new sizes help you dial in your setup to handle the latest mirrorless camera systems and video equipment, like small drones.

　　Peak Design Outdoor 45L Bag Review Wrapup

　　(Photo/Phil Hurd) Expect a 20-25% discount on the Peak Design The Outdoor Line during the Kickstarter campaign, which is running now and ends October 15, 2024.

　　Products ordered through Kickstarter will likely start shipping in January 2025. Note that the Outdoor Bags will launch globally through Peak Design stores, website, and dealers in late November 2024. This means that youll get the best deal if ordering early through Kickstarter, but will likely get your new Peak Design Outdoor bags after others that snag them late this year at retail.

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　　Bryon Dorr Peak Design The Outdoor Line Kickstarter