Peak Design Launches ‘Outdoor Line’ Backpacks and Slings for Adventurous Photographers
For years, photographers have clamored for Peak Design to make a backpack purpose-built for outdoor adventures. Their calls have been answered, and the Peak Design Outdoor Line has arrived, with the company calling it its most anticipated soft-goods product launch ever.
“Peak Design has straddled the outdoor and photography industries for over a decade,” Peak Design explains. “Having experienced repeated shortcomings with other outdoor bags on the market, Peak developed the Outdoor Line to address issues like poor fit, overly-bulky harness systems, limited access, and over-engineered ‘technically baroque’ designs.”
The Peak Design Outdoor Line comprises two backpacks, two slings, and an ecosystem of “Packing Tools” for photo equipment, clothing, and gear. Peak promises that its Outdoor Line bags deliver customizable modular organization, easy access to gear, and superior comfort for a diverse range of body types.
The Outdoor Backpack, which comes in two sizes (25 and 45 liters), uses a unique harness system with low-profile, highly adjustable shoulder and waist straps that promise “superior comfort and fit with significantly less bulk.” The shoulder straps are inspired by running vests to distribute weight over a larger surface area while including storage and dual camera-carry attachment points. Users can access the gear inside the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack in two ways: a quick-opening top hatch, which Peak calls Ultra Cinch, and a large rear access panel that provides direct access to the backpack’s entire main compartment.
While these features are shared between both sizes of the backpack, there are some vital differences between the two models. The smaller 25L version is designed for day hikes and, as a result, lacks an internal frame — a feature common to many technical outdoor backpacks. It also doesn’t come with a hip belt, a $44.95 add-on accessory. The larger 45L backpack, on the other hand, includes an internal frame and comes equipped with a hip belt. Thanks to its larger size and internal frame, the 45L Outdoor Backpack is a bit heavier than its smaller sibling, tipping the scales at 3.97 pounds (1.8 kilograms) when empty versus 2.54 pounds (1.15 kilograms).
Joining the Outdoor Backpack is the Peak Design Outdoor Sling, available in two and seven-liter sizes. The Outdoor Sling has a padded, removable strap with a custom clasp and quick-adjustment hardware, enabling users to swap it between cross-body and waist bag configurations easily. The 7L model has external Gear Loops to carry gear and can accommodate a Peak Design X-Small Camera Cube, turning the sling into a dedicated camera bag.
There’s a significant crossover between various Peak Design products in the Outdoor Line. For example, both Outdoor Slings can be mounted to the Outdoor Backpacks’ shoulder straps, instantly creating chest-mounted storage. They’re lightweight additions in either case, with the Outdoor Sling 2L weighing just 0.39 pounds (0.18 kilograms) and the 7L size weighing 0.74 pounds (0.34 kilograms).
The Outdoor Backpacks can also store the Camera Cubes, which Peak Design redesigned in late 2023, and the Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cubes released a few months ago. “Camera Cubes in available in five sizes to accommodate any creative kit,” Peak Design explains, “from mirrorless cameras and drones all the way to full-blown professional photography kits.”
Every bag in the new Outdoor Line features Peak’s new PFAS-free 100% recycled weatherproof Tera Shell exterior fabric, abrasion-resistant Ultra Zips, and slash-resistant polyethylene cording.
“Out very first product — Capture — was a clip that let you carry your camera on your backpack strap while hiking,” recalls Peak Design Founder and CEO Peter Dering. “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.”
Pricing and Availability
The Peak Design Outdoor Line is available to preorder on Kickstarter through October 15, 2024, with 20-25% discounts off MSRP. The Outdoor Backpack 25L will retail for $249.95, while the larger 45L version with an internal frame is $329.95. The Outdoor Sling costs $59.95 for the two-liter version, while the Outdoor Sling 7L is $89.95.
The optional Hip Belt, included with the 45L backpack, is $44.95, while optional Rain Fly covers for each backpack are also sold separately for $29.95.
The Kickstarter page has complete backing information and Early Bird discounts. All new Peak Design Outdoor Line bags are slated to ship in January 2025.
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Image credits: Peak Design
