Peak Design City Backpack 22L Review: The Ultimate Minimalist Commuter Bag?

INTRODUCTION

We love small minimalist bags. They are always a great accompaniment to larger bags that we carry when travelling. Many bag manufacturers now offer smaller bags for everyday use, and Peak Design is no exception. Personally, we think it is very brave to manufacture bags just for the photographic industry. It’s a very small niche market, and let’s face it, with the introduction of Camera Cubes, most bags with sufficient depth and width can now be converted to camera bags.

Recently, Peak Design launched its City Line. The line consists of a City Backpack 15L, City Backpack 22L, City Sling 2L, City Crescent 6L, City Crescent 12L, and City Tote 15L.

Below is an in-depth analysis covering its design, organisation, capacity, and real-world usability, and direct comparisons with alternative options in Peak Design’s lineup.

Peak Design kindly sent us the City Backpack 22L in the Black colourway for this review. Please read our Disclaimer below.

Disclaimer: This review is unbiased. We would never recommend using any product unless we have used the product ourselves. We always strive to give you our honest opinion to help you make the best choice. We received the product with compliments , but were not paid for this review; however, we may receive commissions on links in this post.

Above: Peak Design City Backpack 22L – Front

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THE EXTERIOR

Unlike the structured, shell-like form of the Everyday Backpack series, the City Backpack 22L features a streamlined, low-profile contour. It eliminates excess straps, external MagLatch hardware, and visible daisy-chain webbing in favour of a smooth silhouette that blends naturally into office, cafe, and urban transit environments. Due to the lack of a shell structure, the backpack will pack flat, making it ideal for storage when not in use.

The exterior has a multitude of design features.

Fabric & Build: The shell is constructed from water-resistant lightweight 100% recycled 660D crinkle nylon. The outer shell repels light to moderate rain effectively while feeling significantly softer to the touch than rigid outdoor gear. It is not, however, waterproof, so you may need a Rain Cover for heavy, prolonged usage in the rain. Peak Design swapped its proprietary UltraZips for high-grade YKK hardware on this model, providing a smooth glide.

Peak Design City Backpack 22L - Pass Through

Above: The luggage pass-through on this bag is huge, taking up almost half its total height.

Shoulder Straps: The shoulder straps are contoured with dual-density foam to balance slimness with load distribution. While lighter than technical trekking harnesses, it easily supports daily tech and camera gear setups. The straps have a stowable and adjustable sternum strap. Initially, we were disappointed that Peak Design didn’t use the magnetic system that keeps the shoulder straps neatly connected to the back of the bag as they do on several of their other bags; however, with this bag, they automatically contour to the back and never seem to get in the way.

Peak Design City Backpack 22L -ShoulderStraps

Above: The Shoulder Straps and the fully adjustable Sternum Strap

Handles & Passthrough: The bag has a low-profile top handle, and a really wide rear luggage pass-through strap allows seamless rolling luggage integration.

Peak Design Vity Backpack 22L - Side Pocket

Above: The side pockets are streamlined to give the bag its smooth silhouette

Pockets: To maintain the bag’s smooth silhouette, the 4 exterior pockets are nearly invisible. The zippers are recessed, and the only evidence of a zipper is a narrow slit and an extruded zipper pull. There’s a single zipper pocket on the front of the bag, at the top of the bag and near the handle of the bag, and on both sides. The side pockets are designed a little differently from most bags. Whereas side pockets typically extend outwards from the side of the bag, these pockets extend inwards, resulting in a slight incursion into the interior of the bag. Both side pockets are deep and similarly sized; however, one side also has some smaller floating mesh pockets. Both will fit a water bottle up to 32oz (.95L); however, the 32oz bottle will extend beyond the top of the pocket.

The exterior pocket at the top of the bag, like the side pockets, is stealthily hidden close to the rear of the bag and behind the interior entrance zipper.

Although quite shallow, this pocket has more internal organisation than the pocket at the front of the bag. It contains a key lanyard and two equally sized floating mesh pockets. To be quite honest, a search for the missing key lanyard led to the unexpected discovery of this discreetly hidden pocket. The zipper pull should have given it away 🙄.

Peak Design City Backpack 22L - Baglev Hook System

Above: The Baglev Hook System

Baglev Hook System: The piece de resistance of this bag is the addition of the Baglev Hook, which resides in a small hidden pocket at the top of the bag. Pull this hook out and hook it over the edge of a table to keep it off the floor. Voilá.

That’s it for the exterior of the bag. Let’s see what’s happening inside.

THE INTERIOR

Access to the 22L main compartment is secured by dual YKK zippers with built-in pulls. Designed as an open, versatile bucket, this space easily holds daily essentials, pouches, and light jackets, making the bag ideal for non-photographers.

Inside the main compartment, storage is organised between the front and rear walls:

Front Wall: Features a single shallow mesh pocket for quick-access items.
Rear Wall: Houses an elevated, quilted laptop section that fits up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro and a tablet, separated by a rigid padded divider. The entire sleeve is suspended off the bottom to guard against drop impacts.
Sleeve Storage: The front of the tablet sleeve includes three open stretch pockets (two equal-sized pockets and one pen holder).
Security Pocket: A small hidden AirTag pocket is tucked behind the laptop sleeve beneath a fabric sheath.

While the interior isn’t tailored for photography, it can fit a Peak Design X-Small Camera Cube (See image below) for carrying a minimal camera setup. We would love to show you a photo of the X-Small Camera Cube inside the backpack, but we have turned the house upside down and cannot find it. If it reappears, we’ll update this post.

SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity: 22 litres | Weight: 890g (1.9lbs) | Dimensions: Exterior – 48cm x 30cm x 17.5cm (18.8″ x 11.8″ x 6.8″) Interior – 47.5cm x 29.5cm x 16.5cm (18.7″ x 11.6″ x 6.8″) | Devices: Laptop up to 16″ or Tablet up to 14″ | Primary Material: Exterior – Mono Shell 660D exterior fabric made from 100% recycled Bluesign-approved crinkle nylon | Camera Cube: Fits a Peak Design X-Small Camera Cube | Water Bottle Capacity: Up to 32oz/946ml. | Security Features: AirTag Pocket

PROS & CONS

While no bag is flawless, this one nails its intended design. Here are our main pros and cons—keep in mind that a few of these downsides may not matter depending on how you use it.

PROS

Premium Quality: As with all Peak Design products you are buying a high-end product
Ultra-lightweight: Substantially lighter (890g) and less rigid than Peak Design’s camera-focused carry options.
Aesthetics: Modern, understated aesthetic that transitions seamlessly into office environments.
Baglev Hook System: Table hook adds practical everyday functionality, keeping the bag off the ground
External Pockets: Ample external pockets, including a key lanyard
Generous Water Bottle Holders: 2 external water bottle holders that will fit up to a 32oz bottle
Hardware: High-grade YKK zippers and 100% recycled 660D crinkle nylon fabric shell.
Shoulder Straps: Padded with an adjustable sternum strap. The shoulder straps connect to the back of the bag with magnets, keeping them out of the way when not in use.
Luggage trolley sleeve: A substantial trolley sleeve fits over suitcase handles for hands-free transport.
Camera Cube: Fits a Peak Design X-Small Camera Cube
AirTag: Hidden internal AirTag pocket
TSA personal-item compliant: Easily fits under an airline seat.
Colours: 6 colourways to choose from
Shipping: Free
Warranty: Lifetime

CONS

Laptop: The laptop compartment is accessed through the main cavity rather than a separate exterior side zip.
Cannot Self-Stand: The bottom panel features a distinct upward taper from back to front. Unless using its integrated BagLev hook or leaned against a wall, the bag easily falls over when placed on the ground.
Side Pockets: The zippered hybrid water bottle/side pockets expand slightly outward, but carrying larger bottles or bulky items still borrows space directly from the main compartment.
Camera Cube: Only fits a Peak Design X-Small Camera Cube, but does not hold a lot.
Water Resistant: But not waterproof
Price: Except for the Baglev Hook, this is a premium-quality daypack, making it quite expensive compared to alternatives

COLOURS

Both the Peak Design City Backpack 15L & 22L are available in 6 colours: Black, Cypress, Eclipse, Lapis, Moon, & Stone. We were sent the Black colourway for this review.

Above: The Peak Design City Backpack 22L has a sleek modern silhouette with heaps of functionality

PRICING

Peak Design City Backpack 15L

USD$179.95

Shipping
US orders have FREE standard delivery for orders over USD$149.00. For all other delivery costs, please click here.

BUY HERE

Peak Design City Backpack 22L

USD$199.95

Shipping
US orders have FREE standard delivery for orders over USD$149.00. For all other delivery costs, please click here.

BUY HERE

ALTERNATIVES

The Peak Design City Backpack 22L is a lighter, sleeker daily work/commute pack. Unlike Peak Design’s traditional camera-centric gear, it features a softer silhouette and is not as rigid as other bags.

If you are looking at other bags within the Peak Design lineup that share a similar layout, size, or intended use, the most comparable options are:

1. Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 20L

The Everyday Backpack Zip 20L is the closest sibling to the City Backpack in style and overall capacity.

Key Similarities: Clean aesthetic, slim profile, and a wrap-around zipper design rather than a top flap closure as seen in the Everyday Backpack 20L
Key Differences: The Everyday Zip is built with a stiffer 400D weatherproof shell and includes internal FlexFold dividers designed specifically for camera gear or segmented stacking. The bag is a lot heavier at 1.32kg without the dividers. The City Backpack, by contrast, is a lot lighter and uses flexible interior sleeves and does not have dividers.

Above: Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 20L

2. Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L (v2)

Peak Design’s flagship Everyday Backpack 30L V2 has a smaller 20L version, the Everyday Backpack 20L V2. This bag is similar in size but is not as rigid as the Zip 20L

Key Similarities: Fits up to a 16″ laptop, includes side bottle/tripod pockets, and has an integrated luggage pass-through for travel.
Key Differences: Features top MagLatch hardware allowing top-flap expansion, along with dual-side zip openings. It is more structured and heavier than the City Backpack due to the extra protective padding and internal divider framework.

Above: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L V2

3. Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 15L

For a smaller alternative that retains the clean silhouette, the 15L Everyday Zip is a compact choice, although the shell is still more rigid than the City Backpack.

Key Similarities: Minimalist exterior, wrap-around zipper access, and internal organiser pockets.
Key Differences: Significantly smaller, fitting up to a 14″ laptop rather than a 16″ laptop.

This last one is not a great comparison, but we thought we’d throw it in anyway.

Above: Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 15L

If you want a similar bag to the City Backpack 22L but smaller, then naturally you can purchase the City Backpack 15L.

THE FINAL WORD

The Peak Design City Backpack 22L represents a smart, welcome shift in strategy for Peak Design. Known for heavily structured camera packs, the brand often felt a bit too rigid and complex for everyday carry. This 22L model sheds that technical rigidity for a softer, more streamlined profile while keeping Peak Design’s signature build quality and intuitive layout intact.

It’s an ideal fit for office commuters, urban travellers, and EDC fans searching for rich organisation without the heft of a camera bag. The standout highlights—its lightweight feel and built-in BagLev hook—are offset by a few minor drawbacks: it won’t stand up on its own, the top pocket can pinch the laptop sleeve, and back ventilation is minimal.

Buy it if you want a sleek, incredibly comfortable 22L daily pack that moves effortlessly from desk to weekend getaway. Skip it if you need deep camera dividers, demand a self-standing bag, or sweat on your daily walk.

At USD$199.95 / AUD$390.00, it’s a serious investment—but backed by premium materials and a lifetime warranty, it easily earns its keep as a long-term daily bag.

If you have any questions or comments about this product, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

RATED: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (For Daily Users)

RATED: NOT RECOMMENDED (For Non-Minimalist Photographers)

If you're interested in reading any other Peak Design reviews click on the links below. To read our other equipment or software reviews click here.

Peak Design Capture Camera Clip
Peak Design Everyday Sling Bag – 10L (V1)
Peak Design – Shell
Peak Design Slide Camera Strap
Peak Design Everyday Sling Bag 10L (V2)
Peak Design Lens Kit
Peak Design Travel Tripod
Peak Design Travel Tripod – Is this the best travel tripod?
Peak Design Everyday Totepack 20L - V2
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L
Peak Design Pro Tripod
Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1 40L
Peak Design City Backpack 22L