Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L – Built for the Outdoor Adventurer

As Travel Photographers, these bags work for us when travelling, but keep in mind that there are two of us and we can carry a lot of gear between us.

Peak Design announced its new Outdoor Range in late 2024. The range included a backpack bag with 25L & 45L capacities and a sling bag with 2L and 7L capacities. In 2025, they introduced an 18L version of the Outdoor Backpack

For this review, Peak Design kindly sent us the Outdoor Backpack 45L in the Eclipse colourway. They also included the optional extra Rain Fly suitable for this bag. Please read our disclaimer at the bottom of this post.

As mentioned above, the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L is the bigger brother to the 25L and although they look similar there are some extra features and functionality. As with the smaller bag, the 45L version is a rugged, versatile, weather-resistant backpack designed primarily with the hiker in mind. Even though the backpack is built to accommodate the Camera Cubes for photographers it is mostly designed for hikers or landscape/nature photographers who commonly remove the backpack to access their gear.

Nevertheless, for all intents and purposes, the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L appears to offer considerable functionality upon first inspection for its intended market.

OUTDOOR BACKPACK 45L – EXTERIOR

The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L is a rugged, travel-ready workhorse designed to balance urban sophistication with backcountry durability. Its exterior is engineered to withstand heavy loads, harsh weather, and the demands of global travel, all while maintaining a streamlined, professional aesthetic. However, unlike the 25L version, this bag is not an airline carry-on approved bag.

The backpack is constructed from 100% recycled Ultralight Terra Shell™ 210D ripstop exterior weatherproof fabric. The material gives it a durable, abrasion-resistant finish. The finish is important, as this bag will be lying flat on the ground to access the bag through the main entrance, so it needs to be more resilient to scrapes. It is Bluesign approved. The backpack is NOT completely waterproof, and although it will handle getting wet to a degree, it will not handle a downpour. So, you might want to consider purchasing the Rain Fly to protect your contents.

The zippers use super-durable #8 weatherproof UltraZips™ with abrasion-resistant UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) thread.  All the zippers are equipped with resilient zip-pulls (Yellow on the Black colourway bag, Orange on the Cloud colourway bag and Eclipse (burgundy) on the Eclipse colourway bag).

The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L includes two interior entry points (see image). The primary zippered opening is located at the rear of the bag, while there is a top entrance via the roll top. Access this by pulling the black loop at the top of the bag revealing the magnetized entry to the roll top and the interior (see image). To close the entry, hold onto the black hook and pull the Ultra Cinch cord until the entry is cinched tight (see image). If you’re using a Camera Cube, this entry might not be ideal as the cube typically sits at the bottom of the bag. In addition to the roll-top entry, there’s a deep pocket perfect for storing frequently accessed items. There are also two Cord Hooks (see below for information about the function of Cord Hooks) attached to the Cord Rails with the other ends of the Cord Hooks attaching to another Cord Rail at the top of the bag near the zipper. This setup allows you to secure items to the top of the bag, and a similar system enables you to lash items to the sides and base. The attachment points at the bag’s base are recessed just below the PD logo. If you do not want to use the Cord Hooks, remove them and stow them away in the bag. Alternatively, for extra support if using the side mesh pockets, they can zig-zag from side to side using the cord rails.

Like the 25L version, both sides of the bag have a recessed zippered pocket with a zipper pull attached. Both pockets are equipped with an attachment loop inside the pocket; however, whereas the 25L has a key lanyard attached to one of these loops, the 45L key lanyard is located elsewhere in the bag. Nevertheless, you have the option to swap the key lanyard to one of these hooks should you desire. On that note, the lanyard is located in a mesh zippered pocket just below the roll top entrance. This pocket is exclusive to the 45L bag. 

Above: There’s a lot of terminology associated with the Peak Design bags, so we thought we’d clarify things a bit for you by including the image above. In addition, there are also Cord Hooks, which, unlike the Gear Loops, have a clip at each end of the cord. These are designed to lash items to the exterior. Image courtesy of Peak Design.

Above: Pulling on the black loop at the top of the backpack will reveal the magnetised roll top entry to the bag and also a large storage pocket. Image courtesy of Peak Design.

The rear of the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L houses the main dual-zippered entrance to the bag. The zipper extends around all three sides of the bag and has robust zipper pulls attached for easy opening. The bag’s single handle can also be found between the zippers and the shoulder straps.

The back panel and shoulder straps are well-padded and can be unhooked from the top. However, unlike the 25L version of the bag, there are 4 attachment loops in a ladder formation for adjusting the height of the shoulder straps. At the top of the shoulder straps are “load lifters”. Each attaches to an attachment hook on either side of the bag’s handle. This will take the tension off the shoulder pads to some degree, making it a bit more comfortable when carrying heavy loads.

These cannot be removed from the bag, but if unhooked, can stow away in the recess where it is attached to the shoulder strap.

The inside edge of the straps is lined with Cord Rails, allowing you to attach 2 sternum straps. When not in use, they can be stored behind the strap’s mesh pockets.

The shoulder straps have a stretchy mesh pocket on both sides, one of which could be used to accommodate a mobile phone. If you are not using a Peak Design Capture Clip then the mesh pocket on that side can be used for storing quick-access items while on the go.

Unlike the 25L version of the bag, the 45L bag is supplied with a Hip Belt, and rightly so, as you really wouldn’t want to carry this bag without a hip belt. The Hip Belt also provides more stretchy pockets, one of which is zippered. There are also a couple of additional attachment loops.The Hip Belt has two sets of attachment points on each side of the bag, located behind the bottom of the back panel. There are two sets for different waist sizes; however, if connected to the attachment points closest to the centre of the bag, it may infringe on the pockets at the front of the Hip Belt. The only thing we do not like about the Hip Belt is the less-than-robust clip that connects both sides. The clip seems to be hardened plastic, but we’re not sure that it will be very resilient in the long term.

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The external dimensions of the Outdoor Backpack 45L are:

Roll-top down: 56cm x 31cm x 17cm (22.05″ x 12.20″ x 6.69″)
Roll-top extended: 78cm x 31cm x 17cm (30.71″ x 12.20″ x 6.69″)

That’s it for the exterior of the Outdoor Backpack 45L. Now let’s move inside the bag.

OUTDOOR BACPACK 45L – INTERIOR

The interior, although a bit barren, is designed for you to customise the bag exactly the way you want it. If you are a photographer, you may want to configure the interior with a camera cube, tech pouch, packing cubes and other items. Whether you are a photographer or not you can configure the interior however you wish. We highly recommend the Peak Design Packing Cubes to get the most out of the interior and to keep your items neat, tidy, and organised.

The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L bag is pretty much identical to the 25L, but obviously with a lot more space in the interior. It has a 45L capacity and the bonus of an internal frame, giving it a little more rigidity. It features a single velcro-connected sleeve that can fit a laptop up to 16 inches or a hydration bladder of up to 3 litres capacity. It will not take both on the interior. If you are carrying a laptop and a water bladder, then use the exterior flex pocket for the water bladder. If the bladder is used on the interior, its tube can be fed through the black loops in the interior, and then out through a small hole at the top of the interior. There is a loop under the velcro flap that can be used to secure the top of the bladder. As mentioned, the 45L bag has an additional zippered pocket inside the roll top. The pocket is not necessarily very deep, but it extends the width of the bag.

The additional loops on both sides of the interior are used to secure a Camera Cube if being used. If using a Camera Cube, use the connection clips supplied with the cube. These feed through the loops on both the cube and the interior of the bag to keep the Camera Cube securely in place. Keep in mind that this bag is designed to be used with the Peak Design Packing Cubes, Pouches, and Camera Cubes. It is compatible with both V1 and V2 versions of all Camera Cubes. To load the bag to its capacity for photographers, you could use any of the following configurations:

•  1 x Large Camera Cube
•  1 x Medium + 1 x Small
•  2 x Smedium
•  3 x Small

The Large Camera Cube will take up all the interior space in the bag, so you’d probably only use this cube if you are a photographer who needs to haul photography gear to a location. If you are a hiker and want to take an average amount of gear, the Smedium cube should be sufficient. This should occupy about half of the interior but still carry a camera and 4-6 lenses (depending on the size of the lenses. If carrying a 70- 200 lens or longer, you may need to use the larger Medium cube.

Above: Peak Design Camera Cubes – Left to Right: Large, Medium, SMedium, Small

The internal dimensions of the Outdoor Backpack 45L are –

Roll-top down: 48cm x 27.5cm x 14.5cm (18.90″ x 10.83″ x 5.71″)
Roll-top extended: 65.5cm x 27.5cm x 14.5cm (25.79″ x 10.83″ x 5.71″)

PROS

• Great design
• Premium quality
• Comfortable shoulder straps
• Dual sternum straps
• Heaps of internal space
• Internal frame
• Lots of external pockets
• Hip Belt is included
• Works seamlessly with Camera Cubes and Packing Cubes
• The Outdoor Sling 2L, 4L, or 7L can be attached to the exterior for more storage
• Great security features
• Dual Purpose – great for photographers and non-photographers
• Weatherproof – you can purchase the applicable Rain Fly for more protection
• Made from 100% recycled material
• Lifetime Warranty

As with most of Peak Design products, we can’t really find too much wrong with this bag, however, some of these CONS may not be an issue for some photographers.

CONS

• Only 1 internal pocket
• Not waterproof, and a Rain Fly isn’t included
• Not aircraft carry-on compliant
• Bit pricey (especially when you convert to AU$), but built for a lifetime of use

COLOURS

The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L is available in Black, Eclipse, and Kelp colourways, while the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L and Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L are available in Black, Eclipse, Cloud, and Kelp. Hover over the image below for a better look at the colours.

PRICING, PURCHASING, & SHIPPING

THE FINAL WORD

The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L’s exterior is a triumph of functional design, blending expedition-grade durability with the polish of an urban commuter pack. Its thoughtful details—weather-sealed zippers, modular attachment points, and ergonomic load management—make it ideal for photographers, travellers, and adventurers who demand versatility without compromising on protection. While its weight and complexity may deter minimalist users, the 45L is positioned in the marketplace as a top-tier choice for those needing a single bag to tackle both international travel and backcountry trails.

The exterior offers more features than the 25L version of the bag, however, the 45L is designed more for the serious hiker over longer periods, whereas the 25L is more suitable for day trips and those with less gear.

Although we would probably get more frequent use out of the 25L bag, the 45L version is an awesome backpack, and on longer trips, when we need to take more gear than normal, this would be our go-to bag.

We’d love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions about this product. 

RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

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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.