Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack Cloud

2026-06-15T20:00:00

i purchased this and i'm over the moon with it. great accessibility. secure pockets. reliable zips. weather resistant. very comfortable. use it as a commuter bag as i like to take a lot of stuff with me. and even fully loaded this is still very comfortable on back / shoulders.

jamesxmac

Originally posted at

2026-06-09T20:00:00

I hate to give one star. This pack was just not for me. The old medium insert did not.seem to fit properly. Because the bag is tapered the insert did not fit into the bottom of the pack. Access is limited to the back panel. The computer sleeve is not padded and with the old insert it was difficult to close the pack. It is well made. Just not for my needs. The return was easy and quick. I love Peak Design products and will continue to be a customer.

seadog59

Originally posted at

2026-06-06T20:00:00

The product is very good. But I will never order from your website again. I placed an order on May 31 thinking that 2-5 days was more than enough time to receive the backpack, which was a high school graduation gift for my son to use on his trip in June 8. The order was inexplicably split into two shipments despite the fact that all items were listed as in stock, and the will not arrive until after he leaves on June 7. When I contacted customer service, after realizing the backpack had not been shipped on June 3, I requested if I could pay for the expedited shipping and was told I could not. The fact that you have no phone number and have to wait 24 hours for an email response makes resolving an urgent issue impossible. I had to order a different pack for his trip. You have lost my business and my support.

RW

Originally posted at

2026-06-05T20:00:00

Just back from a trip to Mauritius with the Outdoor Backpack 25L in Cloud, and it's earned its place as my go-to travel and camera bag - with one colour-related lesson learned the hard way. The bag itself is brilliant. 25L hits the sweet spot for a day pack - enough capacity to carry everything you need on a full day out without feeling like you're hauling a house. The build quality is exactly what you'd expect from Peak Design: solid, thoughtful, and clearly designed by people who actually use their gear. A bonus I didn't fully anticipate was the water resistance - the bag took a little dip in the sea and everything inside survived without a problem. The real star of the trip was pairing it with the Smedium Camera Cube. It slotted in neatly, kept my camera gear organised and protected, and - crucially - made airport security an absolute breeze. Being able to pull the cube straight out and drop it in the tray without unpacking half the bag is a genuinely great feature that I didn't fully appreciate until I was standing in a busy queue. One word of warning though: think carefully before choosing Cloud for anything involving red earth, mud, or dust. Mauritius is stunning, but it's not kind to pale fabric. Mine has picked up some staining that I'm not sure will fully come out. If I were buying again I'd go Black or Eclipse without hesitation - same great bag, much more forgiving. If you expect your bag to take a beating in the dirt, give the colour choice some serious thought.

corking p.

Originally posted at

2026-06-05T20:00:00

Bought a month ago for a Yosemite NP photo shoot. I have the 30L but I use it differently. I bought the white one because it was on sale, I added a rain cover that cinch's down and after a week in Yosemite's dirt and granite dusk it's still really clean. I love the contrast we shot at night and everything was easy to find and change with a red light. PD gives plenty of separators with Velcro on the edges so I tore it all apart the get equipment to plane- car-hotel-car-hike-location?then configured as I needed. Hip straps were a huge aid, comfy shoulder straps with plenty of adjustments. I love the assortment of tiedowns and straps, everything was very secure. The product was a bit better than I was expecting!

Steve8702

Originally posted at

2026-06-02T20:00:00

I bought the 25L and believe it could work for some people, but not for me. It's the first peak design item I am not happy with and the experience couldn't be worse. PD doesn't handle the return shipment and from Europe the costs were extremely expensive, PD didn't offer any meaningful support to find better options so I had to keep it. This has been enough to never again but from them directly. About the backpack, I don't think it works as a photography outdoors backpack. The attachment of the cube is flimsy and wastes space, and having a full opening back instead of one only for the cube area not including the straps (like the bigger version) makes it messy. For non camera stuff maybe that works better. I went with a shimoda explore at the end.

Carlos

Originally posted at

2026-05-28T20:00:00

I love my new Peak Design bag. It's beautiful, spacious, sturdy, versatile and waterproof. It would have been perfect if the handle were wider and more comfortable. The Camera Cube tends to stick out, despite the straps and clips. A Velcro attachment to the bottom of the bag and to the cube itself would have provided better stability. Finally, I wish the large external pocket had a connection to the inside of the bag. A fully enclosed compartment would have been more practical and secure ! I absolutely don't regret my purchase and I highly recommend this fantastic bag !

Seb78420

Originally posted at

2026-05-26T20:00:00

Was on two bigger hikes with this already, and I quite like it, the removeable hip belts are wonderful, so I can use one backpack for everyday stuff as well as hiking. Also really love the quality of the zippers, especially at the hip belt, just so great to have it running that smooth :)

kurt

Originally posted at

2026-05-25T20:00:00

Just new but seems to work well as a pack. I walked a heavy load of groceries back from the supermarket. Walking 3km. The adjustability and comfort achieved was excellent.the ability to fit different size objects was good. The load felt comfortable mainly centered on my hips. The fastening system a little intimidating but quickly cinched all closures looking forward to using this for over night hikes and general purpose travel. What I especially like about PD is the consistency in beauty quality and functionally throughout all their products and I own several.

DFC

Originally posted at

2026-05-25T20:00:00

I have used the 45L outdoor backpack for about 5 months now. I was looking for a niche backpack for the purposes of photography, hiking, and rock climbing. Overall, for such a demanding wide range of activities, it gets the job done, but could use some improvements. First, for the water bladder and straw holders, I would add a hole in the center that the straw can go throw to reach the bladder in addition to the side hole and would have the straw holder loops on both sides instead of just one. For rock climbing specifically, I would make the drawstring longer that you use to open and close the center pouch. My reasoning is that I carry my 70 meter rope on top of the backpack with the coiled ends underneath the drawstring. Trying to get the rope underneath the drawstring is definitely the hardest and most time consuming part of packing my bag. Lastly, I'd love to see MOLLE incorporated into the backpack in addition to Peak Design's current attachment system. I currently use the Peak Design attachment system for the Peak Design helmet carrier and the accessory straps on the bottom of the bag to carry my tripod. However, I have a first aid kit and multipurpose tool that I would attach to my old backpack using the MOLLE system that I have not found a good way to attach to the outdoor bag yet. Overall, it is a good bag for my very specific need that I would love to see improved upon. My typical loadout includes a full medium camera cube, 2L water bladder, all of my outdoor rock climbing gear for sport climbing, a 70 meter rope, a rock climbing helmet, six beers, snacks, spare clothing, miscellaneous small items, and occasionally a tripod. All items fit inside the bag except the rope, helmet, and tripod, which are carried externally on the bag.

Sam

Originally posted at

2026-05-17T20:00:00

I bought this last month and I am thoroughly impressed. I've taken it backpacking, rock climbing, and two business trips. For all uses, it was so easy to access every part of it quickly and efficiently, much better than every other bag I have ever owned. Got a rope hanging over the top of the bag? It stays secure throughout the hike, and stays in place when accessing the main part of the bag whether through top or the back panel, or even when getting into the center pocket. Backpacking? I put my foam folding pad on top, and for every other bag I've ever had, that involved taking the padd off to get into the rest of the bag, but for this bag, it stayed in place while I accessed the center pocket for snacks, or the main compartment though the top or back panel. The trip was a basic overnighter so I was not packed to the gills, but I felt like I had plenty of room even with a 20 degree bag, two days of food, a tent strapped to the bottom, and other essentials. Business trip? The bag fit a full suit with shoes, a PD wash pouch, a change of regular clothes, with a sweater over the top of the bag. Catching a flight? The shoulder straps and waist belt had so much storage I was able to quickly stow my cell, wallet, earbuds, and sunglasses. I had my computer stowed in the center pocket, making it easy to put into a separate bin for TSA, as well as grab just before tossing the bag in the overhead compartment on the flight (which it fit splendidly). I was so impressed with this bag that it prompted me to buy the 7l sling. I've only walked around with the sling for a day or so, but it seems very well designed and comfortable, especially since it attaches to the 45l bag's shoulder straps; I even fashioned it to the top of the bag like a "brain" for other backpacking bags, and excited to see how they perform when fully loaded.

Hagenandeggs

Originally posted at

2026-05-10T20:00:00

This is everything I have ever wanted in a backpack. It's so functional! I love how large the side pocket for the water bottle is, bottles usually never fit properly. I also love the small pockets on the shoulder straps for a phone or wallet, and all the different attachment options on the backpack (for sleeping bag/smelly shoes/extra bag..).The pouch pocket is super practical for bulky items or things you want to access quickly. And honestly, the design is so beautiful that I'm going to use it not only for backpacking, but also for city trips, it is stylish. Thank you for making my dream backpack come true!

Hana

Originally posted at

2026-05-03T20:00:00

The backpack looks elegant despite its outdoorsy design. What I value the most is that all straps can be adjusted to my liking so that the backpack feels like its made for my body proportions. However, it scratches very easily and honestly, I expected it to fit more stuff given that it is 45 liters.

Ashley

Originally posted at

2026-05-03T20:00:00

The backpack is comfortable and good looking, you can barely feel its weight. However, one thing to note is that it is easily prone to scratches.

Ashley

Originally posted at

2026-05-03T20:00:00

I bought this almost a year ago now. I do enjoy using this backpack however not for the intention on which I bought it for. I purchased this to take on hiking adventures as advertised. Unfortunately this pack is not a good distance hiking pack as there is no actual strap to help spread the weight of the load taking some off the shoulders. For this reason, I do not hike more than two miles with this pack. And that depends even on the gear I'm bringing. I instead use a tradiditional pack to help distribute some of the weight off my hips and use a sled out camera cube. The pack has very thoughtful elements so I do enjoy using it for road trips. But it's unfortunate that I cannot use it for big hiking trips which is most of my photo excursions.

Kait

Originally posted at

2026-04-29T20:00:00

I have mixed feelings. I should say this is not an outdoor bag for hiking. It's still behind Osprey or Deuter backpacks. Main compartment is easy accessible from the top and back. I like it. The front top pocket is useless for big items because the material is not stretchy. The same for small front pockets. They are good for keys and snacks but there's no place to store a big box with sunglasses. It would be nice to have some sort of a top pocket for additional items. I would not buy this bag for hiking. There are better brands. BUT? The bag is great for my outdoor photography adventures. I don't want to carry a typical photo bag which has usually bad ventilation and feels bulky. This bag is for carrying photo tools all day long. Shoulder straps provide great support with heavy weight. But there is too much cushion which soaks water during rain. The idea of having special attachment points for a camera plate on both straps with two different heights is great. This is the main issue with typical outdoor bags because they don't have good attachment points for the plate (straps are too wide). Over fit is for narrow shoulders, great for me, might be an issue for more muscular shoulders. Side bottle / tripod pockets are super deep and stretchy so they can fit 32oz Yeti bottles easily. I tested the bag in 2 hours of rain and no leaks inside. Let's see how the zipper insulation will look after one year. My summary is 3 stars because it's advertised as an outdoor backpack. Get this bag if you do long hikes with camera gear. Don't get it for regular hiking adventures.

Vladimir

Originally posted at

2026-04-29T20:00:00

Great outdoor backpack, traveling with photo gears

Lccc

Originally posted at

2026-04-27T20:00:00

The 18L Outdoor Backpack is of excellent quality with no apparent defects other than it is an inch too big on two of three dimensions to qualify as a "personal item" on Air Canada plus most European Union airlines. As such, it is a problem when carrying with another "Carry On" like my PD 48L Travel Bag. Otherwise the back is pretty good on flights where I have checked luggage (rare for me). I am currently on a long trip using a checked bag and with the 18L being my only bag for camera gear and personal items. The bag is good but for reasons I can't explain, awkward. For example the city on the shoulders won't let me use a capture clip to the straps.

crusted

Originally posted at

2026-04-25T20:00:00

This review is for the 18L version - PD doesn't show you which version of the bag people bought in their reviews which is just silliness. Overall I like the bag and will be keepingit. I'll be replacing a smaller Osprey hiking bag with this for day hikes and festivals and such. Pros: - LOVE the all the connection points. They're ALL over the bag but totally invisible which is super cool. - I like being able to take off/rearrange the external cords. Hiking bags tend to have all these silly straps and hooks and loops and cords, as if all the people buying them are going ice climbing. In reality they're just liabilities waiting to get caught on the nearest shrubbery and I end up cutting them off. Take them all off and it just looks like a normal bag - chest straps are removable in the same vein - shoulder straps are wide and comfy - seems waterproof but haven't had a chance to test it yet Cons: - the optional connection points for a hip belt (sold separately) is dumb IMO. if you're putting enough weight in this bag to warrant a hip belt, you need a different bag. dead weight. I wish they had skipped that and added a luggage sleeve instead. - I straight up don't understand why the shoulder straps have metal hooks to disconnect the top from the body but not the bottom (sewn to the bag and can't pull the strap out of the slider). what is the point of that? maybe someone can enlighten me. more dead weight - chest straps are hard to keep parallel due to the invisibility of the connection points. I keep attaching mine crooked. maybe I'll get used to it. or maybe I'll take a white marker to them so I don't have to guess

d-ron

Originally posted at

2026-04-15T20:00:00

On paper this looks like a perfect backpack, but in everyday use it turns out to be more complicated than useful. There are too many straps, systems, and adjustments that end up slowing you down instead of helping. The internal organization is not very practical: to access items inside the cube you often have to open the entire backpack, which is inconvenient, especially when you need something quickly. Another downside is the glossy front panel, which scratches very easily and starts to show signs of wear after a short time. Comfort is also not always ideal, especially with heavier loads or during longer use, and some design choices feel impractical in real-world situations. Overall, it's a well-built backpack but too complicated, expensive, and not very user-friendly. I wouldn't buy it again.

Tegola78

Originally posted at

2026-04-13T20:00:00

Love the bag and how adjustable the whole system is to fit my frame. Love the versatility of the product. 3 stars because the front material is't so hardy. Shy of a year of use and there are multiple scratches and blemishes. I haven't even used is as an outdoor pack, just local and domestic travel. In my opinion, haven't put it through the ringer so I am disappointed with how the exterior facing material is holding up.

tn17

Originally posted at

2026-04-09T20:00:00

Bought this 45L to replace my REI Ruckpack for heavier and longer trips. As an avid one-bagger for international trips, I really enjoy the hip belt support this pack gives me. It's often loaded over 40lbs. I use the main stash pocket for the 7L Sling, which works great on long flights. Keep your seat-stuff handy while the pack goes up top. If you're new to the PD ecosystem, the strap/cords and their clips take some getting used to. The loops they clip on to are just starting to break in, as well as my muscle memory. They took some getting used to, but now I wish all my packs and gear had this system. They don't slip, stash away and stay away when not in use. Which brings me back to the hop belt. When I do bring a carry-on with second bag clip, the belt and shoulder straps stow away in the back panel. The pack rests flat on my 60L rolling duffle and my hardside pilot case. For rail travel in Asia, stowing the belt and the flat shape of the pack make front-carry easy and comfortable. To be fair, this is made more for light trail work so there isn't a whole lot of organization like tie Travel Backpack. But with 5 nice large stash pockets and rugged belt, it's the best one-bag for the way I travel: lots of walking and rail with the ability to go from travel to tourist to work. Love this bag.

Jskilpatr

Originally posted at

2026-04-09T20:00:00

Bought this as the lighter alternative to my 45L Travel backpack and it has performed mightily. Packing cubes and camera cubes are essential for those traveling with some camera gear. Was able to hook up my 7L outdoor sling to the front too! Was still able to fit this 45L backpack under my plane seat too!

Bulls96

Originally posted at

2026-04-04T20:00:00

Overall, this is a really, really good bag. Its tough, comfortable to wear, and fits my gear snugly. I use this bag with a smedium camera cube and tech pouch and there is still a little more room at the top. Materials are space age and TOUGH. The drawstrings are woven plastic, but feel like steel cables. Additional drawstring and daisy chains are nice to have and allow improvisation while out in the field. The laptop sleeve fits a 16" non-Apple laptop, FYI (I use a Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1), but it's super snug. You're supposed to be able to fit a hydration bladder, but i was too scared to try that so close to my expensive lenses and stuff, so I will leave that to other reviews. The outside bottle sleeves fit my Yeti 32oz snugly as well, so that handles my water needs. This bag is unstructured. The structure that it has comes from the camera/packing cubes only. The shoulder straps are also wide and fit well, I wanted to use the shoulder pouches to hold my phone, but after a few minutes it was just too painful. So I just use my Chrome Industries phone pouch instead. Expensive? Yes, but worth it to protect my kit.

Streetbeetle

Originally posted at

2026-03-30T20:00:00

No bag is perfect at all functions, it is always tradeoff. This one's optimized for comfort, packability, weight, functionality. Design of main and outer compartments is a bit controversial and long strings are not hidden in a smart way but I absolutely love the bag for the minimalist travel option. Works amazing as a day pack (compact) but expands to carry smedium camera cube plus drone. Side pockets are great for accessing while it sits on my roller pro.

Nov

Originally posted at

2026-03-22T20:00:00

I was gifted the 25L Outdoor Bag by my wife because I wanted a hydration pack that can hold a few extra items when I go birding. I have a plethora of PD products that I think are great. In terms of backpack, I have been using their 20L Everyday Backpack for six years now, and it is GOAT status for me. However, I know Everyday Bag is not an outdoor bag, even though it can make do. So having a dedicated outdoor bag from PD was something I was excited about. If I had to sum up the 25L Outdoor Bag, I would say it is a good bag, but it is not an exceptional bag because it cannot do everything it can exceptionally well at the same time. For a company that prides itself on camera gear, it is not a phenomenal camera bag. It tries to be, but what is holding it back in its current form is the Smedium Cube. The Smedium Cube is rectangular, and it fits in the 25L Outdoor Bag the long side going up and down. That orientation inside the cube inside the bag is terrible if you have an item like a telephoto lens that can be used outdoors for wildlife photography and only fits along the long side of the cube. Once you remove an item like that from the bag/cube, the weight distribution in the bag is off. Furthermore, the Smedium Cube is tapered downward, so the bottom of the cube is smaller than the top, making it difficult to maximize its utility. If it was not tapered, maybe you should fit a telephoto lens on the shorter side while using the bag. I also feel like it they made the 25L bag work with the Medium Cube, the better, even if it must be 30L. (And if the bag was 30L instead of 25L, it would be a better middle point between the 18L and 45L.) Then there is the hydration pack compartment. The bag has loops to help keep the hydration hose in place... on the other side of the clam-shell design. So if you open the bag while the hydration pack is in place, it will get in the way. Second, it is tough to use a camera cube and a hydration pack at the same time. I've tried; it was not easy, and I risked getting my camera gear wet (I closed the camera cube for extra protection). It should be fundamental to the design process that the bag should be able to every major thing well all at once. No one is going to get up in arms that they cannot carry a laptop and hydration pack at the same time because that would be weird. But the bag should be able to carry camera gear and a hydration pack well at the same time since I can do both outdoors. And there are smaller things that bother me. For example, the opening at the top is not as quick and easy it is made to be, especially compared to the Everyday Bag. The cords seem a bit flimsy compared to straps found in other bags. I haven't tested its weatherproofing in the rain of Florida yet. But as there is a separate rainfly for sale, I have doubts. So the 25L Outdoor Bag is a good bag, but it is not a great bag. Beware of the shortcomings.

digirami

Originally posted at

2026-03-15T20:00:00

This is by far the most comfortable bag in the Peak Design lineup. While I love their products, the everyday line isn't very comfortable especially with a heavier load. Beyond the comfort, I like the new material choice. The subtle branding. The deep side pockets are a welcome change from every other bag in the market. Whether it's a tripod or a water bottle, you know it isn't going anywhere. While it's not perfect because no bag is, it's hard to pinpoint any changes I'd like to see.

jcorraini

Originally posted at

2026-03-10T20:00:00

I purchased the backpack as I needed a robust bag that could handle my 400-800 lens plus associated accessories and walking kit. Just used it for the first time and it ticked all the boxes. The large packing cube worked very well and it's access via the back was easy to use and effective. I liked the variety of other storage options, especially the front area for clothing etc. it was comfortable to wear and while I have not yet used the straps to carry things externally, it all looks logical and comprehensive. Al in all, very pleased with this great piece of kir.

Simon R.

Originally posted at

2026-03-08T20:00:00

I've bought this one in Summer 2025. About half a year since then, I still like the concept and even discover new features & use cases from time to time. The longer I use it, the more I'm getting used to it. Speaking about use: for me, it's my daily all-purpose rucksack as well as my photo stuff carrier (MFT). Grace to the cube concept, re-packing is a breeze. All in all just a typical Peak Design one? Well, the answer is "jain" - the fabulous German word for "yes and no in one". I have to say, I'm disappointed with the quality of the backpack's material. After just a few weeks, whitish spots have appeared on the surface of the cover, looking as if the material has cracked. These spots are visible on the edges, on the surfaces - basically everywhere on the "flap". Keep in mind: I don't drag the backpack around on the ground or squeeze through narrow canyons, so it's not due to misuse. If this were a backpack that had seen a few years and a few hikes, it would be understandable and might even add a certain charm, like an old waxed jacket. But on a backpack that's not even six months old, it unfortunately doesn't look so great. To me, this indicates a quality issue. Of course, I understand that a backpack is primarily a tool and some wear and tear is normal. Nevertheless, I expect a bit better quality from Peak Design, especially considering the price range. I already own several pieces of luggage from Peak Design and have always had very good experiences. This problem is therefore somewhat surprising, and I hope it's an isolated incident. Peak Design, I'm sure you can do better. Maybe I just got a lemon?

aljen

Originally posted at

2026-03-02T19:00:00

I bought this bag from Kickstarter. I was very excited at first. I was unfortunately disappointed for my hiking needs, which was the main reason I bought it. It is hard on my shoulders, even after trying all the adjustments. I usually go on long hikes (usually 9km, up to 20km) and my older "real" hiking bag is always more comfortable. For traveling and short hikes, this bag is good. In the 45L, enough space for a sony a7R camera, 24-105mm lens, extra clothing, 2L water, lunch/snacks and other small things. To conclude, for long hikes, I do not recommend it. For travel and short hikes, good option but pricey... I find the shoulder straps hard and back not breathing adequately (because we can open the bag from the back)... I brought this bag in over 30 hikes (all seasons) in 2025 hoping it ll get better...

Houssein_S

Originally posted at