Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack Eclipse

2026-06-27T20:00:00

I was hesitant to buy at first because most peak design bags are rated higher but then I read the reviews and it sounded like some people were confused how to open some of the pockets. I pulled the trigger and got the bag determined I could figure out the perplexing pockets only to find that it was actually quite simple to use. Great bag, great construction, it holds all my gear comfortably including my 600mm lens. The frame and hip belt make carrying a heavy load quite comfortable.

Jacob

Originally posted at

2026-06-27T20:00:00

I can't simply describe how practical this backpack is (I got the 25L model). But what I can do, and that's something no reviewer will explain to the extent they should, is how well this backpack balances; fully loaded with heavy stuff and without using the chest strap, the backpack is still keeping the weight close to your thorax and balances it in a way that doesn't kill your shoulders on a 15-20km hike. I've never seen any other backpack that balances this well without a sternum strap, while still being so stylish. Some of the very technical hiking equipment can do that, sure, but not in this stylish and versatile design. Couldn't be more satisfied.

Nick

Originally posted at

2026-06-27T20:00:00

I bought this about a month ago and it has the best quality of any bag I've ever had paired up with the camera cube it gives me the level of security I need when travelling with my kit but also gives me the comfort

AW

Originally posted at

2026-06-26T20:00:00

Excellent functionality from the double outside side pockets to the shoulder straps to the extra straps provided for extra stuff I may need to latch on. It's the best outdoor backpack I've used where I was able to carry all my gear in one bag for an overnight camping.

Mike

Originally posted at

2026-06-24T20:00:00

Bought 2 months ago (45L with smedium cube annd capture clip) and must say this bag is absolutely brilliant. I use it for outdoor camera adventures, light backpacking, and everyday use. It's perfect as an all-rounder with highly technical and well thought out features, along with stellar comfort.

Mocha

Originally posted at

2026-06-23T20:00:00

The bag is nicely constructed and has some innovative features that I like. The materials are interesting in a good way. However, the harness system is laughably small even in its largest configuration. I'm not a small dude and am somewhat barrel-chested, but this hit the waistbelt above my navel even with the shoulder straps extended completely and the harness fully adjusted to either extreme. I looked like I was wearing a child's pack. I had to return it.

bryanr

Originally posted at

2026-06-22T20:00:00

This is a sturdy backpack that is flexible. Everything feels high quality and it feels like I can take this on hikes or camping without worrying that it will tear. The only thing I will comment on is the water bottle holders feel a little too shallow for big water bottles so that I can easily slip out when bending over.

Villalodan

Originally posted at

2026-06-22T20:00:00

I have used this bag foe two months now on several trips. This bag is perfect! I never run out of pockets to place items. It does indeed work well on an airplane. It is so handy nad functional. Favorite backpack / travel bag ever.

Trae W.

Originally posted at

2026-06-21T20:00:00

The design and color are 10/10. It's light, comfortable, and highly expandable using the external cords. The only minor downside is that it lacks a rigid internal frame, so it loses its shape a bit when completely empty. However, once packed with a camera cube or gear, it sits perfectly. Great hybrid pack!

Jeff L.

Originally posted at

2026-06-20T20:00:00

I bought the 18L for a trip to several countries. A Hasselblad X2D and two lenses easily fit in the bag, along with a DJI Pocket 3, spare batteries, and a jacket. There was also enough space for some stuff that I bought as I walked around the cities I visited. There are enough pockets on the outside to keep things separate, and the pocket for a drink bottle is tall enough so the bottle won't fall out. I have two issues with the bag: 1. The strap and back padding don't have enough ventilation to handle a tropical country in the summer. My shirt was soaked after walking around for 30mins in the hot sun. 2. The clip for the sternum strap is fiddly, especially if you have arthritis. Sometimes I could fasten it easily, but more often than not, it took a minute or more to get it to attach to the shoulder strap. I don't have this problem with my other PD backpacks that have a large metal fastener.

OttosPhotos

Originally posted at

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