Reviews |Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Review

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Review

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Review
Review

I’m a big fan of the Peak Design 20L Everyday Backpack so I was very keen to try the 30L version recently. It has an almost identical specification to its smaller sibling, but being a bit bigger, it can accommodate a 16-inch laptop.

With maximum external dimensions of 33x59x20cm (13x23x8inches), the 30L Everyday Backpack doesn’t look a great deal bigger than the 20L model (30x54x17cm or 12x21x7inches), but the extra volume comes in handy.

I managed to fit in a Panasonic G9 with the Leica DG 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 mounted plus a Panasonic Leica Elmarit DG 200mm F2.8 Power OIS with the included 1.4x teleconverter, a Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f4-6.3 Power OIS, a Leica DG Vario-Elmarit F2.8-4.0 and the Panasonic DMW-BGG9E Battery Grip plus a few extras like a notebook, laptop, power cable and a few filters.

 

Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L Review - The bag

The Peak Design 20L Everyday Backpack is only a little smaller than the 30L version

Like the 20L backpack, the 30L version has nice broad straps that distribute the weight well, so even a load like the one I was carrying is comfortable. There’s also a chest-strap that makes the bag a little more stable.

Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L Review - MagLatch

The MagLatch is simple and fast to use

The Everyday Backpack can be opened from the top via the clever MagLatch or from either side via zip fastenings. I find this fastening quick and easy to use, with a series of metal loops enabling the capacity of the bag to be increased or decreased.

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Review

If the top section of the backpack is quite full, you need to keep an eye on the sides to make sure they stay tucked beneath the top flap so that rainwater is kept out.

Pockets

Like the 20L Backpack, the 30L bag comes with 3 FlexFold dividers that can be moved around the main compartment and configured to hold small items separate from larger contents.

The laptop pocket is accessed via a zip at the top of the bag. This has a main section for a laptop and a small pocket for a tablet or notebook.

There’s also a small pocket inside the main compartment, at the top, which is handy for holding essentials like a passport or a small wallet.

Each of the side sections also has internal zips to access pockets that are useful for storing small items like memory card wallets and spare batteries.

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Review

Zips give side access to your gear and hidden pockets

These side sections also each have a deep expandable external pocket that can be used for holding a bottle or taking the weight of a tripod – which is secured by a strap hidden inside the pocket.

Weatherproof

Peak Design constructs the Everyday Backpack from Weatherproof 400D nylon canvas and it does a great job of shedding rain. However, I found that some moisture crept into the zip-closing laptop compartment during 90minutes of persistent rain when I was photographing a rugby match.

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Review

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack Verdict

As it costs £259/$290, the decision to purchase the 30L Everyday Backpack is not to be taken lightly, but it’s a very well made bag that should give years of service. Despite lots of use and some abuse during my testing, it continues to look smart and appears less like a camera bag than many others. Its fabric also repels water well, so provided you keep an eye on the top side flaps, your gear is safe in the main compartment. However, it’s advisable to give a laptop a little extra protection in heavy or prolonged rain.

I’ve used the Peak Design 20L Everyday Backpack almost every day for over a year and I’ve loved it. The 30L won’t see quite so much action because I don’t need a big bag as often, but it’s a firm favourite that I would happily use on a regular basis.

If I had to choose between the 20L and 30L version, I would opt for the 30L. It gives you considerably more capacity without making too much of a jump in size.

Photographing Wildlife with the Panasonic Lumix G9