Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2017
I'll start by saying that I have been spending a VERY long time trying to find the perfect replacement for my 7-year-old High Sierra backpack that I've owned since my first year of college. I've done research pretty much all over the place and it always seemed like wherever I looked, no pack was able to deliver all the features I was looking for.
Enter the Peak Design Everyday Backpack. It ticked pretty much all my boxes-I've been following it for awhile now. Why didn't I purchase it sooner? I could never bring myself to justify spending $260 on a backpack. It got to a point where I realized I needed a new back desperately and I wasn't willing to settle and purchase a cheap one that won't last or won't successfully carry all my stuff the way I want it to. So, I took the plunge and decided to see if all the hype this bag has received was well-deserved.
Out of the box: The packaging is really nice. It comes in a large black "bag," designed to look like a paper bag with a sealed top. It is emblazoned with Peak Design's logo and fits the bag perfectly. Opening it was easy but the seal was secure. Gave me peace-of-mind immediately. When I took the bag out, it looked almost exactly like all the pictures I'd seen online. The charcoal color is nice and dark and looks pretty behind some of the red accents Peak incorporated into the design. On first look, there were a couple of errant threads on the stitching around the Mag-latch mechanism (more on that later), but everything else appeared pretty much immaculate (which I'd expect from a bag in this price range).
Design: This may be the biggest reason I opted for this bag. It's got a unique design unlike any other. There is a top flap that allows top access to the main compartment, and zippered flaps on both sides that allow side access to the same compartment. One reason this is so useful is that it allows quick-access to the contents of the main compartment without having to actually take the bag off your back. It's as simple as shifting the bag over one shoulder from either side and opening the side flaps. Upon actually trying it a few times, it really is easy and quick. And I love the idea of being able to remain on-the-move and still being able to find what you're looking for (the thought of walking through a crowded city, having to stop, take the bag off, shuffle around inside, just to find what you're looking for, made this convenient access all the more tantalizing). Additionally, the bag has a top-access zippered pocket above the Mag-latch flap which is separate from the rest of the bag for laptop, tablet and a small lined pouch for quick-access (good for sunglasses, headphones and/or charging cables). One issue I have with the tablet pocket; although it is advertised as such, this compartment cannot hold documents. I tried to fit a standard sized paper folder with nothing inside into the tablet pocket and it just wasn't wide enough. The pocket is constructed so that it tapers just slightly on the sides, disallowing the ability to fit unfolded papers. I assume the reason for this is to create a more snug fit for a tablet, but the fact that Peak markets this pocket as suitable/ideal for documents is a reach. Documents fit well in the laptop pocket just posterior to it, however. As of right now, being as I don't carry a tablet, I have a small notepad occupying the tablet pocket. I'd imagine it could be useful for stuff like power bricks or even a cell phone, or folded up pieces of paper. Other pockets on the bag include the two side water bottle/tripod/umbrella pockets, which are really nice and deep and hold large cylindrical objects in securely (they also hide some straps that can be used to secure bigger contents for a more secure fit). My 26 ounce water bottle fits nicely, and so does my external power brick; however, at one point I overturned the bag accidentally and the brick fell out, telling me that it may not be the best place for fragile/valuable objects because it doesn't keep them quite secure enough. It doesn't really "hug" objects that don't fit tightly, which I find a bit odd considering both of these pockets have magnetic closures. My guess is that I didn't snap the magnets together after putting the brick in, which is somewhat my fault, but at the same time magnetic closures lead me to assume that if I put something in there that doesn't take up the entirety of the pocket, the magnets will snap together automatically. So while a nice idea, the magnets maybe don't provide quite as much peace-of-mind as they were designed to, unless you are very diligent about always making sure the magnets click. Just something to be aware of. Now, for the side-flap pockets: within the side flaps, there is a zipper that reveals some small accessory pockets. Now keeping in mind that this bag's design somewhat caters to camera-gear carriers, I understand why some of these pockets were sized the way they are. The issue is, I've been having trouble configuring my stuff so that they are well-organized within these pockets. I find most of the pockets are either too small or slightly too big. For example, I can fit a bar of deodorant snugly in the large pocket on one side, but then there isn't a pocket large enough to hold my power brick. Similarly, if I put my power brick in the largest pocket, the second-largest pocket a size down from that one won't hold my deodorant quite right. I will continue to move stuff around to see how I can optimally fit everything; and while I recognize that Peak did include a variety of different sized pockets, for my particular everyday essentials, I find the sizes just slightly awkward. However, the placement of the pockets are well thought out and they can hold a variety of different things, depending on what you have. The final pocket inside the top flap with the Mag-latch mechanism, and I've yet to figure out exactly what to use it for. It holds a deck of cards nicely, but despite what Peak says, WILL NOT fit a smartphone, unless you have one of the small iPhones, possibly. My 5.3 in phone doesn't fit configured horizontally or vertically. And the fact that this pocket as well relies on magnetic closure indicates that whatever's inside should be able to fit while keeping the pocket closed. There's not a chance most modern smartphones will be able to achieve that. The idea and placement of the pocket is really cool, but its small size indicates the execution may not have fallen a bit short.
More on execution: While the side flaps allowing side-access to the main compartments is a really cool idea, it's one that, again, isn't quite executed to its full potential. My biggest issue with it is that when you have stuff inside the pockets of the side flaps, they jut out when the pockets are zipped shut. So when the side flaps are then pushed in to close them, those things jutting out compromises the space in the main compartment. So if I have a sweater that, when rolled up, takes up the entire width of the main compartment, it suddenly becomes tough to fit. Also, when stuff pokes out from the side flaps, it makes it really difficult to fit things that take up the entirety of the bag, such as folders or books, unless they're stuffed in, which is pretty much the last thing I'd wanna do with documents or paperbacks. The end result is that the bag feels kind of small, and tight. I keep thinking I won't be able to fit everything I need to. So far I have, but I'm concerned about carrying slightly larger things or things that are wide and need all the space possible to fit. The last thing I wanna have to do is be in the middle of an airport and have to find a place to sit so I can rearrange the contents of my bag. It's possible that the 30L bag solves this problem because it's more spacious, but it's too big for an EDC bag and would look/feel bulky, which I don't want either. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the design, but there are a few questionable design choices/executions that make the bag feel somewhat small and underutilized. Rating: 3.5/5
Look/feel: From the outside, this bag looks like the perfect size. It's reasonable when on the back and carried by the external handles (of which there are three, and all are made with an interesting material that feels quite nice). It looks really professional and is something I'd feel totally comfortable strolling into a meeting with. It's sleek design is enhanced by the assertive dark-grey charcoal color that is quite an eye-catcher. Furthermore, the material is rugged, but doesn't look like it; when you feel the bag for the first time, it really evokes something that is sturdy, durable and will last a long time. I'm extremely pleased with the overall look and feel of the bag. Rating: 5/5
Carry: This is obviously one of the most, if not the most, important characteristics of a bag. How it feels on the back and in the hands is vital to the everyday experience with a bag. Fortunately, this one exceeds expectations. It comes with a sternum strap that is completely removable, and it may have a waist strap, though I'm not totally sure (I don't use either so neither are focal points for me). The straps are nicely padded and the bag feels good on the shoulders. The straps are easy to tighten and loosen, and they seem to be attached by rivets that allow for a good range of movement to fit a variety of frames and shoulder widths. These rivets also make accessing the bag via one-strap sling very easy. I've found myself carrying the bag even when taking a quick trip to the store because it feels so nice. Additionally, the back houses a velcro luggage pass-through which fits well over any luggage handle. The carrying capabilities of this bag are definitely exceptional. Rating: 5/5.
The final aspect I'd like to cover is the FlexFold dividers that come in each bag; I'll describe them as best I can. The main compartment, accessible from the top and sides, is lined with velcro so that the dividers can be moved around and configured as you like. The dividers have a small fold on either end to create a little "shelf;" this works well in theory, but if these flaps are not put into the "up" position, it can be hard to close the side flaps. The reason for this is one I touched on before: When there are items sticking out from the pockets inside the flaps, they can actually obstruct the dividers' positioning such that the touch the ends of the dividers. I know it may be a bit difficult to envision, but if the dividers take up the full width of the main compartment, and items from the side flaps are jutting out and compromising some of the space within the compartment, it can interfere with the dividers and make the side flaps difficult to close. While this is somewhat minor, it does in a way restrict the freedom to move around the dividers wherever you please, because you have to be mindful that they aren't contiguous with any items jutting out from the side flap pockets. As I play around more with the dividers, it's possible I will find ways to mitigate this issue. Rating: 4/5
I am very pleased with the backpack thus far. It looks and feels premium and additionally comes with a lifetime warranty, which is really nice. I look forward to continuing to explore all its nuances and will update with further details once I become more familiar with the pack.
PS, I am not a photographer nor do I carry any camera gear. For photogs/camera users, the experience will likely be different as this was a focal point around which this bag was designed!
