More Than Just New Color Options: A Comparison Review of the Peak Design 45L Coyote Edition Travel Backpack

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More Than Just New Color Options: A Comparative Review of the Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack Coyote Version

No, this isn’t just a new color option for the bag. Here are some highlights of the new Peak Design Coyote bag and an in-depth comparison of travel backpack options.

Peak Design has just revealed a new color option available for most of their bag line. The Coyote color, first seen through a limited release collaboration with Huckberry on a few bag sizes and released as a new strap color option earlier this year, is finally available as an option for most (but not all) Peak Design bag variations.

A completely different fabric

While the Coyote bags have the same construction and shape as older Peak Design bags, much of the visible fabric is different. Peak Design is a brand that uses 100% recycled materials to create bags and storage solutions, helping to clean up the oceans while also donating a portion of their profits to conservation projects and environmental causes.

The Coyote bag comes with a brand new fabric made by X-Pac, a fabric manufacturer that sources from a brand that makes durable sailcloth from recycled materials. This new fabric is exclusive to Peak Design and is called X-Pac VX21 Ocean Edition and is said to be made from nylon recycled from used fishing nets. This specific sourcing helps reduce and reuse used nets when fishermen inevitably have to replace them.

Up close, you can clearly see the difference in the exterior texture of the bag. The old version has a smooth surface, while the Coyote version with X-Pac VX21 has a cross-hatched pattern. Additionally, it uses C0 Durable Water Repellent (DWR) versus other DWRs that contain perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) that are bio-persistent and can be toxic to some organic organisms. C0 DWR exists without such fluorinated compounds, making the process of creating a weatherproof bag (and even renewing the coating) environmentally friendly.

Peak Design 45L Coyote Edition Travel Backpack

The Coyote Colorway will be available in both sizes. Everyday Backpack3 liter and 6 liter Daily slingthe 45L Travel Backpackthe 35L and 50L Travel Bagsas well as both sizes of tech bag And washing bag.

Personally, I’ve been using this black 30L backpack for about a year now, and it’s done what I expected it to do. Since we reviewed it last year, it’s been used on numerous trips both in rural and urban areas. While it’s had its fair share of wet and muddy conditions, the 30L backpack has held up well. However, there have been times when I’ve felt like I needed more room for more camera gear or more personal items, especially on multi-day trips.

The Peak Design 45L travel backpack itself isn’t new, but it’s included in the current line-up of bags available in Coyote. However, this comparison will focus on what the differences between the two travel backpack sizes mean in the hopes of guiding those who are torn between the two options.

The 45L Travel Backpack is the first product released in Peak Design’s modular system. While it shares many similarities with the smaller 30L version, it also has more features that can make a difference in how one moves, carries, and shoots. Both backpacks feature a weather-resistant outer shell that prevents moisture from seeping into the compartments even in moderate rain. Both backpacks have straps on all sides that can be used as handles, one on the top, left, right, bottom, and back. The back strap also functions as a way to secure the backpack to wheeled luggage whenever possible. Additionally, both backpack sizes have shoulder straps that can be conveniently slid into the bag when not in use.

Both backpacks are the most compressed. However, while the 30L backpack has two configurations (27L compressed and 33L expanded), the 45L backpack has three configurations: 30L compressed, 35L with the top folded open, and 45L with the side zippers extended. This alone makes the 45L more versatile in terms of size, as 35 liters is typically the limit for carry-on luggage on planes.

Both travel backpacks feature a top front pocket for storing small accessories or personal items, a bottom magnetic pocket ideal for storing items that don’t need to be stored in an internal compartment, expandable side pockets for water bottles and similar items, as well as several loops for carabiner straps and other compatible pockets.

A handy feature on the Peak Design 45L travel backpack is the presence of a central compartment that spans the entire height and length of the entire backpack. This is essentially just an additional layer of nylon fabric that creates a separate compartment for relatively large items like a jacket or even shoes, depending on the intended use of the main compartment. While the 30L backpack can accommodate a large camera block, the 45L can do so with additional space left for a smaller box like the 2L Tech Bag. When expanded via the front zippers, there can be more room for packing cubes and other items (basically a 10L volume). Additionally, the main compartment can accommodate two medium or small/medium camera blocks with more space for accessories. Put in context, this could allow the user to carry 2-4 camera bodies and 4-6 lenses depending on their individual sizes. The bottom line is a lot of gear and/or a lot of accessories.

The final feature on the 45L backpack that I personally wish was available on the smaller version is the side doors. These side doors can be opened by zipping from top to bottom to reveal the main compartment, providing quick access to whatever is on that side. When combined with the larger Camera Cube V2, this could now be a quick access option that allows the user to swing the backpack forward by simply removing the strap from the opposite shoulder and reaching for the camera or lens strategically placed on the side door of the camera cube. This could now allow the user to take more effective photos on the go while using the backpack, and this could be even more effective if it came with the smaller 30L version.

Overall, if the 45L backpack meets your needs in terms of carrying capacity, it can and will be more versatile in use despite the 500 gram and 2 inch difference in weight and size. Add to that the fact that the 45L comes in a new Coyote colorway made from recycled nylon fishing nets.