Peak Design has just released a series of new devices. That includes adding two new travel Duffels to their product line. Is this a niche product or something that many travel photographers could use?
First impressions
I like good quality equipment. Quality by that word means being able to do the job it was designed to do. In turn, that means being powerful, functional, beautiful and versatile. At first glance, Peak Design’s (PD’s) New Travel Duffel Bag seems to be all of those things
PD sent me a set of their new gear to prepare before the official release. To be honest, before they arrived, I was skeptical about them. I know they will be very well made; Their devices are always like that, but I’m not sure if they are useful or not. They are not something I would immediately choose to spend my hard earned money on.
I’m not a photographer who usually carries a lot of equipment with me and only shoots what I need. That’s usually a camera, a lens, and maybe a tripod.
However, I recently had cause to travel more with my gear than before and packed my bags for two weeks. For photographers, duffle bags are a less popular choice than the more popular backpacks. Indeed, I use it Peak Design 30L travel backpack to store my camera equipment in the cabin when flying. But when I’m in the car and planning a variety of photo shoots and possibly bringing video equipment, is the Duffel a better solution?
Read on and you will find out.
Travel duffel size
There are times when I travel and don’t fly. Most people will find that they sometimes have more stuff to transport than what their backpack can carry. Furthermore, accessing any backpack is not always the easiest thing to do in confined spaces, such as on a train carriage or the back seat of a taxi. This is where Peak Design’s Duffel bag line becomes much more useful than a backpack.
The 35L and 65L versions of these Duffel bags have been around for a while and the new 50L and 80L models are a welcome expansion to that range.
While their current 35L version already meets the maximum international carry-on bag size limit, the new Duffel 50L falls within the US flight carry-on bag size limit. The giant 80L Duffel will be for checked baggage only.
Peak Design has a helpful way for customers to gauge which bag is the right size for them. It’s based on theirs Camera block. The small block is one unit, the medium block is two, and the large block is three units. Therefore, the 35L Travel Duffel holds three packing units, the new 50L Travel Duffel holds four units plus some additional space, the 65L has four packing units with plenty of additional space, and the new Travel Duffel holds four packing units. The new 80L calendar has eight packaging units.
Design and build
At first glance, this seems like a simple design. However, that simplicity belies the interesting features one discovers upon closer inspection.
The Duffel’s exterior is made from a PFAS-free, weather-resistant, 100% recycled 600D nylon fabric outer shell. It is impregnated with durable water repellent (DWR), making it hydrophobic, and coated with two layers of poly for increased water resistance. The bag also has a 900D waterproof bottom lining.
There are four exterior pockets, two on each side. The larger high-capacity pockets are accessed from the top and feature a row of mesh pockets inside.
Just on one side, inside the flap of that big bag, there’s an additional small pocket secured with Velcro and a belt loop used to tag your luggage.
The smaller flat bag sits above the large bag and has an opening on one side. Each bag is secured with a single, sturdy, weather-resistant zipper.
Ten reinforced nylon webbing loops around the top of the bag provide multiple options for attaching two removable handles and a shoulder strap.
On both sides of the bag there are two pre-stitched reinforcement bars that help maintain the structure of the bag and prevent the bag from folding inward when carried.
The large opening at the top of the bag is secured with a sturdy, lockable double zipper. Open it and you’ll see a spacious interior compartment. Like the inside of the outer pockets, the inside is light gray, making it easier to see what’s inside. There are two zippered pockets inside, plus plenty of space for storage Camera block by Peak Design or your loose device.
The two opposite corners have suitable snap buttons for fixation Top notch design block.
One small but neat feature that I almost missed were the small gaps between the interior compartment and the large side pockets. It’s big enough for the power cable to pass through.
Check
There’s little doubt that these bags are sturdy enough to carry a lot of gear. I carry them with my studio flash and other equipment and find them comfortable to carry. The reinforcing bars helped the bag retain its original shape.
They are easy to use and have multiple attachment points to secure the handle providing flexibility. Furthermore, the two integrated low-profile handles at the bottom of the bag can be used to carry or tie the bag.
I found the straps to be securely attached and not accidentally come off.
Carrying the Duffel in a backpack is not the most comfortable; I certainly wouldn’t use it that way on an expedition. But to get from the taxi to the airline check-in counter is fine. The bag stays secure when carried that way because the zipper sits close to your body.
I put one in the shower and wet the outside for five minutes. Inside, it remained dry.
After playing with the bags, I decided to read the instructions. Later, I discovered that at both ends of the bag there are two magnets designed to lock together and compress the lid if the bag is not fully loaded. Although they work if the bag is placed on a flat surface, they don’t hold as securely.
What I like and what could be improved
What I like
- The variety of PD Travel Duffel bags available has been significantly expanded with this release.
- The entire range is very versatile, with many ways to combine and assemble them.
- They are both durable and effectively water resistant.
- Check the stitching carefully and you will see that it is perfect.
- The company is ethical and environmentally positive.
What can be improved next time?
- Traveling Duffels can benefit from a removable sturdy base like you find in the lids of the Cubes. That will stiffen the structure if they are used without the Cube.
- Carrying the Travel Duffel as a backpack isn’t the most comfortable, although I often use the main strap as a carry strap and hold the bag across the front of my body.
In short
To answer my question in the title (who needs them?), photographers like me do too. Only after using them did I discover how effective and useful they were. They are much better bags for carrying photo shoots in the back of my car, and for me the 80L version is a better alternative to a suitcase when flying.
My negatives are just minor niggles. The Peak Design Travel Duffel is a great bag collection from a company whose name is synonymous with high-quality gear. Other handbag brands I’ve owned have never been as well designed, well made, or sturdy as these brands. Yes, it may be more expensive for their equipment, but you know it will last a long time. Like most things in photography and life, you get what you pay for.
Travel travel is a great option when traveling with multiple devices, whether on a plane, train or car. As my wife pointed out, even when traveling without camera gear, these would prove to be a great general travel bag and I suspect she could rummage through the closet take my things next time she goes somewhere without me.
You can explore Complete Peak Design Travel Duffel collection and their current prices by clicking here.
Check out my reviews of more upcoming travel products from Peak Design.
