REVIEWS
312 Reviews
clar81
In short, this is a solid backpack for week‑plus travel, and I’d rate it 4.5 stars. My only complaint is the shoulder‑strap padding, which is minor and explained below. We took a gamble and bought four of the 40L bags—one for each family member—for vacation. The construction is excellent, and the best part is how well they handled the weather with zero issues. The zippers held up even when the bags were packed completely full. Despite how much we packed into it, the bag stayed structured and didn’t bulge awkwardly. The only downside was the shoulder straps. After a mile or so of walking, the padding started to make its presence known, but we expected that. Most of the time they were perfectly fine. Weight was likely a factor, since each bag held hiking boots, small restroom essentials, and 11 days of clothing. Even with all of that, the bag still fit in the carry‑on storage of most planes. Small commuter aircraft were the only exception due to limited overhead space. It was tough to fit 11 days of gear into the bag, which is why I’d recommend it more for 9 days of travel. I included pictures of how we packed everything. For reference, I’m an average‑build American and wear a size 11 boot. We packed each day’s outfit into a vacuum bag—picked out ahead of time, zipped, and compressed tight.
Teddddd
I bought this bag/camera gear for my five week trip to Australia and Japan. Just as expected this is a great product for carry-on. It fits everything that I need for my trip. Hailee recommended.
Ralf B
Bought this bag for travel to Greece and I must say, I absolutely love this bag. High quality and comfortable bag to wear. I highly recommend it.
Komo
I bought it as a gift for my friend and he loved it.
Nice bag, lots of good features. But when packed all the way out the shoulder straps have such little padding it makes the bag essentially unusable.
Mike904
I’ve gone through a lot of backpacks over the years, and this is the first one that just feels right. I mainly use it for business travel and weekend trips, and the 30L size has been the sweet spot. It’s surprisingly roomy without feeling bulky, and the clamshell opening makes packing so much easier than digging through a traditional backpack. What I appreciate most is that nothing feels like it was added just for marketing. Every pocket and feature has a purpose. The quick access pockets are actually useful, the hidden passport pocket is a nice touch, and the external straps have come in handy more than I expected. The quality is excellent. The materials, zippers, and stitching all feel like they’ll last a long time. It’s expensive, but it doesn’t feel overpriced once you start using it. This backpack has impressed me enough that I’m seriously considering picking up the 45L version for longer trips. If it’s anything like the 30L, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.
crusted
I have had this back for several years and although well built and an interesting concept for its three different size options, the bag definately never qualified as a "personal item" on European airlines and since January 2025, no longer qualifies as a carry-on at the second size 35L.
Wil
I was looking for a backapck to take on both short trips, and as a daily use. The amount of space, pockets, and overall design features has blown me away. Absolutely the best backpack I have ever had.
Victor
I bought this a few weeks ago and used it once so far. It's a nice compact bag and appreciate that it can expand. The one thing that I did not like and wish it had was a water bottle pouch on the outside. There is a zipper that opens on the side where you could potentially put a water bottle, but it would need to be a really small one for it to fit and would also be a challenge to fit any water bottles if you had a packed out bag
Laurie38
I bought this backpack for Europe trip a couple years ago and it is great. I’ve used quite a few times and it looks brand new. It holds a lot and is comfortable with the hip strap.
Clue7865
I bought this to replace my carry-on for travel, and overall it’s a sturdy, well-built bag with plenty of room for everything I need. That said, it runs heavy, and once it’s packed with clothes, toiletries, and two laptops, the weight really adds up. Like other reviewers mentioned, the straps aren’t the most comfortable, especially in warm weather and the straps are directly on your skin. The combination of the bag’s weight and the strap material left red marks on my shoulder near my armpit. I also wasn’t a fan of the sternum strap. I appreciate Peak Design’s innovative approach, but I would’ve preferred a simple, high-quality buckle instead. On the plus side, I love the sleek design and the thoughtful loops and compartments. Everything fits neatly, and the organization is excellent.
Moncho de PR
I had my first bag years ago, and the amount of stuff I managed to fit in this travel bag would look like an AI advertisement. I recently bought a second bag for my wife, and she is loving it as well.
FJM
The 45L travel backpack is excellently designed; I love it. I love the organization provided: it’s just enough so that my packing system is very modular, while not being overkill and annoying. The bag is also decently water resistant—it survived a Colombian rain shower just fine—which is very handy for traveling. Overall, this is a wonderful travel backpack. I’m living out of it for 7 weeks and it has been a great travel partner. My one design idea is to have a travel-safe pocket to store passports and cash. I’m traveling in South America, where bag cutting is not uncommon. While I know most bags would not survive a knife or determined assailant, I’d love the peace of mind of a lockable slash-safe pocket!
Ivan
Travel Backpack 30 L is not my first product from Peak Design and not the last one and my opinion hasn't changed sins my first purchase Awesome product.
Kim R
I’m obsessed with this backpack. I have been looking for a travel backpack to use as a carry on that could potentially fit under an airline seat. I recently flew on a Boeing 737-max (3 by 3 seats in economy) and it would work if you don’t fully expand it (use 30L/35L configuration) and sit in the window or middle seat. I was able to pack everything I needed for an 8 day trip because of the design. Highly recommend it!
Read All Reviews (312)
*Online only. First-time subscribers only. Returning subscribers will be resubscribed for marketing/promo emails.

*Online only. First-time subscribers only. Returning subscribers will be resubscribed for marketing/promo emails.
© 2026 Public Lands
If you are using a screen reader or other assistive technology and are having problems using this website, or if you have any other difficulties accessing this website, please call 1-844-890-0896 for assistance
*Donations are based on purchase price, excluding taxes or other charges. The Public Lands Fund is a program of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity. Learn more at publiclandsfund.org.