Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L review

The Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L is also available in a larger 30L size, and looks like a smart, urban bag rather than a camera backpack per se. Peak Design’s Everyday is a backpack aimed at photographers that want options but not more camera bags. 

You’ve got a camera backpack for urban shoots, another that takes your landscape photography set-up and maybe even a third for taking on a plane. Cue the Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L, an effort to create a backpack with a modular interior that can be used just as easily for various photography needs and for tech gear as it can be for commuting, a day out, a shopping trip or even as a gym bag. 

Specifications

Weight empty: 2kg
Dimensions: 46x30x17cm
Materials (exterior): 400D double poly-coated DWR-impregnated nylon canvas
Materials (interior): microfleece nylon-lined
Waterproofing: 900D waterproof liner in base
Dividers: Peak Design FlexFold
Holds: DSLR/mirrorless camera, up to lenses, 15-inch laptop & 12.9-inch tablet

Key features

What makes the Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L a standout are U-shaped zippers on both sides, which is pretty rare on a camera backpack. That makes it an instant must-try for left-handers. Both lids’ interior has a zipped pocket and a pocket that closes magnetically, while their exteriors host longer pockets complete with built-in securing straps. They’re ideal for holding a tripod, an umbrella or a water bottle. 

There’s a lid on the top that can be used for extracting from the top part of the bag. There’s a small magnetically-closed pocket inside, though the key feature here is a tough magnetic lash on the exterior that can be closed in four positions. It’s ideal for creating 8-litres more capacity in the top, which proved useful when stowing a jacket when hiking. 

The magnetic theme continues for the Everyday Backpack 20L’s shoulder straps, which gently fix to the bag itself when not in use. That helps keep everything neat. There’s another pocket on the front of the Everyday Backpack 20L that houses a couple of cord-hook straps fit for holding a jacket or a sleeping bag. You could even lash a small drone on the front. 

Quality and usability

The Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L has a lot of high-end hardware and endless versatility. We liked being able to use it as a (reasonably well-disguised) camera bag one day and as a grocery backpack the next without having to do much aside from remove those FlexFold dividers. However, as a camera backpack, it does have limitations. The FlexFold dividers are not especially padded so don’t often the kind of protection you might want for your lenses. 

We were slightly disappointed by the shoulder straps, which were only comfortable for a few hours and didn’t work well on a long hike. Despite the bag’s overall neatness the adjustment straps that alter the tightness of those shoulder straps dangle and get mucky very quickly. There’s also a sternum strap that proved essential in our review; it’s endlessly adjustable and moveable, but frequently fell off. If you’re going to consider using the Everyday Backpack 20L on longer hikes then seriously consider adding Peak Design’s optional Everyday Hip Belt. 

Take it out in wet conditions and your gear will stay dry. However, the bag’s toughened waterproof bottom doesn’t work if you over-fill the bag. Sure, you can set it down on the wet ground, but the bag is curved, so it falls over too easily. Better would be to have a completely waterproof front so it could be set down in the wet. And wiped-clean later.  

Verdict

Aimed at photographers with mirrorless and smaller DSLR kits that want options, the Everyday Backpack 20L fulfils its brief while always appearing to be more about hardware quality than comfort. Yes, it’s great to be able to access equipment from both sides, and the FlexFold dividers are a fine idea. But it all seems a little fussy. The upshot is that you have to spend significant time with the Everyday Backpack 20L before you’ll truly know how to set it up for your gear. 

Ideal for urban adventuring whether that be photography, commuting, fetching groceries air going to the gym, the Everyday Backpack 20L is efficient, fussy and fun to use for short periods. 

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