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

No, it’s not just a new color option for the bags. Here are some pretty notable facts about the new Coyote-colored Peak Design bags and an in-depth comparison of the travel backpack options.

Peak Design just unveiled a new color option made available for most of their bag lineup. The Coyote colorway, 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) of the variants of Peak Design bags.

A Totally Different Fabric

Even though the Coyote-colored bags have the same structure and form as the older Peak Design bags, the majority of the visible fabric is different. Peak Design is a brand that uses 100% recycled material to create their bags and carrying solutions, thereby helping clean up the oceans in addition to donating a fraction of their profit to conservation projects and environmental causes.

The Coyote colorway bags come with an all-new fabric produced by X-Pac, a fabric manufacturer that originates from a brand that makes durable sailcloths from recycled material. This new fabric exclusive to Peak Design is called the X-Pac VX21 Ocean Edition and is supposedly made from recycled nylon from used fishing nets. This specific sourcing helps reduce and repurpose used nets when they inevitably have to be replaced by fishermen.

Up close, there is a visible difference in the texture of the exterior of the bags. The older version has a smooth surface throughout, while the Coyote versions with the X-Pac VX21 have a criss-cross pattern. In addition, it uses C0 Durable Water Repellent (DWR) compared to other types of DWR that have perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) that are biologically persistent and can be toxic to some organic life. C0 DWR exists without such fluorinated compounds, making the process of creating weather-proof bags (and even refreshing the coating) not harmful to the environment.

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L Coyote Version

The Coyote Colorway will be available in both sizes of the Everday Backpack, the 3- and 6-liter Everyday Sling, the 45L Travel Backpack, the 35L and 50L Travel Duffel, as well as both sizes of the tech pouch and wash pouch.

On a personal level, I have been using the black 30L travel backpack for about a year now, and it has done what I expect of it. Since we reviewed it last year, the same bag has been on various trips to both rural and urban destinations. While it has taken a bit from getting wet and being set down on muddy ground, the 30L travel backpack remains in great condition. However, there have been instances where I 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 on its own is not new but is included in the list of bags that now come in the Coyote colorway. However, this comparison will focus on the implications of the differences between the two sizes of the travel backpack in the hopes of guiding those who are torn between the two options.

The 45L Travel Backpack was the first released in Peak Design’s modular system. While it has many similarities with the smaller 30L version, it also has a lot more features that might make a difference in how one travels, carries, and shoots. Both backpacks have a weather-resistant exterior shell that prevents the absorption and entry of moisture into the compartments even in moderate rain. Both backpacks come with straps on all sides that can be used as carrying handles, one on top, left, right, bottom, and on the back panel. The strap on the back panel doubles as a way to secure the backpack on top of rolling luggage whenever applicable. In addition, both backpack sizes have shoulder straps that conveniently slide into a pocket whenever they are not in use.

Both travel backpacks come in their most compressed form. However, while the 30L travel backpack has two configurations (27L compressed and 33L expanded), the 45L travel backpack has three configurations: 30L when compressed, 35L when the top fold is expanded, and 45L when the side zippers are expanded. This alone makes the 45L backpack more versatile in terms of size because 35 liters is usually the limit for airline carry-on.

Both travel backpacks come with a top front pocket for small accessories or personal items, the bottom magnetic latch pocket ideal for objects not intended to be in the inner compartment, expandable side pockets for water bottles and similar items, as well as a number of attachment loops for the included cord-hook straps and other compatible pouches.

A handy feature on the Peak Design 45L travel backpack is the presence of a middle compartment that spans the height and length of the entire backpack. Essentially, this is just an extra layer of nylon fabric that creates a separate compartment for relatively big objects such as jackets or even footwear, depending on the use of the main compartment. While the 30L backpack can hold the large camera cube, the 45L can do the same with additional space left for a smaller enclosure such as the 2L Tech Pouch. When expanded through the front-side zippers, there can be more room for packing cubes and other items (essentially 10L in volume). Alternatively, the main compartment can hold two medium or small/medium camera cubes with a lot more space for accessories. Put in context, this can 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 last feature available on the 45L travel backpack that I personally wish was present in the smaller version is the side doors. These side doors zip open from top to bottom to reveal the main compartment, giving quick access to whatever is on that side. In combination with the large Camera Cube V2, this can now be a quick-access option that will allow the user to swing the backpack forward by just removing the strap from the opposite shoulder and reach for a camera or lens strategically placed by the side door of the camera cube. This can now allow the user to shoot more efficiently on the go while using the travel backpack, and this could have been even more efficient if it came with the smaller 30L version.

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

What I Liked

• New bright yet subtle color
• Made even more environment friendly
• 45L travel backpack is more versatile in capacity and carrying options

What Can Be Improved

• Smaller travel backpack can benefit from side doors
• Rain cover (for worse weather conditions) not yet included with the bags