Peak Design Review: CrowdFunded Travel Gear Any Good?

When it comes to purchasing new gear for your adventures, there are almost too many brands to choose from. 

Personally, I get overwhelmed when I start searching for the best backpacks, best packing cubes, or best travel tripods. I'm all for the pictures, so I often come across GoPro cameras and even the top GoPro alternatives.

That's why I've decided to help you out and do a complete review of one of the most popular brands on the market, Peak Design. 

Peak Design sells camera accessories, mobile accessories, backpacks, packing cubes, pre-owned gear, and a whole lot more. Although Peak Design has only existed for a decade, they have made quite the wave within the industry.

Peak Design's mission statement claims to treat its customers as peers, so I'm interested in knowing what it has to offer and if it lives up to its claims. 

Time to discover everything there is to know about Peak Design, and if it's the right choice for you. 

What Is Peak Design?

Peak Design has quite an interesting backstory. Back in 2011, Peter Dering designed a little device named Capture after lugging around a big camera on a 4-month trip. 

The company's founder, and now CEO, then started a page on the popular crowdfunding site, Kickstarter. At the time, he was only launching one product, the Capture Camera Click, and he needed funding to do so.

To this day, Peak Design is still 100% crowdfunded, and it claims that its photography gear designs answer only to customers' needs.

Still, it's branched out over the past decade and now makes a lot more than just photography gear. With travel backpacks, packing cubes, and more, Peak Design certainly has a lot to offer its customers.

What Does Peak Design Offer?

Before deciding whether Peak Design is worth it, it's crucial to understand what they offer! 

Travel Bags

Of all Peak Design's products, its travel bags may be the most popular. 

Travel Backpack 45L & 30L

These 2 options are made in the same style and are both comfortable, durable, and waterproof. They come with theft-deterrent zippers, expandable side pockets, and zips.

The 45L Travel Bag has won several awards and is best for longer journeys, whereas the 30L option is the perfect size for a carry-on. 

Price: $299.95 and $229.95, respectively

Dufflepack 65L

The largest bag that Peak Design offers, the Dufflepack 65L, can carry absolutely everything you need for your adventure. 

With 2 internal and external pockets, a waterproof exterior, and comfortable waist and shoulder straps, this bag is something special. 

Price: $219.95

Everyday Messenger

Another one of the company's popular products is the Everyday Messenger. While it's technically made for camera gear, you can use it for anything. 

This bag comes with stretchy internal pockets for small items like cards and larger items like water bottles.

Its 2 side external zipper pockets can contain a phone, keys, and wallet. The UltraZip external zipper with its abrasion-resistant thread is built to last. 

Price: $229.95

Mobile Accessories

Peak Design also provides accessories for your mobile devices, such as cases, tripods, adapters, charging stands, and many more. 

They each come in Peak Design's classic gray coloring and sleek setups. While they certainly aren't the least expensive options on the market, they are some of the most affordable products Peak Design makes. 

Camera Accessories

As Peak Design started with camera gear, it's extremely proud of its many products that assist travel photographers.

Here are just a few of the award-winning camera accessories from Peak Design. 

Travel Tripod

With revolutionary compactness, the Peak Design Travel Tripod is seriously small and easy to move with. 

It also offers fast setup and take down, pro-level stability, and can be used with large heavy cameras of up to 20 lbs. 

Price: $379.95

Camera Cube 

The Camera Cube is a safe and convenient way to carry all of your camera gear, no matter where you're going. 

Its detail-oriented design will keep your camera equipment safely in place. It has a tear-away main opening for easy access and fits perfectly into any one of Peak Design's travel bags. 

Price: $49.95

Everyday Backpack Camera Bag

Looking for the perfect camera bag? It might just be Peak Design Everyday Backpack Camera Bag.

This bag was made for photographers as it's built for organization, expansion, and protection. With 20L of space, it looks like a regular backpack, but has specific compartments for all your camera accessories and equipment. 

Price: $279.95

Lens Kit

The Lens Kit from Peak Design makes changing lenses super easy with just one hand. 

The advanced technology allows you to change your lens rapidly while holding the previous lens securely. 

Price: $54.95

Pouches & Organizers

I love a great packing cube. While there are plenty of options available, Peak Design has some special cubes, such as the Tech Pouch at $59.95 and the Wash Pouch at $49.95. 

Built for tech, the Tech Pouch is waterproof and has an opening for charging cables. 

The Wash Pouch is made for peak organization and is extremely easy to clean. 

Pre-Owned Gear

One of the coolest features of Peak Design is that they sell pre-owned gear at a lower price for those on a budget. 

If you're done with your Peak Design gear at any point, you can easily sell it on the site as well. 

Benefits & Drawbacks of Peak Design

As with any brand or company, there are certainly ups and downs to opting for Peak Design for your next purchase. 

Benefits

The arguably most valuable upside is the Peak Design lifetime warranty. This means even if your product does malfunction in some way, it's covered for life. 

Another benefit is the materials used to make Peak Design products. They are known for their durability and reliability, but they are also made sustainably, which is always a bonus! 

Users also love the efficient construction of the various bags and organizers. The zippers are exactly where you want them to be. The straps are extremely comfortable as well. Then, there's the design itself.

Personally, I go for more flamboyant designs, but some people love the minimalist style. If you want a neutral bag or accessory, the classic designs will definitely be a plus for you. 

Drawbacks

One of the considerable downsides to Peak Design's products is the price point. Compared to most other companies that provide similar products, you'll pay a bit more if you opt for Peak Design. 

Moreover, the designs themselves are simple. For some, that's fine. But if you're looking for a little more than a neutral color canvas bag, you might be disappointed with Peak's options. 

It's also important to mention that while many customers rave about the products themselves, people have been quite disappointed with the slow response of the customer service team.

Maybe the most damning is that while Peak Design claims that all its bags are waterproof, there have been reports that it may not be 100% the case,. So, if you're carrying around expensive camera gear, you'll still need to purchase a rain fly just in case. 

What People Are Saying

Although there are good and bad reviews for absolutely everything, Peak Design has an almost surprising number of rave reviews.  

Some people feel frustrated with the lack of customer service from Peak Design, waiting weeks to hear back after reporting a question or issue instead of days. 

Others have said that when they used the Peak Design lifetime warranty, they got their replacement quickly. 

While others rave about the durability and reliability of the products, some were not impressed with the new products, stating that they appear too similar to older products. 

Several reviews stated that Peak Design products are unmatched in the industry. 

Each product has a more in-depth review available on the site.

Is Peak Design Worth It?

Overall, I believe that Peak Design is worth it. The main reason is that even though you'll certainly spend a bit more on the products, they'll last a lifetime. 

The durable material Peak Design uses means that the backpacks, accessories, and everything else it makes will be usable for years on end. Plus, if there are any unforeseen issues, you can always get a replacement with Peak Design's lifetime warranty. 

Now, remember that their customer service team can be disappointing, so it might take longer than you'd like to get a hold of Peak Design if you need to use that warranty. 

While I would invest in Peak Design's camera and mobile accessories, the only reason I maybe wouldn't opt for a Peak Design bag is that the style leaves much to be desired. 

But if you like the look and want to pay once for a solid product, Peak Design might be perfect for you. 

All in all, if you do the math, the benefits seem to outweigh the drawbacks 2 to 1.

My Rating: 4.2/5

Pros:

• Lifetime warranty
• Sustainable materials
• Durable gear
• Reliable products
• Simple design

Cons:

• Few color options
• High price tag
• Not 100% waterproof 
• Unresponsive customer service

Get Exploring With Pilot!

As promised, you now have all the information you need about Peak Design to craft your ideal travel experience for you, your family, and your friends.