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San Francisco-based Peak Design \u2014 maker of one of our\u00a0all-time<\/a>\u00a0favorite<\/a> backpacks<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 is back with its first new bag lineup in\u00a0five years<\/a>. PD says its new Outdoor line of backpacks and slings can be worn together for use beyond the pavement. They feature the company\u2019s \u201cmost advanced soft-goods design to date,\u201d with lots of adjustment points for a variety of body types and loads. The new bags are compatible with the company\u2019s modular packing cubes that make it easy to organize and quickly access camera equipment, clothing, and other gear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cPeak Design has been synonymous with \u2018outdoor photography\u2019 yet we still haven\u2019t created true outdoor bags…until now,\u201d says Peak Design founder and CEO Peter Dering in a press release. \u201cThe Outdoor Line is not only the culmination of everything we\u2019ve learned as bag designers, it\u2019s also a giant nod to our most loyal and longest-tenured customers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Outdoor Backpack is available as an internally framed 45L (L for liters) model for heavy loads and a smaller 25L version for shorter excursions. Both offer quick-cinch roll-top access from the top as well as the ability to splay the bag almost completely open from the back for easy packing and \u201ctotal visibility\u201d of your gear. The bags also feature sleeves for laptops and hydration packs (with drinking hose passthrough), slash-proof and \u201cweatherproof\u201d construction (with an optional Rain Fly sold separately), and a promise of \u201csuperior comfort and fit with significantly less bulk\u201d compared to other backpacks (including PD\u2019s own bags, I hope). The bags also support several options for external hauling including deep pockets and a cord system for carrying things like tripods, sleeping pads, jackets, and water bottles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s worth noting that the 45L Outdoor Backpack weighs 3.97 pounds (1.8kg) while the 25L model weighs 2.54 pounds (1.15kg). That\u2019s heavy if your primary goal is backpacking through open country where huge 60-liter bags often weigh less than 3 pounds (1.36kg). Still, the 45L Outdoor Backpack is definitely an improvement over Peak Design\u2019s previous flagship, the 3.88 pound (1.76kg) 30L Everyday Backpack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Besides the internal frame and extra hauling capacity, the 45L bag differs from the 25L bag by shipping with a removable hip belt that\u2019s sold as an add-on for the 25L Outdoor Backpack. Both bags are available in black, \u201ccloud\u201d white, and a purple-ish \u201ceclipse.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Each backpack is compatible with Peak Design\u2019s camera and packing cubes that come in a variety of sizes and fabric choices that prioritize weight or weather resistance. The camera bags are designed to help haul everything from diminutive mirrorless systems, to multi-accessory drones, on up to full professional rigs. Only the 45L bag is suitable for the largest packing cubes sold by Peak Design.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Outdoor Slings are available in 7L (weighing 0.74 pounds) and 2L (0.39 pounds) sizes and convert quickly from crossbody to waist bags. The larger 7L bag features stowable gear loops for external storage, and it can also fit PD\u2019s smallest camera cube. Both can be worn on the chest when mounted to the shoulder straps of the Outdoor Backpacks for quick access to your most important gear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Given Peak Design\u2019s crowdfunding history, it\u2019s unsurprising that the Outdoor line is launching as a\u00a0Kickstarter exclusive<\/a> today through October 15th, with a January 2025 targeted ship date. There, you\u2019ll find discounts of 20 to 25 percent off retail pricing, according to PD, before the bags eventually make their way to\u00a0peakdesign.com<\/a>, Amazon, and other global retailers as early as late November 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n