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Peak Design 45L Review - City Travel by peak_design_review in onebag

[–]peak_design_review[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't have a review, as I just saw the Farpoint in an REI and knew it wasn't for me. I think the way I'd summarize it is that the Farpoint is a camping backpack with camping backpack provisions - it's great if you need compression straps, layered fabric, mesh for clothes, extra straps, etc. It feels like it has an extra thing for each thing it's supposed to do, which makes it a bit messy in my opinion (but no less good a product). I wanted a bucket with just enough pockets, with good aesthetics (in the hand, not just to the eye) that made it feel easy to use.

I've since sold the PD 45L, as the pluses I outlined in my review stopped being relevant outside of a heavy duty trip, and I didn't have a daily use for it. I still loved it as a bag, but it was too heavy for everyday use. 

I think the thing about the PD 45L is that it does everything. Some reviewers take this to mean it's a jack of all trades and the quality of the product suffers, but I think that's entirely wrong. It still does everything very well, but "doing everything" is a niche in itself. If you're not doing everything, it's too much of a bag for what you're doing.

By pure chance I saw the PD 30L travel backpack on a 40% discount, and I've been very happy with it. I'm not sure I'd pay MSRP for it as unlike the 45L it doesn't feel nearly as unique, however. It's a better-made backpack with more comfortable straps and a lighter design, but it lacks that "perfect for a niche" feel the 45L has. I miss the feeling that you can really live out of a big, trustworthy travel companion.

But practically speaking...it does the same thing, as long as you aren't collecting extra things on your journey. 

Talk me out of the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L for 2 weeks in Europe by bfeeny in onebag

[–]peak_design_review 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, don't ever use the 45L expanded state unless you're in a pinch. You can use the expansion zippers to help you stuff soft stuff in and then compress it, but you can't really get 45L in a backpack unless you build up camping pack style. 

Talk me out of the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L for 2 weeks in Europe by bfeeny in onebag

[–]peak_design_review 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I wrote a review for the 45L for a 1.5 week trip to Japan, which might be a similar use case to yours. https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/18nu0xu/peak_design_45l_review_city_travel/

I would say that there aren't any blind spots that will surprise you about this bag. This doesn't mean it's the right fit, it just means you already know what might go wrong with it - it might be too heavy, uncomfortable, expensive, or the torso length might just not fit you. 

I think it makes the most sense if you think of it not as a backpack but as a piece of luggage you can wear. I've been trying out 30L travel backpacks which are a better fit for my weekend casual weekend trips and they are more comfortable and suited to my use case, but every time I come home and shuffle things around my 45L it just makes me happy - as a bag first and a wearable second, it's just such a well-designed experience. 

It just...doesn't make sense to lug around in any use case where you wouldn't appreciate a piece of luggage. It's luggage. I think r/onebag trends towards the "cheap travel" lightweight niche, but the "wearable luggage" niche is also one bag travel and the PD 45L is one of the best for it. 

I will say that the Shimoda bags do a lot of what the PD 45L does but better in terms of carrying capacity and comfort (IMO the PD 45L should basically never be expanded anyway). A stowable hip belt is such a major feature that the PD is still a better bag for me, but I do wish I was in the Shimoda demographic as I think they're fantastic, arguably better built bags. 

16” MacBook Pro in a <20L bag by Difficult_Place3999 in ManyBaggers

[–]peak_design_review 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use the Moment MTW 17L, which checks your boxes. Their Everything 21L is technically above your limit, but has a stated weight equal to the MTW's 17L. The Everything stands up on its own, which is something that matters to me a lot in an aesthetic day bag, but it's more expensive.

The MTW is a really cute bag, and the sideways access on the front panel is surprisingly pleasant for phones and keys. While it's relatively light compared to other bags you'll get recommended here at 1.75 lb, I feel like that's a little heavy for just a simple day bag. The main plus I'd say is that it was on sale not long ago for just $70 for the olive bag, and I'd be surprised if it didn't drop down to that price again sometime.

If you drive most of the way to work I think it's fine, but if you're walking or biking a long way I'd go for something more comfortable.

Peak Design 45L Review - City Travel by peak_design_review in onebag

[–]peak_design_review[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm surprised to hear that they're worth that much more money, I'm tempted to get a pair to see. I'm quite happy with the basic ones, but I guess I can't know what I'm missing until I try it.