An Honest Peak Design Duffelpack Review: Worth It?

In the world of travel gear, the name Peak Design is synonymous with quality and innovation. Recently, I had the pleasure of trying out their Duffelpack 65L. As you may be able to guess from the name, it’s a spacious backpack that doubles as a duffel bag.

After testing this bag in a few different countries on a few different trips, I’ve found that it’s a great solution for one-bag travel. As expected, Peak Design has come up with something fun and functional. That’s not to say it’s a perfect bag, but I did enjoy toting it around Europe this summer.

Of course, there are pros and cons to a duffelpack or any sort of combo bag. Read on to hear my first hand Peak Design Duffelpack review and see how the bag held up over a few hundred miles of travel earlier this year.

First Impressions: Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L

Let me start by saying this bag is nothing short of a beast. With a cavernous capacity of 65L, it’s roomy, aesthetically pleasing, and versatile.

The Duffelpack has an exterior made from weatherproof recycled nylon canvas. Its 900D Ottoman-weave Poly bottom fabric means that it can bear the brunt of more demanding travel situations.

Peak Design’s commitment to sustainability is obvious. It showcases this with its use of Fairtrade organic and Fairtrade climate-neutral certified materials. The external label also indicates that the bag is composed of recycled plastic.

Like we found with the Peak Design Duffel Bag, the straps and handles offer multiple configurations, which is great for a customized carry. Whether you prefer holding your bag from the top, side, or bottom, you can. This design ensures equal balance and less stress on your hands or shoulders, as you can switch it up as you move around.

Besides the sturdy comfort, you’ve also got these great internal pockets coated with silicone mesh. They keep your belongings well-organized.

WHERE TO BUY

Here are the places you can buy the Duffelpack:

See Related: ViaTravelers’ Unbiased Peak Design Duffel Review

Design and Construction

INTERNAL DIMENSIONS: 24in (64 cm)x 9in (20 cm)x 9in (23 cm)

Upon opening the box, you can see the sturdy external carry straps at the top of the bag. These handles play a crucial role in maintaining the bag’s structure and make it easy to keep the bag upright while you rummage for your things.

The duffelpack’s cool interior design is adorned with quality lining. Its light gray shade also makes it easier to spot items in your bag. Also, for something so well made, it’s surprisingly lightweight at around 4 lbs when empty.

Unique Design Features

The key element that stands out about the Duffelpack 65L is its ingenuity. It integrates the best from backpacks and duffels into one robust design. The adjustable capacity of up to 65 liters makes it a roomy travel bag that can do double duty as a sports or gym bag too.

The bag offers ergonomic padded backpack-style waist and shoulder straps. The straps are easily deployed or hidden by magnetically sealed back panels. This genius design allows the bag to quickly transform from a duffel to a backpack. That provides you the convenience and comfort of both worlds.

It might seem like a small detail, but the strong magnets that help you transform from backpack to duffel are one of my favorite features. They produce satisfying auditory feedback when they engage and they’re a testament to the detailed thought that has gone into the design.

Quality of Materials

The external fabric of the DuffelPack 65L is weatherproof and 100% recycled 600D nylon canvas. It’s a conscious decision aligning with the brand’s environmental responsibilities.

Thanks to the high quality materials, the Duffelpack is good at tackling various weather or environmental conditions. The intricate detailing of Hypalon adds another layer of quality. The Nubuck leather accents on the waist straps are a nice touch, making it so the Duffelpack is appropriate for more formal travel situations, too.

Durability and Longevity

I must say, the Duffelpack 65L does feel like it is built for last. The quality materials used and robust construction all point towards longevity, which is no surprise considering Peak Design’s reputation.

The durability of this bag was tested on my recent trip to Budapest for a few weeks. It performed beautifully – carrying all of my gear while protecting my clothes and cameras from harsh elements.

See Related: Types of Travel Bags for the Jetsetter

Capacity and Storage

Any traveler looking for a versatile bag may find the Duffelpack 65L useful. This bag is designed with one bag travel in mind, and the ability to expand from 45L to 65L is a great option to have.

One feature I loved was the long zipper. Compared to traditional duffel bags that just zip along the top, the extra-long zipper made it easy to open the bag up and see all of the contents, without having to rummage through deep corners.

Two spacious interior pockets and two external pocket are perfect for smaller items and tech supplies. Nylon loops on the exterior are perfect for daisy-chain attachments or further customization.

Standard Capacity (45L) vs Expanded Capacity (65L)

In its standard form, the Duffelpack offers a convenient 45L capacity. It’s right for most of my journeys, ranging from weekend to week-long adventures.

Two external expansion zippers make it easy to transform the bag from a comfortable 45L to an oversized 65L. That extra storage proved to be a lifesaver when I came back from Budapest with more than I originally packed – the shopping scene was fantastic, and I couldn’t help myself.

The bag integrates well with other Peak Design gear in my collection. Attachments points for the Capture Clip on both the shoulder and waist straps made it easy to keep my camera out and ready, and the expanded capacity can fit up to 4 packing cubes or camera cubes.

Once packed up, accessing items on the go is very straightforward, thanks to the aforementioned long zipper. Everything in there is visible at a glance, removing the need to dig around to find what I need.

As I’ve come to expect with Peak Design bags, the light grey interior makes it easy to spot and reach whatever you need whenever required.

See Related: Peak Design Tech Pouch Review: Is This The Best Travel Organizer?

Suitability for Different Types of Travel

I have since tried the Duffelpack on various trips – backpacking excursions, city trips, photoshoots – and it handled them all admirably. Its super convenient padded grab handles made it great for overhead bins in planes and trains.

Moreover, being 100% recycled weatherproof nylon canvas makes it perfect for both urban environments and more rugged outdoor adventures. I don’t have to worry about being caught in a downpour.

It’s fair to say that the Peak Design Travel Duffelpack has become an integral part of my travel gear. Peak Design has not only managed to squeeze immense capacity into their Travel Duffelpack 65L but has also made it one of the most flexible luggage solutions.

Comfort and Ergonomics

Trust me; I’ve encountered countless “comfortable” designs in my quest for the ultimate bag for lugging my camera gear and for single-bag travel. But the meticulous attention to comfort in Duffelpack 65L with woven nylon straps immediately stood out.

The backpack straps were ergonomically padded and the inclusion of a waist belt was a game-changer. Shoulder and waist straps provide extra support while evenly distributing the weight across my torso.

While I normally do pack light, long walks between train stations and hotels or long lines at the airport can get to you with even a minimalist load. The comfortable straps and weight distribution options are much appreciated.

Accommodates Different Body Types

The adjustability features catered to my body type and personal preferences. The Duffelpack is an exceptional travel companion for people of all shapes and sizes. Whether tall, slim, or broad-shouldered, this bag was designed with everyone in mind.

You’ll want to spend time making sure you fit the bag to your torso. There are a lot of straps to adjust, but in the end, a more customized fit is a more comfortable fit. It’s been very comfortable in backpack mode after I spent a few minutes making sure the straps were set correctly.

I will say that it is a large bag – so if you are particularly petite, it can be a little overwhelming. There’s no hiding the 45L capacity, and when it’s expanded, it’s a pretty hefty bag to haul.

See Related: Peak Design Travel Tripod Review: Unboxing & Testing

Pros and Cons

I’ve always been searching for the perfect travel bag that could cater to my myriad needs, so I was intrigued when I came across the Duffelpack 65L. After putting it through the wringer, here are some of my thoughts.

Pros

• Sleek and lightweight.
• Transitions easily from a compact carry-on to a spacious checked bag.
• Weatherproof exterior and durable interior materials.
• Composed of recycled plastic, contributing to Peak Design’s status as a B Corp company.
• Comfortable shoulder and waist straps.
• Allows for easy access and easier packing with customizable organization.
• Hoisting the bag into overhead compartments with six padded grab handles is easy.
• The light-colored interior provides a light backdrop, making it easier to spot the contents.

Cons

• Not ideal for those with smaller frames as it can be cumbersome to carry around.
• The duffel lacks organization features like separate internal pockets or compartments.
• You may have trouble using the 65L as a carry-on bag unless you’ve left some room.
• Not as well protected as hard-sided cases.

Is the Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L Worth It?

In my opinion, yes.

This product impressively fuses sleek design, functionality, and sustainability. For one-bag travel enthusiasts, the Peak Design Travel Duffelpack 65L proves an unbeatable companion. It accommodates the shifting needs of modern travelers.

The product lives up to the brand’s reputation. It combines an excellent design, a reasonable price point, and a commitment to sustainable practices. With the Duffelpack, you can maximize your carry capacity without compromising comfort or versatility.

Visit Peak Design’s Official Website to learn more about Duffelpack’s capabilities. In my experience, this bag meets my travel needs and aligns well with my environmental stewardship values, making it a winner.

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Kyle Kroeger is the Founder and Owner of ViaTravelers.com. He is a full-time traveler and entrepreneur. Kyle started ViaTravelers.com to help travelers experience a fully immersive cultural experience as he did initially living in Italy. He’s a converted finance nerd and Excel jockey turned world wanderer (and may try to get lost on purpose). After visiting 12 countries and 13 national parks in a year, he was devoted to creating and telling stories like he’d heard.

Plus, after spending more time on airplanes and packing, he’s learned some incredible travel hacks over time as he earned over 1 million Chase Ultimate Rewards points in under a year, helping him maximize experiences as much as possible to discover the true meaning of travel.

He loves listening to local stories from around the world and sharing his experiences traveling the globe. He loves travel so much that he moved from his hometown of Minneapolis to Amsterdam with his small family to travel Europe full-time.