Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L (Getting Started Guide)

If you like your gear tough, versatile, and ready for whatever the weather throws at you, you’re gonna like this one. The Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack is one of those bags that feels like it was designed by people who actually go outside — people who hike, shoot, scramble, and maybe carry more camera gear than they should.

I’m Kevin Fedde, a photographer and filmmaker based in New Zealand, took this pack for a spin around the Lake Coleridge area. I’m super picky about outdoor gear — and after a few weeks of rain, hikes, and camera missions, this one passed the test.

Peak Design

Outdoor Backpack - 25L / Cloud

$249.95

No two outdoor trips are the same—your gear, environment, and needs are always changing—and the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack is a lightweight internally-framed backpack designed to handle it all without forcing you to make sacrifices. From it's exquisitely comfortable harness system, to it's big, beautiful access points, to its totally customizable internal and external organization, the PD Outdoor Backpack 45L incorporates a ton of innovative features that just work, so you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time wrestling with your gear. Designed to work with Peak Design's wide array of Packing Tools*, which let you dial in your protection and organization for any combination of clothes, provisions, camping gear, sport equipment, and camera gear—from a single camera/lens up to a full professional creative setup.

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Who This Backpack Is For?

This one’s for the hikers who also shoot photos, plain and simple. The creators who want their gear protected and organized, but don’t want to haul around something that’d made for Everest. It’s a less serious backpack for those who are a hybrid of both expiring and shooting. If you spend your weekends chasing sunrises, waterfalls, or moody forest trails — with a camera or a mini cinematic rig in tow — the Peak Design 25L Outdoor Backpack was totally built for you.

It’s also a great pick for travelers who need one bag that does a little bit of everything from city streets to the more rugged mountain switchbacks. And if you’re someone who always packs an extra layer, water, snacks, camera, and “just in case” items then this’ll be your best friend.

Key Features

A few of the standout features that makes this bag different form the average REI or Patagonia choices:

SUPER Weatherproof

Right away, the backpack feels solid. It’s wrapped in a 100% recycled ripstop nylon shell that’s weather-resistant and Bluesign-approved, meaning it keeps sustainability in mind. It shrugged off moderate rain like it was nothing and kept my camera kit dry and ready to go.

Camera-Ready

Inside, there’s plenty of room for a day’s worth of hiking the backcountry. The roll-top expands up to 25 liters, which makes it super flexible whether you’re just bringing layers and snacks or loading up a full camera setup. You can keep it simple or kit it out with Peak Design’s camera cubes — the Small or Medium ones work great — letting you carry a camera and a couple of lenses without it feeling like a dedicated photo backpack. There’s even a zipper on the back so you can grab gear quickly without digging through the top.

Hip Belt... YES

One of my favorite features was the removable hip belt. It’s a lifesaver when you’ve packed a little too much glass and you’re headed out on a longer hike. Combined with the adjustable shoulder harness and sternum strap, the bag sits comfortably and securely, no matter your body type or how you like to wear it.

Hydration-Ready

Thank god for the hydration station, which is a must or the trails. There’s a bladder sleeve right next to your back that keeps the weight centered, with routing loops for the hose to keep everything tidy. And you prefer water bottles, the side pockets are big enough to hold even the chunky Owala or Stanley ones.

Photographer-Friendly Features

It wouldn’t be a Peak bag if they didn’t think about of us photographers. There’s a built-in mount for the Peak Design Capture Clip, so your camera can ride along on your shoulder strap, ready to grab when the light gets good. Plus, a few smartly placed exterior pockets make it easy to stash essentials without digging around.

Why the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L is Worth It

Peak Design nails its engineering with the intention of its particular use case while exhausting its customers' options to nail precisely what we’re looking for. It checks the boxes without realizing what we’ve been without while keeping innovative with that classic Peak look and feel. It’s not fluffed with outnumbered pockets or tries too hard with its exterior look; it’s simple and to the point but will last a lifetime.

Weatherproof, customizable, and surprisingly comfortable — it’s ready for your next day out. Or your next dozen.

Camera Gear

If you want to turn the 25L backpack into a proper camera bag, just drop in the Small Camera Cube or Medium Camera Cube from Peak Design. It’s designed to fit this sling perfectly and gives your gear the padded protection it needs while you’re hauling your favorite setup on the trails. The cube is great for smaller mirrorless setups with a couple lenses — like the Lumix S9, Sony A7C, or Canon R8 — or even a larger camera body with one or two lenses, like the Sony A7RV. And if you’re carrying a bit more, the sling has two stretch cords on the outside that are perfect for attaching a small tripod or jacket.

Ideal camera setups:

• Small mirrorless with two lenses
• Larger camera body with one lens
• Exterior cords for tripod or extra layer

My Personal Standout Feature

Personally, I love the stabilizer strap which attaches the sling more compactly to your body. It adds extra support when you're scrambling over large rocks or biking to a shoot; both of which I do often. There’s no swinging bag, no shifted weight for the interior. It gives you that snug and secure fit.

Get In Touch!

If this still didn’t answer your questions, hit us up at hello@shopmoment.com! We’re happy to help you dial in your bag.