No, it’s not just a new color option for the bags. Here are some pretty remarkable facts about the new Peak Design bags in Coyote color and an in-depth comparison of the travel backpack options.
Peak Design has just introduced a new color option available on most bag models. First seen on some bag sizes as part of a limited-edition collaboration with Huckberry and released as a new strap color option earlier this year, the Coyote colorway is now finally available as an option on most (but not all) variants of Peak Design bags.
A completely different material
Although the coyote bags have the same structure and shape as Peak Design’s older bags, the visible fabric is mostly different. Peak Design is a brand that uses 100% recycled material to make its bags and carrying solutions, helping to clean up the oceans and donating a portion of its profits to conservation projects and environmental protection.
The bags in the Coyote colorway feature a brand new fabric from X-Pac, a fabric manufacturer that comes from a brand that creates durable sailcloths from recycled material. This new fabric, exclusive to Peak Design, is called X-Pac VX21 Ocean Edition and is said to be made from recycled nylon from used fishing nets. This special sourcing helps reduce and reuse used nets when they inevitably need to be replaced by fishermen.
Up close, there is a visible difference in the texture of the outside of the bags. The older version has a smooth finish throughout, while the Coyote versions with the X-Pac VX21 have a zigzag pattern. It also uses C0 Durable Water Repellent (DWR), unlike other types of DWR that contain perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are biologically persistent and can be toxic to some organisms. C0 DWR does not contain such fluorinated compounds, so the process of making weatherproof bags (and even refreshing the coating) is not harmful to the environment.
The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L Coyote Version
The “Coyote” colorway will be available in both sizes of the Everday Backpack, the 3- and 6-liter Everyday Sling, the 45-liter Travel Backpack, the 35-liter and 50-liter Travel Bag, and both sizes of the Tech Bag and Wash Bag.
Personally, I have been using the Black 30L Travel Backpack for about a year now and it has done what I expect it to do. Since we tested it last year, the same backpack has been with me on various trips to rural and urban areas. Although it has suffered a bit from getting wet and being left on muddy ground, the 30L Travel Backpack is still in great condition. However, there have been situations where I have felt like I needed more space for more camera gear or more personal items, especially on multi-day trips.
The Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack itself isn’t new, but it’s one of the bags that’s now available in the Coyote colorway. However, this comparison will focus on the impact of the differences between the two sizes of travel backpack in the hopes of providing some guidance to those torn between the two options.
The 45L Travel Backpack was the first backpack from Peak Design’s modular system. While it shares many similarities with the smaller 30L version, it also has many more features that can make a difference when traveling, carrying, and shooting. Both backpacks have a weatherproof outer shell that prevents moisture from soaking up and entering the compartments even in moderate rain. Both backpacks come with straps on all sides that can be used as carry handles, one on the top, left, right, bottom, and back. The strap on the back also serves to secure the backpack to rolling luggage if needed. Additionally, both backpack sizes have shoulder straps that can be conveniently tucked into a bag when not in use.
Both travel backpacks come in their most compressed form. However, while the 30L travel backpack has two configurations (27L compressed and 33L expanded), the 45L travel backpack has three configurations: 30L compressed, 35L with the top fold expanded, and 45L with the side zipper expanded. This alone makes the 45L backpack more versatile in terms of size, as 35L is usually the limit for carry-on luggage on airplanes.
Both travel backpacks feature a top front pocket for small accessories or personal items, a bottom pocket with a magnetic closure that is ideal for items that don’t belong in the interior compartment, expandable side pockets for water bottles and similar items, and multiple attachment loops for the included drawstring hook straps and other compatible pouches.
A handy feature of the Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack is the presence of a middle compartment that runs the full height and length of the backpack. Essentially, this is just an extra layer of nylon fabric that creates a separate compartment for relatively large items like jackets or even shoes, depending on the use of the main compartment. While the 30L backpack can accommodate the large camera cube, the 45L backpack can do the same, providing additional space for a smaller case such as the 2L tech bag. When expanded through the zips at the front, more space can be created for packing cubes and other items (essentially 10L of volume). Alternatively, the main compartment can accommodate two medium or small/medium sized camera cubes with much more space for accessories. In context, this allows the user to carry 2-4 camera bodies and 4-6 lenses, depending on their individual sizes. Bottom line, that’s a lot of gear and/or a lot of accessories.
The last feature of the 45L Travel Backpack that I personally wish the smaller version had is the side doors. These side doors zip open from top to bottom, revealing the main compartment, allowing quick access to anything that is on that side. Combined with the large Camera Cube V2, this can now be a quick access option that allows the user to swing the backpack forward by simply removing the strap from the opposite shoulder and grabbing a camera or lens strategically placed next to the side door of the Camera Cube. This now allows the user to take photos on the go more efficiently while using the travel backpack, and this could have been even more efficient if it had been included with the smaller 30L version.
If the 45L travel backpack meets your carrying capacity needs, it can and will be more versatile overall, despite the 500g and 2in difference in weight and size. Add to that the fact that the 45L backpack is available in the new Coyote colorway made from recycled nylon fishing nets.
What I liked
- New bright yet subtle color
- Even more environmentally friendly
- The 45-liter travel backpack is more versatile in terms of capacity and carrying options
What can be improved
- Smaller travel backpacks can benefit from side doors
- Rain cover (for bad weather conditions) not yet included in the delivery scope of the bags
