We’ve been big fans of Peak Design since essentially their beginning over a decade ago, but their Travel Backpacks have admittedly had some room for improvement. Expanding their travel options with four new bags, the San Francisco-based firm has one option that might just firmly put it on the shortlist of major players in the category.
EIGHT YEARS IN THE MAKING
It’s hard to overstate how Peak Design got here. Peter Dering founded the company in 2010 after a four-month trip around the world left him frustrated with how photographers carried their gear. He prototyped the Capture Camera Clip, quit his day job, and in 2011 launched it on Kickstarter to massive support. What followed was a streak of crowdfunding success that’s become almost mythological in the gear world: the Everyday Messenger bag raised $4.87 million in 2015, the Travel Tripod hit $12.1 million in 2019, and the brand has now run 14 campaigns total, consistently without outside investors.
The Travel Line itself debuted in 2018 as a modular ecosystem around the 45L Travel Backpack, a big, clamshell-opening sack built for photographers and one-bag travelers. It had fans, but it also had critics. The original was cavernous and a bit clunky. And while the 30L that followed trimmed things down for everyday carry, neither pack fully cracked the problem of how to travel light without sacrificing the option to go heavy. The 2-in-1 is Peak Design’s answer to that riddle.
THE TRICK UP ITS SLEEVE
The core concept here is deceptively simple. The Travel Backpack 2-in-1 is a 40L bag, sized right at the edge of international carry-on compliance, that splits into two fully independent packs. The larger Base Pack comes in at 34L, and the Day Pack that zips off the back is a 16L. The latter is small enough to slide under the seat in front of you as a personal item while the Base Pack rides overhead. When it’s time to put the two back together, a wraparound zipper reconnects them cleanly. Best of all, they count as a single item when heading through security.
Beyond the headline feature, the details are where this bag earns its keep. Peak Design has fitted the pack with quick-grab handles on five of its six sides, which pays dividends when you’re trying to fumble for it in the overhead bin or a crowded car trunk. The shoulder straps feature integrated magnets that snap them flat against the back panel when you’re not wearing the pack, keeping things clean and out of the way. There’s also a luggage pass-through on the back so it slides cleanly onto a rolling carry-on, plus hidden security pockets for keeping your passport or cards away from opportunistic hands.
Construction specs back up the premium positioning. The shell is built from 100% recycled Versa Shell 339D nylon canvas with a reinforced 900D weatherproof base and Peak’s own UltraZips abrasion-resistant zippers, all closed with a #8 YKK main zipper. Both the Base Pack and Day Pack carry their own 16-inch laptop pockets, which gives you options and is nice for those traveling with a second person. You still get the clamshell-opening modular interior for organizing all your essentials, and then some. Best of all, the whole thing is covered by a lifetime guarantee.
SPEC SHEET
Model: Travel Backpack 2-in-1
Total Capacity: 40L (34L Base Pack + 16L Day Pack)
Laptop Compatibility: Dual 16″ laptop pockets
Materials: 100% recycled Versa Shell™ 339D nylon canvas, 900D weatherproof base
Zippers: #8 YKK main zipper, UltraZips™ abrasion-resistant
Colors: Black, Sage, Stone
Warranty: Lifetime guarantee
Retail Price: $400
Kickstarter Price: From $319
Availability: Kickstarter now; wide retail to follow
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The Travel Backpack 2-in-1 retails for $400, though the current Kickstarter campaign is offering early backers a starting price of $319. It ships in three colorways: Black, Sage, and the new Stone. Three other bags are part of this same launch: the Travel Crossbody Sling 3L ($100 retail), the Travel Weekender 25L ($200 retail), and the Travel Backpack 20L ($200 retail), all available through the same campaign at similarly reduced backer pricing.
Recap
Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1
Peak Design just dropped their most versatile travel pack yet with the 2-in-1, a 40L bag that splits into two fully independent packs for smarter packing and flying. It’s loaded with thoughtful details like magnetic straps, grab handles on nearly every side, and hidden security pockets, making a strong case for being the last carry-on backpack most travelers will ever need.
