Peak Design Journey Duffel Evaluation

Bottom Line

There’s something to be said for a beautiful, well-designed duffel, and if you’re the kind of traveler who appreciates style as much as functionality, you’ll dig the Peak Design Travel Duffel. It’s sleek and attractive but still has most of what you want in a travel duffel bag, including easily adjustable straps, durable materials, and plenty of attachment points. We packed it full of clothes and tested it on weekend trips and to tote camera gear and packing cubes when we had more than an armful to take to the car.

Fans of the brand (which typically makes camera accessories and bags designed for travelers) will be familiar with the impressive amount of organizational options: there are pockets inside pockets. There’s also a padded base to keep gear moderately protected and semi-rigid sides that make it easy to pack despite just having one center zip. 

While you can technically carry it three ways like other duffels we tested – over the shoulder, backpack style, and via grab handles–the backpack straps are just repositioned grab handles, so they’re uncomfortable. Thanks to sturdy cord hooks and solid metal strap hardware, however, the straps can all be removed and repositioned. Three colors are available and four capacities (35L, 50L, 65L, and 80L), including some with leather accents and some without.

Carry Comfort

There are technically three ways to carry this duffel, though not all are created equal. A removable padded shoulder strap can be stashed in an interior or exterior pocket when not in use and a grab handle with a snap wrap can be repositioned on the bag to function more as backpack straps. But since they are just webbing handles with a leather (or synthetic on some colors) grip, they aren’t padded or shaped like traditional pack straps.

As a result, they’re not very comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. Since their length isn’t adjustable, larger users may not be able to use them as pack straps at all. They can also be removed entirely. The over-the-shoulder strap was by far the most comfortable way to carry whether slung over one shoulder or positioned across the body.

The actual act of repositioning is easy and reliable: sleek and solid metal hooks clip onto tubular webbing loops all over the bag. These loops offer an impressively large range of strap position options, but also the ability to connect other items in lieu of traditional lash straps or webbing. There are also comfortable grab handles on each end of the bag to make it easy to snatch it out of an overhead bin.

Compressibility & Packability

We found the Peak Design Travel Duffel easy to pack despite the fact that instead of a nice, wide-mouth, clamshell opening, it only had a zipper slit on the very top. The packing ease despite this feature is likely because it has ends that extend past the main perimeter of the bag interior, which means the zipper is nice and long and the mouth opens wide. 

Those same flaps offered a smidge more wiggle room when packing it full of clothing. The flaps are designed to fasten to the sides when not in carry mode via magnets. But we found the magnets weren’t strong enough to actually act as any sort of compression or to secure the flaps in place against the ends of the bag.

The duffel doesn’t pack down into its own pocket or included storage pouch, but it does fold fairly flat so it doesn’t take up much room in a closet when not in use. When in use, we could easily pack clothing for a weekend trip, but had a tougher time cramming in oddly shaped outdoor gear.

Durability

After tossing around this duffel, loading it in and out of the car, and dragging it across campsites, it hardly had a scratch or scuff on it. The exterior material is, after all, highly durable and abrasion-resistant. It’s made of robust bluesign-approved and primarily recycled materials. Indeed, every feature and facet was clearly designed to be not just attractive, but functional and long-lasting.

The main zipper is waterproof, so it isn’t as tough as zippers on many other duffels we tested, but that comes with its own benefits. Peak  Design offers a lifetime guarantee on their products, so if something does break they’ll make it right. As for the hooks and attachment points, we aren’t worried about those breaking or wearing out any time soon. After all, the buckles and strap hooks are made of metal instead of plastic.

Weather Resistance

Despite the fact that the main zipper is waterproof and the durable external materials are weather resistant, the bag didn’t manage to keep all traces of liquid out when we left it out in the rain for an hour. A dry napkin placed inside got a bit damp, but not so damp that it would dissuade us from carrying the duffel around in a bit of weather for a short period of time.

Whatever is in the bottom is practically guaranteed to be safe, though; a waterproof liner in the base, together with some padding, prevented water from seeping in from below.

Two of the exterior pockets have generous storm flaps, which helped keep small items located within dry.

Organization

Peak Design, in part because they make gear and bags for photographers, knows the importance of organization. But like with any of their other travel bags, that organization tends to be for small items, the sort photographers are likely to travel with. Think memory cards, lens filters, and batteries. But those small pockets inside pockets are also handy for headlamps, travel documents, first aid kits – you name it.

There are six pockets, four external and two small internal mesh pockets. Some of the exterior pockets also contain smaller drop-in pockets. So, while there may not be any dividers or separate compartments inside the bag, those who love to keep small items secure and in their own designated places will appreciate the options.

Should You Buy the Peak Design Travel Duffel?

For the price, there’s hardly a comparable duffle when it comes to sustainability, durability, functionality, and style. It’s competitively priced and fairly so. Indeed, this duffel will almost certainly appeal to those who more often fill their bags with clothing for quick trips than armfuls of gear for camping adventures.

It’s more than capable of containing the occasional camping setup, too. Photographers and those who are already fans of the brand will find plenty to love about this bag, including the familiar Cord Hook system and oodles of small item organization options. And yes, if you already have the brand’s packing cubes or camera cubes, those also fit inside beautifully and can even be hooked to the exterior loops if necessary.

On the flip side, those mostly interested in a burly bag they don’t need to be fashionable or who are more keen to load it with gear than travel essentials may prefer another option with a wider mouth opening and more outdoor-specific features.

What Other DuffelS Should You Consider?

If you’re not sure the Peak Design Travel Duffel is right for you in any of the available sizes, you may want to consider one of the other stand-out duffels we’ve tested.

Cotopaxi Allpa Duo Review: One large main compartment and removable shoulder straps make this duffel similar to the Peak Design bag, but will appeal more to those hoping to carry their bag more often as a backpack.

Gregory Alpaca Wide Mouth Duffel Review: For a similarly sleek (if not quite as stylish) option, check out the Gregory Alpaca Wide Mouth Duffel. It doesn’t fold down as small when empty, but the semi-rigid sides stay open for easy packing; it functions as a duffel and gear hauler, and denser walls keep gear protected.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Review: Similar in style and functionality, this duffel features fewer pockets, but does have a laptop sleeve in the lid and a repositionable divider in the main compartment to help keep gear organized.