Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L Review
Summary Verdict
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L is a compact, low-profile bag that works equally well for short hikes, travel or a day in the city. It’s the smallest in the Outdoor Backpack range but still has the capacity and flexibility to carry a full-frame mirrorless camera kit with space for essentials. The weather-resistant build, comfortable vest-style straps and thoughtful design make it a good choice for women who want a practical bag that doesn’t feel bulky or overcomplicated.
Read our Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 25L Review
Score: 5/5
Pros
Compact, comfortable design for day trips
Weather-resistant recycled materials
Modular layout with Camera Cube compatibility
Cons
No roll-top expansion or front pouch
Rain cover sold separately
Limited space for larger camera kits
What is the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L?
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L is the smallest model in Peak Design’s Outdoor Backpack series, designed for photographers and adventurers who need a light, versatile bag for single-day use. It’s built for comfort, durability and weather resistance, with a simplified fixed-capacity design. Like the larger Outdoor Backpacks, it’s compatible with Peak Design’s Camera Cubes and Packing Tools, making it easy to adapt the storage for camera gear, clothing or other equipment.
Unlike the 25L and 45L Outdoor Backpacks from Peak Design, the 18L version has a fixed capacity with no roll-top or front ‘kangaroo-pouch’.
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L Price and Availability
The backpack costs £169.99 / $189.95 on its own, or £206.98 / $233.91 with an Smedium Camera Cube. It’s available in Black or Eclipse (burgundy). I’m a fan of Eclipse.
The shoulder straps are broad and comfortable. Each has a stretchy pocket that’s useful for items like a phone, small wallet or your earbuds - anything you might want to access quickly without taking the pack off.
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L Specifications
Product type: Modular backpack
Announced: May 2025
Capacity: 18L
Peak Design Camera Cube Compatibility: 1x Smedium Camera Cube with option to place 1x X-Small Camera Cube above it. Not compatible with Small, Medium, or Large sizes
Main fabric: Terra Shell 210D Ripstop Nylon, frameless
Waist belt: Optional extra (the same as the one supplied with the 45L Outdoor Backpack)
Shoulder strap height adjustment: No
External Dimensions: 47.6c x 27.5 x 15.5cm / 18.74 x 10.83 x 6.10 inches
Weight: 1Kg / 2.1lbs
Available colours: Black or Eclipse (burgundy)
There’s a deep stretchy pocket on either side of the backpack. They are perfect for carrying a tripod (the Peak Design Travel Tripod fits especially well), a water bottle, wine bottle or sunscreen etc.
Read our Peak Design Travel Tripod Review
Key Features
The Outdoor Backpack 18L has a fixed 18-litre capacity and is made from Terra Shell 210D ripstop nylon, which is 100% recycled, Bluesign-approved and PFAS-free. The main compartment is accessed via a large zip-around rear panel and fits one Peak Design Smedium Camera Cube with space above for an X-Small Cube or a couple of XXS Ultralight Packing Cubes.
Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cubes Review
There’s an internal sleeve for a hydration pouch or up to a 13-inch laptop, two deep stretch side pockets for a water bottle or tripod, and Cord Hook attachment points on the front for trekking poles or a jacket. The vest-style straps help distribute weight and include quick-access pockets plus Capture Camera Clip mounting points.
There are also two sternum straps for added stability, while the discrete zip-close pockets on each side of the front panel are handy for storing small essentials.
Unlike the 25L and 45L versions, the 18L doesn’t have a roll-top closure or a kangaroo pouch-style front pocket, which keeps it lighter and more streamlined, but limits the carrying capacity. There’s also an optional padded waist belt for extra support, but it’s quite a pricey add-on and I found the bag perfectly comfortable without it.
The main compartment zip is weather-proof and the zip-pulls have good sized loops to make them easy to grab.
Build and Handling
The backpack feels light but tough, with well-finished seams and a weatherproof UltraZip. At 1kg, it’s easy to carry all day and the frameless structure keeps it low profile. The shoulder straps are shaped to spread the load evenly and feel secure without restricting movement. I find the quick-access pockets on the straps particularly useful for my phone, snacks or sunglasses.
The two sternum straps clip securely across your chest, although they can be a little fiddly to fasten the first few times you use them. While the rear-panel opening is great for security and organisation, you do need to take the bag off to reach your gear.
The two side pockets are generous enough for a tripod or water bottle, and the Cord Hook points give extra scope for carrying awkward items on the outside of the bag.
Compared to the 25L and 45L versions, the 18L has a simpler, fixed-capacity design with no roll-top or front pouch, making it more streamlined and lighter to carry. The larger bags offer more internal flexibility and space for extra Camera Cubes, so they suit multi-day trips or larger kits, while the 18L is ideal for single-day use and minimal gear.
The backpanel of the Outdoor 18L backpack is nicely padded and has a central channel for ventilation.
Performance
With a Smedium Camera Cube in place, I can carry a full-frame mirrorless camera with a standard zoom and two or three extra lenses, depending on their size, or a camera and 70-200mm f/2.8 with a couple of small lenses.
The layout is adaptable, and it’s easy to swap the Camera Cube for clothes or hiking gear in the unlikely event that I’m not shooting.
I find the weather-resistant fabric copes well with light rain, though I’d recommend the optional Rain Fly for heavy downpours.
Even fully loaded, the vest-style straps, paired with the sternum straps, keep the bag stable and comfortable on long walks. I haven’t felt the need for a waist-belt.
The Smedium Camera Cube fits in neatly and has room for a modest full-frame set-up, including a 70-200mm f/2.8 on or off a camera. You can also fit in an X-Small Camera Cube above it, but I opted for an XXS Ultralight Packing Cube to hold items like spare batteries, SheClicks badges, a USB cable and other small bits and bobs.
Verdict
The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 18L is a great option for women who want a lightweight, adaptable backpack for photography, hiking or travel. It’s compact, comfortable and stylish, with enough protection for camera gear in most conditions. Compared to the 25L and 45L models, it’s more streamlined and lighter, making it better for minimal gear and short trips, but you do lose the roll-top flexibility and extra storage options of the bigger versions.
