Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1 – a carry-on with a daypack that zips off
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra.
Every trip has the same awkward moment. You arrive, dump the big backpack at the hotel, and then walk around town all day with… what exactly? A tote bag? Your pockets? That sad foldable nylon thing at the bottom of your suitcase?
The Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1 fixes that by being two bags. It’s a 40L carry-on travel backpack, and the back part zips off as a separate 16L daypack. Fly with one bag, explore with the small one. I want one.
What is the Peak Design Travel Backpack 2-in-1?
Peak Design is best known for camera bags and straps, and this is the headliner of its new Travel Line. It launched on Kickstarter on March 3, 2026, raised about 1.95 million dollars from 5,888 backers, and went on sale in regular stores on June 2, 2026.
The numbers, according to Peak Design:
- 40L when the two packs are joined: a 34L base pack plus a 16L daypack (the packs are soft, so separately they fit a little more).
- 2.45 kg (5.4 lbs) together. The daypack alone weighs 710 grams.
- About 21.9 x 13 x 8.3 inches combined, sized as an international carry-on.
- A laptop sleeve for up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro and a tablet sleeve for a 13-inch iPad Pro.
- A weatherproof recycled nylon shell with a tougher 900D bottom.
- Black, Sage or Stone.
How does it work?
The daypack sits on the back of the base pack and is held on by a zipper that runs around the edge. Unzip it and you have two complete backpacks, each with its own shoulder straps. Hi Consumption points out the nice airport trick: the daypack can go under the seat as your personal item while the base pack goes in the overhead bin.
The base pack has a removable hip belt, a luggage pass-through for rolling suitcases and hidden tracker pockets. An AirTag 2 fits right in. The Gadgeteer notes magnets in the shoulder straps that snap them flat against the back panel when you’re not wearing it.
The good and the not-so-good
What I like:
- It solves a real travel problem instead of adding another pocket.
- PetaPixel calls it a clear step up from Peak Design’s 2018 original travel backpack.
- Grab handles on five of the six sides, according to Hi Consumption. Handy when you’re pulling it out of an overhead bin.
- Peak Design gives its travel bags a lifetime guarantee.
What could be better:
- 400 bucks is a lot of money for a backpack. Digital Camera World names the price as the main drawback.
- It’s heavy for its size. The Gadgeteer mentions early reports that it feels heavy even when empty.
- The Gadgeteer also says the daypack’s thinner straps are made for light loads, not a full camera kit.
- PetaPixel found the look a bit plain. Personally I don’t mind a bag that doesn’t scream “steal me”.
Who is the Travel Backpack 2-in-1 for?
One-bag travelers, city-trip people, and photographers who want a separate small bag for the day. It’s a big but memorable gift for someone with a trip planned in 2027. Throw in an AirFly Pro 2 so they can use their own earbuds on the plane.
If they only do weekend trips, a smaller bag is enough. And if they hate carrying anything on their back, a roller suitcase still wins.
Where can I buy the Travel Backpack 2-in-1?
Peak Design sells it on Amazon through its own store. The sage version was about 400 bucks at the time of writing (October 2026), the same as Peak Design’s own price. The box includes both packs, two sternum straps, two external carry straps and the hip belt.
Two backpacks for the price of one very expensive one. Take my money!