review – What is the cheapest bag from Peak Design, a premium bag designer? It’s not a shoe bag under $25. It’s a Peak Design Packable Tote.
What is it?
Quite simply, the Peak Design Packable Tote is a compact 12L bag that fits into a very convenient pouch.The resulting bag slips easily into most pockets or Bag As seen inside the small Peak Design V1 Field Pouch pictured above, it’s “only” $19.99. The product was recently released in early February 2022, along with some other new PD packs, and some new color ways for existing products.
Unlike many stuff bags that require an origami master to restore them to shipping condition, the Packable Tote is easy to tuck into its stuff pockets and remains soft, even squishy, and can be easily tucked again about anything that has room to hold its something. The resulting sack won’t give your jeans an unsightly bulge, depending on where you tuck it of course.
The Peak Design Packable Tote is available in two colors, Charcoal and Original, as shown below.
What’s in this box?
- Nothing more than the Peak Design Packable Tote, packed to the smallest possible size.
Design and Features
The design of the Peak Design Packable Tote is very simple. It’s made from 100% recycled ripstop 70D nylon with a special coating to enhance its water resistance. The material also has self-healing properties if the bag is punctured by a small sharp object inside the bag.
The tote is made from a single piece of fabric, which adds strength since there are no seams to split. Additionally, the single microfiber padded shoulder/hand strap is not sewn into the top corners of the bag’s sides like most designs, but forms the full edge of the bag, further enhancing the overall strength of the handbag when carried. . This decision seems more reliable than simply sewing a bar tack on one corner of the strap.
The tote bag in the packaged state has some unusual branding, however, the branding of the extended tote bag is limited to the small PD logo label on one corner of the bag. An oversized storage pocket ends up on the inside of the extended tote, which holds a large iPhone 8 when the tote is unfilled, and when padded, creates a soft, supple package that fits comfortably in a jacket or jeans pocket. Compare this to some other material bag pockets that are sized down to as small a volume as possible, it takes a lot of time to put them back into the pocket/bag and often results in hardening of the fabric for subsequent processing. Once in a packed state, the pocket has a small loop on one side, which is a handy handle, or can be equipped with a carabiner to attach the small pocket to another bag or backpack.
Finally, the Peak Design Packable Tote uses Peak Design’s own #5 UltraZip zipper on the opening of the bag, which seals the bag and prevents the contents from spilling when dropped. Uncommon for a bag of this size, it solves the annoying problem that plagues many small packable totes once they’re on the floor or in the trunk of a car, and often only discovered when the drive is done, and the carry The bag’s scattered about the floor or the contents of the trunk.
some specs
- Dimensions: Unpacked: 42cm x 41cm x 12cm (16.5″ x 16.1″ x 4.7″)
Packaging: 15cm x 9cm x 4cm (5.9″ x 3.5″ x 1.6″) - Max Internal Pocket (Stuff Sack) Capacity iPhone 12/13 Standard and Pro Models (Won’t Fit 12/13 Max)
what do I like?
- I really like the fabric of the Packable Tote. If you’re familiar with other Peak Design products, it’s the same fabric used in the packaging cube and the aforementioned shoe bag.
- The Tote’s squeezable flexibility in its packaged state can’t be praised. Packing a handbag is super easy, and the result is a very easy-to-store bag that can be placed anywhere you want.
What would I change?
- Some may find the 12L tote too small.
- Making the straps longer would be nice, but of course it would make it harder to fill, and the product that ends up being stored is less prone to squeezing.
- The stuff pocket is too small for the largest iPhone on the market right now.
Final thoughts?
Overall, I really like the Peak Design Packable Tote. I’ve been trying to cut down on plastic bags and the convenience of being able to carry this bag around makes it easier for me to give up plastic bags at any type of store.
Price: $19.99
where to buy: pinnacle design and Amazon
resource: This product was purchased with my own funds.
