This is the most expensive bag I’ve ever bought. It also looks a bit nice too.
This is the Everyday Messenger Bag from Peak Design. Previously, I’d bought their wrist straps for my cameras (and I don’t think I’ll ever buy any other type – so convenient), but this bag intrigued me. I’ve always been a backpack person, for one reason. Comfort. I’ve owned Messenger bags before, but after 10 minutes my shoulder was in agony. After an hour, my back was too. So whenever I carried my DSLR and other gear, it went into a backpack.
Backpacks are comfortable, but for me, there is a trade off. Convenience and quick access. If I happened to be passing something I wanted to take a photo of, it would involve either removing the backpack or taking one arm out, swinging the bag to the front and taking the camera out of a dedicated side pocket.
At risk of sounding like a ‘first-world-problems’ millennial, this just isn’t convenient. So quite often, I would take a picture on my phone instead, or worst still, not bother at all.
So the Peak Design Everyday Messenger recently came on to my radar through social media. When it arrived it was pleasing to see a plastic-free approach to packaging. I was also very surprised to see how small it looked. In review videos, they all looked massive, but the 13″ model is a great size.
The design is superb. Firstly the material makes it somewhat water-resistant, but not abrasive or uncomfortable to touch. The inner-lining is soft and protects your stuff well. The 13″ bag that I bought came with two Flexfold dividers that let you customise the compartments within the bag. I have my Panasonic GH5 in the middle, with a section at each side, one for my Leica Sofort and the other usually for my Rode VideoMic or Leica D-Lux Typ 109.
There is a zipped compartment that I use to keep various adaptors, dongles and small accessories including a portable USB charger. The back pocket can house a laptop, iPad or both. A zipper along the top let’s you get quick access to your camera without opening the bag, and you can also attach a small tripod to the outer part of the bag too.
I’m not even close to filling this bag to be honest, but I can see how I will continue to customise and organise it in the coming weeks and months.
I took this out on a recent trip to London. I was apprehensive at first because this was after all, a Messenger bag and I fully expected to experience the same problems as I had before, making this potentially a costly mistake.
Luckily this passed with flying colours. The strap is excellent and customisable too. The length can be adjusted, it’s padded and wide and somehow very good at distributing the weight. I have the strap at quite a small length and the bag rests against my back. A whole day hanging from my back and no problems at all. Completely comfortable. Phew!
At the end of my journey I was standing on the platform at Finsbury Park station. I looked up and saw three red cranes against the backdrop of the blue sky.
Spur of the moment, I decided I wanted to take a picture. And I did. It was quick and easy.
Check out the ‘My Kit’ link at the top to see the equipment and gear that I use.
If you want to buy the Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag, you can use the (affiliate) links below:
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Matt Keil 
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