• Home
  • Reviews Index
  • Best Gear
  • Inspiration
  • Learn
  • Disclaimer
  • Staff/Contact Info
  • Media Kit
  • Membership
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Camera bags

Review: Peak Design Everyday Tote Camera Bag

Chris Gampat
No Comments
10/05/2016
4 Mins read
chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-3-of-19iso-2001-200-sec

When Peak Design announced their new updates to the Everyday Bag lineup, I was incredibly cautious. Sure, we’re a news website and we’ll report on it–but there was a major problem that I had with the Everyday Messenger bag. Then the review unit request came in and I called in the Peak Design Everyday Tote. “There’s no way they can screw up a tote bag,” I thought to myself knowing just how much work goes into their products. But indeed, very few manufacturers have made totes targeted at photographers.

Thankfully, Peak Design really did a truly fantastic job here that I think is worthy of even more praise than the Everyday Messenger bag has. The Tote goes from tote bag to backpack with ease, allows for quick access where you need it and provides the photographer with a lot of versatility. In many ways, this is a perfect bag; but it’s also not the most attractive.

Ergonomics

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-8-of-19iso-2001-100-sec

If you look at the Peak Design Everyday Tote bag, you’ll realize that it looks like a general tote bag. Indeed, that really is what you see here. It’s got handles, pockets, an interesting closure system, etc.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-7-of-19iso-2001-25-sec

The top handles are slightly padded with a grippy area very similar to what you see with older camera bags. The straps themselves feel like recycled seatbelt material.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-13-of-19iso-2001-50-sec

When you open the bag up, you’ll realize that it stays closed with magnets. There are three on each side and they help keep the bag tightly closed. When opening the bag, what would have been nice is some sort of extra spines to give the bag a bit more shape.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-10-of-19iso-2001-50-sec

When you look inside, you’ll see three sections. They can all be removed or converted to function differently. You can stuff a DSLR in the middle and cameras in each side. Or you can stuff lenses in there too. Towards one side, you can stuff a 13 inch laptop into the bag.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-12-of-19iso-2001-320-sec

Now here’s the really cool part: one of the straps elongates to become configurable to a backpack. The straps aren’t that large so if you have broad shoulders or are wearing a thick coat, this is going to be a very snug fit. Just like the Everyday Messenger bag, I wonder if certain parts were only made for the slimmer amongst us.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-16-of-19iso-2001-30-sec

One of the most important parts of the bag is this very subtle clip. I loaded the bag with a DSLR before and when I put it on my back, the entire top opened up. Then I took a look at the company’s product images a bit closer and found that this little clip can keep the top locked closed.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-18-of-19iso-2001-30-sec

When you’re not using the bag in backpack mode, you’ll most likely want to affix the clip to its original and less tight fitting loop. Indeed, this is also one way to allow the photographer to have quick access.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-19-of-19iso-2001-20-sec

On each side, you have these side slots that close shut with a magnet on top but also zipper closed. This gives photographers quick access to their gear.

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-14-of-19iso-2001-125-sec

The quickest access will be done with the camera bag in tote bag configuration but if you are shooting with it in backpack mode, you’ll also have pretty quick access. What would have helped here is a built in belt system to go around your waist.

Build Quality

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-1-of-19iso-2001-320-sec

The bag is made of a tough canvas that is really durable. I took it out during a short rain shower and it deflected the rain with no trouble. The bottom is made of leather and has a bit of padding to protect your gear inside.

I don’t think that it’s as well built as the Everyday Messenger bag, but it is indeed one of the best made camera tote bags I’ve used. The second is from Artisan and Artist.

Ease of Use

chris-gampat-the-phoblographer-peak-design-everyday-tote-bag-product-review-images-9-of-19iso-2001-200-sec

When you get the bag, I recommend really exploring every bit of it and carefully looking at it. There are things that you’re bound to miss. This helps solidify my belief that the bag is extremely well made and makes a lot of sense to many photographers looking for something with a tad more versatility. I would have honestly liked a strap to go from one side to the other to make it into a more functional messenger bag–but I’m not sure how they could have done this when you consider the side access ports.

Conclusions

The-Phoblographer-Editor's-Choice-Award-Logo

Like the Everyday Messenger bag, I’m awarding this bag the Editor’s Choice award. With the messenger bag though, I did it knowing that I personally didn’t like the bag but knew a lot of you would. With the tote, I can genuinely say that I like the bag. It isn’t the most handsome bag, but that could also mean that someone doesn’t try to go in and steal something.

There is enough padding thoughout the bag, but I think that it’s best designed for mirrorless camera users. I’ve used it with a camera, lenses, and flashes stuffed in there along with a laptop. For working photojournalists, it can make a lot of sense. But it may be better for bloggers/editors.

Phoblographer-Star-rating

The Peak Design Everyday Tote bag receives our Editor’s Choice award and five out of five stars.

build quality camera bag Canvas everyday Peak Design Peak Design Everyday Tote Bag
Shares
Written by

Chris Gampat

Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
Previous Post

First Impressions: Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR

Next Post

How to Shoot Portraits Street Fashion Style: a Tutorial

The Phoblographer © 2023 ——Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
  • Home
  • Our Staff
  • Editorial Policies
  • Media Kit
  • Membership
  • App Debug