Peak Design makes bags explicitly for photographers, but there’s enough careful design in the Everyday Messenger to make it worth considering for almost anyone who needs a quality bag. It’s stiff competition for the likes of Timbuk2 and Chrome.
The Everyday Messenger isn’t cheap—$220 for the smaller 13-inch version, $250 for the larger15-inch. But that investment is worth it if you want a bag that’s dependable, accessible, and flexible for hauling around sensitive gear. In a word: fantastic.
Messenger Design, With A Twist
The Everyday Messenger might just be named ironically since the design is anything but. On the surface, it looks surprisingly simple, with a big main pocket that’s undivided by any sleeves or interior compartments. The laptop holder, more or less a requirement for any modern messenger, hides out on the back underneath a sturdy weatherproof zipper. This makes your laptop (and/or tablet, since there’s a divider in there) accessible without opening the main compartment.
But as it turns out, getting into the big compartment is easy—easier than any messenger-style bag I’ve ever used. This is thanks to the unique “MagLatch” sliding clasp and ladder attachment system. The aluminum mechanism grasps onto one of the ladder rungs with a sliding catch, allowing it to easily close and open. A big chunk of metal keeps things securely closed at any of the four positions, while magnets inside the top flap keep it reasonably stable without locking if you’re in a hurry or need to access the compartment multiple times in quick succession. It’s an ingenious design that’s easy to open and close, firmly or softly, with just one hand.
Speaking of which, there’s another way in to that big pocket. If you need to grab something from the top of the pocket quickly, the top of the flap also has its own zipper, granting hand access for smaller gadgets and lenses. It’s a nice perk if you’re frequently swapping out pieces of gear, but it wouldn’t be a practical way to get, say, an iPad in and out of the main compartment.
Keeping our focus on that main pocket: it looks empty. And on its own, it is—a big dump for all your loose gear. But the bag also comes with a pair of dividers: two stiff, trapezoidal little walls for you to attach at any point thanks to soft Velcro on the front and back of the compartment. If you’re used to dedicated camera bags you might be familiar with the setup.
These dividers come with unique origami-inspired folds in the material, allowing them to be set up in different ways. You can get a tall, narrow packet ideal for a water bottle or zoom lens, a divided pocket that works well for a power adapter below and a mouse above, or a double-down fold that works as both a hidey pocket and a platform for irregularly-shaped items, like a DSLR with its lens attached. The dividers can attach at any point inside, accommodating smaller or larger contents.
This setup isn’t perfect. It’s difficult to get big things and small things in the main pocket at the same time—I can’t, for example, carry a mechanical keyboard while also organizing smaller gadgets. But it’s excellent for camera gear and laptop accouterments, and I’m sure more general users can make it work effectively for them, too.
Thoughtful Exterior Touches
One of my favorite parts of the bag is the strap. It solves two problems I didn’t know I had with my old Timbuk2 bag: one, it’s reversible, so there’s no need to order a specific bag with a sewn-down strap for right-handed use or southpaws. And two, it includes a big padded section with a grippy underside, eliminating the call for an extra piece of padding secured with velcro.
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Source : Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag Review: A Fantastic Bag With Innovative Features
