Peak Design Everyday Messenger Review

The Everyday Messenger is a feature-rich messenger bag with gobs of pockets designed with photographers and tech professionals in mind. Read on to learn more about why we think this bag is ideal for photographers and gear-savvy coders alike.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Everyday Messenger offers average comfort compared to other bags in our review. While the shoulder strap features a stiff but soft foam, it is not as long as some of the others in our review. Additionally, it is challenging to dial in the straps for the bag to sit comfortably while riding a bicycle. However, if you intend to use your messenger bag to transport your gear or run errands on public transit or by foot, or move between your car and a coffee shop or co-working space, this bag provides ample comfort. It just rides a little too awkwardly to be comfortable on a bicycle.

Packing & Organization

This metric is one where the Everyday Messenger outperforms the average bag. It is thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on functionality, especially for photographers and champions of organization. Two external zippered pockets on either side of the bag feature storm flaps and weather-proof zippers. These are great for your keys, wallet, or phone. Stashed in one of the pockets is a shock-cord tether for your keys, which includes a detachable keyfob so you can always remember where you put your keys (as long as you don't lock them in your car).

On the inside flap, there is a zippered pocket lined with soft fabric for storing lens filters or sunglasses, as well as a zippered pocket with slots for camera batteries, memory cards, or other small items.

Then, in the main compartment, the Everyday Messenger boasts two velcro-mounted internal dividers, ideal for organizing camera equipment, your lunch, or even some tasty adult beverages.

Electronics

This is another category where the Everyday Messenger is among the pack's leaders. Beyond having excellent features for safely carrying a DSLR and two lenses, it features two sleeves to store your tablet, a 13" laptop, and all of your electronic cables. It didn't score higher in this metric simply because some other bags in this review have extra padding for storing a naked laptop or space for a larger computer. That being said, there is ample padding for the safe storage of a sleeveless 13" laptop.

Ease of Use

To determine ease of use, we considered how easy it is to pack and unpack the bag, how user-friendly or intuitive it is to use, how well it carries, and how easy (or difficult) it is to pick up and get on with your day. The Everyday Messenger scored fairly low in this metric because there is a learning curve for using the mechanism to open and close the bag, the internal dividers take some time to figure out, and it carries awkwardly on a bicycle.

This bag is very feature-rich, which means it takes some time to learn how to pack it best and make use of the features. Additionally, the patented MagLatch closure system was among the least intuitive systems in the review. It does feature a bottle opener, but even after using it several dozen times, we still found it finicky to secure in place and open without hassle.

One thing we do appreciate about this bag is that it has enough structure to rest standing upright while on the ground or on a table — this makes it easier to pack than some of the less rigid bags in this review. Additionally, the Everyday Messenger features a luggage pass-through sleeve on the back of the bag for mounting it on the trolley handle of your wheeled luggage. If you are drawn to this bag for carrying camera equipment and your laptop, there is almost nothing better, and the closure system is easy enough to master with a little time and patience.

Construction Quality

For the duration of our testing, the Everyday Messenger showed minimal wear and proved to be among the more durable bags in the review. We appreciate the weatherproof (and recycled post-consumer material!) 400 denier fabric and burly waterproof zippers — these materials demonstrate a commitment to durability, which is something we definitely appreciate, especially at the price point.

Should You Buy the Peak Design Everyday Messenger?

The Peak Design Everyday Messenger is a feature-rich messenger bag with great options for packing and organizing your daily kit. The rigid structure makes it easy to pack and easy to pick up. While it could offer better comfort and a more intuitive closure system, the internal organization features and weather-proof fabric compensate for these minor deficits, making this bag ideal for photographers and tech professionals. It is one of the more expensive bags in our review, but for the right person, it provides immense value. With a face fabric made from 100% recycled post-consumer materials, a sleek design, and well-conceived features, we think of it as the Tesla of messenger bags. If you are searching for a daily messenger bag for transporting your camera equipment or tech gear this bag is a worthy contender to consider.

What Other Messenger Bags Should You Consider?

If the Everyday Messenger isn't quite the style you're looking for, never fear. One of the top performers in our lineup is the Chrome Buran III, a bag that stands out across almost all of our testing metrics. It's durable, ambidextrous, comfortable, and can haul a lot of gear for its size. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we recommend the Oiwas 15.6" Laptop for those just trying out a messenger bag who don't want to break the bank. This budget-friendly option is still perfectly fine for your commute and tech. In between our top performers and budget-friendly bags is the Timbuk2 Classic. It is another high performing bag, but costs less than others in our lineup. It's also a durable and comfortable bag that has commanded the respect of bike commuters for decades. One final option that we'll leave you with is the Timbuk2 Especial Stash. This bag is our top pick for protecting electronics and digital equipment. The laptop sleeve is completely waterproof, and the entire bag is water-resistant.