Peak Design Everyday Sling V2: Who’s it For, and Do You Need It?

Peak Design’s Everyday Sling v2 is an exciting revamp of its original v1. It’s a hands-free travel, photo and day-out pack that holds a minimal photography setup, or daily essentials, depending on my needs.

In this review, discover the ins and outs of this camera sling from one of my favorite photo and travel brands, Peak Design. Just like the other products in the Everyday line (backpacks, tote bags and messengers), it is strong, sensible, compact, smartly-designed and a purchase to have for decades.

I also suggest keeping in mind all the honest things I mention about who this sling bag is for, and who it is not far, as well as what to know about using it. My aim is to be transparent and to let you know what I’ve found through the use of my Everyday Sling (3L).

Quick pros and cons

In this quick list of highlights and lowlights, I’ll be completely honest with you in what I’ve observed about the PD Everyday Sling.

Pros

• Versatility in ways to wear it: waist bag around your middle, belt bag across your upper back, shoulder bag on one side or crossbody sling around your front. There’s lots of flexibility here.
• What it holds: Depending on which size you choose, there’s space for a camera body, lens, sweater or jacket, drone kit (6L) or laptop (10L).
• Comes with included accessories: dividers (1-2 depending on size), and 2 carrying straps.
• Durability and quality: It’s made from the same incredibly-strong weatherproof recycled nylon material as my other well-loved Peak Design gear, plus weatherproof zippers.

Cons

• The design is not for everyone; what I mean is this just isn’t a bag “look” that appeals to every single travel or photo professional.
• The 10L model can’t be worn at the waist (it’s too big).
• The front compartment zipper feels stiff and hard to reach into, even when empty.

Read this first: My honest take on a sling bag

My big disclaimer in writing this review is that a sling bag style is not for everyone. In fact, I’m not even sure if it’s for me.

But when I’m traveling, I’m game to try anything that will let me be hands-free and carry weight on different parts of my body, so as to not strain any muscles.

In this review, I’m not at all going to try to convince you that you need a sling bag; it’s quite the contrary. I’m going to give you reasons why you’d want the Peak Design Sling (3L size), if you’re already in the market for a travel or photo sling bag, or, if you’ve seen and heard things about PD slings, and you want to learn more.

Summary of the Peak Design Everyday Sling

In my own words, the PD Everyday Sling is an answer to a belt bag or sling bag for everyday use that also has a special design and build that protects valuable photo gear.

If you’ve read my Peak Design brand review, you may know that Peak Design products are built to live many lives with tons of versatile functionality, and the Everyday Sling falls right into that quality.

It’s meant to be a lightweight minimalist pack that lets you have all your photo essentials at your fingertips (or your front hip, or your waist). If you’re not out shooting, it’s also a great day bag or travel bag to fit what you’d put in a belt bag or sling: phone, wallet, keys, a snack, a hat and some accessories.

With three sizes, there’s a lot to be said about the difference among them. I’ll get into that later. In short, the smallest size Sling at 3L holds a DSLR camera plus a lens, and another compact/prime lens.

Going up to the 10L size, you could fit anywhere between a mirrorless camera body and up to 4 extra lenses (depending on length), or, a full-frame DSLR and up to two more lenses.

What I got (size and color)

To be clear, my photos in this review are of the Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L v2 in the newest color, Coyote. You might be noticing that the Coyote color choice has a slight diamond pattern, whereas the original colors of Black, Ash Gray and Midnight Blue are solid and feel like Peak Design’s regular nylon build.

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I was interested in a small-end sling bag, to test it out before diving in further to one of the larger sizes.

Main features to know about

In this section, I’ll comment on what I think is both unique and stand-out about the PD Everyday Sling v2.

Durable materials

Just like my other Peak Design backpacks and travel bags that I plan to have for life, the Peak Design Everyday Sling is made of recycled nylon, and the “UltraZips” are incredibly durable.

What I mention in all my Peak Design product reviews like my Peak Design Everyday Backpack review is that the zippers on PD products make them unique and worth it. They never snag.

The exterior zip-around dual zippers remind me a lot of the features I mention for weatherproofing in my Peak Design Tech Pouch review, which means I trust the way everything inside is protected from water.

Lightweight

Most impressive, I think, is that the 3L sling weighs in at a total 0.99 lbs. That’s right—almost one pound. That’s pretty light for a sling bag this strong and with this much structure and padding.

On the other end, the 10L sling is only 1.5 pounds, and the 6L sling is 1.28 pounds total.

Internal stretch pockets (and tech sleeves)

With the 3L version of the sling bag, I’ve got two internal side stretch pockets that are like little cup holders, except they’re for wound-up cables, a lens cloth or even a compact granola bar (am I speaking your language as a hungry traveler?).

On the front side of the internal cavity, there’s a stretchy more delicate zipper pocket. Inside that, there are 3 stretchy pockets that work well for memory cards or other minimal camera accessories.

Or, if I’m not doing any photography, and I’m out with my toddler, I’d put tiny things for her in there, like her hair scrunchies, hair bows or tiny little toys.

Organization options (dividers)

What reminds me a lot of my Peak Design Everyday Backpack is the FlexFold divider. With Velcro on both sides, it’s completely movable, so that I can uniquely place it for my camera size and lens size. I can also remove it completely. (Keep in mind: this is for the 3L version)

With the 6L and 10L versions of the Everyday Sling, they come with 2 FlexFold dividers! That creates a lot of personalization within the main cavity of the sling.

One more bonus travel feature (10L only)

Only in the 10L version will you find the travel feature of a luggage trolley pass-through, one of my favorite travel features on Peak Design bags ever since I started sometimes flying with a carry-on suitcase. The 10L Everyday Sling can be used for rollaboard suitcase stacking with this use.

Who this bag is for

As I’m discussing the Peak Design Everyday Sling, which is also a sling bag for “everyday use,” there’s a bit to unpack in saying who this bag is for.

This sling bag is, probably, not for my wife Becca, who likes her bags to be stylish and sleek, although she is also a photographer. Practically speaking, she’s the one carrying around a small-size fanny pack or even a belt bag that has waist bag functionality. She right away said she isn’t interested in wearing the PD Sling because it has a bulky look.

For me, though, I have different aims and uses. When we travel, I’m the designated photographer. I’m always carrying at least one camera body and one lens.

And actually, I’ve sometimes been deterred from not taking out my camera while we’re traveling if it’s going to feel like a burden to unload it from a larger photography backpack—even if that’s my 20L Peak Design Everyday Backpack.

With a camera sling bag like the Peak Design Everyday Sling, there would be no excuses for me to not take out my camera and shoot a scene or a moment with our daughter, while we’re in Colombia, Mexico or NYC. That’s how convenient a camera sling is.

Peak Design’s Everyday Sling is therefore best for photographers who are constantly shooting (picture a photography gig like an event) or being on a trip where you want seamless access to your camera and lens, and a versatile small-volume pack for it.

Investment (worth it?)

Personally, I think the best deal among the Peak Design Everyday Sling choices is the small 3L one. At under $100, this is not too hefty a purchase, when you compare it to things like the Peak Design Everyday Backpack (considerably more expensive, and of course, larger).

Even when comparing the price-to-use ratio of products like the Peak Design Packing Cubes, where you’re getting only an accessory for about half the price of this heavy-duty sling bag, the Everyday Sling is actually priced really well!

For the larger-volume sizes of 6L and 10L in the Sling, these start to become more adjacent to a mini backpack or small-end daypack. The price goes up accordingly. Regardless, I think it’s one of the best travel sling bags out there, especially for photo hobbyists.

Where to get one

You can pick up a Peak Design Everyday Sling in 3L, 6L or 10L at the Peak Design website, where all purchases come with 30-day returns, free shipping over $99 and the Peak Design Lifetime Warranty. You’ll have an Everyday Sling at your doorstep before you know it.

If you’re into shopping via other retailers, you can buy a PD Sling at Amazon, but I have to let you know that not every size is available, and usually only two of the four colors are available. Make sure you are shopping from the Peak Design Amazon Store.