In this blog, I will review the Peak Design 7L Outdoor sling that I’ve been using for the last couple of months. I owned some of the original PD slings; however, I found them to be a little bulky and difficult to pack. The new outdoor line, however, promises a lightweight, durable build, ample features, and the ability to fold flat. On initial impressions, it looks fantastic, but after a fair bit of use, I have some thoughts to share. If you decide to pick it up, please use the affiliate link below. It won’t cost you any extra, but I get a small % kickback which helps keep this blog ad-free.

Peak Design 7L Sling

Size & Capacity

This is a very nice size for a daily carry bag. It can comfortably fit my 11” iPad Pro with a keyboard, a medium-sized camera like the Leica Q3, and have enough space left for accessories like a charger, batteries, and other bits. This bag can definitely pack more than you think, including Peak Design’s smallest camera cube (which I can’t show because I don’t have one). If you remove the iPad, you can easily hold a mirrorless full-frame camera plus a couple of prime lenses. This can also double up as a beach, gym, or even shopping bag for smaller items. While the bag is large, it doesn’t feel or appear so, making it ideal for daily carry.

Materials

The materials are all premium, and this feels like a high-end product. While they are on the thinner side to reduce weight, they don’t feel like they will rip easily. I’ve been caught out in a few showers with this sling, and while I am sure it can get saturated if exposed for long enough, it kept all the water out. The design also allows water to easily run and drip off without pooling, unlike some Bellroy products. The rear has a softer-feeling padding that’s comfortable against your body; however, because it’s still pretty soft, you’d want to pack sensibly and avoid hard, pointy objects pushing into the back. The straps are from a seatbelt-like material, and the padded section of the strap is plenty soft enough.

Harness, Zips & Clips

The harness system is very solid yet easy to adjust. Unlike some other brands, the shoulder pad doesn’t slide up and down the harness. Instead, you’d need to adjust or even swap the harness around to make it fit in the position that you want. While it might take some time to initially set up, this isn’t an issue. The zips are all high quality, weather-resistant, and easy to move. While the clips are all plastic, they feel premium, and I’ve never had any issues. The harness is also fully removable, which can turn the sling into an organisation pouch for your bag. Finally, the harness is comfortable and supportive even if there is significant weight in the bag.

Access

Access to the main compartment is done via two zips that close inwards. This means you can have the opening be on any side you want or even in the middle. It also allows you to hide the zips away closer to your body.

Once unzipped, the bag opens fully, and it’s easy to access everything. It’s worth noting that due to how soft and thin the material is, the bag doesn’t really support itself, so if you have something a little heavy inside like a camera, you need to take a bit of extra care.

External Features

Externally, the sling is minimal. There is a magnetically closing pocket on the back. This seems to be a more secure pocket where you can perhaps store your phone. You get a front pocket with a key leash and a large empty space for accessories. It’s worth noting that if you place bigger items in the front pocket, they can protrude into the main compartment. Finally, you have some lashing points at the bottom where you can use the provided straps to attach something. There is a grab handle too, which is a nice touch.

My biggest criticism is the lack of any padding on the bottom part of the bag. I understand this had to be removed to save weight, but if you plan to carry cameras, you need to be careful as unless you put them in their own padded pouch, there is nothing to protect them should you drop or knock the bag into something.

Internal Features

Internally, the sling is very simple and is essentially a giant empty bucket. There is a selection of pockets and compartments towards the back, which is great for organising smaller items, cables, and so on. It would have been nice to have some kind of an internal organisation feature, but I understand it would go against the idea of the bag. Sometimes when I have a few items inside, it can become a bit messy.

Wear & Tear

I am yet to pick up any real marks on the bag, and it seems to withstand wear and tear very well.

Value For Money

While it’s not cheap, I wouldn’t classify it as expensive given the quality you get. Knowing how well PD products are made, I think this sling is great value for money.