Peak Design, the San Francisco company known for their pricey but ingenious camera bags, backpacks, shoulder bags, mobile and camera accessories, has introduced their first suitcase, a rollerboard called Roller Pro. Considering its other products that use advanced materials, clever engineering, durability, and unique features, many have been awaiting in anticipation to see how Peak improve can on the 22-inch rollerboard that millions of travelers use.
The company has been gradually revealing the product using a Kickstarter campaign that has taken in almost $5 million in advanced orders. Now that the product has been revealed, they are offering the product at a sizable discount in advance of delivery.
First impressions are very positive. The Roller Pro incorporates a number of innovated elements that make it easier to transport and to access the interior. It also can be converted to a rolling photo case with the addition of an insert. Like it’s other products, it reeks of durability, water-resistance, and an ability to survive rough handling.
The illustration below provides a quick overview of its major features.
The bag is the standard rollerboard size, measuring 21.8 x 14 x 9 inches (55.4 x 35.6 x 22.9cm) and weighs 8.8 pounds (4kg), about a pound heavier than an Away hard-sided polycarbonate bag and similar in weight to a Tumi soft-sided rollerboard bag.
The Roller Pro has a hybrid construction, using both a hard polycarbonate shell and a durable padded fabric cover in the front. It uses waterproof zippers throughout. One of its unique features is the drawbridge-like opening mechanism. Unlike conventional clamshell designs that are hinged along the length of the bag and require much more space to fully open fully to pack and unpack, the Roller Pro’s lid is hinged along the short dimension and the packing volume is confined to the bottom section. This design lets you more easily open the bag in tight spaces, such as in an airplane seat or a suitcase rack in a hotel room, letting you access your belongings without fully spreading the bag open. The lid uses friction hinges to stay open over a range of angles.
The inside of the lid has mesh pockets for smaller items; it that can be rolled up and tucked out of the way when not in use.
The clothing goes into the bottom of the bag, much like Tumi’s and Briggs & Riley’s soft sided bags. Adjustable elastic cords are used to hold the piles of clothing in place, rather than a compression panel found in most other suitcases. The product has a similar capacity as a Briggs & Riley soft sided bag. Like many existing bags, it can be expanded by unzipping it, adding about 15% of volume or about another 1.5 inches of thickness.
Its biggest innovation is its retractable handle. Peak replaced the conventional off-the-shelf aluminum collapsing handle used on most other bags with their own design using carbon fiber. The result is a much thinner handle that takes up less storage space when retracted inside the bag, leaving a bit more room for packing. The handle is also more rigid than conventional handles when extended.
This images shows how thin it is.
One of the more useful features is a zippered compartment at the top front of the bag that holds a computer, tablet and other accessories. The compartment is cleverly engineered to prevent items from slipping out, yet allows easy access when going through security. If you’re not carrying a computer briefcase, it’s very useful, but of lesser value to those carrying their computer in a separate bag.
Other features include oversized (60mm) user-replaceable wheels and a small pocket for an AirTag.
The Peak Roller Pro is priced at $599.95, right in the midpoint of rollerboard bags from Tumi and Briggs & Riley. For photographers, Peak sells a padded insert, the $140 XL Camera Cube with adjustable dividers that converts the bag into a photo transport bag.
Peak is currently offering a Kickstarter special, offering the bag for $425 with a delivery a few months from now. A faster delivery option is available for $525.
Conclusion
The Peak Design Roller Pro is an impressive and attractive design offering a number of new conveniences, a modern design take using quality materials that makes it very competitive with Tumi and Briggs & Riley. It’s not for those that prefer basic rollerboard suitcases available from Costco, Samsonite, or others that are often a quarter to a third the price, but rather for those more likely to consider a Tumi or something similar.
As clever as it is, they’ve not been able to solve the impossible challenge of increasing its capacity, something frequent travelers are always searching for. But if you prefer a more modern design with high durability and a bag that stands out, this is worth considering. It also should be noted that Peak is a company that uses Fair Trade certified factories, emphasizes the use of recyclable and carcinogenic-free materials, and has a lifetime guarantee on this product. They also buy back their products and resell them at a small profit in order to reduce waste.