Peak Design Field Pouch V2 | First Look and Giveaway

by Laurence Fry, June 25, 2021

We’re big fans of the San Francisco-based Peak Design. They even won Brand of the Year in our 2020 Carry Awards due to their commitment not only to carry, but also social and environmental initiatives. That made them stand out to us and our readers.

They’re famed for their approach to refining designs and making functional products that you actually want to use. They choose to keep a small catalog full of excellent products and take customer feedback into the design process when updating their products. Which is exactly what they’ve done with their newest product – the Field Pouch V2. We’ve had one in our hands for a week now, so let’s see what’s changed!

Materials

As you may know by now, Peak Design are wholeheartedly committed to making their products as environmentally- conscious as possible. In the last few years, a vast majority of their bags have been made from recycled materials and bluesign® approved, in line with their commitment to 1% for the Planet. The Field Pouch weighs in at 6oz. The weatherproof 400D nylon canvas is an excellent material choice for an item of this size and intended use. It handled rain with ease, and I wasn’t concerned about anything inside being at risk. Leather details (from Gold-rated tanneries) accent the rich midnight blue and charcoal versions, while Hypalon is used to complement the black colorway. Every fabric on the Peak Design Field Pouch V2 is 100% carbon neutral. Quite the feat, and a manufacturing process that Peak are fully invested in.

Internally, the Field Pouch is lined with a luxurious felt that not only provides some level of padding from exterior bumps, but also protects your items from any scratches or damage internally. The pockets are the same light gray stretch mesh you see in the rest of their line, and it works just as well. You can see into all the corners and pockets to quickly grab what you need at a moment’s notice. The included adjustable strap (a welcome addition from V1) is a simple, smooth webbing with custom PD embossed hardware. It’s slim enough to store in the pouch when not in use. Two one-inch hook and loop strips run vertically up the front, much like the first edition. This allows you to adjust the capacity of the pouch based on load.

Functional Features

The biggest strength of the Peak Design Field Pouch V2 is undoubtedly its sleek form, which swiftly doubles in size from 1.5L to 3L. This allows it to become a chameleon whether you carry it in your bag, over your shoulder, or even on your belt. The updated seam lines take cues from their Everyday Backpack, and make the Field Pouch feel more timeless and classic in a way that fits with any style or carry.

There are a total of eight internal stretch pockets that vary in size. Five smaller SD card-sized on the rear wall (behind a zippered pocket) and three larger pockets on the front. These are perfectly sized for chargers and even action cameras. The main volume holds a surprising amount, while still maintaining the sleek silhouette I mentioned above.

I’ve found it to be adept in a few carry situations – tech carry, point-and-shoot camera carry, and small EDC. My wife used this for three days as her EDC purse. It comfortably fit her main accoutrements – credit cards, headphones, phone, keys, flashlight, mask, hand sanitizer – with room to spare. When I used it for cable carry, I found it the right size for my main cables and chargers, while keeping a flat profile at the 1.5L “setting”. I also found it useful as a minimal camera carry. I could fit two point-and-shoot cameras, spare batteries, a mini tripod, and a Pocket Rocket with no trouble.

You can use Peak Design’s Capture Camera Clips on both ends of the Field Pouch, but only for a small, small camera. Even with my diminutive point-and-shoot, it felt a little cumbersome when attached to the outside of a bag so small. It’s worth noting as you approach the 3L threshold, it feels as though the pouch wants to pop open. It hasn’t actually done that to me, but I found myself checking regularly because of the way the top flap becomes horizontal as opposed to vertical at the lower fill point. I would love to see them bring in a slimline version of their excellent MagLatch technology to V3. I think that would counteract this issue, albeit small.

Why V2?

Peak Design love to make good products, and then they make them better. It’s who they are and it’s what they do. Their inception was based around the simple premise of making products that work in use, and aren’t just nice to look at. Their V1 Field Pouch won our Best Accessory award in 2016. And while we love it, it’s great to see them evolving their designs for the better. The Peak Design Field Pouch V2 takes great design cues from their impressive bags, and improves the internal organization, making the pouch more versatile and useful in my short time with it. The included strap makes this a backup sling. And while not how I chose to carry the pouch, it is a worthwhile addition. Once you add in the minimal impact this has environmentally and the lifetime warranty – as a consumer you’re doing very well for $45.

These examples, in my opinion, are what make the Field Pouch stand out in a crowded marketplace. It is genuinely versatile. While it won’t replace my dedicated “carry everything” pouch, it does fit a space in my carry that I often overlook – the travel pouch. It packs very flat, can be adjusted to accommodate different sized loads, and even doubles as a sling in a pinch. I could easily see myself using this on a train or a plane, just with my necessaries close to hand. Second iterations aren’t always improvements, sometimes they are done for the sake of it. Peak Design have bucked that trend. They’ve taken an already excellent product and improved it with better materials, better functionality, and a better soul. Is it perfect? No. But it’s pretty close. And there’s always V3…

Want One?

Thanks to our wonderful friends at Peak Design, we have three of their V2 Field Pouches to give away – one in each colorway! Follow the instructions below to be entered into the draw: