Peak Design Small Tech Pouch Review

The Peak Design Small Tech Pouch is the smaller sibling of the brand’s standard Tech Pouch, which is 2 liters. This offering is half that, saving (roughly) half the space. Will we see the same innovative design that made us fall head over heels with the first iteration of the Tech Pouch, or will we be left wanting more space? Let’s find out!

External Components

The primary material that Peak Design chose for this one-liter tech pouch is nylon. That might sound boring, but this isn’t just any old nylon! It’s weatherproof, bluesign® approved, and fair trade certified. Basically, this thing can handle spills, is sustainably sourced, and meets global standards for responsible production. What’s not to like about that?

In addition to all the technical jargon we just discussed, this tech pouch’s texture is unique. It’s comfortable to grab onto, and you can feel the durability in every fiber when you slide your hand across it. Seriously, we’re digging this stuff, and it’s been Peak Design’s go-to material for a while now.

The Peak Design logo is minimalistic but noticeable. It’s imprinted on a small tab on the top of the tech pouch that feels like leather. It’s sleek but not devoid of attention-grabbing contrast, so keep that in mind. However, we do think it looks professional, which is a perk since there’s a good chance you’ll be using this tech pouch for your work devices.

The backside has two attachment loops, which come in handy for travel. You can turn this tech pouch into a small crossbody sling, which is convenient for trips to the coffee shop or adventures where you want to bring a battery bank and some cables along for the ride to stay juiced up. Additionally, you can use these loops to attach the tech pouch inside (or outside) your pack for safekeeping (or quick access). If you don’t find this feature helpful, the loops don’t get in your way or look bad, which is solid.

The zippers are unbranded, which has been Peak Design’s go-to move for quite some time. Whereas we at Pack Hacker love to see YKK zippers on bags, as we’ve found them to be the most durable brand, we don’t mind seeing Peak Design take this leap out into the dark. Though we’ve had issues with unbranded zippers, while combing through thousands of YouTube comments every week, we’ve encountered a traveler or two (or two dozen) who say the same thing about YKK zippers. It all depends on how you use your gear and who is manufacturing the unbranded zippers. So far, we’ve had no issues with this Peak Design copy!

The zipper pull is simple but effective. It features heat-shrink plastic, stitching for grip, and a small loop at the end.

This tech pouch usually stands on its own, which is handy for trips to the coffee shop or at home at your desk. It’s not always true, as you can pack this thing multiple ways (we’ll get there), but with most configurations we managed, there wasn’t an issue. If you use taller or broader gear, the weight displacement can make it tumble over at times—still, no real problems to report.

Inside The Pouch

The main organizational feature of the Peak Design Small Tech Pouch is an accordion-style divider. Essentially, it’s an X made out of stretchy material that helps you segment your gear, which it does well. There are two larger and two small/medium sections, so there’s space for gear of all sizes. Huge tech gear might not work here, so you’d be better off with Peak Design’s larger tech pouches if that’s the case. The larger sections work well for a big battery bank, like a NITECORE NB20000 or 20,000 mAh Anker model. The smaller sections work for a travel mouse or travel adapter.

The accordion also acts as a gusset, ensuring you don’t accidentally open the pouch too wide and let all your gear tumble to the floor. This does stop you from opening it as wide as you’d like to at times; however, in our experience, it’s for the best overall. You’ll find the Micro-SD card that slipped through your fingers eventually, and the gusset is a handy feature, even if it doesn’t seem like it right after you dropped the card.

On the tech pouch’s front side, there are three small pockets. These work well for cables and other little tech gear. They’re too small for a phone, so you’ll have to stow that elsewhere when using this tech pouch in sling mode. The middle pocket is slightly larger than the other two, so it works for larger items, like a wall charger or a small dongle.

Above the three pockets is a small elastic band that works for stowing a pen, pencil, or stylus. It flies under the radar but is helpful if you carry writing utensils.

On the tech pouch’s back side, there’s a zippered pocket, which is handy for locking gear down that you don’t want to bounce around in the larger area. There are three small pockets here, which are well suited for SD cards, a SIM card, or that pesky Micro-SD card you tried to find earlier. If you don’t have much tiny gear, these might not be the most helpful; however, they stay out of your way if you aren’t using them, which is handy.

Overall, the Peak Design Small Tech Pouch will perform well for most travelers. Not everyone needs a huge tech pouch for every trip; sometimes, less tech makes for a better time on vacation. After all, you’re there to enjoy the place, not use your tech. Still, in our modern society, it’s hard to function without a little telecommunication, and the Peak Design Small Tech Pouch will enable you to do that.