Peak Design XL Camera Cube Review

The new XL Camera Cube takes things to a whole new level for Peak Design, and it’s as massive as the name suggests. That said, do we really need all that room, especially for travel? Let’s dive in and find out!

The Rundown

The exterior is crafted from 100% recycled Versa Shell material, which we’ve seen from Peak Design before. It’s lightweight, highly durable, and extraordinarily water resistant. It doesn’t have much thickness, but there’s padding behind it to support it. Most of all, it looks very sleek, a perk we enjoy when using a piece of gear daily. This material performs well, and we dig that it’s recycled, as that’s better for the environment.

There’s a single strap running around the exterior of the camera cube, similar to the others in Peak Design’s new line of cubes. It goes through loops like a belt, making it easy to grab onto from any angle. Basically, there are handles all around the outside, so you can get at it from any side, whether you’ve loaded it into rolling luggage, your closet, or a cabinet.

Every belt loop has an additional attachment point below it where you can secure the cube to things. Ours came with four C-clips, which allow it to attach inside the new Roller Pro Carry-On easily If you want to secure this thing into other rolling luggage, you’ll likely be able to do so with the attachment loops or handles we just went over. It fits best in Peak Design bags, though!

There isn’t a ton going on around the outside. It doesn’t look like a camera cube, and we like that. It doesn’t scream, “I am filled with $10,000; come take me,” which adds some peace of mind while traveling.

The bottom front side is tapered, which makes it easier to stick into a duffle or larger bag. However, the other side isn’t, so it can bulge into the corners of some bags. In short: like the rest of the cube, it’s very much designed with Roller Pro Carry-On compatibility in mind.

There’s a small branding tab on the top of the front side. It’s hard to notice, which we dig. Peak Design almost always gets its branding on point, and this is no different; sleek and simple is the name of the game!

The camera cube utilizes the same Zoom zippers we’re used to seeing from Peak Design. We’ve had no issues with these in testing, though we have had problems with them previously on other gear. Peak Design trusts them, and we haven’t had an issue with them on any modern Peak Design bag to date, including this one, so they’re A-OK in our book.

Inside, the lid has a removable padding sheet that slides in and out easily, allowing you to fold up the lid and load the open cube into your preferred bag (read: Roller Pro Carry-On) for quick access to your gear without unzipping your pack and the cube each time.. However, this only works if the bag you’ve put your camera gear in creates a flush top with the cube—otherwise, your gear will come tumbling out in transit, which would be bad (and expensive). We dig this feature on smaller camera cubes but didn’t find it useful on this model unless using it explicitly with the Roller Pro Carry-On, since that carry-on has a panel specifically designed to replace the cube’s lid when the bag is shut.

The padding on the cube’s interior is thick and dense without being too heavy, offering semi-lightweight protection for your camera gear. At no point in testing did we fear for our camera or accessories, and we put this thing through its paces. We wouldn’t load it onto the top rack of our car or anything—though it would probably survive the trip, bar getting into a rollover accident. For travel or storage at home, your gear will be safe.

There aren’t any pockets anywhere, which we think is a bummer for such a large camera cube. There’s lots of space on the lid and outside that feels wasted—though we understand external pockets would add weight and more seams for water to get inside the cube. You can get around this issue using a tech pouch and other small organizers.

The dividers are the same FlexFold models that we’ve seen from Peak Design in the past, and they work just as well as we remember. They’re easy to use, durable, and hold tight, even with heavy camera gear loaded inside. There’s one small mesh pocket with a hook-and-loop fastener on the back, which is handy for smaller gear. It doesn’t have a topper, so items can fall out if the road gets bumpy.

We can fit our entire camera kit inside without issue. If you can’t fit yours, we’d love to know what you’re bringing!

Packability

As we’ve mentioned, this thing is, well, big. It won’t fit into a travel backpack and definitely won’t work with a daypack. While it’s designed to fit into Peak Design’s brand new (at the time of testing) Roller Pro Carry-On, it’ll fit into other rolling luggage or a duffle bag, too. However, it’s best to look at the dimensions before purchasing since it’ll monopolize space in most carry on luggage. If you want to bring clothing and other goodies along with the camera cube, you’re better off with checked luggage for your travel gear and keeping this cube with you in the airplane cabin..

We’ve found this size works incredibly well for a road trip. You can stow it in the trunk for safekeeping, and it fits nicely on the floor in front of the passenger seat if you are riding solo. While exploring somewhere new on four wheels, you can quickly grab your camera, pop out of the car to snag a few shots, and be back behind the wheel at a moment’s notice without skipping a beat.

There are multiple smaller sizes available from Peak Design, though we’re digging this extra large because we can fit our entire kit in here and then some. Extra filters? Go for it. A super long vintage lens that offers unique flaring? Sure thing! A digital camera, film SLR, point-and-shoot film camera, and GoPro, all with accessories? No problem! For pros and hobbyists who love gear, this thing has space for it all.

Quick Comparison

At the time of writing, we’ve primarily tested camera cubes that are smaller than this one. We’ve extensively tested other models from Peak Design, including the second iteration, which is very similar to this newest cube.

The XL model makes bringing more gear along for the ride easier, but the bag selection process can be more challenging. Even the Large Camera Cube will fit into most travel backpacks, making it more versatile, whereas this has to be a standalone unit or packed in rolling luggage or a duffle.

If you’re already invested in the Peak Design system (or are considering trying their new Roller Pro Carry-On), this will work well for you. It’s a sized-up version of their smaller models, and it was designed to work with their new larger roller, so it’s a solid fit. It also works well with other rolling luggage but won’t perfectly integrate, so keep that in mind.

Unlike the smaller models from Peak Design, this wasn’t designed to be carried as is. Although you could theoretically do so, it would be challenging and uncomfortable. This camera cube is far less portable, but it was designed to be. It’ll keep your gear safe—including the stuff you usually don’t have room to bring.