Peak Design has become a staple among photographers for camera bags and accessories, and they have now expanded their line with the Roller Pro and the XL Camera Packing Cube, a carry-on style bag meant for both travel and work. But is it the best of both worlds or does it fall short in each? We put it to the test through travel and work alike to see where it excels and where it could be better.
Through their marketing, it’s clear that Peak Design aimed to redesign roller bags as a whole and make something different. After spending a few months with the Roller Pro, I can confirm this is unlike any carry-on or rolling camera bag I’ve used. While most roller bags simply rehash the same formula with slightly different materials or dimensions, this feels like an intentional rethinking of what a modern traveling creative actually needs.
Let’s get into the construction and materials first. The bag uses a combo hard/soft construction with a weatherproof nylon exterior and a hard interior, creating a sleek look that offers maximum protection for whatever you throw in it. The nylon feels premium, resisting scratches and scuffs far better than cheaper options, and the hard shell gives you peace of mind when checking it overhead or squeezing it into a packed trunk.
The zippers glide with ease, although I had a minor issue where one would get stuck when the bag was fully open. As I broke in the bag, I found that issue went away, but it’s worth noting that the first few uses required a little patience. Beyond that, every seam feels overbuilt, and every attachment point reinforced — exactly what I’d expect from a company that built its reputation on design precision.
Next, the wheels. These wheels are fantastic. They make me want to ride the suitcase down a hill, but I fear I might hurt myself in the process. The wheels roll smoothly whether on smooth ground, carpet, or even cobblestone streets. This may sound trivial, but anyone who has dragged a bag through uneven pavement or across an airport terminal knows how much of a difference good wheels make. With the Roller Pro, you barely have to think about it — it just glides.
Then there’s the carbon fiber SlimDrive handle, all one piece and slimmer in profile than most luggage handles. The handle not only takes up far less interior space, but it also is stronger than you’d think. I’ve put a bag of stands, lighting equipment, and other accessories on top of the roller, pressing the weight against the handle, and it took it like a champ. And being a solid single piece, the handle doesn’t jam at all, which has been lovely. For anyone who has had a telescopic handle jam mid-travel, you’ll understand how refreshing this is.
All in all, there’s nothing bad I can really say about the construction. It feels as though Peak Design wanted to eliminate every “usual annoyance” of roller luggage, and for the most part, they succeeded.
For travel, it’s been surprisingly good. My last carry-on was a little too big, and I find this is the perfect size with a well-balanced allocation of space. It comfortably fits in overhead bins without question, and the interior is designed in a way that avoids wasted space. The placement of the laptop compartment makes the security shuffle a lot easier — you can quickly pull out your electronics and keep things moving, which is a blessing when you’re standing in line with impatient travelers behind you.
Also, I find the interior large zipper to be a great divider for dirty clothes. It’s the kind of small touch you don’t think about until you’ve lived with it, but having a simple built-in way to separate clean from dirty makes unpacking far easier.
The opening design of the Roller Pro makes hotel stays even easier since it takes half the footprint of a regular suitcase. You don’t have to clear a huge space on the floor to open it flat. Just flip it open like a clamshell and you’re in. That, combined with the sleek look, means it feels at home whether you’re checking into a boutique hotel or crashing in a shared Airbnb. And while the price point is certainly premium, it doesn’t tip into the overly luxurious category that feels inaccessible. For what you’re getting, it’s fairly positioned.
Now for work — how does it perform? Originally, I had the idea that for smaller shoots I might be able to cram all my gear into it. That said, I usually bring a lot of kit, and that was a pipe dream. However, I do find it holds a little more gear than your average carry-on–sized hard production case, so it can handle a decent amount of kit.
The way the Packing Cube fits into the Roller Pro isn’t the most intuitive (unless I’m doing something wrong). But if you attach it with the clips to the interior of the lid of the Roller, you can open it all in one motion. That makes setup on set faster, as you don’t have to constantly wrestle with dividers or layers to get to your essentials.
The pockets and dividers make packing all the essentials quite easy, and once again the footprint makes taking this on set a breeze. If you’re working in tight environments — be it a small studio, a client’s office, or even outdoors where space is limited — the Roller Pro doesn’t get in the way. It stays compact, organized, and professional looking. I wouldn’t say this is my main gear hauler — at least not yet — but I do see myself bringing it on more jobs in the future, particularly when I need a hybrid between luggage and gear case.
All told, I’ve found the bag to be more ideal in the travel sense — at least that will likely be my main use for it. That said, I also like that you can leave the cube packed, then take it out if you want to use the Roller Pro as luggage; later, you just empty the suitcase and pop the cube back in to switch between camera roller and luggage. This modularity is where Peak Design shines — they’ve always excelled at making products that adapt to different workflows rather than locking you into one.
There’s also the EDC Pouch at the top that works great for keys, wallets, or anything you may need to grab quickly. When moving through airports or hopping in and out of cars on set, having that extra pocket accessible without digging into the main compartment is invaluable.
Having used the Roller Pro for some time, I’ve found it to really be the best of a carry-on “made better” and a rolling camera bag. With a couple of quirks that show up, I can confidently call this a near-perfect carry-on/rolling camera bag. It may not completely replace my dedicated production cases, but it doesn’t have to. Its strength is in being flexible and adaptable.
For the creative who travels often — whether a photographer, filmmaker, or someone mixing work and play on the road — the Roller Pro fills a unique niche. It looks good, performs well, and most importantly, makes the travel and work experience smoother.
Worth noting: I was sent this bag by Peak Design but am not sponsored by them, and I have come to all of these conclusions on my own without outside input.