Tested: Peak Design Roller Pro and XL Camera Cube

San Francisco-based Peak Design (PD) is known for innovative, high-quality camera carriers and associated backpacks. However, they rolled the dice and came up with a new spin on an age-old item: the carry-on roller suitcase.

Peak Design recently revealed two products that can work together or be standalone pieces: the Peak Design Roller Pro and XL Camera Cube. Would the Roller Pro replace the traditional clam-shell carrier? Will the XL Camera Cube stow all the camera gear I currently have? I put them to the travel test to find out.

Peak Design Roller Pro

The Peak Design Roller Pro is the company’s first foray into rolling luggage and is expandable from 32 liters to 39 liters with four 2.36” (60mm) durable, replaceable wheels. It is 8.6 pounds (3.9 kilograms) and can hold up to a 16” laptop like a Macbook Pro in its front zippered pouch.

As with 13 other PD products, the Roller Pro was showcased as its latest Kickstarter effort, which ended April 17, giving early backers a 29% discount on the product. Those customers can expect the earliest orders to ship mid-May 2025. They call the Roller Pro a “soft side meets hard shell hybrid” design.

The new Peak Design Roller Pro is made from Bluesign-approved 100% recycled weatherproof Versa Shell 500-denier nylon exterior that wraps around a 70% recycled polycarbonate casing. It has a PFAS-free coated fabric offering water repellency plus a chemical-free alternative to DWR (durable water repellant).

This roller has a EVA foam underlay, #8 UltraZips with abrasion-resistant UHMWPE thread, and ultra-high-strength UHMWPE cording material.

It has high-visibility 90% recycled polyester Bluesign-approved everyday carry pockets, see-through nylon ripstop mesh internal pockets, and glass-reinforced nylon friction hinges for its main opening.

The Roller Pro rocks ABS plastic wheel caps and wheels that glide easily across surfaces, no matter if you’re pulling it in two-wheel mode or rolling it with all four wheels. It’s also approved as a global carry-on when not expanded.

SlimDrive Trolley System

This new rolling duffel also includes the company’s SlimDrive trolley system, which refers to how the ecosystem of the bag is applied. This design boasts super thin 3k weave carbon fiber handle tubes topped off with a machined and adonized aluminum handle and button to pull it out of its chassis.

Since they’re so slim, it opens up more storage space within this roller than traditional derivatives.

The PD handle is height adjustable to 35.6” (90.5cm) above the ground when extended two-thirds of the way, or 39.4” (100cm) fully extended for taller people. The Roller Pro is compatible with all Peak Design Packing Cubes and Pouches, giving customers the ultimate packing flexibility while keeping things organized.

Roller Pro Stats:

External Dimensions

• Normal: 21.8” x 14” x 9” (55.6cm x 35.6cm x 23cm)
• Expanded: 21.8” x 14” x 11” (55.6cm x 35.6cm x 28cm)

Internal Dimensions

• Normal: 20.3” x 13.8” x 8.7” (51.5cm x 35cm x 22cm)
• Expanded: 51.5cm x 35cm x 27cm (20.3” x 13.8” x 10.6”)

Inside the Roller Pro

The PD Roller Pro features 75% recycled felt padding and a unique cargo retention system. Whereas other roller bags use traditional-style straps that click into place in two straight-across areas, the Roller Pro has a unique bungee cord-style system that crosses over your contents and clips into place.

There is a fully zippered shallow interior compartment on the drawbridge lid itself, which can hold smaller items, or can be rolled out of the way at the bottom of the roller’s spline if not in use. This maximizes interior storage and works great for allowing extra room for packing cubes or bulky clothing.

Peak Design Roller Pro’s Sticking Points

This bag has a unique drawbridge-style opening vs. the traditional clamshell like many others on the market. The Roller Pro features 360º grab handles on the tops and sides of the case. However, I wished it had a handle on the front of it, too.

This case also has small external carry loops and two supplied bungee-style cords for attaching an extra item to it, like a PD tripod or a rolled jacket.

The Peak Design Roller Pro’s external zippers are easy to open and use, though closing the top lid is a bit tricky when pulling the zippers over the curved areas near the bag’s spline. Once past that area, however, they easily glide.

The front zipper features a small area to stash passports, credit cards, your smartphone, and other small essentials. It also has a dedicated Snap Tent laptop sleeve on the front-most part of the case.

It fits my 16” Lenovo laptop only when the case isn’t not packed full. I had hoped for more padding for the computer to help protect it against unexpected impacts, too.

This front zippered area only has one zipper head, so the zipper resides on one side of the case. This interferes with the opening and closing of the main compartment’s zipper. It keeps catching the small compartment’s zipper pull when near it.

I’ve learned to hold the front pull aside when zipping the main case shut. Two zipper heads on the small front pocket would’ve been ideal so I can close all zippers on top of the case, so they don’t interfere with each other.

The wheels move freely in 360° but I wished the drawbridge opening was on the other side of the spline vs. how it’s currently designed. I need to put the bag on a bed, table, dresser to load or unload it, but the potentially dirty or wet wheels lay on whatever surface you’re putting the case on. I’ve had to clean the wheels multiple times before resting it on a surface.

Overall Peak Design Roller Pro Impressions

Even though the zipper designs and placement of its wheels could be improved, overall, the Peak Design Roller Pro is a great piece of kit. It’s easy to pack and is customizable for your packing needs. It’s got high quality and recycled materials and looks modern but it’s pricy.

This roller perfectly fits Peak Design camera cubes of all sizes, including the company’s new XL Camera Cube that fits into the main cavity like a glove. It also works beautifully with PD Packing Cubes, too.

It rolls smoothly, evenly on uneven surfaces, has an excellent slim handle, and is easy to grab things from it if you don’t mind the spendy $599.95 price.

Peak Design XL Camera Cube

As a professional photographer, I don’t know how I kept camera gear safe without Peak Design Camera Cubes.

The new Peak Design XL Camera Cube is no exception. This water-resistant monster has plenty of padding and is customizable with removable Velcro dividers.

The XL Camera Cube is specifically designed to fit the Roller Pro’s contours, too. It has grab handles on the case’s exterior and a generous zipper that opens this case completely on three sides.

Pro tip: If you’re using the XL Camera Cube with the Roller Pro, you can either leave the camera cube’s lid in place (closed) or you can take the foam insert out of the lid and fold it underneath. This way you’ll have easy access to your camera gear once the Roller Pro’s lid is opened. It also comes with C-clips to affix it into place if desired as well.

Note: The Peak Design XL Camera Cube is taller than other PD cubes as it rides the same lines of the Roller Pro. One end of its ends has a curved bottom making it difficult to stash bulky items, however. It’s best to play around with its supplied pouches and dividers to get your best fit before using it in luggage.

I was able to stash two mirrored DSLRs with a 200mm and wide-angle lens attached, two extra lenses, several batteries and a battery charger, a flash, my external hard drive, and other essential accessories with ease. Price: $139.95

Both Roller Pro and XL Camera Cube will be available June 17th on Peak Design’s website and retail partners.

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