Peak Design is set to launch its first rolling carry-on bag

Peak Design is set to enter the hugely popular (and hugely competitive) world of rolling luggage with the launch of the Roller Pro, which the popular camera bag and accessory company says reimagines what a roller-style carry-on bag can be.

The company says it started the new products development from the ground up with entirely custom parts and assemblies. 

That starts with Peak Design’s “SlimDrive” retractable handle, a patented, low-profile carbon fiber handle engineered for strength in a minimal volume. According to PD, most standard roller handles are made from off-the-shelf telescoping aluminum tubes, which jut into the interior of the roller, taking up valuable storage space.

Roller Pro’s handle is made from flat 7mm carbon fiber tubes, making it significantly stiffer while taking up much less volume.

In addition, smooth-glide casters roll across all sorts of materials and are easily replaceable if they wear out as you rack up serious miles with your bag. PD says at 60mm diameter these are bigger than most competitors, which means a smoother ride across more types of surfaces. 

The Roller Pro's hybrid construction offers the best of both the hard roller and soft roller worlds, according to the company.

The outside of the bag is made of its durable Versa Shel 550D Fabric, which is weatherproof and 100% recycled.

Inside the bag is a rigid polycarbonate shell, along with a layer of EVA foam and a felt liner to provide even more protection.

When it comes to packing and unpacking, PD's 'Drawbridge-style' opening combines a minimal footprint with maximum visibility, and adjustable and removable 'Drawbridge Cords' keep the lid of the bag at the perfect angle for packing. Speaking of space, the bag is 34L, but expandable up to 37L. 

In addition, a stowable organisational panel has three see-through pockets. These have room behind for a jacket or dress shirt behind, or can be stowed to make the entire volume of the bag a single space.

There's lots of other clever features too, including a hidden airtag pocket, discreet passport slot, and with Peak Design's popular Camera Cubes, the bag can easily be modified to carry camera gear too. 

Of course redesigning a product like a roller-bag from the ground-up doesn't come cheap, and the Roller Pro is a pretty hefty package - it'll set you back $599 USD ($953 AUD), although it's available on Kickstarter currently for a smaller pledge of $425 ($676).

The new bag will start shipping in Mid-July. In the meantime, you can check it out on Kickstarter here.