It's just a hook, sewn into a bag, but I really, really like it. Peak Design is so proud of its clever integration that the San Francisco-based maker of camera gear gave it a name: BagLev, for its ability to keep its new City Line of bags levitated above the dirty ground.

Integrated BagLev hooks make my old bags feel dirty and dumb. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. BagLev lets you hang your bag off a chair, ledge, tabletop, or counter as you go about your day, keeping it mostly free of urban gunge.

I’ve been testing Peak Design’s innovative little nonslip hook in a pair of bags while vanlifing through France. After a few weeks, it's the 12-liter City Crescent ($119.95) crossbody bag I grab to casually explore villages, opting for the 15L City Backpack ($179.95) when heading out with my laptop for some truly remote work. In either case, the BagLev hook keeps Peak Design’s lightweight and water-resistant fabric clean when hanging above cafe and forest floors.

The bag’s thoughtful design touches include a quick access pocket with magnetic closure, easy-to-grab pulls on zippers, and places to hide a tracker like an Apple AirTag or new Pixel Tag. But it's the hook that's the key feature, changing my expectation of an everyday carry, making my other, hookless bags suddenly feel dirty and less capable.

Peak Design’s 15L City Backpack is a better choice if you’re regularly commuting short distances with a computer. It’s lightweight at 750g (1.6 pounds), the padded straps do a good job of supporting a fully loaded bag, and it has deep internal pockets for laptop protection.