Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 20L Review

With a 270-degree zipper around the bag, weatherproofing and an adjustable laptop slot, could Peak Design’s Everday Backpack Zip be the perfect bag for the day-tripping photographer?

What is the Everyday Backpack Zip?

The Everyday Backpack Zip is a slimmer, simpler version of Peak Design’s hugely popular Everyday Backpack. Available in 15L and 20L capacities, the Everyday Backpack Zip is designed for street and travel photography.

Key features include side and top access, waterproof outer material and a variable height laptop compartment.

Features

Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack Zip has a unique design in the form of a zipper that wraps 270 degrees around the the bag. What’s more, there are four zipper pulls along this track, meaning one is usually within reach.

This wrap-around zipper effectively gives you both side and top access to your gear.

Inside the Everyday Backpack Zip’s interior are three levels, which are created by Peak Design’s origami-inspired FlexFold dividers. These can be bent and folded to accommodate the shape of your gear.

The Zip also has a novel take on the laptop compartment. If you are carrying a 13-inch laptop, fine. If you need to pack a 15-inch notebook, you can lift a flap at the top of the compartment, adjust the panel and your laptop will sit deeper in the bag. Note, this is only a feature in the 20L version.

You’ll also find three internal slip pockets, waterproof internal side and top pockets and stretch pockets on the external sides of the Zip where you can stash a tripod if you wish.

There are two external carry straps, a sternum strap and the material is all weatherproof and 100% recycled.

Differences between Peak Design Everyday Backpack and Everyday Backpack Zip

The bags are largely similar. The main differences are size and simpler functionality.

• The Everyday Backpack Zip comes in 15L and 20L sizes, while the EDB is available in 20L and 30L
• The Everyday Backpack Zip has no magnetic straps for easier stowing while traveling
• The Everyday Backpack Zip eschews the MagLatch closures in favour of a wrap-around zipper
• The Everyday Backpack allows for internal expansion, but the EDB Zip does not
• The Zip also has a smaller external carry capacity, with two cinch straps instead of four

Build Quality

What can I say about Peak Design’s build quality. It’s always exquisite, and the Everyday Backpack Zip carries on this tradition.

The main zipper is firmly sewn in place. There’s no sense that it will ever pull loose, fray or the teeth get gnarled and stuck. Likewise, the pulls are all firm and reassuring.

The back of the bag and the shoulder straps are padded with a spongy sort of foam that is comfortable when worn for long periods. I also like that the sternum strap can be opened and closed with one hand.

What I like about the material Peak Design uses is that it’s both attractive and rugged. Usually there is a trade-off between the two in bags but Peak Design has found that nice balance. What’s more the interior fabric is reassuringly soft, giving you confidence that no lenses will get scratched should a lens cap accidentally pop off in transit.

Overall, I’d rate the Everyday Backpack Zip build quality as superior.

Performance

My first test with any bag is seeing if it can stand upright when you place it on the ground. The Everyday Backpack Zip does just that, sitting there upright and patient like an obedient dog. This was reassuring when walking around Bristol and setting it down to take a shot or consult Google Maps.

I used the FlexFold dividers in a tiered system so that I had three levels. I placed my Nikon Z6 with the 35mm f/1.8 attached on the bottom. My 24-70mm f/4 was in the middle layer and I used the upper section for storing a hat and gloves.

My 13-inch MacBook Pro was in the laptop slot, and I also packed an extra card, battery and some other small accessories.

This was a fairly light load, and I hardly noticed the weight on my shoulders throughout the day. One thing that stood out immediately, though, is how easy it is to access your gear in the Everyday Backpack Zip. Because of the 270-degree zipper and four pulls scattered along its path, I could blindly reach behind me and without fail open the bag.

My gear sat comfortably inside. Never did I feel rolling or jostling with my footsteps. The Everyday Backpack Zip is a compact bag that fits closely to your body, and this helps keep everything securely in place.

It did rain during my Bristol excursion because this is England, and it always rains. It’s raining at the time of writing. Water beads up nicely on the Everyday Backpack Zip and rolls off. There was no ingress of moisture in the bag at the end of my day out.

Verdict

The Everyday Backpack Zip slots nicely into Peak Design’s product range. It’s a superb option for someone who doesn’t want a bag as big as the standard everyday backpack but wants a little more room than the Everyday Sling affords.

As I said above, normally with camera backpacks you need to sacrifice attractiveness for build quality, or vice versa, but this isn’t the case with the Everyday Backpack Zip. It’s a fashionable bag, but also incredibly well-designed and comfortable to wear.

Build quality is superb, and the Everyday Backpack Zip offers all the storage space you need to securely store your camera gear and personal items needed for a day out.

It’s priced at a premium, but so is your camera. So are your lenses. Don’t you want the very best for them?