lululemon Triple-Zip Backpack 28L Review

Remember when you didn’t have to think so much when choosing an everyday bag? It was time to go back to school and your mom would take you to the local store so you could pick out your favorite color or character, and you’d be set.

Nowadays, there’s a lot more to consider. Do you want a laptop bag or a gym duffle? Are you looking for a travel daypack or a sling pack? The plethora of choices can be overwhelming to some. Luckily, lululemon has made a bag that can do everything: work, athletics, and travel. The lululemon Triple-Zip Backpack 28L has pockets for a laptop, hydration, small gear, and enough clothing to change after hitting the gym or get away for the weekend.

So, is it in a package that you want to carry every day or bring on a trip? Let’s dive in and find out.

External Components

The Triple Zip Backpack has a 28L capacity, so there’s a lot of space for everything you need to carry. It’s primarily made with recycled polyester, though the side pocket includes elastane, the back mesh is virgin polyester, and the lining is nylon. The water-resistant fabric worked out well when our tester got caught in a summer downpour. While it probably won’t repel water in a hurricane, you’ll be fine for short jaunts in the rain. Not to mention that you’ll probably want to seek shelter by the time water starts seeping in for your own sake, as well as the sake of your gear.

We’re testing the Black/Traverse Grey colorway, which is pretty much just black, but you can also get it in Legacy Green/Grey Eucalyptus, which is green. Both dark colorways hide most dirt and stains, though we got some random white spots on the Black and are unsure where they came from. It is pretty easy to brush or wipe off if you need to, though, which is good since lululemon says the bag is spot-clean only. The lululemon brand name is the same color as the bag material, which is more subtle branding that we typically see from the company’s products.

The backpack includes a cushioned carry handle at the top, which is comfortable enough to grab as you pull it out of a car trunk or from underneath the airplane seat in front of you, and there’s also a simple webbing strap on the side that you can hold when you slide the backpack on or off the handle of rolling carry on luggage. A pass-through runs vertically on the back panel between two panels of mesh-lined padding to hold it in place, which means the bag sits sideways as you roll your way through the airport—hence the side grab handle.

There are quite a few zippers around the Triple-Zip Backpack, but considering the name, you shouldn’t be surprised. We’re also not surprised to find that they’re all YKK, but we’re pleased they are because YKK is a reliable brand, and we expect them to hold up through lots of use. If you’re going to put a lot of zippers on a bag, we’d rather see them last than have to toss an entire back because of one faulty fastener. That’s not happening here.

The zippers have webbing loops stitched onto the metal pulls to make them easier to grab, but there’s nothing else fancy about them. They’re fairly water-resistant, though they lack an AquaGuard coating.

We’re also happy to see Duraflex hardware on the load lifters, sternum strap buckle, and strap adjusters. The adjusters stay in place where we put them, and the buckle releases nicely.

Speaking of strap features, you’ll see the bag has a rather beefy harness system, which is appreciated in a bag of this size. It might be slightly overkill, but we were never uncomfortable when wearing it thanks to the nicely padded, contoured shoulder straps lined with the same breathable mesh as the back panel padding. The sternum strap adjusts on a sliding rail to help you find the exact perfect spot, and you can tug on the load lifters to lift the bag’s weight off your lower back. The strap is stitched to the top of the shoulder strap with a few loops just above a reflective strip; you can connect gear to these loops, like a Bluetooth speaker or some hand sanitizer, to keep them within reach.

Unfortunately, none of these straps include any keepers to contain the extra dangling, so there’s quite a bit of that going on around the bag. Your cats will be happy—ours were.

Fit Notes

Despite its length, this bag is very comfortable, even for shorter users, as we mentioned above. The harness system works well when the bag is stuffed and can accommodate a larger load. It’s definitely a casual bag, but it generally looks good as long as you carry the right amount of gear. We say that because it can sag when you don’t fill it fully, which isn’t a great look for anyone, but especially not a bag.

But a bag you’ll be taking on a trip, to work, and to the gym doesn’t necessarily need to look super posh, and this utilitarian pack fits the bill.

Inside The Pack

The bag’s entire 28 liters aren’t contained in the main compartment; there are a lot of other pockets and places to stash gear around the outside of the bag.

We’ll start at the front, with a short horizontal zipper centered next to the lululemon brand. Although it’s small, it’s the perfect place to tuck your phone or passport to keep them within easy reach. However, since it’s right on the front of the bag, it’s not a super secure spot, so you may not want to use it in sketchy places.

There are two large, stretchy side pockets for water bottles, tripods, or umbrellas. Depending on how much gear you’re carrying inside and how skinny your bottle is, it might not be super secure, but we have no issue with a Hydro Flask sliding out as long as the bag sits vertically.

Now we come to the three zippers that, presumably, give the Triple Zip Backpack its name. The front zipper opens to a compartment that takes up about half of the bag’s front. It has an admin-panel-like organization, with two large stretchy mesh pockets that can comfortably hold cords or a wall charger with two stylus or pen pockets in between.

Behind those are two slightly wider liner pockets where you can slide a minimalist wallet, a travel mouse, or another similarly-sized accessory. Above the left one is a triangular piece of liner fabric with a key leash and clip attached to the point. The plastic clip is simple yet easy to use, and there’s plenty of space inside the pocket for a big bulky set of keys. There’s also enough room to slip a pouch or a 3-1-1 bag of liquid toiletries if you plan to use the backpack for a weekend getaway.

We’ll skip the middle zipper for a moment and pop to the one running atop the back panel. It’s the laptop compartment, and it’s large enough for a 16-inch device. We have no issue sliding a 13-inch MacBook Air inside, of course, unless you count the fact that it nearly gets swallowed up by the huge space. Still, the sleeve is well-padded on both sides and raised off the bottom of the bag for extra protection, so we’re not concerned about the safety of any size computer or tablet inside. Also, the padding blunts the feeling of it bumping up against your back, making it more comfortable.

Returning to that middle zipper, now—that’s how you enter the main compartment. This is the only entry with dual zipper pulls so you can get in at any side, and they extend two-thirds of the way down each side of the bag for wide access to your gear. We’ve had no issue packing this space with bulky hoodies, small coolers, and other large items, and this broad opening is why.

There’s more organization in here, too, if you still have small gear to tuck away. Against the front panel is a large zipper mesh pocket, and against the back panel, you’ll find two more large stretchy mesh pockets. They’re large enough for a glasses case or a high-capacity battery bank. Behind those pockets is yet another pocket. This one’s liner material and zips at the top, so it’s a good place to tuck your passport after you get through airport security, as well as extra cash and other items you don’t want to lose track of. Storing sensitive gear in this pocket is slightly more secure than putting it in exterior pockets just because someone would have to get into the main compartment before finding your extra cash. As long as you’re wearing the bag, you should feel them doing that.

In the middle of all this organization is a big open space. With packing cubes and pouches, you can put it to good use for clothing, travel shoes, lunch, and more. You could also leave it empty, but then you’ll experience some of that sagging we discussed above, especially if you have gear weighing down the front pockets.

Overall, the lululemon Triple-Zip Backpack 28L is a great option if you regularly carry a lot of gear or want something to use every day and while traveling. It has enough space to transition from daily use to vacation and is comfortable enough to wear even if you have a long haul through the streets of Venice before making it to your accommodations. On the other hand, if you’ve streamlined your daily carry and already own a dedicated travel bag, it may be a bit too much space, and you might want to look for something smaller. We love all the places to pack and the copious space, but it may be overkill for some minimalist travelers.