Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Granville Zip 16 Backpack

Got this pack to replace my older Granville 20 and am really enjoying the features! I find I can organize this one much more effectively especially with the separate compartments and the interior zippers that I used for electronics. The outer front pocket too is great to stash keys and sunnies. Huge fan of the fact that this is fully zipped closed making it more "Water resistant" as opposed to the fold-over closure.

For a new job, I needed a bag that was less "tech" looking than most of my packs. This backpack succeeds in many areas: First, the material is extremely robust, long lasting, and provides a very high degree of weather protection (I know this from other packs made out of the same material). Secondly, it manages to have a streamlined profile whilst offering a surprising amount of room when packed correctly. Thirdly, the design philosophy of "minimalist is more" is spot on, offering the right balance of form and function. I just want to offer two minor comments. These are not complaints, just ideas for the design team and things to keep in mind for those thinking about purchasing this backpack. First, the pack carries better when it is full, or at somewhat loaded. Obviously there is no problem carrying a laptop and nothing else, but the naturally bulbous shape feels better against the back when it is filled out a bit. Second, be aware that this backpack does not stand up on its own. In other words, you will have to lay it flat or lean it against a wall or chair, and even then it may tip over. I simply needed something small, so that's not a deal breaker for me. It would be nice to see a bigger option similar to this style in the 20-24 liter range with the same N400r-AC (but without the top flap that currently appears on the larger model). If you could give it enough form or shape on the bottom such that it could stand up on its own, even against a wall, that would be perfect.

For a new job, I needed a bag that was less "tech" looking than most of my packs. This backpack succeeds in many areas: First, the material is extremely robust, long lasting, and provides a very high degree of weather protection (I know this from other packs made out of the same material). Secondly, it manages to have a streamlined profile whilst offering a surprising amount of room when packed correctly. Thirdly, the design philosophy of "minimalist is more" is spot on, offering the right balance of form and function. I just want to offer two minor comments. These are not complaints, just ideas for the design team and things to keep in mind for those thinking about purchasing this backpack. First, the pack carries better when it is full, or at somewhat loaded. Obviously there is no problem carrying a laptop and nothing else, but the naturally bulbous shape feels better against the back when it is filled out a bit. Second, be aware that this backpack does not stand up on its own. In other words, you will have to lay it flat or lean it against a wall or chair, and even then it may tip over. I simply needed something small, so that's not a deal breaker for me. It would be nice to see a bigger option similar to this style in the 20-24 liter range with the same N400r-AC (but without the top flap that currently appears on the larger model). If you could give it enough form or shape on the bottom such that it could stand up on its own, even against a wall, that would be perfect.

I bought this backpack a month ago and I like it. it's like Veilance Nomin Pack... But less expensive than the veilance......also i do have 4 backpacks from arc'teryx. It's comfortable..no more shoulders problems ... I like the shape of it too but I wish it WAS GOR-tex.. Come arc'teryx you could do better.. But wait a min it's been a month since I have it I start having a problems with the zippers.. I struggle with opening and closing which does not make a sense

I bought this backpack a month ago and I like it. it's like Veilance Nomin Pack... But less expensive than the veilance......also i do have 4 backpacks from arc'teryx. It's comfortable..no more shoulders problems ... I like the shape of it too but I wish it WAS GOR-tex.. Come arc'teryx you could do better.. But wait a min it's been a month since I have it I start having a problems with the zippers.. I struggle with opening and closing which does not make a sense

I bought this backpack a month ago and I like it. it's like Veilance Nomin Pack... But less expensive than the veilance......also i do have 4 backpacks from arc'teryx. It's comfortable..no more shoulders problems ... I like the shape of it too but I wish it WAS GOR-tex.. Come arc'teryx you could do better.. But wait a min it's been a month since I have it I start having a problems with the zippers.. I struggle with opening and closing which does not make a sense

Picked up one of these as a budget Nomin alternative for a recent work trip to Colorado. The Granville 16" serves as a great waterproof urban pack for carrying small electronics around outdoor environments and on rainy city days. With some internal organization elements I am able to fit a mirrorless camera with either one zoom lens or two prime lenses and a 13" thin laptop comfortably with extra room for a base layer or packable shell. Not impressed with the strap management or plastic strap hardware for a pack at this price point. Overall a solid performer in style, comfort, weight management and keeping things dry!

So i have now been using this backpack for about a month. I love mostly everything about it but one thing that always seem to bug me is how much heat the back panel generates against my back. After a 10 min walk, my back would feel a little sweaty. I have never experienced this before with other backpacks. I suspect it has something to do with the sleek back panel where there are no ridges/ventilation channels. Perhaps aesthetically it looks better without ventilation...

So i have now been using this backpack for about a month. I love mostly everything about it but one thing that always seem to bug me is how much heat the back panel generates against my back. After a 10 min walk, my back would feel a little sweaty. I have never experienced this before with other backpacks. I suspect it has something to do with the sleek back panel where there are no ridges/ventilation channels. Perhaps aesthetically it looks better without ventilation...

The model on the website for this backpack is male and most of the reviewers so far are male but Granville 16 is actually also very suitable for female. I particularly like the slim and compact design. I've this item for 3 weeks and it's the first time I have a waterproof backpack. I appreciate the quality of material and craftsmanship. However, I would agree with some reviewers that the laptop compartment is a bit small. It is a wee bit too tight for my 13" laptop in a soft laptop sleeve. Without the laptop sleeve is fine but I prefer to keep my soft laptop sleeve. The WaterTight zipper is great when you're not in a hurry. I travelled with the Granville 16 last week and it took quite an effort to take out my laptop from the backpack at a busy custom check point. The front compartment has a lot of room and can fit my Atom LT and a small makeup bag. Good design!

I got this bag to use around the city and going to and from work. What I really love about this bag is the size and water repellency! It's also a nice simple design. I can fit my 13" macbook pro and my camera easily in this bag. I do find that if you add anything to the outer top pocket it can make the bag quite top heavy. I don't really have any negative things to say about this bag. The material seems really durable which is great because I feel like this bag will last me a long time. It is also a great size for a carry-on bag for travelling!

I got this bag to use around the city and going to and from work. What I really love about this bag is the size and water repellency! It's also a nice simple design. I can fit my 13" macbook pro and my camera easily in this bag. I do find that if you add anything to the outer top pocket it can make the bag quite top heavy. I don't really have any negative things to say about this bag. The material seems really durable which is great because I feel like this bag will last me a long time. It is also a great size for a carry-on bag for travelling!

DISCLAIMER: I received this product as part of a prodeal. The Granville 16 Zip is a great looking bag. The AC2 fabric and YKK Aquaguard zips make the bag incredibly water resistant. It's comfortable to wear and offers nice organizational options. The construction is impressive, with a frame sheet giving it structure and a curved main zipper that allows smooth access to the curved main compartment. The main compartment is divided in two sections which could be convenient for stuffing gym clothes or a spare rain shell. Unfortunately, the laptop sleeve on this bag is incredibly small and doesn't come close to fitting my 15" Surface Book 2. Being a huge fan of Arc'teryx, I own both an Veilance Nomin and Granville 20. Both of them carry my Surface Book perfectly, and I had assumed the Granville Zip 16 would do the same. Instead, it's so slim and narrow that I would question it's ability to hold other laptop brands and sizes. The laptop sleeve is lightly padded, but you may not be able to fit your laptop with an additional protective sleeve. Arc'teryx should update the description with more accurate dimensions of the laptop sleeve, or consider expanding it in future iterations of the bag. The bag could be improved by allowing a full clam shell design. Currently the main zipper goes halfway down the bag's length. One final criticism is the "Made in Philippines" tag at the top of the left shoulder strap. It looks out of place on an otherwise fairly minimalist-looking bag. Those few issues aside, it's an excellent bag with great construction and features. Just make sure it fits your laptop!

DISCLAIMER: I received this product as part of a prodeal. The Granville 16 Zip is a great looking bag. The AC2 fabric and YKK Aquaguard zips make the bag incredibly water resistant. It's comfortable to wear and offers nice organizational options. The construction is impressive, with a frame sheet giving it structure and a curved main zipper that allows smooth access to the curved main compartment. The main compartment is divided in two sections which could be convenient for stuffing gym clothes or a spare rain shell. Unfortunately, the laptop sleeve on this bag is incredibly small and doesn't come close to fitting my 15" Surface Book 2. Being a huge fan of Arc'teryx, I own both an Veilance Nomin and Granville 20. Both of them carry my Surface Book perfectly, and I had assumed the Granville Zip 16 would do the same. Instead, it's so slim and narrow that I would question it's ability to hold other laptop brands and sizes. The laptop sleeve is lightly padded, but you may not be able to fit your laptop with an additional protective sleeve. Arc'teryx should update the description with more accurate dimensions of the laptop sleeve, or consider expanding it in future iterations of the bag. The bag could be improved by allowing a full clam shell design. Currently the main zipper goes halfway down the bag's length. One final criticism is the "Made in Philippines" tag at the top of the left shoulder strap. It looks out of place on an otherwise fairly minimalist-looking bag. Those few issues aside, it's an excellent bag with great construction and features. Just make sure it fits your laptop!

Well made, great quality however the shoulder straps are too thin and the material they're made of is a bit slippery so if you have it over one shoulder it's consistently slipping off and needs adjustment. The back of the bag could do with some padding and the shape is a bit odd. Weirdly top heavy looking. And the grab handle on the top is a bit thin. These are nit picks obviously but it's a shame as this is close to being the perfect bag for work. Just about fits my 12.9 iPad in a sleeve in the laptop pouch so I can well imagine it would struggle with a decent sized laptop as some other reviews have mentioned. It does hold more than it looks like it would, but as the bottom of the bag is restrictive due to the design it quickly starts to look stuffed. And finally why on Earth is there a small tab on the outside of the bag above one of the shoulder straps??? It looks awful!!! A few minor adjustments and this would be perfect, please take note arcteryx.

I have nothing bad to say about this pack, my only issue is the logo peeled off my bag within two weeks of having it.

The backpack could barely fit my 14-inch Thinkpad carbon x1. The sleeve is very tight, I have to push hard to put my laptop. But the top of laptop could be scratched by the zipper. I have returned it because of this issue. Be careful if trying to put a laptop in the bag.

It says it is designed to "secures a 15 inch laptop". This is very inaccurate. I tried to put my 15 inch lenovo x1 extreme, a think and light laptop into the padded sleeve. It simply did not go in. The sleeve is VERY small and secures only the smallest laptops. It would be more accurate to say this backpack secures a 13" laptop.