Summit Creative Tenzing 30L Roll-Top Backpack Review
Summary Verdict
The Summit Creative Tenzing 30L rolltop backpack is a thoughtfully designed, well-built and adaptable camera bag with features that will appeal to adventurous female photographers. With a weather-sealed roll-top section, a rear-opening main compartment and a robust internal divider system, it balances flexibility and protection. There are a few small niggles, like the occasionally fiddly sternum strap and one awkward divider, but these are outweighed by its functionality, comfort and capacity. It's not cheap, but its more affordable than the similarly designed Shimoda Action X30 v2 Women’s Series backpack, which along with the Shimoda Explore 30V2 Women's Series won the SheClicks Accessory of the Year awards 2024.
Read about the SheClicks Awards
Score: 4.5/5
For
Rear-opening camera compartment with customisable dividers
Expanding roll-top section for extra gear or personal items
Comfortable to carry
Against
Sternum strap can slide off the end of its rail
One divider is tricky to install
2.35kg when empty
The Summit Creative Tenzing Roll-top 30L backpack has deep side pockets and straps that make it easy to carry a water bottle and a tripod like the Peak Design Travel Tripod shown here.
What is the Summit Creative Tenzing 30L Rolltop Backpack?
The Summit Creative Tenzing 30L Rolltop Backpack is a feature-packed camera bag designed for photographers who need both capacity and flexibility. It has a two-zone interior layout with a roll-top upper compartment and a rear-access camera gear section that can be customised with a robust divider system. Its weatherproof construction and ergonomic harness system are intended to keep both gear and wearer protected and comfortable, whether in town or on a trail.
Read our Shimoda Explore 30 v2 Women’s Series Backpack review
Summit Creative Tenzing 30L Rolltop Backpack Price and Availability
The Tenzing 30L Rolltop is available for £290 (approx $365) from retailers or summitcreativebags.com. It comes in three colours – black, orange and green – to suit different tastes or visibility preferences.
Summit Creative Tenzing 30L Specifications
Exterior dimensions: 53 x 29 x 20 cm / 20.9 x 11.4 x 7.9 inches
Weight: 2.35 kg/5.2 lbs
Capacity: 30L
Colour options: Black, green or orange
The shoulder straps are well-padded and comfortable even when the pack is fully-laden.
Key Features
The backpack's 30-litre capacity is divided between a dry-bag style roll-top section and a rear-opening camera compartment. The roll-top has a sealed YKK zip for additional easy access with weather protection and can be used to carry extras like clothing or snacks.
There's also a removable waist belt, aluminium support frame and EVA-moulded back panel that creates the core of the ergonomic carry system. The internal divider system uses HPS-EVA (Hot Pressed Slimline Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam and is designed to offer high impact protection.
There are pockets and straps aplenty on the Tenzing 30L and the access points include the rear panel, the quick-access roll-top and zip and a side opening for grabbing a camera or lens without needing to lay the bag down.
The left side (as you wear it) of the waist belt has a useful zip-close pocket that perfect for holding your purse and/or phone - it means you don’t hve to take the pack off if you want to pay for something.
Read our F-Stop Kashmir UL 30L backpack review
Build and Handling
The Tenzing 30L feels tough and is clearly made with durability in mind. It's external measurements are 53 x 29 x 20 cm and it weighs 2.35kg empty, so it's not a featherweight, but it sits well on my back thanks to the sculpted back panel and generous padding on the shoulder straps.
The roll-top adds a bit of flexibility, letting you carry more without committing to a larger bag. The sealed top zip is particularly useful when you want to access the top section without unrolling everything. In addition, the removable waist belt and adjustable sternum strap help shift the weight off your shoulders, though the latter can occasionally detach if you're not careful. It needs a stop at the top of its attachment area.
The fabric is easy top wipe clean (and remove leaves from) if you get it dirty. Image credit: Carmen Drake.
On the inside of the rear panel, there are two zip-close pockets that are handy for holding cards, batteries, SSDs and the like, plus a dedicates laptop sleeve that can cope with up to 14-inch laptops.
Meanwhile, there's a substantial, expandable pocket across much of the front of the bag. That's another convenient location to stash an extra layer. It can also house filters and the like, but it is important to be careful of these when laying the bag down to access the main compartment.
Aesthetically, the Summit Creative Tenzing 30L is quite smart and nicely finished. It reminds me of the Shimoda Action X30 v2 Women’s Series backpack, which also has a roll-top.
I’m around 5 feet 2 inches tall and I find the Summit Creative Tenzing Roll-top 30L a comfortable fit. Image credit: Carmen Drake.
Performance
With the internal dividers fitted, the lower section of the Tenzing 30L will accommodate a full-frame camera body and five or six lenses, including a long telephoto such as a 70-200mm f/2.8. One divider uses a metal wire to fix into side holes and allows the top compartment to extend into the main body when needed – it’s a clever design but can be awkward to set up.
There are plenty of internal dividers that can be moved around to fit your kit.
The side access is perfect for making a quick lens-swap and it's worth giving careful consideration to how you pack the bag.
There are also deep side pockets and strong straps to secure a tripod. The bag stays comfortable even when fully loaded, although it's worth being mindful of its weight on longer treks.
The main compartment of the Summit Creative Tenzing Roll-top 30L backpack opens from the rear and to the side.
I got the outer of the Tenzing 30L quite grubby during a shoot on a beach and rather muddy estuary, but a few minutes wiping with a damp cloth got the worst of the grime off. Some of the black textured strap webbing proved trickier to clean than the main fabric, but overall it looked good, like it had been used rather than abused.
I like to have the sternum strap quite high on the shoulder straps, it helps keep the backpack in place. The only issue here is that it’s fairly easy to pull the sternum strap off the top of its attachment point when you adjust it. Each of the straps has a useful zip-close pocket. Image credit: Carmen Drake.
Verdict
The Summit Creative Tenzing 30L Rolltop Backpack is a versatile and stylish camera bag with practical features that will appeal to women photographers who want a balance of space, comfort and durability. Whether you’re shooting a local walk or heading further afield, the Tenzing adapts to your needs and keeps your gear secure. It’s not the lightest option out there and could do with some refinements here and there, but overall, it’s a strong performer in the premium backpack category.
