ONA The Clifton Backpack (Dark Truffle)

I purchased this Ona backpack a little over year ago and while the look and feel of the backpack is very good at first glance, there are several concerns that I would like to highlight for anyone considering this bag. Pros:- Leather feels thick and durable and gives me confidence that this would wear well over time. - Storage space of main compartment is perfect size to allow for one or both packing cubes. - Looks nice, not over-styled. Also benefit of not standing out as a traditional camera backpack if that is a concern when traveling in areas where theft is a concern. Cons:- Side pockets are almost unusable, since they are made of leather there is no stretch. You might be able to fit a small water plastic water bottle but not much else. - Laptop storage can be very difficult to access when the front compartment is full. This can make it time consuming to remove and replace laptop during airport security lines.- The back panel that is made of mesh seems to distribute heat and sweat well, however the mesh does not seem to wear well and already shows signs of fraying. - Since the main zipper does not extend to the bottom of the bag, you typically need to remove items to access the bottom packing cube. - MAIN ISSUE: The primary zipper is already defective with two holes in it (see pictures). I'm not sure what brand of zipper they chose to use, but this is very disappointing for a bag that is positioned as a camera backpack at a €519 listed retail price. I really wanted to like this bag because it is so hard to find a good looking, well designed bag. If not for the zipper failure, this would continue to be my go to bag for trips where I am carrying less gear, but this quality fault will keep me from using this after just a little over a year of ownership.