Backpacks have a decisive advantage in a direct duel with travel and handbags. No matter how you twist or turn them – your hands remain free. And so backpacks are rightly and unchallenged at the top of the unofficial ranking of the most popular travel gadgets for on the go. On the bike, while hiking, on a camping holiday – the backpack has to come with you. In addition to the popular daypacks, the so-called roll-top backpack has blossomed into a popular model in recent years. The robust bags are no longer only on the backs of bicycle couriers who hunt through the city centers on their fast fixies. One even gets the impression that the roll-top version is increasingly preferred to the classic backpack with several pockets and a zipper, even in everyday life.
In this article you will find out what distinguishes a roll-top backpack from “normal” backpacks and why a roll-top backpack should be waterproof. Seven roll top ideas for every situation.
No backpack system is as flexible as the roll top backpack. While the volume and size of the classic backpack with a zip or cord are fixed, roll-top backpacks can be adjusted in size depending on the contents. To do this, the upper end of the backpack is rolled down and fixed with a hook or a click system. The idea is as simple as it is ingenious. She comes from the bicycle courier industry.
The roll-top eye-catchers for the next stroll through the city come in pastel shades that are particularly popular in 2023. The Robin Medium model is available in lime, red and pink as well as the classic white and black. The medium variant can be adjusted to volumes between 25 and 50 liters. The backpack is fixed and closed with a wide Velcro strap. There is space for a laptop next to the main compartment. The smartphone can also be safely stowed away in the small zipped compartment on the outside. The upper material of the Johnny Urban rolltop backpack made from 50 percent recycled PET bottles is waterproof according to the manufacturer.
The EverVanz laptop backpack is designed less for shopping and more for the daily commute to the office or to university. You can decorate your back with 16 designs, including some floral, bright motifs and stylish color combinations. In the smallest pack variant of the backpack, which is only 14 centimeters deep, a laptop up to 16 inches in size can be comfortably stowed away. Smart: The mobile computer can also be accessed via a vertical external zip on the side. Instead of Velcro or a hook, a click system closes with two buckles. When fully rolled out, the pack size should be a solid 26 liters. As a little extra, EverVanz has integrated a small emergency signal whistle into the chest strap. Just in case. The water-repellent upper material at least withstands shorter showers. In short: the roll-top backpack from EverVanz is a practical and unobtrusive companion in everyday life as well as in your free time.
Cyclists are even more demanding when they are looking for a suitable backpack for daily tours or longer bike trips. Outdoor specialist Vaude has developed a roll-top all-rounder that bikers who use their bike every day, for example, to get to and from the office, could particularly like. With a maximum volume of 40 liters, the ExCycling Pack is one of the most spacious models in this overview. This is mainly due to the fact that a second, larger compartment with a double zip has been placed on the roll-top main compartment. Rolled up, 30 liters still fit into the roll-top backpack from southern Germany, which has a water-repellent finish. A laptop, bicycle helmet and jacket for all (rain) cases should also find space in the ExCycling Pack. An integrated ventilation channel is designed to ensure that the back is adequately ventilated and that you don’t have to sit down at your desk in a soaking wet shirt in the morning. A matching rain cover is included. Optionally, the versatile backpack can be prepared for dusk with a light-me-up kit from Osram.
Overboard is launching a compact roll-top backpack for water lovers and outdoor adventurers. If black is too boring for you: the 20-litre torpedo buoy is also available in neon green and piggy pink. It is certified with IP66, i.e. dustproof, lets strong water jets roll off and protects the contents even in the event of brief flooding. The individual parts of the overboard backpack have been welded together seamlessly. Sounds like a reliable companion for stand-up paddling, canoeing and trekking tours with a high risk of rain. Two are better than one – even with the closure. When the upper part is rolled up, the ends are additionally secured with a click system on the sides. And because the smartphone is part of the basic equipment when hiking in the water, the developers have also thought of a small zipped compartment in the storage space. Check out the Overboard Rolltop backpack.
Two roll-top backpacks come in a double pack for everyone who values sustainably manufactured products made from certified natural materials. Mela is at home in Scandinavia and incorporates its mission statement directly into the name. Ansvar stands for responsibility. And the cotton that was processed in Ansvar I was also treated responsibly. The canvas upper is so tightly woven that the Ansvar repels light rain and dries quickly after the shower. The roll top of the 14 liter backpack closes with two buckles. When rolled up, almost 20 liters fit into the backpack with its no-frills Scandinavian design. The laptop compartment (up to 15 inches) is padded and separated from the main compartment on the inside.
The roll-top backpack from Holzbrüder also does not contain any animal material. Instead of cotton, it is made of sealed and washable kraft paper. This special leather-look upper is made from cellulose and latex, among other things. It is water-repellent and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. The 600 gram lightweight backpack from Holzbrüder is not a pure roll-top model. It is first closed with a zipper, then adjusted to the contents using a roll top and fixed with a buckle. A slightly shorter zipper on the outside also gives you quick access to the contents. The manufacturer promises to plant a tree for every backpack purchased. The corresponding certificate is included.
Deuter starts with an all-rounder for everyday life, university, day trips or week-long trips into the countryside. The Step Out 22 combines all the advantages of a roll-top backpack. A classic folder as well as a 15-inch laptop and a tablet fit in the manageable but perfectly adequate 22-liter interior. The internal drinking bottle holder is special. All these things can be accessed via an external zip without having to take off the backpack. Handy for when you need something quick. The outdoor brand Deuter also attaches great importance to sustainability in its backpacks. The upper of the Step Out 22 is said to be 100 percent recycled. The Swabian manufacturer assures that 26 PET bottles were used for the thread of the seams alone. It is available in the colors khaki, orange, navy, caramel and black.
The times of impractical diaper bags with guaranteed chaos are over. Fillikid has developed a roll-top backpack for parents whose children still need diapers. You probably don’t need to understand why this model bears the name “Berlin”. The idea of the Fillikid Rolltop diaper backpack, on the other hand, is as clear as day. The changing mat for on the go is also included in the package, as are two clips with reflectors that can be used to attach the backpack to the stroller. There is space for a 0.5 liter drinking bottle in each of the side compartments, with one compartment lined with thermal material to keep bottles for smaller children warm a little longer. A leather buckle with an additional magnetic closure holds the whole thing together. The manufacturer specifies the maximum pack size as 25 liters.
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