Bag trend 2024
Rock’n’Roll at work and in your free time: waterproof roll-top backpacks for every situation
Roll-top backpacks are taking over the streets. The practical backpacks no longer just end up on the backs of bicycle couriers.
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The roll-top backpack has shed its hipster image. The practical all-rounder is no longer just used as a messenger bag. You can come across the stylish backpacks almost everywhere. Seven rolltop models for (almost) every situation.
Backpacks have a decisive advantage in a direct duel with travel bags and handbags. No matter how you turn or turn it – your hands remain free. And so backpacks are rightly and undisputedly at the top of the unofficial ranking of the most popular travel gadgets for on the go. On the bike, when hiking, on a camping holiday – you have to take your backpack with you. In addition to the popular daypacks, the so-called roll-top backpack has become a popular model in recent years. The robust bags no longer just sit on the backs of bicycle couriers who race through the city centers on their fast fixies. You now even get the impression that the roll-top version is increasingly being preferred over the classic backpack with several pockets and a zipper 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.
Rolltop Backpack: This is the most important advantage
No backpack system is as flexible as the rolltop backpack. While the volume and size of the classic backpack with a zipper or cord are fixed, the size of roll-top backpacks can be adjusted depending on the contents. To do this, the upper end of the backpack is rolled down and fixed using a hook or a click system. The idea is as simple as it is ingenious. She comes from the bicycle courier industry.
1. For the city
The roll-top eye-catchers come in pastel tones that are particularly popular in 2023 for your next stroll through the city. The Robin Medium model is available in Stage Green, red and pink as well as the classic white and black and eight other colors. The medium version can be adjusted to volumes between 25 and 50 liters. The backpack is secured and closed with a wide Velcro strap. Next to the main compartment there is space for a laptop. The smartphone can also be safely stored in the small zippered 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.
2. For university, school and office
It’s less for shopping and more for the daily commute to the office or university EverVanz laptop backpack designed. You can decorate the back with 16 designs, including some floral, bright motifs and stylish color combinations. In the smallest pack version of the backpack, which is only 14 centimeters deep, you can easily store a laptop up to 16 inches in size. Smart: You can also access the mobile computer via a vertical external zipper on the side. Instead of Velcro or a hook, a click system closes with two buckles. When rolled out to the maximum, the pack size should be a solid 26 liters. As a little extra, EverVanz has integrated a small emergency whistle into the chest strap. Just in case. The water-repellent outer material can withstand at least shorter showers. In short: the roll-top backpack from EverVanz is a practical and inconspicuous companion in everyday life as well as in your free time.
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3. For bikers
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 might particularly appeal to bikers who use their bike every day – for example to get to the office and back home. With a maximum volume of 40 liters, that’s it ExCycling Pack one of the most spacious models in this overview. This is mainly due to the fact that a second, larger compartment with a double zipper has been placed on the roll-top main compartment. When rolled up, 30 liters still fit into the roll-top backpack from southern Germany, which has a water-repellent finish. There should also be room for a laptop, a bicycle helmet and a jacket for all (rain) cases in the ExCycling Pack. An integrated ventilation channel ensures that your back is adequately ventilated and you don’t have to sit down at your desk in a soaking wet shirt in the morning. A matching rain cover is included. The versatile backpack can optionally be equipped with a Light-me-Up kit from Osram be prepared for twilight.
4. For water sports
Overboard is launching a compact roll-top backpack for water lovers and outdoor adventurers. If black is too boring for you: the 20 liter back buoy is also available in neon green and piggy pink. It is IP66 certified, meaning it is dustproof, allows strong jets of water to roll off and protects the contents even in the event of brief flooding. The individual parts of the overboard backpack were seamlessly welded together. Sounds like a reliable companion for stand-up paddling, canoeing and trekking tours with a high risk of rain. Twice holds better – even when it comes to closure. If 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 for water hiking, the developers also thought of a small zippered compartment in the storage space. Here’s it Overboard roll top backpack.
5. For vegans
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 embodies its mission statement directly in its name. Ansvar stands for responsibility. And the cotton that was used was handled responsibly Ansvar I was processed. The canvas upper is so tightly woven that the Ansvar repels light rain and dries quickly after a shower. The roll top of the 14 liter backpack closes with two buckles. When rolled up, almost 20 liters fit into the straightforward, Scandinavian-designed backpack. 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 contains no animal materials. 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 light one Backpack from Holzbrüder is not a pure rolltop model. It is first closed with a zipper, then adjusted to the contents using a roll top and secured 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.
6. For everyday life / for hiking
Deuter is launching 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. The manageable but completely sufficient 22-liter interior fits a classic folder as well as a 15-inch laptop and a tablet. The internal drinking bottle holder is special. All of these things can be accessed via an external zipper without having to take off the backpack. Practical for when things have to be done quickly. The outdoor brand Deuter also attaches great importance to sustainability in its backpacks. The upper material of the Step Out 22 should be 100 percent recycled. The Swabian manufacturer assures that 26 PET bottles were used for the thread for the seams alone. It is available in khaki, orange, navy, caramel and black.
7. For young families
The days 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 has the name “Berlin”. On the other hand, the idea is clear as day Fillikid Rolltop diaper backpacks. The changing mat for on the go is also included in the package, as are two clips with reflectors with which the backpack can be attached 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 warm for a little longer for smaller children. 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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