
Hey all — I'm looking to pick up a roll-top backpack, and would love any recommendations. I'm ideally looking for something good and simple and just a little gorp-y — not too technical or over-engineered (I kinda hate the sleek EDC aesthetic that is favored by lots of bag brands these days). If it's made by a small US bike brand that would be ideal. Around 20-28L is probably the sweet spot.
Here's what I've already been looking at:
- Road Runner Medium Roll Top, 22L / $240 — easily my first choice, but they're out of stock as the company restructures its manufacturing. No response from customer service on when they'll be back or updates on social for months, either.
- Chrome Barrage 22L / $170 — another contender, but perhaps a bit over-engineered, and no good color options.
- ILE Default, 25L / $295 — popular online, but I don't love how it looks — a little blocky, and perhaps veering on too technical.
- Oveja Negra Portero, 16-22L / $170 — looks good, but a little small and probably too similar to a hiking backpack I already have.
- MER rolltops, $175 / 21L — fun small brand, but look a little too simple, and no water bottle holders.
- Vaya simple rolltop, $240ish, various — similar to MER.
- Ortleib Velocity/Lite, $175 / 23L — no external pockets or water bottle holder, too bike-y to really do double-duty off the bike.
- Life Behind Bars Breakways, $95 / 27L — theoretically interested but worried it's a little cheap, especially looking at the backpanel. Also not much about them online.
- There are also various Mission Workshop packs out there, that are starting to get a little out of my budget, plus I'd prefer Cordura to X-Pac.
Let me know if there's brands I should consider, or if you've got one you really love. (Panniers don't work for me, because I'll spend as much time off the bike wearing it as I will while commuting.) Thanks all!
by Restimar
1 Comment
Don’t know what you carry daily but I wouldn’t go below 27. A laptop and a water bottle and anything below is gone too small