What Is a Rolltop Backpack? Pros, Cons and Best Uses

A rolltop backpack closes at the top by folding down and clipping shut. That one detail gives you a bag that grows and shrinks with your day, helps keep the rain out better and looks cleaner. It also comes with a few trade-offs. Here is an honest look at both, from the people who make rolltops by hand in Hungary.

How does a rolltop backpack work?

A rolltop has an open, extended top instead of a fixed opening. You pack the bag, fold the top edge over itself a few times, then fasten it with a buckle, hook or clip. The number of folds sets the height of the bag, so the same backpack can be compact on a light day and noticeably bigger when you need it.

Closing it properly takes three steps:

1. Pack the bag, leaving roughly a hand's width of free material at the top.
2. Press out the extra air and fold the top down well.
3. Fasten the clip and tighten the straps so the load sits close to your back.

The advantages of a rolltop

Capacity that adapts to your day

This is the main reason people choose one. A fixed opening is the same size whether you carry a laptop or a laptop plus a jacket and groceries. A rolltop simply gets taller. On our backpacks, that flexibility is part of the stated capacity: the size M holds 15–18 litres and the L 22–25 litres, depending on how far you roll the top.

Helps keep the rain out

A zip runs along the top of a traditional backpack, exactly where the rain lands. On a rolltop, the overlapping folds leave water no straight path into the bag.

Weight close to your body

A rolltop is very comfortable for a simple reason: the weight sits close to your body. It doesn't pull you backwards, you take up less space in a crowd, and it's gentler on your spine than a bag that hangs away from your back.

A clean, quiet shape

Without a zipped lid or bulky pockets cutting across the front, a rolltop has a simple, almost architectural silhouette. It suits a bike commute as well as work, school, a gig or a weekend trip, which is why so many people use one as their only everyday bag.

The disadvantages, honestly

Getting in takes a few seconds longer

You have to unclip and unroll before you can reach inside. If you take something out every ten minutes, that adds up. The fix is simple: keep your phone, keys and travel card in an outer pocket or an internal quick-access pocket, and use the main compartment for everything else. H.ELIX backpacks also close with a carabiner that opens quickly, so among rolltops ours are among the fast ones, while the double closure and the construction make them more secure than other backpack styles.

One large main compartment

Many rolltops are basically one big space, and small things sink to the bottom. Look for a bag with organisation built in. H.ELIX backpacks have a laptop pocket and a small zipped pocket inside the main compartment, plus a front pocket with two more compartments and a key holder, so the small things always have their place. The laptop pocket stops short of the bottom of the bag, so when you put the bag down, the laptop doesn't touch the ground.

Packing needs a little attention

Our backpacks are deep and very practical to pack, but they perform best when you pack them with a little thought instead of just throwing everything in. Of course, when you're in a hurry, they keep up, and whatever is inside stays safe.

Who is a rolltop backpack for?

• Commuters and cyclists. Rain, changing loads and a bag that stays on your back for an hour or more are the conditions a rolltop was made for.
• City days with a laptop. Our size M fits a modern 15″ laptop and the L takes up to 17″, in a laptop pocket against your back.
• Short trips with cabin baggage only. Both our M and L work as cabin baggage. The L is nominally slightly over some limits, but it fits the sizer if you don't overpack the top. Always check your airline's current rules.
• People who care how they look. A good rolltop finishes an outfit instead of spoiling it, which is more than most backpacks can say.
• People who want their things secure. Rolled and clipped, the main compartment is closed off and not easy for other hands to get into.
• People who want capacity without bulk. For how much it holds, a rolltop stays remarkably slim and never looks oversized.
• Not ideal if you dip into your bag all day long.

How to choose a rolltop backpack

1. Size

Here are our sizes as a reference:

2. Fabric

"Water-resistant" on a label tells you very little. Look for real figures: abrasion resistance in Martindale cycles, UV resistance and the coating. For comparison, Sauleda Masacril® is rated at 50,000 Martindale cycles and Sanwil Soft Marine® at over 80,000. Both were made for boats and outdoor use, so a daily commute is easy work for them.

3. Hardware and webbing

The clip and the straps carry the whole load every day. Metal lasts longer than plastic. We use stainless steel hardware and strong, reinforced webbing.

4. Comfort

A padded back panel and padded shoulder straps matter more than any feature list if you carry the bag for an hour a day. Try it on fully packed if you can.

5. Repair and warranty

A good bag should outlive a few phones. Ask what happens when a seam opens or a buckle breaks. Our bags come with a lifetime warranty, and we repair them in our own workshop. We also repair damage the warranty doesn't cover, for a fee.

Frequently asked questions

Are rolltop backpacks waterproof?

Not automatically. The rolltop helps keep rain out of the opening, but the fabric, seams and lining also affect how well the bag resists water. We can't take responsibility for water resistance: the bag helps, but looking after your things is up to you. In sustained rain, put sensitive items in a separate waterproof sleeve.

Can I take a rolltop backpack as cabin baggage?

Usually yes, depending on the size and the airline. Our M and L both work as cabin baggage. Leave the top loosely packed and roll it down to fit the sizer.

How do I clean it?

Spot clean, wash by hand, or use a gentle cold machine cycle with liquid detergent. Remove the metal hook first and let the inside air out properly while it dries. See our FAQ for more.

Rolltops by H.ELIX

We design and make rolltop backpacks by hand in Hungary, from weatherproof marine fabrics, stainless steel hardware and strong webbing. Every bag has a padded back and a lifetime warranty, and the M and L sizes take a laptop.

Browse the Modern collection for clean, single-colour designs, the Vintage collection for one-off patterned pieces, or come and try them on in our Budapest showroom at Szervita tér 3.