Why Rolltop Backpacks Are So Popular for Commuting

Bike in the morning, then the tram, work or school during the day, the gym in the afternoon, a gig or a party in the evening, a hike at the weekend. A commuter's bag has to hold its own in all of it, rain or shine. That's why you see more and more rolltop backpacks around the city: the design handles every part of a daily commute surprisingly well. Here's why.

What a commute asks of a bag

A commute isn't one situation, it's five or six in a row. Your bag has to handle rain on the bike, the crush on the tram, the café or changing-room floor, and look right in a meeting or at a party, while you carry something different every day. Most backpacks are designed for one or two of these situations. The rolltop became popular because it does well in all of them.

1. One bag, changing loads

Monday it's just the laptop, Tuesday your clothes for after the gym, Friday the groceries on the way home, Saturday a hike. A fixed-size bag is too big one day and too small the next. The rolltop solves exactly that: on a lighter day you roll it tighter and it stays slim, and when you carry more you open it up and gain a few litres.

2. Rain and the bike

If you commute by bike, you know the rain catches up with you sooner or later. On a traditional backpack the zip runs right along the top, where the rain lands. Between the overlapping folds of a rolltop, water has no straight path in, and the technical fabric and waterproof lining help further.

Our backpacks are made from marine technical fabrics. They are UV and weather resistant, and mud splashes wipe straight off.

3. Security on public transport

On a crowded tram, a zip on your back is an easy target. A rolltop has to be unclipped and unrolled before anyone can reach inside, and that's hard to do unnoticed. Whatever is inside stays safe.

Put valuables in the small zipped pocket inside the main compartment, on the side against your back, and your phone and travel card in the front pocket, where you can reach them quickly.

4. Comfort on longer journeys

If you carry it for half an hour twice a day, comfort isn't an extra, it's the basics. Because of its shape, a rolltop keeps the weight close to your body: it doesn't pull you backwards, it feels lighter, and it's gentler on your spine than a bag that hangs away from your back. A padded back panel and padded shoulder straps make a big difference on longer walks or on the bike.

The slim shape helps in a crowd too, you fit in more easily: you don't hit the person next to you when you turn around, and it doesn't take up a whole seat.

5. Put it down without worry

On a commute you put your bag down a lot: on the tram floor, next to your desk, by the chair leg in a café. The laptop pocket in H.ELIX backpacks deliberately stops short of the bottom of the bag, so the laptop doesn't touch the ground and doesn't take the knock. The bottom of the bag is made of three layers of material, so it's especially tough and handles dirty floors, pavements and being put down every day. Your keys hang on the key holder in the front pocket, so there's no digging for them in the morning.

6. One bag for everything

Most commuter backpacks look out of place: like hiking gear in a meeting, at a gig or at a party. The clean shape of a rolltop works with a suit, a leather jacket, jeans or sportswear, so the same bag comes with you to work or school, to the gym, to a concert or a party, and on a weekend hike or a trip. A good bag doesn't spoil an outfit, it adds to it.

7. Built for every day

A commuter bag is carried for hundreds of days a year, put down on dirty floors and rained on often. Only durable materials and good construction can take that. Our bags are made from abrasion-resistant technical fabrics, stainless hardware and strong webbing, and they come with a lifetime warranty.

Quick tips for commuters

1. Put heavier things on the side against your back.
2. Keys on the key holder, phone and travel card in the front pocket.
3. In the rain, fold the top down well.
4. On the bike, tighten the shoulder straps a little more so the bag doesn't move.
5. Wipe off mud and dirt with a damp cloth before it dries.

Frequently asked questions

Is a rolltop backpack good for cycling?

Yes, it's one of the best choices. It sits close to your back, doesn't swing and helps keep the rain out. Tighten the shoulder straps so it doesn't move while you ride.

Will my laptop get wet on a rainy morning?

A well-folded top, technical fabric and a waterproof lining help a lot, but we can't take responsibility for water resistance. Looking after your laptop and other sensitive things is up to you, and the bag can only help. In sustained rain, put them in a separate waterproof sleeve.

Isn't it slow to open every time?

H.ELIX backpacks close with a carabiner that opens quickly, so among rolltops ours are among the fast ones. At the same time, the double closure and the construction make them more secure than other backpack styles. And the things you need often, like your phone, travel card and keys, live in the front pocket and on the key holder, so you rarely need to open the main compartment during the day.

H.ELIX rolltops for commuting

We designed our backpacks in Budapest for city commuting, and we make them by hand in Hungary. Browse all our rolltop backpacks, or try them on in our showroom at Szervita tér 3.