11 of the Best Roll-Top Backpacks | Waterproof, Budget, & Daily Use Winners

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Roll-top backpacks are great accessories to have, regardless of what kind of world traveler you are. The finest roll-top backpacks offer the best of both worlds with a stylish look and a durable, often waterproof, design.

Choosing the right backpack is super important because it carries your most essential cargo. I’m sure you can imagine the nightmare it would be to try and salvage soaked travel documents and devices from the rain. (Trust me, I’ve been there.)

That is why you need a good quality backpack that can withstand the elements but also won’t compromise style and comfort.

In this case, a roll-top or flip-top backpack is a great option for your travels. It is often durable and waterproof with a minimalist style. If you’re ready to take the plunge for your big roll-top purchase, you’ve come to the right place.

Top Picks for Roll-Top Backpack

Check out some of the best picks for the best roll-top backpacks available now.

Best Everyday Roll-Top Backpacks

The Friendly Swede Waterproof Dry Bag is a versatile backpack for remote workers, travelers, or hikers. It has a stylish and lightweight design and can also hold a 13” laptop.

Best Camera Roll-Top Backpacks

The WANDRD PRVKE is overall the best camera backpack and the top choice for most traveling photographers. Excellent quality, light, and versatile.

Best Budget Roll-Top Backpacks

The Timbuk2 Tuck Pack backpack is among the most affordable backpack on the list that doesn’t allow the price to compromise the quality.

Best Waterproof Roll-Top Backpacks

The MIER Waterproof Backpack is the top roll-top waterproof backpack. It is made with a watertight design with welded and heat-taped seams for optimal water protection.

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List of Best Roll-Top Backpacks

Some roll-tops are great for the beach, while others are better suited for an urban traveler. Unpack the pros and cons of these backpacks to find the best roll-top backpacks for your next trip.

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WANDRD PRVKE Camera Backpack

Pros:

• Versatile and well padded to protect your electronics.
• Durable and weather resistant.

Cons:

• On the pricier side
• Not fully waterproof

The WANDRD PRVKE is one of my favorite bags to date. I’ve had it for over four years, and it’s one of my go-to backpacks for my electronics or just as a daypack for short trips.

The durable, water-resistant tarpaulin and ballistic nylon keep the bag weatherproof. The PRVKE also comes with a rain cover in case the weather takes a turn for the worse, but honestly, I’ve never used it, given that it is already pretty water-resistant as it is. 

The backpack comes in 21L and 31L, giving you enough flexibility to carry your camera gear, laptop, a small drone, and even some clothes!

If needed, the rolltop cover can be expanded for an additional five liters of storage space, making this a very flexible bag in terms of space.

The PRVKE has dedicated compartments for a laptop up to 15″ and a tablet. It also has a separate pocket for your phone or sunglasses, and there’s also a hidden passport pocket.

There are three access points to the bag; from the top, the back, and the side for quick and direct access to your camera.

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Earth Pak Waterproof Backpack

Pros:

• Waterproof phone case included
• Durable

Cons:

• Phone case won’t fit larger phones
• Not fully waterproof

The heavy-duty Earth Pak Waterproof Backpack comes in a variety of colors with plenty of storage space, especially in the oversized 55L backpack.

It is a great bag to pack for your ‘round the world trip because it can hold up to two and a half weeks’ worth of clothes. There are also a few built-in pockets for extra things like devices, bug spray, and cosmetics.

With a quick three or four rolls of the top, your items will stay dry while hiking through waterfalls or getting splashed by seawater.

It is lightweight with a padded back and heavy-duty waistband for optimal comfort during vigorous activities.

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TIMBUK2 Tuck Pack

Pros:

• Lifetime warranty
• Weather-resistant

Cons:

• Material isn’t breathable
• No back padding

This Timbuk2 Tuck Pack is a top-roll top hiking backpack with a minimalist design in neutral colors to match you wherever you take it.

It is lightweight with padded straps, so it’s a comfortable fit whether you’re hiking the Apennine Mountains or just going grocery shopping. It also has reflective zipper pulls and space to add bike lights for late-night trips.

The backpack holds up to 20L of capacity. It has a main compartment and several smaller pockets in and around it.

The internal pocket is big enough to hold a 15” laptop with additional pockets for gadgets, notebooks, and pens.

The good thing about the Timbuk2 Tuck Pack is that beyond being from an excellent brand, the backpack’s design is stylish enough to be used daily in the city or for hiking and camping.

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Skog Å Kust BackSåk Waterproof Backpack

Pros:

• Made with waterproof and durable PVC material
• Spacious interior

Cons:

• No laptop compartment
• No side pockets

One of the greatest properties of the Skog Å Kust BackSåk is its waterproofing abilities.

This roll-top backpack is made from heavy-duty PVC, has welded seams, and splashproof pockets. This bag will keep your things dry no matter the weather forecasts.

It is stylish, versatile, and ergonomic too. Choose between a variety of colors, patterns, and 25L and 35L sizes depending on your roll-up backpack wants and needs.

Depending on your trip, the bag can be worn as a backpack or carry-on by clasping the side clips to create a handle. It is great for comfort with a padded back, strap support, and a sternum clip.

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JOHNNY URBAN “Adam” Bag

Pros:

• Affordable
• Good size for hand luggage use

Cons:

• No side pockets for water bottles
• Quite small

This high-quality JOHNNY URBAN “Adam” roll top is a stylish cotton canvas backpack. The flexible and breathable fabric is great for everyday use while still being water-repellent.

It is also a great buy for eco-conscientious wanderers because the polyester fabric is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.

When you’re traveling for days at a time, you need a bag that isn’t going to weigh you down. That’s exactly what this bag offers.

Although its design is lightweight, it doesn’t skimp on comfort with subtle padding in the straps, back, bottom, and 15” laptop compartment.

It has additional pockets inside and out to store smaller items like a phone or wallet.

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The Friendly Swede Waterproof Dry Bag

Pros:

• Stylish
• Very lightweight

Cons:

• Only fits “13 laptops
• No fitted straps or waistband

If you’re planning a trip to an active and sporty trip in an urban setting like Redding’s outdoorsy city, this is the perfect bag for you.

The Friendly Swede’s Waterproof Backpack is minimalistic, sleek, and weighs 1.5lbs (0.7kgs) which is great for city travelers or students on campus.

Because you never know what the weather will bring, this bag has a high polyester coating weave that makes it highly durable, waterproof, and tear-resistant. Instead of stitched, the seams are welded shut for added water resistance.

There are three external pockets protected by splash-resistant zippers. Inside, the laptop pocket can fit a 13” laptop as well as some other gadgets or notebooks in the zipped inner pocket.

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Chrome Industries Barrage Cargo Backpack

Pros:

• Ergonomically designed
• 100% waterproof design

Cons:

• Pricey
• The biggest size is only 22L

The Chrome Industries Barrage Cargo is an excellent pick for all terrains and weather conditions.

It has a 100% welded waterproof liner with a nylon abrasion-resistant shell to adequately protect your cargo from dents or water damage. Their unique seat belt buckle front strap allows extra security.

The webbed net in the front acts as extra storage for large items like books or bicycle helmets.

The inside of the bag fits a 15” laptop and has ample space for any of your other storage needs. It also has additional side pockets and a hidden pocket on the back.

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MIER Waterproof Backpack

Pros:

• Made with waterproof and durable PVC material
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• It can be a little bulky
• Stiff material

The MIER Waterproof Backpack has a versatile carrying style great for any traveling or outdoor activity. Wear this 30L waterproof backpack as a rucksack, carry-on, or puffed-up for extra storage capabilities.

The waterproof material protects your things from anything the elements throw at you – rain, dust, snow, and more.

There are a few pockets to store your items in, including the two extendable outside side pockets. These are waterproof and hold bigger objects like water bottles or umbrellas.

There is also an inner laptop pocket and an additional pocket inside for smaller items.

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Acer Predator Roll-Top Gaming Backpack

Pros:

• Padded pockets
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Zippers aren’t as sturdy
• The laptop pocket doesn’t fit larger laptops.

Acer’s Predator Roll-top Backpack is a backpack designed to carry and protect gaming laptops and added gadgets. It makes it a perfect backpack for gadget-obsessed travelers.

It’s awesome for carrying your external hard drives, drones, and cameras on your travels.

The chest buckle keeps the bag secure while the water-resistant fabric ‌protects your devices from any light rain or mud. It has ample interior space with scratch-proof and padded interior pockets.

The internal laptop pocket can store up to a 15.6” gaming laptop. The bag is relatively lightweight and also has a few external pockets.

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CamelBak Daypack Backpacks

Pros:

• Made of 50% recycled materials
• Metal closure buckle for easy access

Cons:

• No laptop compartment
• A bit small in size for some

This CamelBak Daypack is versatile, lightweight, and comprises 50% repurposed materials.

This roll-top bag has great accessibility features like the magnetic closure buckle and a removable sternum strap. These make getting things in and out of the bag super accessible on the go.

It is a great bag for everyday tasks or a long day out in the mountains. There is ample space to fit CamelBak’s 2L water reservoir to prevent hiking dehydration.

There are also four external pockets which include an expandable water bottle pocket.

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What To Look For in Roll-Top Backpacks

There are a few things to look out for when picking the top rolling backpacks for your next trip to work, college, or halfway across the world.

Storage

Roll-top backpacks are versatile and can expand to be the size you need them to be. If you need more space, just roll the top up a bit, and you have a few extra inches of storage space.

This rolling top also helps compress your gear down when you don’t have as many things.

Durability

Many roll backpack users use their bags for outdoor or sporting activities. For this, you need a durable bag that can withstand rain, dust, or shine. A waterproof or at least splash-proof material like PVC is thus a good fabric to use.

Comfort

Whether you’re lugging your backpack while Caving at Actun Yok’ Balum or walking around in the city, you need a comfortable bag on your shoulders.

Padded bottoms, straps, and backs are essential things to look at before buying any kind of backpack. Depending on your trip, sternum straps, clips, and external straps can also be helpful for comfortability and bag security.

Final Thoughts on the Top Roll-Top Bags

There are many roll-top bags on the markets in different styles and price points. So, you are practically spoilt for choice. These handy bags are great in an outdoor or urban setting, with great functionality for both areas.

Whichever reason you buy a roll-top backpack, these durable and multi-functional bags will fit everything you need.