Rapha Roll Top Backpack review

Rapha's Roll Top Backpack has a distinctly city vibe, but still packs several useful features into its minimal design.

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Made from a water- and abrasion-resistant fabric, it includes a laptop sleeve, main compartment and an exterior pocket that’s handy for stashing keys and the like.

The roll-top fastens with a hook that retracts into the bag when not in use – a simple and elegant solution. A webbing strip down the front enables a lock to be carried outside rather than taking up interior space, and also allows for rear light attachment. The top grab handle is well placed.

A nice touch is that the base panel is reflective in all three colourways; choose the black/pink option for Rapha’s distinctive pink base for daytime visibility too.

The reinforced base means the pack stands up on its own, useful for setting it down on the ground, and also helps when packing because the rigidity helps hold the bag open. However, the interior is very dark so I was grateful for my system of packing cubes in order to easily locate contents.

Even with an integral sleeve and padded back, I could feel the laptop when riding and so preferred to put it in its own case and pack it in the middle with the rest of the contents.

The shoulder straps are padded; there are no waist or chest straps, but the pack is secure enough without. Also, its narrow dimensions make it easy to grab a glance over your shoulder without the top of the pack intruding into your sightline.

The Roll Top’s overall comfort is somewhat disappointing – I was always very aware that I was carrying it. As such I wouldn’t choose it for longer journeys. Instead, use it for short commutes, casual riding around town or even just because you love its pared-back styling.