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A backpack to accompany you on your daily adventures is a must. Whether that’s from the gym to the office, the office to the beach, or the beach to the airport, you want a pack that is durable, reliable, and well-organized no matter where your life takes you.
I use a backpack on the daily, and I’m pretty picky about what I look for in a good pack
At first glance, the GOT BAG Rolltop pack seemed a bit too simple. It looked like one big sack to carry around your stuff, but this backpack has grown on me. After all, the main purpose of a backpack is to simply lug your shit around and the Rolltop does just that.
Let’s take a deeper look at this simplified, eco-friendly backpack from GOT BAG.
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Pros
- Simple design
- Strong, durable and sustainable material
- Eco-friendly company working for a good cause
- Minimal design
Cons
- Simple design
- No specified water bottle holder
- Not many compartments or dividers for organization
- The strong material gives it a slightly too-rigid feel
- No hip straps
GOT BAG Rolltop First Impressions
It seems like every backpack nowadays comes with a hundred different pockets (which can be a bit overkill) so it feels refreshing to see a bag as simple as this one. Even though I knew what I was getting, I was pretty amazed at how little there is to this bag. Essentially, it’s just one big sack with minimal pockets or features.
When I first saw the bag I honestly didn’t feel all that drawn to testing it out. Its bulky appearance off the shelf was unappealing to me and the material on the outside felt a bit rigid. I liked the idea of a more minimal bag, but this one seemed a bit too minimal, and the style wasn’t exactly my favorite at first.
The pack itself felt strong with tough, waterproof materials and sturdy construction. I liked that the rolltop feature allows you to expand or shrink the bag depending on how much you need to bring.
Of course, I loved the idea of the sustainability aspect (this pack is made with 59% ocean-bound plastic and 17% other recycled material), but I just wasn’t sure if the functionality would live up to what I needed.
GOT BAG Rolltop Pros and Cons
The simplicity of this bag is its biggest advantage as well as its biggest fault. For some individuals, this pack will simply not be enough and has the potential to drive you insane, but for others, it might just be a match made in backpack heaven.
I am definitely the type of person who often forgoes any form of organization when packing a backpack for the beach or outing and just crams all my shit in as fast as I can, so to have a bag with one huge main compartment makes packing pretty simple. Everything just goes in one spot.
For anyone who likes more organization and features, this is just not the bag for you. At all. Simplicity is the name of the game here Love it or hate it.
The lack of hip straps limits the duration of comfort pretty extensively, especially for a pack this size.
Here’s a comprehensive list of my pros and cons of the Rolltop Pack.
Who is GOT BAG?
GOT BAG started collecting ocean plastic, processing it, and recycling it into backpacks in 2016. They run a clean-up program in Indonesia that involves an extensive network of over 2,000 fishermen and fisherwomen. This use of ocean-impact plastic makes this a truly sustainable product.
The individuals involved in their clean-up initiative also help to provide others with information on recycling and the negative effect of plastic waste on the ocean and to bring awareness to a more conscious use of plastic.
Whenever I can, I try to support brands that are putting sustainability into action and doing their part to save our planet. I really love that GOT BAG is implementing sustainable practices into every step of their production process.
The first step in the production of these bags is collecting the plastic from the oceans. From there, the plastic is cleaned, sorted, pressed into pellets, and then sent off to China where the production proceeds. Lastly, the bags are then transported to the USA and Europe via ship to keep the carbon footprint as small as possible.
Their website is highly resourceful and really gets into a lot of information about ocean-impact plastic if you want to learn more!
GOT BAG has great customer service and good return policy, so it’s easy to try out this bag and send it back if you don’t like it.
GOT BAG Rolltop Full Review
The GOT BAG Rolltop Pack certainly has its flaws. Not everyone is going to love this bag, but I think everyone will be able to find respect for the cause they work for. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ins and outs of the Roll Top Pack to give you a better idea of what this bag truly has to offer.
Materials
The GOT BAG Rolltop Pack is made of 59 % Ocean Impact Plastic fabric, 17 % other recycled plastic, 24 % non-recycled materials (zipper, foam, buckles). It is made with a waterproof PVC-free coating that works well to keep your belongings dry. The ocean plastic fabric is also durable and stain-repellent, so it should stand up to the abuse of everyday life.
The Rolltop Pack is definitely a sturdy pack, ready to withstand a fair bit of ruggedness if put to the test. It comes with a waterproof interior lining and the rolltop makes for a solid seal, keeping any water or dirt out.
Not only is the pack sturdy, the sustainable materials are being used and the manufacturing of the bag is helping to clean up the ocean. There’s not much more you could ask for as far as materials go when it comes to constructing a bag.
Aesthetics
The Rolltop Pack comes in a variety of different muted-earth tone colors. To be exact, customers have 28 different color options which I think is an awesome feature for a company to offer.
The minimal design creates a stylish look that would fit well for many different occasions.
It feels a bit bulky to me though. There’s not much actual shape to the pack so it will generally form to whatever you decide to carry in it and when expanded to full capacity, it looks slightly awkward.
Comfort
The GOT BAG Rolltop Pack comes with padded shoulder straps and a sternum strap for comfort but for a pack this size, it’s just not enough. To build a 31L pack as durable and sturdy as the Rolltop, I just can’t really comprehend why GOT BAG voided the hip straps. There’s not even the option to add them on.
I feel like it leaves them with a bag that’s durable enough for the mountains but will never see them because of how uncomfortable it would be to hike with it around.
It feels a bit strange to build a pack that helps save the environment, that’s built for the environment, but can’t actually provide the comfort to be used outdoors.
That being said, it will be comfortable enough to carry with you to the beach, on a short hike to the river for a swim, or into a café to get some work done.
Organization
Some bags are meant to keep you organized. The Rolltop Pack isn’t one of them. It comes with a small exterior pocket that I’m not sure the utility of, a pocket on the inside for your keys and wallet, and a small pocket on the removable laptop compartment that really can’t fit too much in.
The rolltop feature turns the main compartment of the bag into a dark abyss, making it pretty hard to see what you even have packed in the bag.
The Rolltop definitely enables my disorganized tendencies to the point that I wonder if I actually have organizational standards for myself.
Durability
The Rolltop pack definitely makes up for some of its faults with how durable it is.
The pack just feels and looks sturdy and can definitely withstand the beating I generally put my belongings through.
The waterproof PVC-free coating and the rolltop seal make this pack durable enough to bring just about anywhere and handle the ruggedness of the outdoors.
GOT BAG Rolltop Features
Beyond just being a great quality all-around bag, the GOT BAG Rolltop doesn’t have much to speak of when it comes to features. As I’ve said before, it is pretty simple.
They did a pretty decent job of adding in just enough to make it functional, though. Here are the top features to be aware of.
Expandable Rolltop
If you weren’t cued in by the name, the Rolltop bag indeed comes with a rolltop. For me, there’s a bit of a love-hate relationship with this feature.
On one side I like that it has the potential to expand its capacity to up to 31L and contract down to a smaller size if needed. There are also adjustable side straps to help shrink down the capacity.
The rolltop offers a solid seal on the bag, and combined with the PVC-free durable waterproof fabric, it effectively keeps out water and any sand or dirt.
The downside to the rolltop feature is that it doesn’t allow much light in and it makes it pretty hard to access your belongings. I almost feel like I need to turn on my phone’s flashlight every time I open this bag to see what’s in there, which isn’t ideal.
Quick Access Outside Pocket
This pocket is placed on the front side of the Rolltop Pack and isn’t overly useful.
I personally wouldn’t be placing anything too important in this pocket but maybe some chapstick or other relatively nonimportant items would be okay.
It’s a pretty small pocket so it will lend shape to anything you decide to put in there (wallet, phone, notepad, etc.). I think in some circumstances it would be okay to place valuables in here but if you were traveling or in a crowded space with a lot of people, it would be pretty easy for someone to make out what you have in there, open this pocket and remove your belongings without you having the slightest clue.
I would remain wary of what you decide to stash in this pocket.
Removable Laptop Sleeve
This is a cool feature that I haven’t seen in other bags before. The removable laptop sleeve adds a bit of versatility to this bag and takes it from a strictly outdoor bag to a day carrier.
It comes with a main compartment for the laptop and a smaller front compartment where you can stash your accessories.
If I’m being honest, I don’t fully get the removable option though. The sleeve doesn’t come with a handle nor does it allow you to close the top of it to fully secure the laptop. It would be easier in my opinion to just remove your laptop from the sleeve while it’s still in the bag as opposed to trying to detach it from the Velcro strip only to put it back into a potentially full backpack with little wiggle room.
I was thinking maybe they made it detachable to create more space but if you take it out, it eliminates the use of it for storing other items and leaves you with only one other small pocket inside.
Inner Pocket
The inner pocket resides about half down the bag and is a good spot for your wallet, or keys.
I almost said it can be used for your phone as well but after further inspection, a phone won’t fit in there (I own an iPhone 13). You really can’t fit much more in it besides a wallet and keys.
I wish I could say more about this feature but there’s really not much you can say about it.
I guess I’m glad they decided to put 1 fixed pocket inside?
GOT BAG Rolltop Alternatives
Overall, the GOT BAG Rolltop is a great backpack (as long as you’re okay with the simplicity), but there are definitely other options out there for a do-it-all backpack. Here are some top alternatives to consider.
WANDRD PRVKE
The WANDRD PRVKE is a rolltop backpack with a ton of features. I have personally owned this pack and overall, it was a pretty awesome bag, though much more expensive than the GOT BAG.
My biggest issue with this bag is that it is frameless. You can fit quite a bit of equipment in here and it would make it a whole lot more comfortable to do that if it came with a frame.
With that being said, it comes with the option to add on hip straps and two separate sizes of camera cubes. The back of the pack zips open giving you easy access to your camera gear and laptop.
This backpack broke on me a couple of times. WANDRD was nice enough to send me a replacement but I remember just giving the pack away to a friend after the zipper had failed for a second time because I was sort of fed up with it.
I remind you that I do not by any circumstances like to baby my gear. I truly put my belongings to the test and with the WANDRD PRVKE in particular, I remember taking this on maybe too rugged of adventures but that’s sort of what they promote it as; an adventure pack that can go with you anywhere.
Regardless, this bag is comparable to the GOT BAG Rolltop pack and comes with a variety of more features. It costs nearly twice as much but for some, it may be worth the investment.
The Roll Top by Stubble & Co
Stubble & Co’s Roll Top is a stylish bag packed with a handful of useful features and is priced at $145. At first glance, I really like what this bag has to offer and its sleek appearance.
It comes in a 14L and 20L option and 8 different colors to choose from so in comparison to the GOT BAG Rolltop Pack, it is more compact and comes with fewer color choices (which isn’t a huge deal for me personally).
The Roll Top also comes with a bike light anchor point, and a G clip for quick and secure access. I like seeing this feature on rolltops as it eliminates the plastic buckle which is most commonly the first thing to break on a backpack for me.
This bag is definitely made for the city dweller. It comes with various different organizational compartments as well as a 16 inch laptop compartment for safe storage.
Outside of the features that make this bag special, it also comes with a side water bottle pocket and cushioned straps.
It does lack hip straps and the option to add hip straps. For a smaller bag like the Roll Top, it may not be as big of a deal. Still, the addition of hip straps adds a level of comfort that I like to have in a backpack, regardless of its size.
Fabletics The Only Backpack
If you’re looking for a budget bag that covers the basics, The Only Backpack by Fabletics might be a good fit for you.
At $59.95, The Only Backpack is an affordable, compact, flexible rolltop bag that still comes with some nice features and a stylish look.
It is made of 100% nylon and doesn’t claim to be water resistant but it does claim to be anti-stink, something I have never seen a backpack claim before.
It comes with side pockets for your phone or water bottle, a laptop sleeve, and a few other organizational pockets.
Fabletics fail to mention the capacity of The Only Backpack on their website but it appears to be in the small to medium size range.
This pack is definitely not meant for anything too extreme but I could see it becoming a good bag to bring along to the café or a day out exploring the city.
FAQ
Is the Rolltop Pack waterproof or water resistant?
It’s not designed for paddle sports, but in bad weather, it’s totally waterproof with sealed seams.
Can I wash the Rolltop in the washing machine?
No, the Rolltop should not be washed in a washing machine. It should be hand washed only.
Is there anywhere for a 32 oz water bottle?
The only place to store a water bottle is in the main compartment.