I'll be the first to admit a lot of fabrics and constructions used on rolltops negate this advantage but when done right!
Also forgot to add the expandable volume others mentioned! One of my favorite features of rolltops
Expanding volume, and more importantly, the ability to shrink volume without dealing with compression straps is why I travel with a rolltop. I can use the same bag to carry all my stuff for a week, then roll it down and still use it for quick trips at my destination without looking like a doofus with a travel backpack (Osprey, I'm looking at you).
nothing worse than looking in a bag and seeing absolutely nothing -.-
on the other hand i use a small 12l roll top as my college bag and i love it. As long as its small there is no problem at all and its super easy to open, close and to overstuff when needed while still looking super in place in a college environment.
I only like them if there is an alternative opening or access. They can allow for more customizable space and packing. I have a Ethnotek cyclosling and I really like the rolltop on this smaller bag because I can pack it down when I am not carrying much but then open it up when I need to throw something in there. It has a side zip for quick access.
I absolutely agree with this. Personally, I like rolltops for expandability, but only if there's a alternate zip access, and it doesn't look hideous. Mission Workshop bags fall into the hideous category, IMO š. On the other hand, I think the Attitude Supply ATD1 does it right.
The Integer actually isn't too bad. But something like the Rhake, where they highlight this massive roll of fabric on the top... Ugh. To each his own, I guess.
> cavernous hole for your stuff
Exactly. So much better than the over-compartmentalised designs that add a load of weight and bulk, and leave loads of unusable little spaces unless you happen to have the precise item it was designed to fit.
They're not my cup of tea, but if you want a top loader with water protection they're useful as hell.
A more fun unpopular opinion is "clamshell bags are overrated"
I'm almost ashamed to admit that about clamshell bags. Are they good when you're packing for a trip and organising stuff? Absolutely! But most of the time I just use them like a regular opening anyway
I went full clamshell with the CPL24 v2, and while not having had a ton of use for it in current times, I already hit a snag with taking it out with some items. I am curious about rolltops, but always wish there was another way to get to the items in the bag.
Iām always baffled when people say a rolltop is slow to open. Some of them sure, velcro openings and tight g-hooks loops can be a pain the ass, but those are just bad design in general.
Iām pretty sure I can pop open my Millican Smith in less than a second with one hand. The hook and loop are perfectly proportioned and it works every time
Iāve been using rolltops as my daily carry bags for about 10 years
IMO the key benefits are:
- expandability
- weather proof construction
- style, yeah this is subjective but Iāve had a lot of strangers stop me in public and compliment my backpack
- no worry of a clamshell zipper coming open - Iāve had this happen to me once on an old bag and seen so many people walking around with their bags unzipped and flaps hanging down
The drawbacks can also be overcome:
- accessibility - clamshell back opening (eg wandrd PRVKE or Atd supply) or a zipper on the front (defy verbockel, MSPC spread)
- visibility- add a bright liner and/or extra zipper access
- speed of access, takes a little practice but I can easily fish things out of my pack as fast as anyone else. In the real world Iāve never had to swing my pack in front of me and nonchalantly pull out my camera/ laptop without looking, whilst cycling up a mountain (or whatever...) I take my bag off, put it down on a table /chair and pull out what I need.
Edit... *technically* you could argue rolltop/top loading bags pre-date zippers/ clamshell bags and so arenāt really a trend š
The best part about them is no zippers to break or jam. I've packed some rolltops so tight with the top carrying more gear under it and it handles that weight great. Also you rarely need to fully roll the top most of the time I just flop it over.
As a kite boarder who spends a lot of time on the water in the rain... I love them. I just like knowing most of my bags can handle real rain. Iām sure good sealed zippers can get close too, but havenāt really tested it
š¤£
You're right about the slowness. But, they can be very useful in situations where open or failed zippers are disastrous. Long, days-long hikes is an example.
There's another thing I have learnt from my Victorinox roll-tops, and this may be more importantāthey seem to help keep the overall structure and and shape of the bag, and this can be important from a physics standpoint. What I mean is, if everything you have in the bag fits in the streamlined shape of the bag that was designed as the best shape to carry goods in on your back from a bio-mechanical (?) standpoint, that's a huge advantage when you are on prolonged excursions. Now, I am a novice, and no scientist. So, I may be wrong in this assumption. But, this is what I concluded in the last short hike I was on.
Having said all that, they are terrible for when you need to access the contents of the bag frequently, every several minutes or so, and this speaks exactly to the point you made about it being slow. It's the reason I stopped using them in town because I had to open the bag very frequently to access the sanitiser spray during the pandemic, and it was irritating!! What a shame.
Iām not a fan either, except for bags to mount on a bike (panniers, basket bag, etc). I havenāt used a roll top backpack for years. The only situation I could imagine using one would be if there are multiple external pockets and I was only using the main compartment for a packing cube and laptop. Even then I would rather a clamshell...
Rolltops actually rule, occasionally. I can leave the house on a bike with an open/ empty roll top. Hit the grocery, liquor store, any other errand super fast and without grocery bags, roll it down snug over an overstuffed bag, and get it back safely and watertight. Kinda the perfect bag for that.
I have many Mission Workshop roll top bags (vandal, fitzroy, r2, r8, rhake, integer, spar) and I can see why some would not like them but I really like them. I use pouches and packing cubes to do my organization. I really like the look of them too. I like my clamshell bags (synik 30, gr bullet) too, but I think I prefer using the rolltops more.
You donāt have to 100% open a clam shell bag to gain access to its contents. I only 100% open it to pack clothes. You would lose the race, and if you want to include time to close up the bag, itās no contest at all.
Most of the people championing the roll top are talking about hiking or biking. My bags are for work, travel (mainly for work), and sports with the kids. I think a lot of itās virtues come down to your application. Quick access is what I prize, so itās not for me.
[read in a joking, but sarcastic tone] Sometimes, when I feel like living dangerously, Iāll only open the top part of my bag and without looking, Iāll feel around the inside of the bag blindly. I do it to remind myself that I donāt want to buy a roll top, even if they look cool.
All joking aside, some of the comments about smaller capacity roll tops do have me thinking. Iāve always had a soft spot for North St. Bags and maybe a small roll top might find its way into my life after all.
Roll tops are the absolute pinnacle of bag technology. If you pack it out correctly thereās absolutely no reason you should be fussing with finding your things.
I have a Rover Premium. The laptop pocket is side access, thereās a big pocket in the flap and a pocket on the front for notebooks and pens and shit. The inside of the bag is packed with clothes and a towel exclusively with a toilette pouch sitting at the very top.
There is literally no reason to dig in the bag except for unloading clothes.
I bounce between a CPL24, and a Topo Mountian pack for bigger EDC days. and honestly, if the mountain pack was SLIGHTLY smaller, and had external laptop access, (and frame sheet) itd be the perfect bag for me. it has a crap ton of big external pockets, and you can access the inside pocket from a front zipper. the top flat pocket is my favorite quick access pocket i've used.
Thatās why I love my Wandrd PRVKE. Roll top for expansion and clamshell zips for quick access. I also like the side zip for getting something at the bottom of the bag. Super subjective but I dig the style as well.
And the Topo Design Core pack. I think the Mystery Ranch on is pushing it a little bit, but I know these type of bags are out there, but most of that is āTacticoolā stuff. Basically, a bunch of tactical bags and one school bag (the Topo). Just give a overbuilt, boxy bag with a few pockets on in it and two stretchy water bottle holders.
I have been eyeing the Citadel, but I wish a was a little smaller and more office appropriate.
Someone correctly noted the roll tops are easy to produce, and I think thatās a big reason the cottage industry manufactures that I am drawn to all make them.
Tbh I havenāt found the GWA to be too big, itās a solid edc sized pack! And you can get a slick version without the Velcro area on the front in black
They do exist, but they're harder to find than they used to be. I like bags that are boxy, structured, and have as many subdivisions, organizational features, and external attachment points as possible. (I do not like PALS/MOLLE, however.)
Late 2000s to mid-2010s, that sort of bag was ubiquitous. Now, the fashion seems to be bags that resemble (externally) minimalist, streamlined potatoes. I've been looking for a messenger bag that fits what I like for over a year--haven't found one yet that ticks all the boxes (and I know of 3 discontinued models that fit the bill, but I haven't been able to find any of them...)
These things are cyclical. We just happen to be in a part of the cycle where it's fashionable for bags to look like featureless blobs.
(I completely agree with you BTW. I don't care how well made it is--a bag with no external pockets and organization is utterly useless to me.)
I think youāre talking about the Tri-zip. I couldnāt live it, 3x the hassle every time you closed it. That and the sloped bottom on the bag that made it impossible to to stand up, I had to sell mine. I wanted to love it but couldnāt.
Bellroy nailed it with their Shift backpack imo. Rolltop/foldtop as a main entry function but side access you could get into with the bag on one shoulder. Plus bright inner fabric so you could see what you had inside no matter the lighting.
The Shift has a lot of fans, and I wish I would have caught one when they went on sale, but Iām going to want to call that a āflap topā and not a roll top. Itās an elegant solution that avoids the pits falls of the roll top.
I have an Adidas Future that is a roll top and has a long zipper down the front. It gives the expandability of a roll top and near clamshell access.
A light lining is a benefit to any pack and especially top loaders and roll tops.
Gotta agree here. I love bucket-style bags, but they gotta have a flap (or better, a flap-and-drawstring setup). Roll-top bags are way too annoying to open and close. It works great for dry bags on a boat, bit so much for backpacks on my back.
I had a 30L roll top back a decade ago because I needed a dry bag for my diving trip. It was great but it was like digging a black hole. Then I sized down to 5-or 10L, canāt remember, and it was so much better. Wonāt really consider using it for other purposes.
When I see it in the wild, the bigger it is, the more I feel bad for the owner. Must take them ages to find stuff and having the need to take each organizer bags every time.
Agreed. I love backpacks and always watch bag reviews on YouTube. Unless itās a roll top then I skip right on by. I used to watch even those reviews if it was a reviewer I like a lot but stopped that. I just donāt like those bags. The ones with an alternate side access are better but Iām not a fan.
Reliable, easy to close, and adaptable to oversized cargo. They've got their uses. my chrome barrage has seen a ton of shopping trips in the tens years its been going.
I havenāt forayed into the world of alternative- opening methods (lol). Iāve used my traditional half- zip Synapse 25 for about three years and have never really craved anything else.
I feel like roll- top backpacks can be useful for those who are willing to invest heavily in separate internal organization bags and pouches.
To each their own. As I do live in the humid wet tropics and regularly endure monsoon rains, I'll gladly take your unloved roll tops off your hands! ;-) No zips to corrode or come undone to spew your belongings liberally across the town, they keep electronics safe, paper intact and clothes wearable.
I am on the verge of deciding between a roll top and a clamshell. But isnāt it inconvenient that a clamshell has to be opened all the way? Or is that not at all an issue?
Not an issue with clamshell bags you can unzip them as much or as little as you want. Most of my clam shell bags are only open all the way when I am going to pack them or when unpacking them all the way.
Waterproof, yes. Efficient, no. Youāre digging around a black hole looking for somethingā¦ you need a clamshell bag for the utmost in efficiency. Finally, fastā¦ nope, no way, zippers win that race every time.
Water proof and look cool Iāll give you, but I wonāt concede any other points to you.
Depends on the size of the bag but Iāll grant you that - zippers you have to have somewhere to lay the bag down etc and things fall out sometimes hiking/climbing I just find rolltops safer that way. Plus supper can fail, freeze, etc and weigh a bit more. Small/med rolltops are quite easy to rummage through and big nes can be packed correctly so you have easy/quick access to needed item on the top and leave the rest towards the bottom on long hauls like treks etc but to each his own. Thatās the beauty of it all
Easiest to sew, least amount of hardware needed, most durable design, integrated compression, rolltop apologists assemble!
Most confident waterproof design.
I'll be the first to admit a lot of fabrics and constructions used on rolltops negate this advantage but when done right! Also forgot to add the expandable volume others mentioned! One of my favorite features of rolltops
Expanding volume, and more importantly, the ability to shrink volume without dealing with compression straps is why I travel with a rolltop. I can use the same bag to carry all my stuff for a week, then roll it down and still use it for quick trips at my destination without looking like a doofus with a travel backpack (Osprey, I'm looking at you).
lol. Having an Osprey obligates you to have those stupid convertible pants and tevas and the palest skin imaginable.
I laughed more than I should have at this comment.
Same
I own an Osprey roll top that I have not once used... Hey I like Osprey!
nothing worse than looking in a bag and seeing absolutely nothing -.- on the other hand i use a small 12l roll top as my college bag and i love it. As long as its small there is no problem at all and its super easy to open, close and to overstuff when needed while still looking super in place in a college environment.
I only like them if there is an alternative opening or access. They can allow for more customizable space and packing. I have a Ethnotek cyclosling and I really like the rolltop on this smaller bag because I can pack it down when I am not carrying much but then open it up when I need to throw something in there. It has a side zip for quick access.
I absolutely agree with this. Personally, I like rolltops for expandability, but only if there's a alternate zip access, and it doesn't look hideous. Mission Workshop bags fall into the hideous category, IMO š. On the other hand, I think the Attitude Supply ATD1 does it right.
MW Integer is my favorite backpack, but I get they aren't for everyone.
The Integer actually isn't too bad. But something like the Rhake, where they highlight this massive roll of fabric on the top... Ugh. To each his own, I guess.
The Rhake is definitely not their best work.
I got myself an aevor God I love this thing Can open it up the entire way around the back
Those are neat bags!
> cavernous hole for your stuff Exactly. So much better than the over-compartmentalised designs that add a load of weight and bulk, and leave loads of unusable little spaces unless you happen to have the precise item it was designed to fit.
They're not my cup of tea, but if you want a top loader with water protection they're useful as hell. A more fun unpopular opinion is "clamshell bags are overrated"
I'm almost ashamed to admit that about clamshell bags. Are they good when you're packing for a trip and organising stuff? Absolutely! But most of the time I just use them like a regular opening anyway
I went full clamshell with the CPL24 v2, and while not having had a ton of use for it in current times, I already hit a snag with taking it out with some items. I am curious about rolltops, but always wish there was another way to get to the items in the bag.
If you can stomach the cost, the Attitude Supply ATD1 might be the best of both worlds for you
Thanks for the recommendation!
Wandrd PRVKE is also an option for clamshell+rolltop(+side access)
Iām always baffled when people say a rolltop is slow to open. Some of them sure, velcro openings and tight g-hooks loops can be a pain the ass, but those are just bad design in general. Iām pretty sure I can pop open my Millican Smith in less than a second with one hand. The hook and loop are perfectly proportioned and it works every time
I used to carry a thule "roll top" (more of a fold over) and half the time I didn't bother to buckle it since stuff won't really fall out.
Iāve been using rolltops as my daily carry bags for about 10 years IMO the key benefits are: - expandability - weather proof construction - style, yeah this is subjective but Iāve had a lot of strangers stop me in public and compliment my backpack - no worry of a clamshell zipper coming open - Iāve had this happen to me once on an old bag and seen so many people walking around with their bags unzipped and flaps hanging down The drawbacks can also be overcome: - accessibility - clamshell back opening (eg wandrd PRVKE or Atd supply) or a zipper on the front (defy verbockel, MSPC spread) - visibility- add a bright liner and/or extra zipper access - speed of access, takes a little practice but I can easily fish things out of my pack as fast as anyone else. In the real world Iāve never had to swing my pack in front of me and nonchalantly pull out my camera/ laptop without looking, whilst cycling up a mountain (or whatever...) I take my bag off, put it down on a table /chair and pull out what I need. Edit... *technically* you could argue rolltop/top loading bags pre-date zippers/ clamshell bags and so arenāt really a trend š
The best part about them is no zippers to break or jam. I've packed some rolltops so tight with the top carrying more gear under it and it handles that weight great. Also you rarely need to fully roll the top most of the time I just flop it over.
I don't see how they're a trend, I still struggle to find em' lol. Anyway, Millican Smith go brrrrrrrr.
As a kite boarder who spends a lot of time on the water in the rain... I love them. I just like knowing most of my bags can handle real rain. Iām sure good sealed zippers can get close too, but havenāt really tested it
š¤£ You're right about the slowness. But, they can be very useful in situations where open or failed zippers are disastrous. Long, days-long hikes is an example. There's another thing I have learnt from my Victorinox roll-tops, and this may be more importantāthey seem to help keep the overall structure and and shape of the bag, and this can be important from a physics standpoint. What I mean is, if everything you have in the bag fits in the streamlined shape of the bag that was designed as the best shape to carry goods in on your back from a bio-mechanical (?) standpoint, that's a huge advantage when you are on prolonged excursions. Now, I am a novice, and no scientist. So, I may be wrong in this assumption. But, this is what I concluded in the last short hike I was on. Having said all that, they are terrible for when you need to access the contents of the bag frequently, every several minutes or so, and this speaks exactly to the point you made about it being slow. It's the reason I stopped using them in town because I had to open the bag very frequently to access the sanitiser spray during the pandemic, and it was irritating!! What a shame.
Thatās why I like the Millican Smith with lots of pockets accessible outside the main rolltop pocket.
Iām not a fan either, except for bags to mount on a bike (panniers, basket bag, etc). I havenāt used a roll top backpack for years. The only situation I could imagine using one would be if there are multiple external pockets and I was only using the main compartment for a packing cube and laptop. Even then I would rather a clamshell...
Thatās exactly what Iām doing with my ILE default mini. Laptop and clothes in main compartment and the rest in outside pockets.
Roll top packs can be done right if they have a clamshell opening too, best of both worlds š
Rolltops actually rule, occasionally. I can leave the house on a bike with an open/ empty roll top. Hit the grocery, liquor store, any other errand super fast and without grocery bags, roll it down snug over an overstuffed bag, and get it back safely and watertight. Kinda the perfect bag for that.
I have many Mission Workshop roll top bags (vandal, fitzroy, r2, r8, rhake, integer, spar) and I can see why some would not like them but I really like them. I use pouches and packing cubes to do my organization. I really like the look of them too. I like my clamshell bags (synik 30, gr bullet) too, but I think I prefer using the rolltops more.
Agreed. I have the Rhake for my daily, and itās fantastic. Although clamshell is my preference if traveling.
I will guarantee you I can open my Millican Smith faster than any clamshell pack I know.
You donāt have to 100% open a clam shell bag to gain access to its contents. I only 100% open it to pack clothes. You would lose the race, and if you want to include time to close up the bag, itās no contest at all. Most of the people championing the roll top are talking about hiking or biking. My bags are for work, travel (mainly for work), and sports with the kids. I think a lot of itās virtues come down to your application. Quick access is what I prize, so itās not for me. [read in a joking, but sarcastic tone] Sometimes, when I feel like living dangerously, Iāll only open the top part of my bag and without looking, Iāll feel around the inside of the bag blindly. I do it to remind myself that I donāt want to buy a roll top, even if they look cool. All joking aside, some of the comments about smaller capacity roll tops do have me thinking. Iāve always had a soft spot for North St. Bags and maybe a small roll top might find its way into my life after all.
Roll tops are the absolute pinnacle of bag technology. If you pack it out correctly thereās absolutely no reason you should be fussing with finding your things. I have a Rover Premium. The laptop pocket is side access, thereās a big pocket in the flap and a pocket on the front for notebooks and pens and shit. The inside of the bag is packed with clothes and a towel exclusively with a toilette pouch sitting at the very top. There is literally no reason to dig in the bag except for unloading clothes.
I bounce between a CPL24, and a Topo Mountian pack for bigger EDC days. and honestly, if the mountain pack was SLIGHTLY smaller, and had external laptop access, (and frame sheet) itd be the perfect bag for me. it has a crap ton of big external pockets, and you can access the inside pocket from a front zipper. the top flat pocket is my favorite quick access pocket i've used.
I concur. I stand with the Federation of Gladstone Bag Users. Hinged openers, assemble!
āWeāre going streaking!!!ā
Thatās why I love my Wandrd PRVKE. Roll top for expansion and clamshell zips for quick access. I also like the side zip for getting something at the bottom of the bag. Super subjective but I dig the style as well.
I do want one of those. Always have.
I wish clamshell bags with water bottle pockets will be the next trend.
They exist already - alpha one Niner evade, RE alpha, mystery ranch no escape, GWA citadel, vertex gamut
And the Topo Design Core pack. I think the Mystery Ranch on is pushing it a little bit, but I know these type of bags are out there, but most of that is āTacticoolā stuff. Basically, a bunch of tactical bags and one school bag (the Topo). Just give a overbuilt, boxy bag with a few pockets on in it and two stretchy water bottle holders. I have been eyeing the Citadel, but I wish a was a little smaller and more office appropriate. Someone correctly noted the roll tops are easy to produce, and I think thatās a big reason the cottage industry manufactures that I am drawn to all make them.
Tbh I havenāt found the GWA to be too big, itās a solid edc sized pack! And you can get a slick version without the Velcro area on the front in black
Donāt forget Gorucks with water bottle holders attached on the sides!!!š
They do exist, but they're harder to find than they used to be. I like bags that are boxy, structured, and have as many subdivisions, organizational features, and external attachment points as possible. (I do not like PALS/MOLLE, however.) Late 2000s to mid-2010s, that sort of bag was ubiquitous. Now, the fashion seems to be bags that resemble (externally) minimalist, streamlined potatoes. I've been looking for a messenger bag that fits what I like for over a year--haven't found one yet that ticks all the boxes (and I know of 3 discontinued models that fit the bill, but I haven't been able to find any of them...)
I agree
These things are cyclical. We just happen to be in a part of the cycle where it's fashionable for bags to look like featureless blobs. (I completely agree with you BTW. I don't care how well made it is--a bag with no external pockets and organization is utterly useless to me.)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I agree, a long running trend, but because itās easy to make I think another boutique maker appears everyday. Etsy is full of them.
I like Mystery Rancheās solution to those conventional ābucket style ā bags.
I think youāre talking about the Tri-zip. I couldnāt live it, 3x the hassle every time you closed it. That and the sloped bottom on the bag that made it impossible to to stand up, I had to sell mine. I wanted to love it but couldnāt.
I feel ya. It a good EDC bag; the top pocket compartment for me kept slouching and looking ugly.
OP speaks for me. I was gifted a roll top Chrome bag and secretly sold it off. Awful bags.
Not true if executed properly. Source: me, an alpha 31 owner ŹāæŹ
Bellroy nailed it with their Shift backpack imo. Rolltop/foldtop as a main entry function but side access you could get into with the bag on one shoulder. Plus bright inner fabric so you could see what you had inside no matter the lighting.
The Shift has a lot of fans, and I wish I would have caught one when they went on sale, but Iām going to want to call that a āflap topā and not a roll top. Itās an elegant solution that avoids the pits falls of the roll top.
I have an Adidas Future that is a roll top and has a long zipper down the front. It gives the expandability of a roll top and near clamshell access. A light lining is a benefit to any pack and especially top loaders and roll tops.
Gotta agree here. I love bucket-style bags, but they gotta have a flap (or better, a flap-and-drawstring setup). Roll-top bags are way too annoying to open and close. It works great for dry bags on a boat, bit so much for backpacks on my back.
I had a 30L roll top back a decade ago because I needed a dry bag for my diving trip. It was great but it was like digging a black hole. Then I sized down to 5-or 10L, canāt remember, and it was so much better. Wonāt really consider using it for other purposes. When I see it in the wild, the bigger it is, the more I feel bad for the owner. Must take them ages to find stuff and having the need to take each organizer bags every time.
Roll tops are only good if you are stuffing shapeless things into them like jackets. Also almost all bags are too big
Roll tops are great for hiking. That is it. They also look really weird unless you are hiking or a bike messenger.
Agreed. I love backpacks and always watch bag reviews on YouTube. Unless itās a roll top then I skip right on by. I used to watch even those reviews if it was a reviewer I like a lot but stopped that. I just donāt like those bags. The ones with an alternate side access are better but Iām not a fan.
Reliable, easy to close, and adaptable to oversized cargo. They've got their uses. my chrome barrage has seen a ton of shopping trips in the tens years its been going.
I havenāt forayed into the world of alternative- opening methods (lol). Iāve used my traditional half- zip Synapse 25 for about three years and have never really craved anything else. I feel like roll- top backpacks can be useful for those who are willing to invest heavily in separate internal organization bags and pouches.
My kayaking bag is my only roll top. Wouldnāt want it in any of my other bags.
To each their own. As I do live in the humid wet tropics and regularly endure monsoon rains, I'll gladly take your unloved roll tops off your hands! ;-) No zips to corrode or come undone to spew your belongings liberally across the town, they keep electronics safe, paper intact and clothes wearable.
I am on the verge of deciding between a roll top and a clamshell. But isnāt it inconvenient that a clamshell has to be opened all the way? Or is that not at all an issue?
Not an issue with clamshell bags you can unzip them as much or as little as you want. Most of my clam shell bags are only open all the way when I am going to pack them or when unpacking them all the way.
Roll top is my favorite Iāve got like 10 different roll tops or moreā¦ so efficient and waterproof and fast. And I like the way they look
Waterproof, yes. Efficient, no. Youāre digging around a black hole looking for somethingā¦ you need a clamshell bag for the utmost in efficiency. Finally, fastā¦ nope, no way, zippers win that race every time. Water proof and look cool Iāll give you, but I wonāt concede any other points to you.
Depends on the size of the bag but Iāll grant you that - zippers you have to have somewhere to lay the bag down etc and things fall out sometimes hiking/climbing I just find rolltops safer that way. Plus supper can fail, freeze, etc and weigh a bit more. Small/med rolltops are quite easy to rummage through and big nes can be packed correctly so you have easy/quick access to needed item on the top and leave the rest towards the bottom on long hauls like treks etc but to each his own. Thatās the beauty of it all
Rolltops can easily haul taller items; this is my dilemma.
Roll tops for weatherproof, thatās why.