Topo Designs Rover Trail Pack is the best backpack I've ever used

At a glance:

• Martin Cizmar spent 10 days across Ireland and Scotland on seven flights and eight hotels with the Topo Designs Rover Trail Pack — and came away convinced it's the best backpack he's ever used.
• The 22-liter bag packs a rucksack-style drawstring top with a key clip and mesh sleeve, a full-length J-shaped zipper for bottom access, spandex-lined side pockets, and a removable foam layer that doubles as laptop/tablet protection.
• Topo Designs is a Denver-based gorpcore brand whose Rover Trail is positioned as a versatile gateway bag — equally at home as an airline personal item, a day-hike pack, or an ultralight overnighter.

A week of travel convinced me

Reviewer Martin Cizmar didn't set out to crown the Rover Trail Pack as the definitive backpack. He simply needed a personal item for a spring break trip to Ireland and Scotland and chose Topo Designs' 22-liter carry-on companion alongside a roller bag. Over 10 days he logged seven flights and stayed at eight different hotels, which gave him more than enough contact time to form a genuine opinion. By the time he landed back home, he was "fully convinced" the Rover is the best backpack he has ever used — a bold claim from someone who regularly tests new bags.

Topo Designs is a Denver-based gorpcore brand that Cizmar describes as selling gear that "looks cool, lasts forever, and has every feature a sensible person desires in a bag without making the product feel overbuilt." He's tested six or seven of the company's models and says the Rover manages to artfully incorporate all the thoughtful little features he appreciated in other backpacks "without even a hint of showiness."

The top compartment that solves the 'keys and passport' problem

The bag's top compartment flips open in rucksack style and closes with a drawstring. Inside that zipped compartment there's a clip for keys and an additional zipped mesh sleeve — a design choice that lets you double-bag anything you don't want to risk falling out. Cizmar clipped his car keys to the ring for the entire week and zipped passports for himself and his daughter into the mesh sleeve before clearing TSA. He says he never had to worry about losing either, which matters when you're shuffling through airport lines repeatedly.

Typically he finds himself "double- and triple-checking the zipper" on other bags, but the Rover's combination of a top zipper, the key clip, and the mesh sleeve eliminated that anxiety entirely. For anyone who's ever watched a passport slide under an airplane seat, that alone is a strong selling point.

Bottom access via a J-shaped zipper

One of the Rover's standout details is a J-shaped zipper that runs the length of the bag, giving you direct access to the bottom compartment without having to rummage through everything on top. Cizmar packed a Turtl pillow and an off-brand Sondor travel cushion toward the bottom of the pack; after boarding a flight he could reach both as soon as he sat down, then zip the compartment back up without unpacking his fleece or toiletries stored above.

Most bags of this small size force you to reach in from the top, which means displacing everything above the item you need. The J-shaped zipper sidesteps that entirely, and for frequent travelers it's the kind of feature you don't notice until you use a bag that lacks it.

Side pockets and the foam layer trick

The side pockets are designed for water bottles but have spandex so they can accommodate bottles of various sizes. Cizmar doesn't drink water on airplanes but confirmed the pockets fit cans of Diet Coke — a practical detail for anyone who wants a cold drink within arm's reach. The waist belt is lightly padded and useful for day hikes, but on this trip Cizmar simply tucked it under the foam backing layer and slung the bag over his shoulder. That foam layer also doubles as laptop or tablet protection: there's a side zipper that lets you slide a device between the foam and the interior of the bag.

Versatility beyond the trail

At 22 liters the Rover Trail is sized perfectly as an airline personal item or for a day hike. Cizmar notes that an ultralight backpacker could probably do a summer overnighter by clipping the bottom straps and using the single row of nylon loops to attach a sleeping bag and shelter. Those same loops are also useful for strapping on dirty gear you don't want to stuff inside the bag.

Among the several Topo Designs models Cizmar has tested — he mentions the Global Pro Travel Roller as another favorite — he considers the Rover Trail the most versatile and the one he'd recommend as a "gateway bag" to others. It's the kind of product that doesn't try to do everything but ends up being good at everything it does.

Who should consider the Rover Trail

If you're someone who carries a bag daily — whether for commuting, travel, or outdoor use — and you're tired of choosing between aesthetics and function, the Rover Trail Pack is worth a look. It's not the cheapest option on the market, but Cizmar's extended real-world test suggests the build quality and feature set justify the investment. For frequent flyers, the combination of the J-shaped zipper, the passport-friendly top compartment, and the laptop foam layer makes it especially practical.

The bag also works well for ultralight backpackers on short overnight trips, though it's not marketed as a dedicated thru-hiking pack. Its 22-liter volume and nylon loops give it just enough flexibility to handle light base-camp scenarios without the bulk of a larger frame.

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