Rolltop Bag

This bag works so well for me and my MacBook 16 inch feels so light on my back with it. Go from the gym to work every day with it and have gotten compliments on the bag.

I have been rocking the Daily bag for the last two years, through road warrior travel consulting and daily commutes to the office. But there was just one thing I didn't love about it: when it's not packed for a week of travel it can look a bit … flaccid? Not so with the Rolltop! I emptied my Daily bag into the Rolltop the second I received my order and have been loving it. (Don't worry, the Daily Bag will come out the second my travel season starts up.)

The Rolltop design gives the bag a leaner look, whether it's empty or full. And it sits nicely on my back. The center zipper makes access super easy, without rummaging and without spilling contents. It also makes access a lot easier when the bag is upright (like on the floor or in a chair). I like the symmetry of the little pockets on each side, a couple on the outside and a couple tucked away inside. Even though there is only one laptop sleeve, I can still pack a 15" MacBook Pro and a 12.9" iPad Pro in the same sleeve.

Surprisingly, the material is soft in the hand. I like the way it feels better than other bags. It's subtle, but a nice feature. You will also find a couple mysterious carabiner hooks at the top of the bag. The Minaal designers tell me it's there for whatever you want to do with it, but I can't help but think there's something in store for the future. What will you use them for?

I backed this bag on Kickstarter and, after receiving my bag, I must say it was worth the wait. The bag is well-constructed and the materials actually look and feel more rugged than what you might expect from the pictures.
Originally, I thought the straps lacked some padding, but later I realized more padding is unnecessary, as this bag's capacity prevents it from ever getting too heavy. It feels light on your shoulders even with quite a bit in it, like a laptop, a notebook, a 750 ml of your favorite beverage; it carries it all very well, and I appreciate the svelte sillhouette.
The outside zippered pockets are surprisingly spacious, and I like that there's a zippered mesh compartment inside each one. Two nested layers of zippers help keeps things a little more secure.
The magnetic rolltop design is genius! So easy to do and undo, and it negates the need for having to roll multiple times, as with some other rolltop bags. This is perhaps my favorite feature.
The inside pockets, like the outside ones, are nice and spacious, and offer surprising organization. My only wish is that they were perhaps a bit lower on the bag to make them more accessible through the center zipper when you don't want to undo the roll.
The hidden stash pocket on the back is another great feature, and I actually appreciate that I can fit my whole hand in there. Too many other manufacturers make their hidden pockets so small that they're almost useless. That said, take care not to put things that are too bulky in there, as you'll feel them on your back when wearing the pack.
Overall, I'm very happy with Minaal's rolltop. It's obvious the guys put a lot of thought into designing the pack. If you need a pack that packs a punch but want to cut down on the bulk, this one is for you.