Topo Designs Rover Trail Pack Is the Best Backpack I’ve Ever Used | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Android TabletsBest Smart RingsDyson VacuumsSmart Home SecurityChoose the Right LaptopDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchMartin CizmarGearMay 24, 2026 7:01 AMTopo Designs’ Rover Trail Pack Might Just Be the Perfect BackpackUnsurprisingly, the Denver-based gorpcore brand that makes many of the best bags in the world has delivered everything you could want in a pack for a plane trip or day hike.Courtesy of Topo DesignsCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyAs we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Martin Cizmar raves about his Topo Designs backpack. You can also check out other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice.Topo Designs may just make the best bags in the world. The Denver-based gorpcore brand sells gear that looks cool, lasts forever, and has every feature a sensible person desires in a bag without making the product feel overbuilt. If I ever win the lottery, I won't tell anyone, but there will be signs—like me hauling groceries from Trader Joe’s in two Mountain Gear bags. (I currently use blue polypropylene Ikea bags and shop at Aldi.)In March, I took a spring break trip to Ireland and Scotland with a carry-on-sized roller bag and the Topo Designs Rover Trail pack as my personal item. I am frequently testing new bags, and I didn't think much about the decision to commit to the Rover for a week. I quickly learned that you get to know a bag pretty well when you take it on seven flights and stay at eight different hotels in 10 days. By the time I landed back home, I was fully convinced the Rover is the best backpack I have ever used.Photograph: Martin CizmarSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTopo DesignsRover Trail Pack$169 Topo DesignsLike the six or seven other models of Topo Designs bags I've tested—and maybe more extensively than any of the others—the Rover manages to artfully incorporate all the thoughtful little features I appreciated in other backpacks without even a hint of showiness.At the top of the bag, there's a zipped compartment that flips open to reveal the rucksack-style opening, which closes with a drawstring. This is where I like to put my keys, any important paperwork I may have on me, and sometimes my wallet. Typically, I find myself double- and triple-checking the zipper to make sure nothing is falling out. No need with the Rover, because inside that zipped compartment, there's also a clip for keys and an additional zipped mesh sleeve. This feature lets you double-bag anything you don't want to risk falling out—in my case, passports for myself and my daughter. When I got through the TSA line at the airport, I clipped in my car keys for the week, zipped the passports into the mesh sleeve, and never worried about losing either.Photograph: Martin CizmarAs for the main compartment, unlike most bags of this small size, you don't have to rummage through it from the top. Instead, there's a handy J-shaped zipper running the length of the bag so you can get to things at the bottom without needing to first deal with everything on top. After boarding a flight, I got to my Turtl pillow and off-brand Sondor travel cushion—both toward the bottom of the pack—as soon as I got to my seat, then zipped back up without having to unpack my fleece or toiletries that were situated toward the top.Photograph: Martin CizmarThe side pockets, which are designed for water bottles, have some spandex to them so they can accommodate bottles of various sizes. I don't drink water on airplanes, but I can confirm they were able to accommodate cans of Diet Coke.This bag is ostensibly for the trail, and I wouldn't hesitate to take it on a day hike and use the lightly padded waist belt to keep it from jostling around. But this was the type of trip where you just toss a strap or two over your shoulder and tuck away the waist belt under the foam backing layer—an easy modification on the Rover. You can also use that foam layer to protect a laptop or tablet, as there's a side zipper to put something between it and the inside of the bag.This pack is 22 liters, perfect as a personal item or for a day hike. An enterprising ultralight backpacker could probably do a summer overnighter with it using the clipped straps on the bottom and the single row of nylon loops to attach a sleeping bag and shelter. They're also useful for strapping on dirty gear you don't want to stuff inside the bag.Like many of my colleagues, I'm a huge fan of Topo Designs and could have written a love letter to a few of the brand’s bags—I've got the Global Pro Travel Roller here waiting for a trip next week—but I think the Rover Trail is the most versatile of the bunch, and it's what I'd recommend as a gateway bag to others.Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.CommentsBack to topTriangleMartin Cizmar is the Senior Director of the WIRED Reviews team. He specializes in testing mattresses, cold plunge tubs, pickleball paddles, and other large, cumbersome items. Martin has a BA in philosophy and a JD from The University of Akron. He has 20 years of journalism experience at publications across ... Read MoreCommerce Category Director, TechLinkedInThreadsTopicsTravelBagsoutdoorsShoppingBag CheckbackpackRead MoreThe Best Carry-On Suitcases for Avoiding Baggage ClaimI feel about luggage carousels the same way I feel about head lice: avoid at all costs. These are the best carry-on suitcases for those who never want to check a bag again.Adrienne SoThe Kindle Accessories WIRED LovesLooking to better protect your Kindle or add a little personality to your favorite e-reader? From cases and covers to page-turners and even charms, this is the guide for you. 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The Topo Designs Rover Trail Pack is presented as a highly versatile backpack suitable for travel, such as plane trips or day hikes, originating from the Denver-based gorpcore brand. The reviewer, Martin Cizmar, observed that the pack successfully integrates thoughtful design elements appreciated in other backpacks without appearing overly complex or showy, positioning it as an attractive option for gear-obsessed consumers.

The design incorporates several specific features aimed at maximizing functionality. At the top of the pack, there is a zipped compartment with a rucksack-style opening secured by a drawstring, which provides a secure space for items like keys and important paperwork. This area is enhanced by an additional zipped mesh sleeve, which allows for secure storage of items such as passports, minimizing the need for constant security checks during transit.

Inside the main compartment, the design utilizes a J-shaped zipper running the length of the bag, which allows access to items located at the bottom without necessitating the unpacking of contents piled on top. This organizational feature facilitates efficient access to necessities. Furthermore, the structure allows for the placement of items toward the bottom, such as travel cushions and pillows, which can be quickly secured when the bag is zipped up.

The side pockets are designed to accommodate water bottles and feature spandex material, allowing them to flexibly fit containers of various sizes, as demonstrated by their ability to hold cans of Diet Coke. Although marketed for trail use, the pack is adaptable; the reviewer noted that the lightly padded waist belt can be easily modified or tucked under the foam backing layer for use during day hikes. Additionally, the foam layer can serve as a protective layer for electronics like laptops or tablets, thanks to a side zipper.

The backpack has a capacity of 22 liters, making it ideal as a personal item or for shorter excursions. For ultralight backpackers, the design incorporates clipped straps on the bottom and a row of nylon loops, which offer utility for attaching items such as sleeping bags or shelters. These features also enable the backpack to function as a carrier for soiled gear that does not need to be kept inside. Ultimately, the Rover Trail Pack is viewed as the most versatile model among Topo Designs offerings and is recommended as an effective entry point for other models in the brand line.