SIX MONTHS WITH MY TEMPLE OUTDOOR ROLL TOP BACKPACK PRO

Location: London, Lisbon, Somerset
Author: Matthew Mears
Gear: Temple Outdoor Roll Top Backpack Pro

When you design products, you inevitably end up living with them far longer than most people ever will. Before anything reaches a customer, it’s been used, overused, packed badly, repacked, dragged through bad weather, and relied upon when plans don’t quite go to plan. The Temple Outdoor Roll Top Backpack Pro has been no exception. We originally designed this bag to be a simple solution to a problem I kept running into myself, needing one backpack that could genuinely handle everyday life, travel, and time outdoors without feeling like a compromise in any one setting. Over the past year or so, it’s become the bag I reach for almost without thinking.

WHY A ROLL TOP?

The roll top format isn’t new, but there’s a reason it’s stood the test of time. I’ve always liked the way a roll top allows a bag to adapt to what you’re carrying, rather than forcing you into a fixed volume. Some days it’s just a laptop, notebook, and a few essentials. Other days it’s a jacket, camera, food, and whatever else the day throws in.

The roll top pro lets the bag expand and compress naturally, while also offering better protection from the elements than most traditional zip backpacks. Living in the UK, that alone is reason enough.

EVERYDAY USE — THE REAL TEST?

Most of my time with this backpack has been spent doing fairly ordinary things: heading into town, working from cafés, catching trains, cycling, and walking more than I probably should. That’s exactly where a bag either earns its place or doesn’t.

The Roll Top Backpack has quietly done its job. The padded laptop sleeve comfortably fits a 16” laptop, the internal organisation is simple without being restrictive, and the bag sits well on the back even when it’s fully loaded. It doesn’t shout about itself, which I like.

You can see the full details of the bag here on the Temple Outdoor website:
👉 see the roll top pro here

TRAVEL AND TIME OUTDOORS

The bag has come with me on weekends away, longer trips, and plenty of walks and rides where the weather has been unpredictable at best. The waterproof materials and roll top closure have proven themselves more times than I can count, keeping cameras, notebooks, and clothing dry without the need for extra covers or liners.

One of the things I’m most pleased with is how the bag behaves when it’s not full. Many backpacks only feel comfortable when they’re packed to the brim. This one doesn’t sag or lose its shape when lightly loaded, which makes it far more usable day to day.

DESIGN CHOICES THAT MATTER
As with everything we do at Temple, the focus was on longevity and restraint. Fewer moving parts, durable materials, and a design that doesn’t chase trends. The hardware is solid, the stitching is built to last, and nothing is there without a reason.
I’ve used plenty of backpacks over the years, and most fail not because they’re badly de-signed, but because they try to do too much. With the Roll Top Backpack, the aim was to do a few things properly, carry what you need, protect it from the weather, and remain comfortable over long days.

FINAL THOUGHTS
After living with this backpack for a significant amount of time, I’m confident it does ex-actly what we set out to achieve. It’s become part of my daily routine in the same way a good bike or a well-worn jacket does, something you rely on without thinking about.
If you’re looking for a backpack that can genuinely move between everyday life and the outdoors, and one that’s been designed through real use rather than theory, I’d encourage you to take a look at the Temple Outdoor Roll Top Backpack.

You can find it, along with the rest of our outdoor gear, at:

👉 Temple Outdoor Website

— Matthew

GOES WELL WITH