Mountain Top to Coffee Shop: Topo Designs Rover Pack

[leadin]Ballistic Cordura material and bison leather distinguish this made-in-USA pack, new this month from Topo Designs.[/leadin]

Combining form and function into a streamlined American-made package, the Uncrate Rover Backpack works hard and looks good doing it. The black outer is constructed of American bison and Topo’s signature Ballistic Cordura, and the inner has a padded laptop sleeve and cinch-able coated canvas interior.

If you’re looking for the most technical outdoor backpack, stop reading; this isn’t for you. But if you’re interested in a multifaceted, well constructed pack that easily transitions from dusty back roads to sleek urban streets, then let me introduce you to the limited edition Topo Designs X Uncrate Rover Pack.

Topo Designs X Uncrate Rover Pack ($200)

Available: Now, limited edition

First Impressions: Sleek and stylish. Sturdy. Classic. Gets the job done without all the bells and whistles.

Where To Test It: More workhorse than one-trick pony, this bag will accompany you wherever the winds of adventure blow. Not sure where to take your Rover Pack? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Slide your laptop into the inner pocket, cinch the coated liner closed to guard against spring showers and bike across town to your favorite coffee shop for a mid-day work session.
• Toss the pack into your rig, kick it into 4-wheel-drive and head to the hills for a manly weekend of off-road camping shenanigans.
• Pack a change of clothes, grab your passport, toss a book (you can never go wrong with the travel classic Vagabonding) in for good measure and get ready to jet set straight into the open arms of adventure travel.

Who It’s For: People looking for a sturdy, classic backpack, buyers who want to support made in the USA products, men and women wishing for a bag that harkens to the good ole days of simplicity, quality and style.

Who It’s Not For: Users looking for a light, cheap, or technical backpack.

Boring But Important: This pack is made from heavy, long lasting materials. The Bison leather base and Ballistic Cordura fabric upper with coated pack cloth liner are simply bomber. It also has heavy duty plastic hardware, inner laptop sleeve, zippered front and top pockets, side pockets for water bottles or additional gear with compression straps.

Flaw: The water bottle pockets could be slightly bigger. My Hydroflask fits snugly, but there’s no way you’re getting a Nalgene in there.

Awesome! I was skeptical when I heard tell that the signature Topo Ballistic Cordura is “nearly indestructible,” but I’m thrilled to report it can indeed take a beating and keep on packing. So far it’s accompanied me cross country on a motorcycle, been tossed in the dirt camping, had countless cups of coffee spilt on it, and withstood being stuffed to the brim with books – all without a single tear, fray or stuck zipper.

Who Should Buy It: Guys and gals who want a pack that easily transitions from mountaintop to coffee shop, is made in the USA, that stands up to use and abuse and, perhaps most importantly, looks good doing it.

Buy Now/More Info
Mallory Paige is a Storyteller and Adventurer. As creator of the popular Operation Moto Dog adventure, she is traveling across North America on a motorcycle-sidecar with Baylor the Dog, proving that you don’t need to be fearless or perfect to live your dreams.