WIRED reviewer names Topo Designs Rover Trail backpack 'best ever used'
Martin Cizmar’s 10-day assessment across Ireland and Scotland highlights the 22-litre pack’s durability and versatile design for travel and hiking.
Martin Cizmar, a reviewer for WIRED’s Reviews team, has described the Topo Designs Rover Trail backpack as the best he has ever used. The endorsement follows a 10-day trip to Ireland and Scotland in March, during which the Denver-based brand’s 22-litre pack was utilised across seven flights and eight hotels. The review is part of WIRED’s “Bag Check” series, which highlights preferred carryalls.
Topo Designs is recognised as a “gorpcore” label known for durable, feature-rich bags. Cizmar previously tested other models from the brand, including the Global Pro Travel Roller. The Rover Trail features a J-shaped main zipper, secure key clips, spandex side pockets, and a removable foam layer for laptop protection, offering versatility for travel, day hikes, and potential ultralight overnighting.
Cizmar noted that the pack’s design avoids feeling overbuilt while incorporating thoughtful details. A zipped compartment at the top includes a key clip and mesh sleeve, allowing for secure storage of items such as passports. The main compartment utilises a J-shaped zipper, enabling access to items at the bottom without disturbing contents placed higher in the bag.
The side pockets feature spandex material to accommodate various bottle sizes, while the pack includes a lightly padded waist belt for hiking stability. The removable foam layer can be adjusted to protect a laptop or tablet, or tucked away for casual wear. Cizmar suggested the 22-litre capacity is suitable as a personal item or for day hikes, with potential for ultralight summer overnighting.
The assessment reflects the subjective opinion of a single individual and may not represent a consensus view. The claim that Topo Designs makes "the best bags in the world" is a hyperbolic statement from the author, not an objective fact. The suggestion that an "enterprising ultralight backpacker" could use the pack for a summer overnighter is speculative and depends on individual packing habits and gear.
