A morning ride through Friedrichshain, your laptop on your back, a stop for coffee before work. Later, you squeeze onto the U-Bahn with groceries you had not planned to buy. In Berlin, a backpack often stays with you from the first trip out to the last journey home.
We design both roll-top and flap-top backpacks for days like these. The difference is in how you use them: adjusting the space for an extra layer or reaching inside for your book between stops.
Two ways to close your bag
A roll-top backpack closes by rolling down the material at the opening and securing it. That extra material allows the top to adjust to different loads, within the bag’s intended capacity. Pack less and you can roll it down further. Need more room? Leave more height while keeping the closure properly secured.
A flap-top backpack has a flap that folds over the opening. You release its fastening and lift the flap to reach inside. It generally keeps a more consistent outline, although capacity and adjustability vary between designs.
Both can have laptop compartments, external pockets, and additional access points. The top closure is one part of the bag, so it helps to look at the whole design.
When your day ends with more than you packed
It is Friday morning. You cycle to work with your usual essentials, but you are meeting friends afterward and staying overnight. A change of clothes needs to come along too.
This is where a roll-top makes sense. The adjustable upper section gives you some room to accommodate a changing load, then rolls down again when you have less to carry.
Our Hajo Roll-Top Backpack is a good starting point for this kind of routine. Its expandable top lets you adjust the packing space, and Mini and Medium options let you choose a size around your everyday needs.
Jannik Roll-Top Backpack offers similar roll-top flexibility to Hajo, with an aluminum buckle to secure the closure. Both let you adjust the packing space when you pick up groceries on the way home or need to tuck away your sweater.
Choose a roll-top if what you bring home often differs from what you leave with. Just remember that extra height does not make the bag unlimited: you still need room to close it securely.
When you are in and out of your bag all day
You find a seat on the train and take out your book. At the office, you need your laptop. At lunchtime, you reach for your headphones. Later, you settle into a café and unpack again.
For a day with frequent stops, a flap-top can feel more straightforward. There is no rolled opening to undo and remake each time.
Our Mion Flap-Top Backpack pairs a buckle-fastened flap with a 14-liter main compartment and padded space for a laptop up to 16 inches. A front zip pocket keeps frequently used smaller items within easier reach.
That makes Mion a practical suggestion for work or study when your daily load is fairly consistent. Check your laptop’s dimensions against the compartment before choosing, particularly if you use a bulky protective case.
Choose a flap-top if you value a simple opening and usually carry a predictable set of essentials.
Our Adina Flap-Top Backpack combines a flap opening with a compact 9-liter format and a dedicated laptop compartment. It suits those who prefer a smaller backpack for carrying their laptop and everyday essentials to work or a café.
Quick access is about more than the top
Imagine arriving at your desk and realizing that the charger you need is underneath your sweater. A roll-top might sound inconvenient, but an additional opening can change the experience.
Hajo has a vertical side zipper that provides access to the main compartment without unrolling the top. Mion’s front zip pocket serves a different purpose: keeping smaller essentials accessible without opening the main compartment.
Before deciding, think about what you reach for most often. A book needs access to the main compartment. Keys or headphones may only need a well-placed pocket.
Look at the routes into the bag, not just the shape of its opening.
Which style fits your day?
The choice comes down to how you pack and what you enjoy using.
If your load changes throughout the day, a roll-top gives you flexibility. Hajo and Jannik let you adjust the rolled opening around what you carry, whether that means your usual work essentials or an extra layer for later. Jannik follows a similar approach to Hajo, with an aluminum buckle adding a distinct detail.
If you prefer to lift a flap, reach inside, and fold it down again, Mion and Adina offer that straightforward routine. Adina also includes a laptop compartment, making it an option for work or study.
Both styles can become your everyday backpack. Think about how often you reach inside, how much your load varies, and which opening feels most natural to you.