Roll top
Roll top backpacks for kids: how they work and why they stay dry
A roll top backpack closes by folding the opening down on itself two or three times and fastening it, which leaves no zip teeth or gap for rain to get through, so it is the most reliably waterproof closure a child's bag can have.
Updated
Roll top rucksacks come from cycling and kayaking, where a bag has to survive real water. The same design works for children, for the same reason: there is nothing for rain to find its way through.
Most roll tops are made for adults at 20 litres and up. This guide covers what changes when the wearer is three to ten.
plop in short
- 10L waterproof roll-top backpack for children aged 3 to 10.
- 32 cm high, 25 cm wide, 13 cm deep and about 450 g, so A4 books sit flat.
- Soft matte TPU fabric with welded seams, a reinforced base and a hidden magnetic roll-top closure.
- Padded adjustable shoulder straps and a chest strap a three-year-old can clip alone.
- £39 with free UK shipping, 30-day returns and a 2-year guarantee. Made by plopkids LTD.
What is a roll top backpack?
A roll top backpack has an open top that you fold down over itself, usually two or three turns, then fasten so it cannot unroll. The folds make a seal, so water running down the bag has nowhere to go in.
A zip, by contrast, is a row of gaps. Even a water-resistant zip lets water through under steady rain or when the bag sits in a puddle.
Roll top vs zip for a child's bag
For dryness the roll top wins outright. For a small child it usually wins on ease too: a zip needs two hands pulling in opposite directions, a roll top needs folding and pressing.
The trade-off is that the bag gets slightly shorter as you roll it, so the size you need is the size with the top closed.
- Roll top: no gap for rain, opens wide, simple for small hands.
- Zip: quicker for adults, but a weak point in rain and the first thing to break.
- Always compare capacity with the roll top closed.
What size roll top backpack does a child need?
About 10 litres with the top closed suits ages 3 to 10. That holds an A4 folder flat, a lunch box, a bottle and a spare layer without hanging below a small child's waist.
Adult roll tops of 20 litres or more are too wide and too long for a primary-school back, even empty.
Why a magnetic closure suits small hands
Traditional roll tops fasten with a buckle or a clip, which many three and four-year-olds cannot manage. plop uses a hidden magnetic closure: fold the top down and it finds its own place and holds.
That means a child can open their own bag for a snack and close it again without help, which is the point of giving them a bag in the first place.
Common questions
- Are roll top backpacks waterproof?
- A roll top closure is the most waterproof opening a bag can have. The bag is only fully waterproof if the fabric is waterproof and the seams are welded or taped as well.
- Is a roll top backpack good for school?
- Yes. It opens wide so books go in flat, keeps homework dry in rain, and a magnetic or simple closure is easy for a child to use alone.
- What is the difference between a roll top backpack and a roll top rucksack?
- None. Backpack and rucksack mean the same thing; rucksack is the more common word in the UK.
- Do they make roll top backpacks for kids?
- Yes, though most roll tops are adult sizes. A child's roll top should be about 10 litres, around 32 cm high, with a chest strap.