Product Review by PBE Squad member, Benjamin Le
@facultyfrets here! I’ve been using the @nittanymountainworks Roll Down Pack as my everyday bag for the past few weeks and it’s been awesome. I work in higher education and bike to campus, and at ~25 liters, depending on how much you roll the top down, it’s the perfect size for what I bring with me each day. Other than a zippered pocket for a multitool, your wallet, or other bits and bobs, the bag is open, so I organize it with a padded laptop or tablet sleeve and then toss in a change of clothes and snack when I’m biking to work. But because it’s so flexible, it’s great for running around the city and picking up some groceries after work or hauling gear to a gravel event on the weekend.
One of my favorite things about the bag is that it’s sized perfectly to fit in a Wald 139 basket, so I can throw it on the bike if I want. And with two daisy chains, I can easily clip my keys, a carabiner, a reflector or blinky, my helmet, or whatever else I need to the bag. I have an AirTag attached to the key clip inside, because if my Roll Down Pack ever wandered away I’d want to be able to track it down.
There’s a grab handle at the top for quick getaways, and the top rolls down securely with a simple sliding metal hook to keep things tidy. With an adjustable sternum strap and comfortable backpack straps, the bag fits perfectly. Mine is a prototype made from X-Pac fabric, but the bag comes standard with a rugged-but-light 1050d ballistic nylon shell and is customizable in lots of different colors to express yourself. I chose a subtle gray and black with tan daisy chains, but if hot pink, lime green, or camouflage is your thing, don’t be shy. Your imagination is the only limit.
An added bonus is that their gear is all handmade in central Pennsylvania in a workshop that is solar-powered. How cool is that? I definitely recommend checking out Nittany Mountain Works gear, whether it’s a backpack, hip pack, or bag for your bike!
