Ultrahigh Rolltop

Additional Information

Story

We believe that the best pack is the one that disappears. A bag so lightweight and balanced you can almost forget you are carrying it. One so stable and proportioned that it can move in sync with you. A pack like something you wear, not something you carry.

At Outlier we practice a perverse sort of materialism, a deep reverence for the highest quality materials coupled with a desire to “let them speak.” We believe the best designs are ones that allow the raw materials to express their inherent properties as clearly as possible. With the Ultrahigh Rolltop we focused on three remarkable materials (plus a handful more for small details), an Ultrahigh Dyneema Composite fabric, an Armordon self-reinforcing polypropylene sheeting and a magnomechanical Fidlock closure.

Ultrahigh Dyneema Composite is a material that has fascinated us for years. Built around Dyneema brand ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers that are stronger than steel yet float on water, it allows for making incredibly lightweight packs. But it’s actually its lack of deformation and stretch that is remarkable.

Most bags are made of woven fabrics that subtly deform and stretch out on the bias (45 degree angles from the weave direction). In contrast, the Ultrahigh Rolltop has almost zero stretch or give in any direction. This is important because the contents of your bag are constantly shifting around slightly as you move. When a bag fabric has stretch or give these internal movements are amplified as the bag deforms with their momentum, forcing your body to counteract in order to keep the bag stable. With the Ultrahigh Rolltop there is none of that, the walls barely shift and the bag stays snug and centered as you move. More than that, because the core is so strong and stable we’re able to use a smoother face fabric than most backpacks, making it far better on your clothing as you wear it.

The Armordon frame sheet adds another layer of light stiffness that molds to your body over time. Built from seven layers of self-reinforcing polypropylene, a super light yet stiff material, that molds to your back shape as you wear it. The result is a remarkably comfortable “back feel”, and a backpack that is a joy to wear.

As for the pack itself we’ve always been fans of the clean simplicity of rolltop closures, but wanted to find a way to make them work a touch faster. We found the answer with Fidlock’s magnomechanical closures, which combine the best aspects of both mechanical and magnetic closure systems to create something new and easier to use. The magnetic aspects guide the closures to lock together, the mechanical keeps it securely closed and both work together to open smoothly with a simple tug in the right direction.

Of course the materials alone don’t make a great bag, it’s the little details that make it really easy to use. Both sides of the bag feature Tweave four-way stretch pockets calibrated to be easily reachable while the bag is being worn, perfect for water bottles and other items you need easy fast access to. An external zippered pocket allows quick access to items you want to keep a bit more secured. Inside the bag the removable self-reinforcing polypropylene back panel is sheathed in a compartment that doubles as a laptop compartment, keeping flat delicate objects tight to your body and floating above the bottom of the bag.

There are more details of course, soft yet strong Ultrasuede for the zipper pull, rigidly cast aluminum sliders, tough and flexible Biothane webbing for the roll top and even a small amount of Dyneema cord for a keyloop. It all adds up to an extremely comfortable bag, built for daily use and lightweight, Outlier style, travel. Better yet the Ultrahigh fabric breaks in beautifully, crumpling to a deep black texture we find full of character yet discrete enough to disappear into your day-to-day travels.

Fabric

A nonwoven composite of Dyneema brand ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the world’s strongest fiber. The Dyneema fiber is bonded and encased in BoPET by Cubic Tech in Mesa Arizona, using their proprietary nonwoven process. The resulting material is sometimes called “Cuben” or CTF3, which we then have laminated to a light polyester outer face for additional abrasion resistance to produce Ultrahigh Dyneema Composite. The result is a composite fabric that is waterproof, super light and relatively strong, with a remarkable structure and dark angular texture that deepens as it ages.

It is important to note that while Dyneema may be the world's strongest fiber, this process is NOT about making the world's strongest fabric. Instead it is about making a lighter and more dimensionally stable fabric to create bags that are easier to carry. While the bags will hold up to wear and are more durable than most other bags in their weight class, they are not particularly more durable than your average heavy nylon bag.

Details

Ultrahigh Rolltop

Made from Ultrahigh Dyneema Composite (made in USA)

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene encapsulated in BoPET with a polyester outer face

Armordon self-reinforcing polypropylene frame sheet

20 liter/1220 cubic inches capacity rolled 3 times

28 liter total capacity when open

Total weight of 526 grams

428 gram weight without the Armordon frame sheet

Rolltop opening system with Fidlock magnomechanical closures

Two four-way stretch external pockets calibrated for access when worn

One zippered external pocket with a Dyneema cord key loop

Molly Hook Compatible Dynylon Loop Webbing

Internal laptop compatible compartment

Cast Aluminum Duraflex ladderlocks

Hand wash/scrub when needed

Made in Connecticut, USA

Sizing

Please refer to the table below for measurements.

Measurements in inches

Size	Closed	Open
Width across backplate	12	12
Height	19.5	24.5
Volume	20 Liters	28 Liters

Colors

Black