Proviz Reflective Rolltop Backpack

The Proviz Reflective Rolltop Backpack is a solid commuter and everyday pack, which blends standout visibility and practical features in a large, 30-litre flexible roll-top design. The price is very reasonably and you really do light up like the Blackpool Illuminations when vehicle headlights pick out the bag’s surface.

> Buy now: Proviz Reflective Rolltop Backpack for £69.99 from Proviz

There are plenty of backpacks and messenger-style bags available – but none are quite as visible as this. Proviz, as the name suggests, is a brand that specialises in high-visibility items. It started making commuter-based clothing and now offers a full range of options from running and hiking kits to a range of bags and backpacks.

The key to its performance is Proviz’s signature reflective shell – millions of embedded glass beads that light up when picked out by vehicle headlights.

It’s not just a couple of hi-vis strips or panels, but the whole outboard section and part of the straps are reflective – and it’s retina-burning bright (okay, not literally, but you get the point…). It’s one of the most visible commuter bags out there, ideal for early morning commutes or after-work rides.

The roll-top design is simple and functional, giving you decent water resistance and adaptable capacity. There’s a padded laptop sleeve that you access from the side, which works well for quickly grabbing your device without having to dig through everything else, but it’s only 27cm wide, so it will only work for medium-sized computers.

There’s also a neat section attached to the laptop compartment for storing pens and small items like charger cables or bank cards. That said, I would still like to have seen another internal section or two for stowing smaller items.

At 30 litres, it’s a good mid-size pack, and its large entry makes filling it easy. I used it for everything from carrying the kids’ swimming kit to getting groceries and the occasional trip to the office, and it handled it all with ease.

The small external zipped compartment is designed for keys or wallets, though the zip is positioned vertically. I prefer a horizontal pocket, as it reduces the risk of a dropped key or wallet if you forget to close the zip.

The chest and waist straps help to keep the bag stable when you’re riding, and the mesh backing offers some airflow – though it does still get a bit warm on longer, sweatier commutes. The buckle of the chest strap also doubles as a whistle; well, you never know…

It’s a well-made pack though it lacks some of the finesse of a higher-end hiking or riding pack.

Additionally, it’s a lot warmer and sweatier than other options, though Proviz does offer other bags that are more suited to higher-intensity activities.

After a few hundred miles of use, mine still looks fresh. No scuffs, rips and no zip failures. One small gripe is that the inside of the bag is dark and I think it could do with a lighter liner or more organisation, as it’s easy to lose small items at the bottom if you’re rummaging around in dim light.

But that’s a minor quibble on what has been a solid performer with the added bonus of its unparalleled brightness, which gives you extra peace of mind in low-light conditions. And for even more visibility, the lower rear section has a loop for carrying a rear light.

Value

At £69.99, it represents good value considering its visibility, size and practicality. It undercuts pretty much all of its competitors and delivers most of the things you need in a commuter bag: decent weatherproofing, night-time safety and a padded laptop sleeve.

If you’re looking for something for more intense riding or technical features, Proviz’s 20-litre or 30-litre non-roll top backpacks or the Chrome Industries Hondo might be better options, though the Hondo is a much pricier £116.

The Oxford Aqua Evo 22L Backpack is a tenner more expensive than the Proviz and is also totally waterproof.

Other roll-top bags include the Craft Cadence Cycling Backpack, which we liked a lot. But while it has better internal features and a higher waterproof rating, it lacks the Proviz’s visibility, and it’s now £120, up from the £99 when we tested it.

However, for general commuting and day-to-day riding, I think the Proviz is a very sound choice.

For further options check out our best cycling backpacks buyer’s guide.

Conclusion

The Proviz is a very good, well-priced bag with a large opening that makes it easy to live with. It lacks the breathability and fit of a technical backpack and could do with some more internal storage features. The fact that the Proviz is probably visible from space when hit by vehicle headlights is a real plus when you’re riding in low-light conditions.

> Buy now: Proviz Reflective Rolltop Backpack for £69.99 from Proviz

Verdict

Smart, tough and visible from space – ideal daily backpack if you want to stay safe and organised without overspending

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