Gear Review: TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack

I didn't actually know how much I would use this mini backpack when I first bought it. I just thought it was cute and was tired of always having a 20 liter+ backpack on. As it turns out, I use the Rover Mini a ton and really love it!

Gear Review: TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack
The TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack is a super versatile little adventure pack!

Sometimes you don't need a big backpack for your adventures, and some days you don't even need a small backpack for your adventures. Some adventures call for a mini backpack! And for those adventures the TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack might be just the ticket!

This mini backpack is well suited for short hikes, meandering mountain towns and river walks. I've also worn it for mountain biking adventures, which worked out lovely each time. The Rover Mini Backpack is just big enough to hold all your essentials and has a lot of features for such a small design! Yet none of its features feel frivolous or silly. It's a well thought out pack that is as versatile as it is mini.

A view inside the topo designs rover mini backpack's main compartment
TOPO Designs' Rover Mini Backpack is a very capable backpack with enough room for all the essentials, and then some!

Quick Rundown of the TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack

  • Flap top with dual side-release buckle closures. Drawstring cinch closure access to main compartment
  • Volume: 10 liters
  • Padded internal sleeve fits most tablets
  • Weight: 11.7 ounces for a women's medium
  • Zippered top flap pocket. Lower zippered pocket. Side slip pockets
  • Spacer mesh shoulder straps
  • Dual side compression straps
  • Durable 420D recycled nylon pack cloth and 210D recycled nylon pack cloth liner
  • Comes in a wide array of colorways

My Experience with the TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack

I've been rocking the TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack for about a year and half now, and I have to say, it's great. I love it for meandering in the Southwest. I've used it in the high desert, Sonoran desert and in the San Juan Mountains when I'm moseying around the foothills and don't need much gear.

Like I mentioned above, it's also a nice backpack for mountain biking. It's a versatile backpack. Due to its modern style it would also be totally appropriate to use as a purse.

I'm able to stash a camera with a wide angle lens, a little photography kit with batteries and such, a hat, mittens, a wind jacket, a water bottle (or bladder), a hanky, chapstick, my Gamin inReach Mini and some snacks in the Rover Mini. Pretty much all I need for a 5-mile adventure in good weather.

TOPO Designs Rover Mini Backpack on a hiker in the southwest

Even when it's fully loaded, the Rover Mini Backpack is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It has simple shoulder strap adjusters to get the fit right. It features oversized zipper pulls that make it easy to open the pockets when you've got mittens or thick gloves on.

I didn't actually know how much I would use this mini backpack when I first bought it. I just thought it was cute and was tired of always having a 20 liter+ backpack on. As it turns out, I use the Rover Mini a ton and really love it!

It's worth noting that the Rover Mini Backpack might be a great backpack for little kids! Not only would it fit them like a normal sized backpack, it would also keep their tablet safe in the tablet sleeve, and it's built from durable and easily cleanable materials.


My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.