Waterproof, Lightweight and Built for the Weather: Inside Montbell's Roll-Up Closure Backpacks
Got caught in a downpour and opened your pack to soggy gear? Here's how to stop that happening again.
If you've walked the Western Arthurs, the Blue Mountains in a wet week, or the Main Range in winter, you already know what a pack really needs to do: keep your gear dry. Everything else comes second.
Most packs leave that job to a pack cover. It flaps in the wind, catches on scrub, and has a habit of collecting water at the bottom. Here at Montbell, we took a different approach. Our design philosophy is Function is Beauty: gear should do its job well, last, and not carry a gram more than it needs to.
That thinking is behind the Roll-Up Closure System, used across the Alpine Pack and Alpine Light Pack ranges. Here's how it works, and why it suits the way we hike in Australia.
Why the Roll-Up Closure Works
1. It keeps the rain out
A zip top lets water in through the teeth once the rain gets serious. A roll-top doesn't have that weak point. Inside the pack sits Montbell's Aqua Barrier Sack, a built-in liner made from nylon ripstop with a waterproof urethane coating (70-denier HYDROPRO® on the Alpine Pack range). Your sleeping bag, spare layers and electronics stay protected, and most of the time you can leave the rain cover at home.
2. Getting into it is quick
Cold fingers, iced-up zips and a row of lid buckles are a slow combination when the wind's up. With a roll-top you unroll it and you're straight into a wide opening. When you're done, roll it down, clip it, and keep walking.
3. The volume changes with the trip
A 50-litre pack might be full for a four-day walk and half-empty for an overnighter. Roll the top down further on lighter trips and the pack shrinks to fit, keeping the load tight and close to your back so it doesn't sway.
Made for Australian Conditions
Australian backcountry is hard on gear: sharp granite, scratchy scrub, freezing alpine wind one weekend and humid coastal squalls the next. The Alpine Light Pack uses lightweight ballistic nylon ripstop for strong tear and abrasion resistance at a low weight, while the Alpine Pack 50, 60 and 70 use tough 100-denier nylon ripstop with a heavier 210-denier base for the parts that take the most punishment.
Pair it with a proper shell, like the Storm Cruiser Jacket or the ultralight Versalite Jacket, and you're well set up for the kind of weather that sends everyone else home early.
The Alpine Pack Range: Which One Is Right for You?
We stock the Alpine models with the Roll-Up Closure System in our Australian stores and online. Whether you're heading out for a fast day hike or loading up for a week in the high country, there's a size to suit. Here's a quick guide:
| Model | Best for | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine Light Pack 30 / 30 Women's | Day hikes, fast overnighters, ultralight trips | 810 g (Women's) / 925 g. Ballistic nylon ripstop body, a top lid you can set up a few different ways, slim enough for narrow bush tracks. |
| Alpine Pack 50 / 50 Women's | Two-to-four-day walks, alpine overnights | Super Wishbone frame, EVA foam back panel, top lid that converts into a waist or sling pack. |
| Alpine Pack 60 / 60 Women's and Alpine Pack 70 Women's | Long traverses, winter trips, anything with a heavy kit list | Most capacity in the range, articulated hipbelt, and a bottom-access zip on the 70 Women's so you can get to your sleeping bag without unpacking everything. |
Features at a Glance
- Roll-Up Closure System: fast access, and you can compress the pack down for smaller loads.
- Aqua Barrier Sack: built-in waterproof liner for when the weather turns.
- Super Wishbone frame: adjustable aluminium frame for a stable, well-fitted carry (Alpine Pack 50, 60 and 70).
- 3D mesh and EVA foam back panels: breathable and quick-drying on hot, sweaty climbs.
- Hydration compatible, with pole straps: easy attachment points for trekking poles, ice axes and a water bladder.
Ready for Your Next Trip?
Don't let a wet forecast or a heavy, overbuilt pack keep you home this season. If you're planning a multi-day walk, the rest of your kit matters too, from a lightweight shelter like the Moonlight Tent 1 to a compact cook set like the Alpine Cooker 14+16 Pan Set, and a warm layer for camp such as the Superior Down Jacket.
Browse the full Alpine range online, or drop into one of our stores in Sydney, Chatswood, Collaroy or Jindabyne and try one on with a loaded pack.
Shop the Alpine Backpack Collection
Check the specs and find your fit.
Light, waterproof and built for moving fast: the Alpine Light Pack 30 Women's. The multi-day all-rounder, with the Super Wishbone frame: the Alpine Pack 50. Big-trip capacity with a bottom-access zip: the Alpine Pack 70 Women's.