I'm thinking of getting a Hemlock for college.

I'll be using it to hold books and such for classes, but also for holding groceries when I go between my apartment and the store. I've read some good stuff about the bag but was wondering if the roll-top would be annoying to deal with in class. (Having to roll it up all the time in class and such.)

I use discarded backpacks and turn them into panniers. Your rolltop wouldn't be as annoying as a couple of panniers hooks digging into your back.

That's a good bag. I've been using one for about a year now. You can put a TON of stuff in it. Only downside is it's not waterproof (easily remedied with a contractor grade trash bag) and my back sweats a lot while using it (but I sweat like a pig anyway, especially in NC in August).

Don't drink the Hemlock , Plato !

I've seen this more than once in this forum (roll-tops are annoying). Where does this particular idea come from?. I have a Chrome Ivan (roll-top, waterproof backpack) that I used for school during the last ~2 years of college, and I that I still use (occasionally, I prefer panniers) to go to work and regularly to get groceries (on foot, since I live .5 miles from the store). I have never once found the roll-top to be annoying or frustrating or any more (or less) of a hassle than the various backpacks I had prior. (I bought the Chrome because my other bags kept falling apart due to cheap shoulder straps)