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The first canvas backpack was originally designed in the 1870s by Henry Miriam, and has seen numerous revisions since then. Ubiquitous to students, service members, and outdoorsmen, canvas backpacks have been carrying our equipment for well over a century. Now, with autumn coming up in a few short weeks promising school as well as cool weather perfect for hiking, we at Task & Purpose decided to put together a list of the best canvas backpacks for your next adventure.
- Best Overall: Kuhl Eskape 25 Kanvas
- Best Eco-Friendly: Fjallraven Raven 28
- Best for Bushcraft: Fjallraven Singi 28
- Best Vintage: Duluth Pack Deluxe Roll-Top Scout
- Best for Work: Buffalo Jackson Waxed Canvas Dakota Messenger Bag
Best Overall
Kuhl Eskape 25 Kanvas
Most Eco-Friendly
Fjallraven Raven 28
Best for Bushcraft
Fjallraven Singi 28
Best Vintage
Duluth Pack Deluxe Scout Rolltop Pack
Best for Work
Buffalo Jackson Dakota Messenger Bag
Things to consider before buying a canvas backpack
Waxed or non-waxed
Ideally, any canvas backpack that you purchase should be waxed. This is because the waxing gives the canvas several properties, chief among them is waterproofing. Canvas by itself is naturally water-resistant, but over time the fibers will absorb water, making the bag heavy and getting your belongings wet. Canvas that has been waxed already has its fibers filled with wax, allowing the water to roll off the material. This also keeps your bag cleaner, as the wax is not only waterproof, but also dirt-resistant. As an added bonus, the wax forms a patina over the years similar to leather, giving your bag its own personality and making it distinctly yours.
Care
Canvas backpacks are quite durable. However, like all things, they occasionally need a little bit of care. Although wax improves dirt resistance of canvas, it’s not impervious. If your bag looks dirty, simply get some hot water, a mild soap, and a rag, and spot-wash it. Additionally, over time the wax layer may wear out. This doesn’t mean that your bag is ruined, though. The wax can be reapplied, getting it back to its original waterproof state.
Quality
Nobody wants to be ripped off when making a purchase, and unfortunately, like many consumer items, several cheap options are available on Amazon. A simple search will turn up dozens of canvas bags. However, reading through the reviews shows that they often have an excess of issues. The most prominent ones were complaints about the quality of stitching, with several bags falling apart with very mild use. Additionally, vintage-styled backpacks often featured leather buckles, but these were only for decoration. The flaps were actually held down by weak magnets that let go quite easily. As with many things, quality doesn’t come cheap, and you should expect to spend over $100 to find a well-made bag.
FAQs about canvas backpacks
Q: Are canvas backpacks waterproof?
A: Canvas backpacks are water–resistant, not waterproof. However, a waxed canvas backpack improves water resistance by filling in the gaps between the fibers.
Q: Is canvas the most durable material for backpacks?
A: Honestly, no. In testing, nylon was more abrasion-resistant, while being lighter, Additionally, canvas tends to be more flammable than nylon. That said, canvas is still a rugged material, and you can rest assured that a canvas backpack will serve you well.
Q: How do you keep canvas backpacks clean?
A: Canvas backpacks can be cleaned by spot-washing the affected area with some hot soapy water. They should not, however, be placed in a washing machine.
Final thoughts
If I were to pick a canvas backpack to replace my own current daily driver, it would definitely be the Kuhl Eskape 25 Kanvas. Though all our other picks are worthy in their own right, the design of the Eskape combined with the built-in waterproofing and ease of use when traveling makes it my top choice for the best canvas backpack.
Methodology
Deciding which backpacks made the cut was not an easy task. To decide on which backpacks were worthy and which weren’t, several things were taken into consideration including brand reliability, materials used, whether the material was waxed or not, and above all, customer reviews. A few notable reviews that were key to the decision-making include pieces from Engearment, Pack Hacker, GentCreate, and Outdoors Magic.
Additionally, Fjallraven was chosen as the sustainable pick because of the company’s sustainable approach towards materials and its guides to fixing its products, as well as the fact that you can take its bags to a physical storefront, drop the bag off, and have it repaired. In my mind, that’s an excellent step towards keeping slightly damaged materials out of the dump. For more information on how we at Task & Purpose review products, please view our review guidelines.