The best drawstrings backpacks for speed and convenience

While plenty of trusted brands produce top-notch drawstring backpacks, the Under Armour Undeniable 2.0 Sackpack earns the top spot on our list. Even without the supersized UA logo on the front, this pack stands out from the crowd with its particular combination of traditional and drawstring backpack features.

At 19 by 15 by two inches, the Undeniable 2.0 Sackpack provides plenty of storage space without being too large or bulky. The main compartment conforms to the traditional drawstring pack’s minimalistic design philosophy, but the front outer panel provides plenty of magic with two zippered storage compartments. The main compartment features a setup commonly found in admin pouches on traditional backpacks, complete with organizational pockets. The smaller compartment sports a microfiber lining, making it the ideal choice for storing sunglasses. The adjustable drawstrings, sternum clip, and front panel D-ring round out this sleek package.

This UA backpack’s most glaring downside is its price tag. Add to that some pretty thin drawstrings, and you’ll see that Under Armour’s swing for the fences with this pack fell just a little short of a grand slam. That said, its top spot on this list is well-deserved.

If you’re on a budget but still need a cinch bag that provides more than the bare essentials, the Adidas Alliance 2 Sackpack checks that box with ease. This bag is one of my personal favorites thanks to its high degree of comfort and functionality.

Compared to its competitors, the Alliance 2 offers a good value, and if you find one on sale, it turns into an outright steal. The first feature that stands out is its thick cord drawstrings which strike a nice balance between comfortable wear and ease of closing. As with most cinch bags, the interior is one giant storage space, but the exterior of the front panel boasts a mesh stuff pouch with a large panel over the top that sports a microfiber-lined zippered pocket for storing small electronics and other pocket gear. Want a splash of color? The Alliance 2 has those bases covered, as well.

In terms of drawbacks, this Adidas pack scores quite well. Our only real gripe is that the center panel over top of the stuff pocket somewhat limits the pouch’s ease of access.

If you love water sports, the great outdoors, or both, the Geckobrands Drawstring Waterproof Backpack is the only way to go. Whatever your needs, this cinch pack can’t be beaten.

This drawstring pack measures a healthy 20 by 13.5 by 1.5 inches, which offers users 10 liters of cargo capacity, more than enough space for a trip to the surf or an outdoor concert. The roll-top closure ensures water will not enter the bag unless submerged for at least 30 minutes. Inside, this waterproof pack includes a small, zippered pocket spacious enough to hold large smartphones and a few other odds and ends. The included drawstrings are thick cords designed to enhance comfort, and the included sternum clip helps secure the bag to your back.

The only drawbacks to this Geckobrands cinch bag are its relatively high price tag and the lack of external storage options. Then again, outside pouches on a waterproof bag may not be much appreciated in a heavy downpour.

If we’re honest, cinch packs are far from travel-ready, but with its traditional backpack design, the Osprey Daylite Cinch is an incredibly handy travel bag with an easy access drawstring compartment.

The Daylite Cinch is built with Bluesign-approved recycled polyester and features a PFC-free water-resistant finish. With 15 liters of cargo capacity, this pack can handle plenty of gear without weighing you down. The ventilated shoulder straps and pack panel, sternum strap, and removable hip belt make heavy loads a breeze, whereas the external zippered storage compartment (complete with key clip), dual daisy chains enhance, and modularity with other Osprey pack systems make it an incredibly versatile pack. The top carry handle/yoke sports a luggage handle passthrough to make navigating airports simple.

Unfortunately, this Osprey pack is expensive compared to traditional cinch packs. The other obvious drawback is the lack of a laptop sleeve, making it a non-starter for some travelers. That said, the included hydration reservoir sleeve should accommodate a tablet with ease.

Originally designed as a travel pack, the Kuhl Kove 22L offers students the convenience of a drawstring backpack with all the storage and organizational features they need to take on the modern classroom. Its sleek, classic aesthetic is sure to spark more than a few non-academic conversations, as well.

Paying tribute to the first mountaineering rucksacks of 19th-century Norway, the Kove 22L features a water-resistant cotton and nylon construction with a simple flap top with an antiqued metal hook closure. The auto-locking cinch cord and top flap keep gear safe and secure while providing easy access to school supplies. Inside, this Kuhl pack employs storage pockets (including a water bottle pouch) and a laptop sleeve (with side panel access) to organize your odds and ends.

The front panel also hides dual external pouches for smaller items, and this Kuhl pack also includes a low-profile carry handle between the top of each shoulder strap. This carry-on-compliant pack also comes with a padded back panel and shoulder straps complete with mini storage pockets to make travel on school breaks easy. Weighing two pounds six ounces, it does weigh four to five times that of most cinch packs, although the Kove 22L isn’t a backbreaker.

With its 22-liter capacity, this pack is fairly spacious but may be a little cramped for certified bookworms. Owing to its quality build, the Kove 22L is pricey indeed, and downright expensive by cinch pack standards. One final gripe is that the water bottle pouch is located inside the main compartment, making it a bit inconvenient to access and keeping liquids uncomfortably close to your electronics.

Most drawstring backpacks employ a simplistic stow-and-go design, but the Vooray Stride Cinch bucks that trend. Instead, it offers the space and storage compartments you need to accommodate and organize all your gym essentials.

Compared to most cinch packs, the Stride Cinch is downright massive. It measures 16 by 10 by seven inches, offering users a whopping 19 liters of cargo capacity. The main compartment features a drawstring top (shocking) with an interior mesh zip pocket to store energy bars, wallets, and other items. On the outside, the front panel also supports a weather-resistant zip pocket ready to secure your phone, keys, or AirPods. This Vooray pack features a padded back panel and ventilated shoulder straps to accommodate hot, heavy loads. Best of all, the Stride Cinch’s price tag sits well within most people’s budgetary wheelhouse.

There aren’t many reasons to complain about the Stride Cinch, but there are a couple of nits worth picking. Most notably, this drawstring backpack lacks both dedicated water bottle storage and a dedicated shoe compartment. It also lacks variety in the color department, and by its very nature, it isn’t quite as quick and convenient as a cinch pack. Still, these objections are minor when compared to what the pack does well. Go ahead and pick one up.

Stadium-ready clear drawstring backpacks are cheap, simple affairs, but the May Tree Clear Drawstring Bag raises the bar a notch. While still employing a minimalist design, the addition of a few subtle features makes it a bit more user-friendly.

As with many similar bags, this May Tree offering consists of two transparent PVC panels with dual drawstrings. It measures a good 13.5 by 17 inches — more than enough room to pack along your stadium event essentials. Where this inexpensive backpack deviates from its competitors are its external mesh storage options. It sports a zippered mesh storage pocket and a mesh water bottle pocket, available in one of three color options. This makes hydration and access to critical essentials a breeze.

On the downside, this bag is still a budget affair, most obviously demonstrated by its skinny drawstrings. Due to its PVC construction, the May Tree bag is hand-wash-only. That said, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a similar (or better) bag at this price point.

For the best PLA-grade tactical drawstring backpack on the market, look no further than the Fitdom BP-1 Drawstring Sports Backpack. Not only is this bag ready for the gym, but it also packs (a few) tactical features that no special operator can live without.

Constructed with tactical black honeycomb nylon, this just-right bag is built to handle a basketball, shoes, a water bottle, and maybe a pair of shorts or two. Outside, the BP-1 Sports backpack features dual mesh water bottle pockets, perfectly sized to handle any complimentary-size water bottle on the market, a zippered external pocket, and two strips of MOLLE-esque webbing. The bottom sports a fully zippered drop compartment equipped with dual ventilation ports to handle rank tactical gym shoes.

Information regarding the bag’s interior requires a Top Secret clearance or an Andrew Jackson to access. That said, the bag’s exterior dimensions (18 by 17 by 7.5 inches) ensure plenty of storage space for a modest loadout.

Sadly, this bag fails to live up to the highest quality standards. Most notably, it lacks both mag pouches and a rifle scabbard, limiting it to amateur operations. It also lacks compatibility with most body armor panels on the market. That said, this drawstring backpack can handle plenty of other operations. Whether you are a real-life mall ninja or an undercover Chinese spy, your kit isn’t complete without the Fitdom BP-1 Sports backpack. Get yours today.