11 Best Canvas Backpacks: Reviewed, Rated & Compared

3 Reasons Why Canvas Backpacks Are Great

Stylish

The matte, worn appearance of canvas has a distinctly vintage appeal, especially when paired with leather straps and metal buckles. Canvas backpacks have an old-school classiness to them, without skimping on durability.

For people who take their personal styling very seriously, a clunky nylon backpack just won't cut it. But a canvas backpack with thoughtful styling and practical features is ideal.

Durable

Thick canvas is extremely durable and extremely hard to tear or rip. It can withstand heavy wear and tear, as long as the straps and buckles are very securely sewn on.

Waterproof

Cotton canvas isn’t waterproof unless it has been treated or waxed. However, because it’s so thick and tightly woven, it takes a lot of water to soak through to the contents of the bag.

What To Look For In a Good Canvas Backpack

Material

100% cotton canvas backpacks are thick, sturdy, and very resistant to ripping. However, they’re much heavier than synthetic materials such as polyester.

Canvas leather offers breathability and comfort when carrying and are often lighter than cotton canvas. Be sure to check the weight, materials and consider what the primary use is for being bought.

Plenty of pockets

Look for a canvas backpack with enough pockets to cover all bases. You don’t want a backpack which turns out to be non-accommodating to all of the things you will need to carry over time.

Look for a large main compartment or two, multiple small internal pockets, secure outer pockets, and some open pockets for drink bottles, etc. It’s better to have a backpack with a couple of empty pockets than a backpack with nowhere to stash smaller items.

Size

Figure out what you'll be using your canvas backpack for, and consider the size accordingly. If you're planning on using it for zipping around the city with a few necessities in tow, go for a smaller backpack such as a canvas sling backpack (generally around 10 liters).

If you're commuting from work, to the gym and then home, find a larger one which can accommodate all of your gear without bursting at the seams (from 25-30 liters ).

Laptop compartments

So many people these days need to transport their laptop with them wherever they go, for school, work, travel, or even leisure. A padded, snug laptop compartment is essential for this.

It prevents the laptop from being knocked by internal and external forces, and it prevents it from tumbling loosely inside the bag with the other, potentially damaging items.

Secure closing mechanisms – buckles, roll top, drawstring

You don’t want your items falling out or stolen. This is where secure closures come in. The main compartment should always have a decent closure, either a flap-over top with buckles, a drawstring, or both.

Due to the old-school style of many canvas bags, they’re designed with vintage-style closures such as buckles as opposed to zips.

Interior lining

An interior lining will prevent the outer canvas being stained by spills and messes inside the bag. It also helps to keep items safe and protected.

Padded straps

Padded straps ensure comfort during wear. Otherwise, you risk having thin, hard straps digging into your shoulders as you travel or commute. Straps with padding, breathable fabrics, and adjustable tabs are common features for most modern canvas backpacks.

1. P.K.U.VDSL - AUGUR SERIES Vintage Canvas Leather Backpack

This is a super stylish looking canvas backpack for school, commuting, or even light adventuring. It has genuine leather trim, straps, and zip tags. It doesn't have a laptop sleeve, but it does have a padded compartment for 13-inch tablets.

I think it's an ideal large canvas backpack for students who carry a lot of books and small devices. There are plenty of smaller pockets and a large main compartment for fitting in lots of stuff, and keeping all those smaller things like pencils and keys organized.

It's not waterproof, but some reviewers have noted that they've used a strong waterproof spray on the bag for great effect. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a bag for books, day trips, commuting without large devices, and even casual outdoor activities. It is breathable enough, so you can carry your lunch in there without having to worry about the odor spreading to the rest of your items.

2. Kavu Rope Bag

The Kavu rope bag is my top choice for the best canvas sling backpack, especially for people who like something colorful or creative. The Kavu rope bag comes in a wide variety of color and pattern choices, definitely something for all tastes.

It's a bag for students, commuters, or day-trippers who only need to carry small necessities. It will not work if you want a bag to carry a laptop, a big jacket or, any other larger items. However, you can easily fit a phone, a wallet, a spare clothing layer (like a shirt), some food, and a tablet - however, keep in mind that there's no special sleeve for tablets, so this device would go unprotected.

It’s great for those travelers who roam cities during the day and only need to take the very essentials with them. It's also an ideal small, stylish bag for kids and smaller adults.

3. Kattee Men’s Leather Canvas Backpack

This is a great men's canvas backpack for tall guys on the go. A large canvas backpack, this model from Kattee combines hard-wearing canvas and genuine leather. It has a flap-over, rucksack design with a large main compartment which fits clothes and books.

It does fit a 17-inch laptop in a special slot, but some customers have complained that it's not padded enough. There are lots of small interior and exterior compartments with buckles and zips to keep small items safe and fairly organized. We really do love these kinds of bags, that don't seem to be that big on the outside but really have lots of space for everything to fit on the inside.

It’s great for guys who like a vintage aesthetic. I'd recommend this to guys who have a regular commute with a laptop, iPad, books, and various items. It would also be great for university students, or for shorter hiking trips in dry seasons.

4. Bluboon Canvas Vintage Backpack

The Bluboon canvas vintage backpack is a great canvas backpack for girls, boys, men, and women - everyone can find a style they like thanks to the variety of colors and designs. There are florals, bold stripes, earthy plain colors, and bright colors.

It’s also a canvas drawstring backpack, as it has a drawstring closure to secure the main compartment, with a flap over the top. It has a dedicated pocket for a 15-inch laptop, and many small pockets on the inside and outside for storing and organizing lots of items. You could fit books, a laptop, a water bottle, snacks, keys, your wallet, and a phone easily. If it gets hot during the day, it'd still be enough space for you to put your sweater inside.

For this reason, I'd absolutely recommend this to students and commuters as one of the best canvas laptop backpacks. Great for school, university, daily activities, and even days of exploring during travels.

5. Witzman Men’s Vintage Canvas Rucksack

This model by Witzman is a men's canvas backpack which can be used as a rucksack on the back, or a duffel bag worn with the removable strap over the shoulder, across the body, or carried by the side handle.

It comes in two different sizes, 19-inches and 22-inches, both with a large capacity and plenty of room for everything you need for school, work, college, or day trips. You could use this large canvas backpack for traveling if you travel reasonably light.

It has a special laptop compartment, so it's also great as a commuter bag or school bag, with extra room for gym gear or spare clothes. A perfect use for this bag is as a college backpack for students that go training after class because they can easily fit all their gear and school items in it. It is indeed a very versatile bag with many possible uses for men.

6. Kaukko Laptop Outdoor Backpack

7. Gootium 21101 Specially High-Density Thick Canvas Backpack

This is a really old-school looking backpack with a drawstring, flap-over closure, and a slouchy washed material. It does not have a padded laptop sleeve, but it definitely fits a 17-inch laptop comfortably, as well as lots of other items such as books, clothing, and small items.

There are external pockets with buckle closures and an internal pocket with a secure zip for valuable items. Definitely a backpack for school and college students, who tend to take a variety of different items such as tech devices, food, notebooks and books, etcetera. It also makes a good choice for casual day and weekend trips, where you can fit additional layers of clothing, meals, umbrellas, drinks and more. Commuters would also enjoy its practicality and lightweightness.

You can opt for the large canvas backpack or the regular size. In both cases, it is fairly easy to carry around without any major complication.

8. Neatpack Versatile Canvas Sling Bag/Urban Backpack

This is a super-durable and well-made canvas sling backpack made from polyester canvas, with long-lasting zips. It has been designed to be comfortable to wear, with padded, breathable straps and back panels, and versatility of wear. It can be worn on your back, or on your front for safety when traveling.

While it's not quite a waterproof canvas backpack, it’s water resistant and will withstand a light rain shower. There are two securely-zipped pockets with phone pockets, tabs for pens, a key clip, and a secret RFID anti-theft pocket for valuables. The main compartment is big enough for a few books, a small laptop, or a tablet.

I would classify this as a small canvas backpack, and some customers have noted that it's smaller than they expected. It has a drink bottle holder and an external pocket for your cell phone and headphone slot. That's a lot of features for a small bag!

I would recommend this canvas backpacks for school, college, commuting, or sightseeing during travels.

9. Vancropak Student Canvas Backpack

This backpack from Vancropak is affordable, neat-looking, and has lots of organizational pockets for storing pens, phones, keys, wallets, and little notebooks. It’s advertised as having a laptop slot for laptops up to 15.6-inches, but some customers have complained that it’s actually far too small for a laptop, and would best suit a tablet.

Perhaps the most interesting feature is the built-in USB charging port and charging cable, you just need to have your own portable charger. This is so you can give your phone a quick charge on the go. It also has an earphone hole at the top, so you can listen to tunes as you walk.

I recommend this as a great, affordable canvas backpack for school, for students who don't carry a laptop with them but do carry books, pens, a phone, and a few other small items. If you do want to take your laptop, maybe you can carry it inside the bag but not in a special sleeve.

10. S-Zone Waxed Canvas Waterproof Camera Backpack for DSLR/SLR Cameras

11. Wowbox Messenger Satchel Bag for Men and Women

This is a really smart choice for a canvas backpack for school, as it can be worn across the body, over the shoulder, or held in the hand. The versatility of wear comes from the detachable strap and the top handle. It has a beautiful, stylish design with a hard-wearing canvas body, and genuine leather flap-over and faux buckles (the buckles aren’t functional as the bag closes with magnetic tabs, but they do look good!).

There are two exterior pockets with magnetic closures. The pockets themselves are great for easy-access storage, but the magnetic closures have come under fire for breaking or snapping open.

It has a padded laptop compartment for laptops up to 14-inches, with a velcro strap to keep the laptop safe and snug in the pocket. There are plenty of little interior pockets for pens, phones, and small items. It’s a super cool looking bag, made from high-quality materials.

History of Canvas Backpacks

What are canvas backpacks great for?

School & college

The forgiving nature of canvas when it comes to heavy books and general wear-and-tear makes it a great choice for school or college.

School bags do tend to get dirty and worn more easily, as they’re tossed onto the bus, dumped on the school field, and thrown into the corner for the weekend. You can submerge a cotton canvas backpack in water, wring it out, and leave it to dry over the weekend.

Work

Canvas laptop backpacks or briefcases are ideal for work, as they combine a smart aesthetic with practicality and durability. You can carry a laptop, food, and other items safely in a canvas satchel or backpack, without looking overly casual or leisurely.

Hiking

Canvas backpack are not the most common choice for hikers or outdoor adventurers. The weight of these bags is usually much more than polyester models making it unideal for long treks or hikes in nature. Many types of canvas backpacks can still work on short day hikes as they do offer high levels of durability and tear resistance.

Traveling/day tripping

Smaller canvas backpacks often have double closures with a drawstring and a flap-over with buckles. This is great for security as it's far harder to unbuckle clips and untie a drawstring than it is to unzip a single zipper. The durable nature of canvas makes it a good choice for day tripping, and traveling, as you're sure to be putting it through some hectic adventures.

How to Waterproof a Canvas Backpack

Use wax

This is a less-common method these days since we have sprays to do the job more quickly. You can melt the wax until liquid, and brush it onto the bag with a brush. Or, you can rub a hard block of wax over the bag until covered.

Use a waterproof spray

How to Dye a Canvas Backpack

If you’re sick of the original hue of your canvas backpack, you may be able to dye it. Here are some basic steps taken from ritdye.com and a youtube video to help you.

How to Wash a Canvas Backpack

First of all, check the label for washing recommendations. If it says “machine washable”, then you can give it a gentle cycle in the washing machine. Remember to put the backpack in a laundry bag, and make sure every last item has been removed from the pockets. Select a cold wash, and use only a tiny amount of detergent, if any.

If you’re not 100% sure that your backpack has been washing machine-approved by the manufacturer, don’t risk it. (Backpacks with leather trim should not be put in the washing machine, for example).

In this case, you can either hand wash it in a basin, or simply sponge it down and use a brush to remove tough stains. Again, if the backpack has leather trim, don’t submerge it in water, use the sponge-down technique.

Here’s a quick guide to these two cleaning methods:

Hand-wash

Fill a large bucket or basin with warm water and a dash of gentle detergent. Submerge the backpack into the water and gently “scrunch” it in the water to encourage dirt and stains to be dislodged.

Gently massage the canvas for a few minutes before draining the water from the basin and refilling it with fresh, detergent-free water. Give the backpack a rinse under the clean water to remove detergent residue. Gently wring the bag out, and hang it up on a washing line to dry. Do not put a canvas backpack into the dryer as it may disrupt the shape.

Sponge-down

Wet a sponge or cloth and gently sponge and wipe any soiled areas of the backpack. For thick or caked-on stains, use an old toothbrush to gently scratch them away. Hang the bag to dry and air-out on the washing line.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Where can I buy a canvas backpack at cheap prices?

Check with Amazon for sales and specials on canvas backpacks.

Are canvas backpacks durable?

Yes, if the stitching and closures are of a high quality. Thick canvas is a very durable material which withstands wear and tear very well. Look for canvas backpacks which have thick canvas and strong stitching/seams. The review sections are always a good place to find evidence of weak seams.

Are canvas backpacks good for school?

Absolutely. Most canvas backpacks are designed with a roomy main compartment for books and lunch, and many have a dedicated pocket or sleeve for laptops.

Are all canvas backpacks waterproof?

No, only canvas backpacks which have been treated with a waterproof treatment will be waterproof. However, thick canvas does take a while to soak through and would need a very heavy downpour. You can purchase a waterproof spray for your canvas backpack.

Conclusion

Canvas backpacks are stylish, durable, and can last a long time if cared for properly. Before buying a canvas backpack, consider your specific needs.

Do you need a small backpack for casual day tripping? A smart-looking satchel for work? A sturdy laptop backpack with room for school books? A large backpack for hiking? Once you’ve narrowed down the specifics, you can trawl our list for the best fit.