Who Makes The Best Canvas Backpack In 2019?
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When searching for a canvas backpack there are many different designs and features to choose from. I’ve outlined the most common different options and materials that can be used in canvas backpacks to give you an idea of what to look out for. This will hopefully give you a better understanding of how canvas backpacks are made and what features you would want to have in your canvas backpack.
Materials
Most canvas backpacks are going to be made of either cotton, polyester, or leather. They can also be made of a combination of those materials. Below I’ve outlined the advantages and disadvantages of each type of material.
Cotton
Most canvas backpacks are going to be made out of cotton. Cotton is a good material for a canvas backpack because it’s somewhat lightweight and durable. Cotton canvas backpacks should be able to hold up to a decent amount of abuse and also has the advantage of being able to be washed in the washing machine if you need to clean it if it gets dirty after use.
Cotton, however, will not be the best protectant against water in the event of a rainstorm so keep that in mind if you are going to be using it for outdoor use.
Leather
Leather canvas backpacks are also somewhat popular. With leather canvas backpacks the entire backpack may not be built out of leather though so keep that in mind. Leather is softer to the touch than cotton or polyester so it makes a good material to be used on certain areas of a backpack such as a backpack hood flap and the different pocket covers of the canvas backpack.
Leather, however, is not that resistant to scratching so if you are planning on using your canvas backpack for heavy outdoor use you may want to stay away from a leather canvas backpack. Leather is also a bit more water resistant than cotton but it will allow water to eventually seep through the material if it’s continuously getting wet.
Polyester
Polyester canvas backpacks are going to be made of synthetic polyester material. This typically means that they will be lighter in weight compared to the other two types of materials used to make canvas backpacks. Polyester because it’s a synthetic material will be somewhat water resistant and will be better able to resist dirt and stains. Polyester is also going to be a strong and durable material to use for a canvas backpack and should hold up a long time.
Interior space
Depending on the needs for your canvas backpack you may want to get one with a lot of interior space in order to carry large items such as books or a laptop. If you are going to be using your canvas backpack to carry around a lot of different things daily you are going to want to make sure that it has enough space inside of it to carry all of your stuff.
The sizes of canvas backpacks are going to vary so make sure that you choose one that will fit your needs. Most canvas backpack manufacturers will list their interior dimensions of the backpack so that you can then measure your items to make sure that they will fit inside.
Pockets
Depending on the style that you like there are a few different combinations to choose from as far as how many pockets will come on your canvas backpack. Many will offer at least one front pocket on the canvas backpack while some of them come with side pockets as well. Most higher end canvas backpacks will feature plenty of pockets that will also be padded to help keep your things protected while also keeping them organized.
Straps
Most canvas backpacks are going to come with two straps however there are some made with just one. Backpacks with just one strap are typically called sling backpacks. Depending on what your uses for the canvas backpack are you can choose between both options.
If you are going to be carrying a lot of weight in your canvas backpack it’s probably going to be a better idea to go with one that has two straps so that you can carry that weight on your back in the balance of two straps.
If you are just planning on using your canvas backpack for light duty then you would probably be fine with going with one strap or a sling design canvas backpack.
These style of backpacks would not be comfortable to hold a lot of books or heavy items for a long time though as it would weigh down one side of your body more than the other and you would have to continuously adjust the strap from one side to the other to stay comfortable.
You will want to look for a canvas backpack that has adjustable straps to allow you to adjust them to better fit your body. All of the canvas backpacks I’ve listed here have adjustable straps.
Padding
Some of the canvas backpacks on this list are going to have extra padding on them in key areas. This polyester canvas backpack, for example, has heavily padded shoulder straps and padded back protection. If you are planning on using your canvas backpack to carry a lot of weight consistently you would want to look at getting a canvas backpack that has padding at least in the shoulder straps to make it easier to carry for longer periods of time.
Outdoor canvas backpack with shoulder padding
Locks or zippers
Many canvas backpacks will have straps over the main hood portion of the backpack that will be designed to securely hold the hood of the backpack closed while you are using it. On the side pockets, most canvas backpacks will use zippers to make the additional pockets easy to access to get your items but on some canvas backpacks straps will be used for all pockets, this ultimately comes down to user preference as to which style you prefer.
Interior lining
Some higher end canvas backpacks will feature an interior lining that is designed to provide an extra layer of protection against your items in your backpack. They are typically designed to add an extra layer of water resistance as well. Most interior linings will also be able to be removed and washed separately from the canvas backpack to help them stay clean after use.
Advantages of canvas backpacks
Because canvas backpacks are soft-sided backpacks they are going to easier to transport around and will be able to contour to the items that you put inside of the backpack. This makes canvas backpacks ideal for traveling around because they can be stuffed under a seat or in an overhead compartment of a plane easily.
Canvas backpacks also will feature many different pockets to help you keep your things organized and separated if needed. Canvas backpacks materials are usually designed to hold up well over time and resist any rips or punctures to the materials.
Disadvantages of canvas backpacks
Because of their soft-sided nature canvas backpacks are not going to be able to protect your items inside as well than a traditional backpack with lots of padding. If you are planning on transporting a laptop or a large camera in a canvas backpack you should probably look to get one that has ample padding or go with a backpack designed to protect a laptop or camera.
In Conclusion
When searching for the best canvas backpack there are a lot of different models and features to choose from. Hopefully, this canvas backpack buyers guide helped inform you of all the different options and will allow you to make a more informed decision in buying a canvas backpack.
