Best Canvas Backpack

While canvas backpacks have military origins, today’s canvas bags are versatile and have widespread appeal. The best canvas backpacks have timeless silhouettes and are made of heavy-duty woven fabric that is built to last. 

If you’re looking for a new bag, you’d be wise to consider a canvas backpack. Whether you’re going camping or just making a fashion statement, there’s a bag for you. We’re here to help your search with this roundup of the best canvas backpacks on the market.

How We Researched The Best Canvas Backpack

67 Expert Reviews Considered
6,346 Consumer Reviews Considered
7.7 Hours Researching
24 Products Evaluated

Best Canvas Backpack 3 Features That Make Canvas Backpacks Special

1. High Quality Canvas

In a time when most backpacks are made of nylon or leather, canvas backpacks stand out from the crowd. So what is canvas exactly? If you’re thinking of the material that artists paint on, you’re not wrong. Canvas is a sturdy woven fabric that is typically made of cotton or linen. Canvas is a great material for backpacks because of its legendary durability. Beyond paintings and backpacks, canvas can also be found on tents and the sails of ships.

2. Vintage Style

Canvas backpacks have a vintage air to them. Their design and materials are inspired by and adapted from old military backpacks, which were made of canvas trimmed with leather and had buckle fastenings. Because of their military roots, today’s canvas backpacks usually come in neutral colors like tan and camouflage-inspired olive green.

3. Distinct Fastenings

Most canvas backpacks have closing mechanisms that distinguish them from other types of backpacks. Whereas zippers are the primary fasteners on modern backpacks for school or sports, drawstrings and buckles are typical of canvas backpacks. While the military backpacks that inspired this look had functioning buckles for security, today’s canvas backpack buckles are usually ornamental and hide a snap or velcro for easy access.

Best Canvas Backpack Top 5: Best Canvas Backpacks

Gootium 21101 Specially High Density Thick Canvas Backpack Rucksack

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Our Top Pick
Product rating

The Gootium 21101 Specially High Density Thick Canvas Backpack encompasses everything that comes to mind when you think of an archetypal canvas backpack: vintage style, drawstring and buckle closures, sturdy canvas, and a selection of neutral colors. This backpack even comes in two sizes, so you can carry as much or as little as you want with you.

  • Comes in two sizes and six styles
  • Made of thick canvas
  • Classic vintage look
  • Spacious open concept main compartment
  • No laptop sleeve

Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Backpack

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Runner Up
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Fjallraven is committed to making nature more accessible. Their Rucksack No. 21 Backpack is the perfect canvas carry-all for your next adventure. Outdoor enthusiasts will love this backpack’s water resistance and removable padding that doubles as a seat. Professionals and students will enjoy the bag’s laptop sleeve and variety of sizes and colors.

  • Water-resistant
  • Comes in many sizes and colors
  • Laptop sleeve
  • Back padding can be taken out and double as a seat
  • Small capacity

Ibagbar Canvas Backpack

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3rd Place
Product rating

The Ibagbar Canvas Backpack is the ideal camping companion. This spacious 30 L bag can fit all of your gear, including a 15” laptop for the times when you don’t want to stay completely off the grid. Convertible straps and multiple handles make this rucksack easy to carry as a backpack, duffel, and hand-held bag.

  • Spacious 30 L capacity
  • 15” laptop sleeve
  • Convertible straps create various carrying options
  • Sturdy build
  • Not waterproof
  • Can be bulky for longer camping trips

KAUKKO Laptop Backpack

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4th Place
Product rating

The KAUKKO Laptop Backpack is the best canvas backpack for people who want a sleek, modern take on this classic style. This backpack comes in a variety of colors, sizes, and materials for more than 40 total style options. Its laptop sleeve, water bottle compartments, and ergonomic design make it the perfect canvas backpack for students.

  • Comes in 40+ styles
  • 15” laptop sleeve
  • Two water bottle compartments
  • Padded straps and back for comfortable carrying
  • Not waterproof
  • Some reviews mentioned poor inside lining quality

GEARONIC TM Men 21L Vintage Canvas Backpack Leather Laptop School Military

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5th Place
Product rating

This GEARONIC canvas backpack is another take on the classic design of a vintage military bag. Its 42 L capacity makes it the largest bag on our list, which means that it can fit all of your gear for camping, school, work, or the gym. Vintage fans will love the five neutral colors that this backpack comes in.

  • Comes in 5 colors
  • Classic vintage style
  • Drawstring and button closures for protection
  • Generous 42 L capacity
  • Not waterproof
  • Some reviews say that the bag color didn’t match what was seen online

Best Canvas Backpack Conclusion: The Best Canvas Backpack

Canvas backpacks provide utility and durability in a vintage-inspired package. Users of the Gootium 21101 Specially High Density Thick Canvas Backpack say it’s the best canvas backpack on the market, and our research agrees. Whether you choose this bag or another on our list, you’ll be pleased with your decision. There’s a canvas backpack for everyone on this list.