Backpacks have been in use for quite a while. In a bid to stay ahead of competitors and satisfy the rising demand, backpack manufacturers have ended up producing different products. However, very few of the current products can beat the vintage backpack in quality and durability.
I have carried out detailed research and came up with 10 of the best vintage rucksack and backpacks in today’s market.
What to Look for When Buying a Vintage Backpack
With several products to choose from in the market, you need to put these factors into consideration to ensure that you get the backpack that fully satisfies your needs:
Weight
You will probably be carrying your vintage backpack most of the time as you go to school, hiking, camping, and other places. Choosing a light bag will help reduce the overall load on your back.
Volume
This depends on how you intend to use the backpack and what stuff you will be carrying in it. Smaller bags are ideal for school as you need to carry a few books. You can get a bigger rucksack for adventurous activities, such as hiking and camping.
Make
The material used in making the bag you buy will determine its strength, durability, and functionality. Cuben fiber and ripstop nylon are the most common materials used in backpack manufacture.
Comfort
If you feel uncomfortable when carrying the backpack, then probably it is not the best choice. You could even injure your body by carrying such a bag on your back.
Budget
We all have different needs, and so are our budgets. You can use the internet to compare different vintage backpacks’ prices to see which one falls under your budget. Having a budget will help prevent overspending.
Packing a Vintage Backpack for Hiking
A backpack can hold an astounding number of items. There is no specific way of arranging your backpack efficiently. Therefore, you have to try different packing methods to find out which suits you better, depending on the items you want to carry.
However, here is a guideline showing which items best fit the three backpack zones (top, bottom, and core) plus the peripheral storage:
- The top zone is ideal for bulky items that may be necessary during a hike. Such include a rain jacket, first-aid kit, toiletries, and insulated jacket, among others.
- Core zone (middle) is perfect for essentials that may not be required until you set up your camp. These include stove, cook kit, food stash, and bear canister (holding your food and other essentials). Having such bulky items at the center of your backpack will reduce the load by having a sturdy center of gravity.
- The bottom zone is for essentials that will be required after the camp is set up. Such include sleeping bags and pads, camp shoes, and nightclothes. These essentials also act as shock absorbers for the other items in the bag to prevent backpack damage or injury to your back.
Peripheral pockets differ depending on the bag’s design. However, front pockets, side pockets, lid pockets, and hip-belt pockets offer extra room for smaller essentials, such as sunglasses, lip balm, maps, compass, snacks, and headlamp, among others.
Tool loops and lash-on points enable you to strap items, such as tent poles, crampons, and hiking ropes, on the side of your backpack.
Top 10 Best Vintage Backpacks The Reviews
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- Waterproof mixed canvas material
- Earphone port on the outside
- 1 laptop pocket
- Retro vintage design
- Over-flap, top drawstring, and snap button for closure
- Additional interior and side pockets
Why worry about your essentials getting water damaged, exposed, or falling out? The Kattee Canvas Leather Vintage Backpack is made of leather and mixed canvas, making it waterproof. The backpack’s interior space and extra pockets offer enough space for carrying anything, including laptops, tablets, and magazines, among others. This makes the bag ideal for traveling and school.
The thick, adjustable, and stylish shoulder straps allow you to set this product in the most comfortable position on your back. The bag is ergonomically designed to rhyme with your back’s curve for perfect weight distribution. The drawstring at the top ensures that you can open and close the bag easily when accessing its contents.
This vintage backpack weighs 2.94 pounds and measures 15.3 x 10.7 x 3.7 inches, making it light-weight and easy to carry. With this stylish and durable backpack, you are assured of your essentials’ safety at all times. The laptop compartment on the inside can comfortably accommodate a 15.6 inches laptop.
On the downside, a lack of chest straps may present a challenge, especially when the bag is fully packed or carried for long periods.
2. P.KU.VDSL Canvas Vintage Backpack
- Durable and adjustable shoulder straps
- Cotton lining
- Genuine cow leather and canvas materials
- Large capacity for a laptop and extra pockets
- Over-flap, drawstring, and snap button closure for safety
The cotton canvas and genuine cow leather materials used in making this product make it soft, breathable, durable, and anti-shrink. Are you tired of backpacks with fixed shoulder straps? Then the P.KU.VDSL is what you are looking for. The bag’s durable shoulder straps can be adjusted anywhere between 45 and 90cm long.
The backpack comes in a simple, casual, and fashionable design, which offers adequate space for keeping your essentials. This vintage backpack weighs about 0.92kg and measures 11.02 x 6.3 x 16.54 inches, making it ideal for hiking, school, traveling, and other uses.
The extra front, rear, interior, and side pockets give you additional space for small but necessary stuff like cellphones, car keys, sunglasses, and snacks. You can never go wrong with this vintage bag. The top drawstring makes it easy to open and close the bag for easy access to its contents.
On the flip side, this backpack does not have chest straps. This may increase the load’s weight when the bag is fully packed or carried over long distances.
3. WUDON Travel Backpack Vintage Design
- Heavy-duty horse leather
- Spacious and large interior 13.5″L x 6.1″W x 18.5″H
- Rust-resistant zine-alloy rivets and hardware
- Multipurpose
- Tensile stitching
Your essentials are safe with the WUDON Vintage Backpack. The main compartment is padded and spacious. The backpack’s interior dimensions are 13.5″ x 6.1″ x 18.5″ in length, width, and height, respectively. That is adequate space to fit all you need when hiking, in school, or on a journey.
There is a separate sleeve that is ideal for laptops and MacBooks measuring 17 inches. A genuine leather flap secures the laptop sleeve. Why worry about space for your water bottles, phones, and other essentials? This product features a hidden zipper-back pocket and three more storage pockets.
The adjustable shoulder pads ensure there is even weight distribution, regardless of what you carry or where you carry it to. The zine-alloy rivets, combined with the tensile stitching technique, help the backpack to endure any load. Bad weather can be a challenge, especially when camping or hiking.
Your essentials are safe inside this vintage backpack as it is made of genuine leather and waxed canvas combo, which makes it waterproof and weather-resistant. Some cons of this product are that there are no chest straps, and it is not machine-washable. Overall, this is a great product to consider when you go shopping for a vintage rucksack or backpack.
4. Gootium Vintage Unisex Canvas Backpack
- Weight: 2 pounds, dimensions: 13.4″L x 5.1″W x 17.3″H
- High-quality canvas material
- An adjustable shoulder strap system
- Leather-enameled handles
- Full-length zipper on the side of the primary compartment
- 2 open side pockets
The most iconic feature of the Gootium Vintage Rucksack is the two leather-coated handles attached on top. These handles make it easy to pick up the bag when it’s time to go. Additionally, the adjustable and padded shoulder straps play a pivotal role in ensuring comfort as you carry your essentials around.
Besides the main compartment, you can conveniently carry a 13.3″ laptop in the padded pouch on the inside. There is a pocket with a zipper at the back to ensure maximum safety of the bag’s contents. Thirst will not be an issue during your hike.
This is because the two open side pouches can comfortably accommodate a water bottle and other essentials that you may want to keep at arm’s stretch. Like any other product, this one, too, has a few disadvantages. The absence of a chest strap may pose a challenge when carrying a fully packed bag.
5. WITZMAN Canvas Backpack Vintage Travel Backpack
- Polyester lining
- Convertible to a shoulder bag and tote bag
- Spacious internal
- Additional pockets
- Laptop pouch
When we talk of versatility, the WITZMAN Canvas Backpack comes to mind. The most significant feature of this product is the detachable and adjustable 53″ shoulder strap. This feature enables you to convert the backpack to either a tote or shoulder bag. This item comes with a zippered pocket at the backside where you can keep the bag’s strap when carrying it as a tote bag or a shoulder bag.
The laptop compartment on the interior can comfortably accommodate a 17″ laptop. This compartment is padded for maximum safety of your devices. The backpack measures 22 x 12.5 x 8 inches in height, length, and width, respectively, and it weighs about 1.4kg. Like all other WITZMAN products, you get a 1-year warranty upon purchasing this bag.
6. High Capacity Canvas Vintage Backpack
- Durable canvas and PU leather materials
- A spacious main compartment plus extra pockets
- Adjustable shoulder strap
- Rear anti-theft pocket
Access your essentials fast from the High Capacity Vintage Backpack that comes with a drawstring for easy opening and closure. The backpack’s quality and durability are not negotiable. This product is made from high-quality cotton canvas and embellished with genuine leather.
High-efficiency magnetic latches are used to close the main compartment. The use of a drawstring system instead of a zipper increases the bag’s capacity. The laptop compartment on the inside is shock-resistant to ensure that your device is safe.
The compartment can hold a laptop measuring 13-16 inches. The bag’s side pocket has a zipper, and it can hold small items or a 600ml water bottle. The main drawback is that this backpack is not ideal for people who regularly go camping. Nevertheless, you can creatively arrange your essentials in the bag so that it satisfies your needs. Overall, this product has appeared on our list because it is worth considering.
7. S-ZONE Vintage Canvas Leather Backpack
- High-quality canvas and genuine leather trim
- Stylish with bronze hardware
- A main compartment plus extra pockets
- Adjustable shoulder strap
- Two magnetic buckles at the back
The S-ZONE Vintage Backpack is long-lasting as it is made from high-quality canvas and genuine leather. You can safely put your laptop in the padded compartment inside the backpack as you travel, go to school, or even hiking. The adjustable shoulder straps are wider and thicker (0.22inches) to minimize pressure on your shoulders as you wear the backpack.
This bag weighs 2.4 pounds, and the overall dimensions are 16.5(H)12.2(L)4.7(W) inches, making it enough for all the necessities you might want to bring along. There are two interior pouches where you can safely put small items, including cellphone, wallet, and keys. Closing and opening the bag has been made easier by the two quick snap magnetic buckles.
Although this vintage backpack lacks side pockets, it is a great product for school goers, hikers, travelers, shoppers, and campers. Grab yours today and spread the word!
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- 4 different compartments
- Magnetic buckles
- Large laptop compartment
Why do you bother buying different bags for school, hiking, traveling, and work when you can get all that in one?
The Kenox Vintage Backpack is designed to serve different purposes. The bag’s main compartment is spacious enough to accommodate all the essentials you might require. The durable canvas material used in the backpack’s manufacture guarantees its durability and functionality. The outermost pouch-like compartment has two buckles that join magnetically to keep it shut.
You don’t have to worry about where to keep your phone, wallet, keys, and other small items. You will find a small but deep zipper compartment above the pouch that is ideal for such items. Additionally, there are two other compartments with two open pockets on one side and a zipper pocket on the other. The laptop compartment is located close to the bag’s back. A 15″ laptop can comfortably sit in this compartment.
9. GEARONIC Vintage Canvas Backpack
- High-quality and durable canvas and PU leather materials
- Multi-compartments plus extra pockets
- Drawstring design for easy opening and closing
- Flat-top design
Are you looking for a compact bag to carry your essentials to school, work, hike, or walk? Then, the GEARONIC TM 21L Vintage Backpack is among your best shots. The high-quality canvas fabric used in its making and corners reinforced with leather means that this product is long-lasting and durable. The bag weighs 2.1 pounds and measures 20.3 x 3 x 12.4 inches, making it light-weight, compact, and unisex.
You can never run of space with this product from the GEARONIC brand. The bag features several pockets besides its main compartment. The pockets are ready to take in your essentials, including a cellphone, toiletries, camera, and headphones. The main compartment is spacious, and it is closed using the drawstring closure.
Such a closure ensures that the compartment can hold as many things as possible, including books, laptops, cameras, tablets, and other necessary items. The shoulder straps are adjustable to fit your height and body size for maximum comfort when wearing this vintage rucksack. Although this backpack is great, there is the risk of the snap connectors coming off.
10. Lannsyne Vintage Backpack
- Front and back main compartments
- Side pockets with zippers
- Cowhide leather material
The Lannsyne Vintage Backpack comes with two main compartments: one at the front and the back. The front main compartment has different pockets to ensure that your essentials are well organized. On the other hand, the back main compartment has two sleeves: one for a 15.6″ laptop and the other for a 12.5″ iPad Pro.
Upon purchasing this product, you enjoy a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer. Unlike other backpacks, the side pockets for this particular one have zippers for maximum safety of their contents. The side pockets can comfortably hold a water bottle or an umbrella. This bag is designed to look and feel better as you continue using it. The backpack’s shoulder straps are adjustable for maximum comfort when wearing it on your back.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. The best vintage backpacks that you can buy today. Whether you are into something rugged and leather, something made of a thicker more worn material, there is something for everyone in this list. I hope that you were able to make a good selection. If you’re interested in completing vintage or vibe, consider pairing your vintage backpack with the best retro bluetooth headphones.
