The 5 Best Waxed Canvas Backpacks | Best Value, Most Technical, Coolest, and More!

I've spent years drooling over waxed canvas backpacks from all over the industry and I think I've come up with the best curated list you'll find. This material is tough, tear resistant, ages well, and looks cool as hell, but it's not just limited to old timey "heritage" bags — you can find on bags that are office friendly and even trendy bike commuter friendly if you know where to look. Scroll down to see the picks!

1. Best: Filson's Journeyman Backpack
Jack Ryan's backpack of choice, this is the best combination of traditional and useful — it's not just a canvas sack, it's got a padded laptop sleeve, interior zippered pockets, and more.

2. Coolest: Bradley Mountain's Wilder
If you DO want something super old timey and heritage, Bradley Mountain has you covered with their extraordinarily thick Wilder backpack. Made by a small Californian company, they have a variety of bags to suit your needs.

3. Best Value: Frost River's North Bay Daypack
A superb American company with a huge range of waxed bags, the only real downsides are the design could be more modern and you (usually) can only pick one color.

4. Most Modern: Winter Session's Waxed Canvas Backpack
If you like waxed canvas but don't like the typical old timey look, Winter Session's bag comes in a variety of hip colors and a super simple design that's ideal for students.

5. Most Technical: Mission Workshop's Sanction AP
This waxed bag would be completely at home on a bike messenger or any fan of technical backpacks, with waterproof lining, a sternum strap, and features galore.

6. Best Roll Top: Pack Animal's Rally Pack
An eye catching roll top made with waxed twill rather than canvas, it's a fun mix of old and new with zippered access and bright, veg tan leather. Note that unlike all the other American made bags, this one's made in China and sold out of Los Angeles.

00:00 Intro
00:22 Why waxed canvas?
01:52 1. Best: Filson's Journeyman Backpack
02:49 2. Coolest: Bradley Mountain's Wilder
04:15 3. Best Value: Frost River's North Bay Daypack
05:02 4. Most Modern: Winter Session's Waxed Canvas Backpack
05:29 5. Most Technical: Mission Workshop's Sanction AP
06:07 6. Best Roll Top: Pack Animal's Rally Pack
06:55 Wrapping Up + More Picks

#filsonbags #waxedcanvas #waxedbackpacks #waxedcanvasbackpacks #heritagefashion

[Stridewise]

Tiny correction: the Mission Workshop is called the Sanction AP (not the Sanction) and some of Frost River's bags are available in one or two other colors than tan — the North Bay Daypack also comes in black!

[JMBdevotee]

Took some convincing for me to pick up a Journeyman but the more I use it the more I like it. Great general purpose pack and my perfect “personal item” carry on. I’ve thrown gear in it to head out hunting, yet it looks good going through the airport in a sport coat. As you point out, not many (or any?) others can do that.

[CC-kjyc]

Do you have any experience with bellroy products?

[erth]

How about goruck’s GR1 heritage? I picked up the 21liter in dark oak and havent been able to put it down

[redoak]

Alder Stream Canvas bags in Maine are awesome and customizable.

[coryjones]

I really like the canvas.what do you think about travel luggage?or like?

[GAUROCH]

I liked my Filson Journeyman in tan so much that I bought another one in green-otter...and here they are expensive because of taxes, almost the double!

[Commander_HW]

I bought the Filson one after watching ur video on it awhile back, then it took that bag for a short hike with me at Yosemite, i briefly put the bag on my shorts, then somehow the green color got transffered onto the So yea, don't put canvas bag on ur clothing, especially if u just hiked a trail that can get ur things wet. But i still love this bag.

[MihniGaming]

If possible you should do a review on that winter session backpack, I've been looking around and I cant find information on it anywhere on the internet!

Also, I was curious about the size of water bottle that you can fit in the journeyman's water bottle pockets. Do those pockets go all the way to the bottom of the pack?

[redskeith]

I'm not sure if it's been asked but what was your opinion on the Rucksak from Nutsac?

[mihaiilie]

Never heard of these brands but i have 2 Romanian army backpacks and a Tornister from 1937 ( Offenbach SS).
I think the Tornister its the most beautiful in the world and the Romanian army its the ancestor of the Tornisters and also the japanese imperial army Randoseru.
Tornister and Randoseru are tiny, romanian its quite big and rugged, with verry thick leather like you wont see on any otther bag .

[anthonygomez]

What are your thoughts on DULUTH PACKS? BESIDES BEING A LOT OF $$$

[jacobpeterson]

Check out Hill People Gear, Duluth Packs, and the Hidden Woodsman.

[markmoreno]

You didn’t like Bolt WaterField backpack? Was it too expensive?

[TheSpiikki]

Nick, Please tell me which leather jacket you're wearing in the thumbnail? looks so good!

[anthonium.]

Hi Nick. Have you heard of the Land Backpack from Bexar Goods? It has a similar look to the Journeyman. Would love to see a review of the Land Backpack.

[akinigiri]

Hi! The link to the Filson bag seems to be directing to a general backpack page. Is the journeyman backpack gone?

[damianseals]

Any chance you could take a look at the Builford Classic? It's a bag that seems to have flown under the radar in terms of coverage on the internet

[df]

Great video. Would love to see more waxed canvas in messenger style/shoulder bags too (really trying to hold out for Cravar but not totally in love with the design). BTW, Bradley Mountain has their Muir Pack on sale for $200 and looks pretty slick.

[Pumpamentals]

Minor update: The Filson Journeyman is now made in Vietnam. Not a big deal, but indicative of the direction the company is going!