Top 5 Advantages of Leather Backpacks Over Regular Fabric Ones
One. Leather Backpacks - Unbeatable Durability and Wear Resistance
Put whatever you treasure in a leather backpack and it’s like a pocket, a nest, a warm and strong second skin. Soft leather enfolds its cargo like the safest hands, more gently than a slingbag or a hold all made of cotton fabric, which is coarser and neglectful, hostile to things delicate.
Full grain leather is like the proud grandparent of all hide. It’s had some hard knocks and the scars to show for it. Like your grandpa’s battle-rough hands, your grandma’s laugh lines, the nicks, scratches and creases just add character.
Because this stuff lasts so damn long, you will hand that leather backpack down to your grandkids one of these days. It will only get harder the more years you own it, breaking loose and easy over time, like an old baseball mitt.
Reality check: life happens. Mud. Spilt foods.
Unexpected downpours or wild gusts of wind carrying mud down the street. And accidents: careless bumps and jostles during bustling city streets – everyday occurrences to which leather is all but immune, sneering at stains and liquid like a boss.
Meanwhile, a fabric sack will wick like a sponge, ruining its day when first wet. One puddle-splash and you’re done for an itchy, soggy strap rubbing all over your shirt, don’t get me started.
Your equipment will thank you for giving it a real tough home, one in leather lined with years on the road and travel-schooled wisdom. You'll stay set so you can stay focused on living instead of worrying.
Two. Leather Backpacks are Sophisticated, Timeless Style
What could be a true symbol of adventurous spirit and hedonistic soul than a distressed leather coat?
From James Dean to Indiana Jones, leather symbolizes the secret of cool.
You leather backpack, so cool, badass, rebel, rock star, and yet utterly useful. When that supple butter leather molds itself to your back, you feel that swell of teenage self-belief.
Leather is the retro-edgy accent piece of the wardrobe. Slung low over your jeans and tee, or gliding snug and slick over your business suit, genuine leather works with every look. Faded and worn with use, its custom fade lines, protective bends and subtle burnish represent a finish that fabrics cannot compete with.
When, after many years, you bond with your leather backpack, that baby becomes a part of you; every adventure absorbed into the hide to be relived every time you strap it on.
Don’t you want a monthly reminder to keep chasing horizons? Let leather be the breeze when adulthood gets real.
Fabric packs won’t age like a rugged duffel ever could. Synthetics and nylons have such a short lifespan.
It isn’t long before you’re left smelling or looking like burlap anyway. Is that the look you’re going for?
Three. Leather Backpacks are Weatherproof and Durable Protection
Imagine you’re running to work in you drop your cloth backpack.
In a spilt second your backpack are soaked, with ice water trickling through the straps while your top layer begins to droop like a soggy umbrella. Any exposed skin beneath your knapsack is lashed by driving rain, creating a miserable look like a drowned rat.
Been there before? With leather, you won't have to suffer such misery!
Done right, quality tanned hide is darn near impenetrable. If water falls on your back, it’ll bead up and roll right off like you’re a duck. If you brush it off and add a little leather conditioner, your pack will soon look good as new. You’ll be back indoors.
When that bone-chilling sleet and snow starts coming down, you'll be glad you have a leather backpack. The thick, sturdy hide can stand up to wet weather without being overly fancy or uncomfortable.
And don't even get me started on sandstorms! Synthetic fabrics trap every grain of sand in their fibers, rubbing and irritating your skin.
But leather's smooth finish prevents that scratchy buildup and damage, keeping your skin happy. Humid, tropical heat is no match either. Leather breathes naturally, letting air circulate so you don't end up a sweaty mess.
Meanwhile, other fabrics absorb heat and cook you from the outside in - no thanks!
Four. Leather Backpacks are Surprisingly Sustainable and Eco-Friendly
Now wait just a minute, you might be thinking - aren't animal products supposed to be bad for the environment? Typically yes, but quality leather is the exception to the rule. Let me tell you why:- It makes use of a plentiful waste material from the food biz that would just decompose if not used.
- Organic tanning uses traditional, earth-friendly methods.
- Properly cared for, leather lasts exponentially longer than synthetic alternatives.
- And unlike most fabrics, leather biodegrades completely when disposed of properly, rather than sitting in landfills.
The point is that real leather can be green – you just have to look in the right places. It is possible to do some homework and find a responsible, sustainable tannery making primo hides the old-fashioned way.
We’re talking here about natural plant juices, made from bark and leaves to tan and for tannins, rain water and salt, and traditional tools, rather than bulldozers and chemicals, all driven by a quantity over quality business model, as opposed to the artisan approach: one hide at a time, to be nurtured to reveal individual character and longevity.
Yes, massive leather factories producing mass-market goods do pump out leather at a monumental environmental cost. But consumer desire will always lead us back to the small-scale, green tannery where master craftsmen use age-old techniques that’ve been passed down through the generations.
And that hard-wearing leather will stick with you through the generations too if properly cared for. reduce waste by making one backpack last a lifetime, not just a season. And when it does reach retirement, compost it responsibly. You really can have both durability and environmental friendliness. Let natural, heirloom-quality leather carry you through life sustainably.
Five. Leather Backpacks are Low-Maintenance Material That's Easy to Clean and Restore
Seriously, who wants to waste time scrubbing stains out of a backpack? After a long day, cleaning is the last thing you need.
The good side on leather is so hydrophobic that it is almost unaffected by dirt and water, and even abrasion cannot cause damage – a wipe with a cloth is enough to keep a leather jacket looking smart and new. No need for washing powders and toxic detergent.
Wipe it down with a touch of leather soap and water if dusty. Rub in some conditioner once or twice a year if it looks like it needs moisturizing. Buff out minor scratches and marks with a soft cloth or beeswax.
That’s it.
If there are any smidgens of adhesive or crumbs, they brush off rather than sticking into the weave; mud washes out rather than sticking in the weave; and any marks fade into what makes the patina seem authentic anyway.
With fabrics, every stain and spill feels like a matter of life and death. You have to be a chemist to decode symbols for laundry, water, detergents, and icons that say ‘no bleach’, ‘no dryer’.
Should some impact leave a nick in the leather, you’d hardly notice. But if a rip or stain shows in the fabric, then the garment is relegated to the trash bin. Why bother with high maintenance fabrics?
Let leather take that burden. Its easy care, easy going performance leaves you time for more important things.
How Leather Becomes Popular From Time to Time
Can you imagine ancient Egypt without leather? Gold jewelry and linen wraps come to mind first probably. But leather made life possible for those desert nomads way back when.
Leather Luxury Since Ancient Times
By 1200 BCE, leather workers were scraping hides and tanning leather for clothes, armor, horse gear, even bookbinding. 1200 BCE brings the story of leather to its most modern position. By 1200 BCE, leather workers were tanning for clothes, armor, horse gear and primitive bookbinding.
In the present day, then, leathers and leathery things in the world of the Greeks and Romans were somewhat ubiquitous, making up everything from straps to sandals. Legionnaires conquered foreign lands wearing heavy leather boots, allowing senators to debate policy in plush leather hand sewn chairs.
From leather flasks and satchels that ferried food, scrolls and tools wherever people walked, to traders sealing deals made possible by leather cases protecting their wares. Leather was so important in the ancient world.
Full-On Fashion Rebellion
After practical duty in the military and factories, leather got its first taste of fashionable freedom. Bikers and greasers were the OG leather lovers, flaunting studded jackets to punk authority. Nothing screamed freedom and attitude more than shiny black leather.
Hollywood ate that image up on the big screen.
Think of The Fonz and his studded leather jacket or the T-Birds in greasy Badass Leather cuts in Grease. To be a member of the gang called The Cool Kids, you had to be hot in leather.
Rockstars upped the ante, putting on fringed leather pants and diet-busting busters, Jimi Hendrix oozing leather edge, Ziggy Stardust oozing extra-galactic androgyny. The Sixties and Seventies were the latest in a long line of dressing in fur, the Sixties and Seventies – they were wild, man.
Boring old suits would be upgraded by sheets of leather; leathery skirts would help enact the ‘rebel role’ for women; chains, spikes and dye jobs would ‘shout the line “Don’t fence me in!”’.
Full Circle Back to Luxe
Leather is once more the luxurious status material it would go on to become, and also – reassuringly for us today. Since it is far more ethical than it used to be. Some companies use organic tanning and fair pay to make that supple hide you covet.
Seeing the leather-clad cowboy or cowgirl, rough and rugged in leather chaps, meshing together with the glossy leather-pencil skirted celeb reminds me how smile-inducing this look is now, and how leather is truly all ours: those who dare, and wear.
Tips to Get the Top Leather Backpack on The Market
But, before you wish to purchase, make sure to spare a while for my useful guide for selecting just the right leather backpack:
Leather Types
- Full Grain – The thickest, most durable leather that ages well. This good stuff isn’t cheap, but well worth it.
- Top Grain ¬– Second choice, still top quality, but without vintage patina to age well. Affordable.
- Authentic – Cheaper leather thinner and for light use. Better than the synthetic alternatives.
- Consider your body type and adjustability in the straps for all day carrying comfort.
- Look for wide, padded straps that won't dig in under heavy loads.
- What do you need to cart around day-to-day? Your commute, carry-on, or the stuff you take with you to the gym or the office should fit neatly in a size that’s hardly any bigger than what you’d need on the daily.
- Good design compartments keep you organized. Sleeves and inner pockets, exterior water bottle pockets and outside zipper pockets are all handy.
- Basic neutrals such as black, brown and tan pair well with anything, but oxblood red and forest green make exuberant declarations as well.
- Distressed leather packs have a cool built-in vintage vibe.
- Minimalists will be drawn to stark, clean lines. But if that’s not your jam, go big on studs, buckles and woven/braided texture detail.
Weatherproofing
Water-resistant leather and zippers are key for protecting your gear from rain and snow.
Brand Reputation
Seek out established brands with artisan construction and ethical sourcing. Check out reviews and company credentials.
Final Thoughts
There you go! Now you know the ropes on how to choose your dream leather backpack. If you have any related questions on that, let me know in the comment below!