Whether you’re a student, commuter, hiker, or jet-setter, there’s no better way to stow your belongings than in a handy backpack. That said, there’s nothing more luxurious to sling over your shoulders than a lavish bag made of leather. While many leather backpacks resemble one another at a glance, the intricate details and dedicated craftsmanship that put together some of the accessory world’s finest options make each one worthy of your consideration. However, as it applies to everything else, some of these choices stand head and shoulders above the rest. There’s a reason most brands separate their leather goods from their basic accessories, and it’s because leather often comes with a price — nevertheless, it’s typically worth it. We’ve tested the best leather backpacks in this guide so you can add a bit of luxury to your carrying duties.

How We Tested

Leather backpacks are fun to wear and known to be a little more stylish than your average hiking or travel bag. Nevertheless, there are plenty of options among us, many of which are from brands you may not have heard of. For sourcing our bags in this guide, we surveyed the space and looked at brands that were respected in the leather, EDC, and/or travel spaces. We looked at aesthetic first and foremost but also saw what else they had going for them, such as laptop compartments and construction methods.

After sourcing our units for testing, we spent significant time with each one, wearing them out and about and using them as intended. And spoiler alert: Not all of them made the final cut! We looked at comfort, practicality, and in-person look, among other things. Oftentimes, these bags can look different in person than in pictures on a website. All our results are detailed below.

What to Look For

Leather: Keep in mind that leather is porous, so it can never be completely waterproof, but you can waterproof it yourself or go for an option that comes with treated leather. After that, the leather choice comes down to preference; you can go for full-grain to get the natural look, or faux leather if you’re trying to be sustainable.

Compartments: Backpacks come equipped with a wide variety of compartments and storage options, so it’s important to understand what your EDC consists of (and if you want any purpose-built compartments like a laptop holder).

Design: Where and how you’ll be using a leather backpack should determine the style and features that you need. For example, a backpack with a rolltop can be helpful for traveling as it offers more storage without adding much weight.

Capacity: Generally speaking, bags with a capacity of around 13-25L are ideal for commuting or campus, and backpacks with 25-35L of storage are recommended for travel. This is just a ballpark, and different people have different needs, so don’t take this as gospel.

Leander Everyday Professional Backpack

Best Modern Pick: While a lot of leather backpacks, including most of them on this list, have one foot firmly placed in vintage design, very few of them come off as assertively modern when you look at them. In the latter camp is Leander, a North Carolina-based EDC brand merging modern designs with classic materials. For its Everyday Professional Backpack, it uses a cool proprietary leather zipper system, all alloy hardware, and is cut from a custom waterproof leather that Leander made after they couldn’t find a hide they liked — it does look and feel highly original. Holding 22L of gear, this is a great bag all around. 

The Good

I’m not a photographer by any means, but my first inclination with the Leander Everyday Professional Backpack was that it would make an excellent camera bag. The main compartment is very deep and equipped with plenty of zippered compartments and smaller pouches as well, which is great for chargers, cables, and SD cards. The dedicated laptop sleeve in the back is arguably the most structured we tested, since this bag is structured well as a whole. Also, there’s not size listed on the company’s website but it held my 16-inch MacBook Pro with room to spare. Unlike most laptop compartments, this one isn’t afraid to include a couple of small zippered pouches for smaller supplementary items.

You’ll certainly notice the price tag on the Everyday Professional Backpack is at the bottom end of this guide, perhaps due to Leander’s lack of established heritage. But I won’t complain; this was one of my favorites. Not only was it the lightest on this guide but it was very comfortable on my back with its ergonomic straps and unbelievably easy to adjust. Likewise, the zippers here, not bothered with finicky brass hardware, are able to glide opened and closed.

The Not So Good

With its minimalist aesthetic, fair price, and comfortable presence, this urban-friendly Leander pack didn’t give me much to complain about. However, there’s a small hidden pocket next to the hanging loop up top that’s almost inconsequential. The closure is so tight that I couldn’t practically fit anything (including my hand) inside, but the brand says you can put a tracking chip inside, which can be useful. 

Verdict: From its price to its lightweight construction, the Leander Everyday Professional Backpack is our favorite modernized leather bag for a reason. Great for photography or commuting, this pack has a host of extra pockets for organizing, including some where you’d least expect them. We didn’t really find anything worthy of complaint here while gushing over how comfortable this is on the back and how easy it is to adjust. Even if you’re not familiar yet with this EDC brand, now’s the time to get acquainted.

Satchel & Page Backpack

Best Vintage-Inspired: Satchel & Page’s rudimentarily-named pack serves as a top-notch showcase of form and function. Aimed toward travelers, this Tuscan leather-crafted option is vegetable-tanned and aniline-dyed to provide a gorgeous sheen. It also features chic antique brass hardware and a smooth tobacco suede lining. As far as its carrying attributes are concerned, the bag offers a pair of padded laptop compartments that can hold the latest 16” MacBook Pro, as well as an additional tablet sleeve. These are accompanied by an interior zipped pocket, two additional open pockets, and an exterior zipped pocket for easy access to your phone, passport, or charger.

The Good

Anyone aware of Satchel & Page knows that they arguably make the finest leather goods on the market, and without requiring you to pay top-tier prices. One could easily make the case that their flagship leather backpack is the best-looking of the bunch. It’s certainly in my top 2 or 3. The hide is analine dyed and hot-stuffed with oils and waxes, bringing a unique quality to the shell. It almost reminds me of those old vintage basketballs from the early 20th century. Although this bag will garner a beautiful patina over time, it’s almost a shame that it will lose the out-of-box sheen.

As handsome as the bag is, its interior design is just as lovely. I loved how the main compartment opens up farther than just the bottom of the bag, allowing you to lie the bag fully flat. The interior is lined with a sort of unspecified fleece-like fiber that’s super soft against all your tech, almost counterpointing the rugged exterior. There are plenty of organization pockets, even in the rear laptop compartment, which was surprisingly sturdy, by the way. You could store a secondary device in here like an e-reader or tablet. My favorite pocket was the small one in front, which also unfolded all the way and had spots dedicated for pens, small notebooks, and other ancillary stationary accessories.

Surprisingly, the bag stood up on its own, almost 100% of the time. Also, I really loved the leather smell here, perhaps more than any other bag I tested. Lastly, the bag comes with a unique sternum strap that threads through the back of the bag and buckles around your front. However, the height on this isn’t really adjustable. Nevertheless, the backpack is pretty comfortable on the back, although not as comfortable as some others.

The Not So Good

For what it is and how little it carries, the Satchel & Page Backpack is rather heavy, despite being just listed at 4lbs (my own scale read 5lbs). However, considering the density of the leather and the hardware, it’s totally reasonable for there to be some extra weight. My biggest complaint is how difficult it is to adjust the shoulder straps. I found it nearly impossible to loosen or tighten these on the fly, requiring me to take the bag off entirely to do so.

Verdict: Arguably the best-looking bag on this list, the Satchel & Page Backpack has a glorious sheen, an intoxicating leather scent, and will develop some lovely patina over time. Function-wise, its trio of compartments each serve a different purpose, from the sturdy laptop sleeve to the small pocket in front perfect for tech gear and writing utensils. Despite its heavier weight and difficult strap adjustment, the bag will aid your organization, making it perfect for work, school, or really anything else.

GRAMS28 151 Stealth Backpack

Best for Urban Exploring: Aiming to bring functionality and value to the world of luxury goods without compromising design language, GRAMS28 was founded just five years ago by Hong Kong-based designer Benjamin Chan and is still climbing the ranks in the urban and EDC spaces. Its 151 Stealth Backpack is a perfect do-anything bag for travel, commuting, or snapping pictures. built with premium Italian pebbled bovine leather, plush interior lining, and waterproof zippers. The main compartment is even tucked in a little to further prevent moisture intrusion.

The Good

We love a good zero-branded bag as much as the next guy but also, we respect this GRAMS28 for finding a way to add just a smidge of its brand name to the 151 Stealth Backpack while making it look arguably classier than one without it. This honestly sets this bag apart from the lookalikes we found available. When it comes to laptop compartments, the 151 has possibly the most trustworthy, with high sturdiness and extra padding at the bottom for good measure. There’s also a hammock-like pouch in the compartment to help you see your smaller items better, plus there’s a pass-through to the main compartment to aid with flexibility.

I loved how easy it was to peer inside this bag despite it not opening up very far. The main pocket has a pair of split mesh zippered pockets on the fold-out lid, while the wide interior has modular dividers, which are perfect for holding your camera, water bottle, or random tech gear into place. A cobra buckle fastens the small clutch-like pocket in front, which I used for charging cables. And lest I forget, there’s a hidden zippered pocket built into the back, which is great for your wallet or a tracking device.

The bag is relatively heavy at 4lbs, but it feels much lighter and is very comfortable around the shoulders and back. Despite the wide, sturdy base, this keeps a surprisingly low profile that I was easily able to keep on my back when sitting on park benches and bus seats.

The Not So Good

The zippers on the 151 were very easy to operate inherently, despite the water-resistant construction. However, the zippers on the main compartment were tucked under a leather lip surrounding it, creating a frustrating obstacle for opening and closing it. I also didn’t love how the main compartment doesn’t open up very wide, making it difficult to utilize the modular dividers inside. However, I could still see well enough inside.

Verdict: This stealthy, minimalist backpack from GRAMS28 is an attractive specimen with superb functionality no matter what your itinerary is for the day. We loved this bag for its modular organization, waterproof zippers, and sturdy base. It has one of the most trustworthy laptop sleeves and is very comfortable on the back, even when sitting against a chair. We found slight issues with the main compartment zippers and lid but overall this is a really great city bag.

Carl Friedrik 72-Hour Backpack 

Best for Travel: When exploring the leather backpack space, a lot of the options might start to bleed together. That won’t be the case for Carl Friedrik, who has instilled enough unique flairs in their slew of luggage and bags that you can always pick them out from the crowd. We chose their 72-Hour Backpack for long weekends and vacations when you need a little extra room. Built with premium nubuck leather with nylon for durability on the inside, this backpack holds 25L yet only weighs 3.8lbs, with a suitcase-style design that’s perfect, even if this is the only bag you bring on your trip.

The Good

My first experience with Carl Friedrik was with its Carry-On model for our recent guide. It was not only the best-looking suitcase of the bunch but it had some cool features as well. As such, I expected nothing less from the 72-Hour Backpack, which totally delivers its namesake promise. Built like a sort of suitcase, the pack has a very large boxy main compartment perfect for packing full with whatever you need. If you happen to be a bit too ambitious, the company has included a couple of stacked zippered pockets in the lid. You can lie this bag flat (like a suitcase) and rummage through it, which is great for those weekend trips where things have gotten shuffled around throughout the vacation (it always happens). If so, there’s also a quick-access side pocket on the inside wall that’s designed for flat-lay orientation.

The laptop sleeve is pretty straightforward with ample padding. Meanwhile, there are a couple of smaller, almost hidden zippered compartments: one next to the top handle and another on the side. Also, there’s a small gear webbing loop on the side.

On the back, this bag is super comfortable. It’s the only one with foam padding in the shoulder straps, which makes long terminal waits much more bearable. Design-wise, this is one of my favorites as well, with beautiful vertical grooves that I first fell in love with on the brand’s Carry-On. That ethos is carried over here.

The Not So Good

Some might pose an issue with the lack of front pocket, but this would only hinder the design language here and detract from the travel-focused purpose. Considering this purpose, I do wish there were more grab handles on the bag, which would come in clutch when you’ve really got some extra weight in there.

Verdict: Designed to open and act like a carry-on suitcase, the Carl Friedrik 72-Hour Backpack can potentially be the only bag you bring on your weekend trip if you really need it to be. It holds 25L and weighs under 4lbs but still gets by with all of its hidden pockets and sturdy construction. If that’s not enough, the brand’s unique design language is displayed here as well, making this also one of the more unique bags we tested.

Bradley Mountain Leather Rover Backpack

Best for the Outdoors: Bradley Mountain just makes stellar classically-styled leather goods, and we love the look of this green leather bag they make. Cut from a combination of 19.8oz waxed canvas and 9oz USA harness leather, the Leather Rover Backpack features antiqued brass zippers, solid brass and copper buckles, water bottle pockets, and a 16” laptop sleeve — plus the whole thing is made in America. With its contrasting section of pebbled leather, we also love the walnut version of this bag. 

The Good

While you might be hesitant to take any of the other bags on this list out to the wilderness, the Bradley Mountain Leather Rover Backpack is practically begging you to. Everything from the green-brown leather that won’t allow dirt to stand out as much to the quartet of webbing on the front side makes this ready for the outdoors. However, you can also easily use this for commuting if you want, although it might not look the part. But this has one of the best laptop compartments of the bunch, plus the taller frontside pocket can fit an additional device like an e-reader or tablet. Plus, there’s a brass key hook inside and a zippered gadget pocket.

The interior structure held up well, allowing you to peer all the way to the bottom, despite the darker interior. Likewise, this bag holds open very well. It can even stand up on its own. The zippers here are easy to operate and easy to grab ahold of. All around, this surprisingly lightweight bag is a winner.  I can only imagine how awesome this hide will look after years of use, by the time you’re ready to pass this down to your kids.

The Not So Good

As utilitarian as this bag is, it doesn’t have the most attractive design. This might look great on the trail but it won’t earn you any style points elsewhere. Also, the side water bottle sleeves had trouble holding my 32-ounce thermos. Likewise, they don’t stretch, considering they’re made of leather as well.

As comfortable as the shoulder straps are, I do wish they were easier to adjust on the fly. I really had trouble making them tighter and looser while I was wearing it.

Verdict: Not the most stylish backpack around, Bradley Mountain’s Leather Rover Backpack is almost asking you to take it outside. Built with premium leather and antique brass hardware, this bag will look great decades from now. We loved how it could stand up on its own and how its front pocket was taller than most, allowing for a second device if you want. Likewise, the swathe of webbing on the front is a nice touch, making this a solid aid on the trail.

Harber London Leather Rolltop Backpack

Best Commuter Pack: To shed some additional weight, Harber London delivers a perfect option tailored specifically toward the urban adventurer, whether you’re commuting to work or heading out to take some pictures afterwards. The family-run artisan’s aptly-named Leather Rolltop Backpack practically serves as a modular laptop bag, featuring a removable front pocket, with the brand offering either a Tech Dopp or Nomad insert. While the former is a drop-in pouch, the latter (which is what we tested) opens up entirely to store tech, credit cards, and coins. Handmade in Spain from rich, full-grain cowhide leather, this choice is remarkably sleek and is rounded out with a pair of comfortable straps.

The Good

Compared to other roll-top backpacks, the Harber Leather Rolltop is highly unique. For starters, we love the super soft cotton twill lining that’s soft against your gear and your hands when reaching inside. Also, the modular inserts, as well as the rolltop pinch around the zipper, employs a unique locking system of five pins that are easy to take on and off, but not so easy that it will do it on its own. You still need to manually remove each one. 

As for the Nomad insert, I loved using this at work, removing it from the bag to access my charging cables and writing utensils without having to sit the entire backpack on my desk. Instead, I could just sit the insert in front of me without it getting in the way. The main compartment is really awesome, capable of expanding from 15L to 18L with ease and featuring a really sturdy laptop sleeve, which a lot of bags don’t have. Like the Bradley Mountain bag above, this pack can stand up on its own, which is very useful at work.

Very comfortable wearing this bag for long stretches, the backpack also comes with an attachable and adjustable sternum strap — a rarity among leather packs. The bag is also beautiful to look at. It hosts a very classy design with subtle brand embossing on the bottom of the insert. While other bags use antique rustic-looking hardware, I loved the satin finish here on the zippers and cobra buckle. It really added a luxe feel to the bag in a way that wasn’t too overt and balanced out the rugged pretense.

The Not So Good

For about $100 more, you can opt for the Nomad Insert, which feels like a steep upcharge if you ask me. As much as I loved this exterior modular pocket, you could never really use the bag with it removed, since the exposed pegs would look too bizarre.

While the bag stands up on its own, it was often a challenge to look inside since the rolltop nature kept pinching this bag closed when I was trying to get stuff out. However, I ended up getting used to this after a few uses.

Verdict: There’s not much to complain about the Harber London Leather Rolltop Backpack. It has a useful modular pocket that can be removed for work or school settings, it can stand up on its own, and it has a super soft cotton twill interior. Despite having a rugged exterior that’s great for everyday use, it also features subtle touches of luxury like the satin-finished hardware. While it’s quite pricey, this will be worth the extra cash if you’re in the market for a top-shelf bag for commuting.

KILLSPENCER Utility Backpack

Best Premium Pick: When you get to the $1,000 precipice, you might start to balk at your options. However, many leather backpack shoppers are here with the express purpose of purchasing something elevated, premium, and unique. Well, the KILLSPENCER Utility Backpack is just that. While it won’t be winning any awards for budget-friendliness, it justifies its lofty sticker price. Available with or without nylon lining (we went without it), the bag sports classic styling, mil-spec webbing tested to 4,000lbs, and superb construction despite the luxe look. Aside from the premium full-grain leather shell, this thing gets accented with thick bullhide leather and protected with Riri Aquazip water-resistant zippers on the outside. Plus, it’s made right here in the USA.

The Good

Unlike a lot of leather bags, the Utility Backpack from KILLSPENCER keeps its structure very well. I loved lying the bag flat, suitcase-style, on my lap or my desk, which made it significantly easier to dig through. The interior pockets are great for storing small items, and although they don’t have zippers or closures, the folds stay closed enough to prevent items from rolling out when lying down. Also, the bullhide leather patch on the inside doubles as a small pocket as well. I used it for my earbud cases. There is, however, a pair of split mesh pockets on the lid, which folds open for easy access despite the structured back. Behind the main compartment is a separate laptop zippered compartment, while the front has a small gear pocket with both button and Velcro closure options.

Not only does this have one of the best leather scens but this is just a really nice bag aesthetically; a beautiful pack that looks great with any outfit you’re wearing. There’s zero branding for a minimalist look that won’t look too aggressive on your back. Speaking of which, this bag was super comfortable when I was wearing it. The straps didn’t tangle but still felt very sturdy. And the seatbelt straps make this very easy to adjust and look great visually.

The Not So Good

Obviously, the main downside of the Utility Backpack is its lofty price, which is about $300 more than the next-highest option here. Aside from that, I didn’t love the difficulty of the snap buttons. They’re a little stiff. There was one on the top handle that I just kept unsnapped most of the time. Meanwhile, I never buttoned the front pocket, using the Velcro instead. Also, as great as the zippers handled opening and closing, the zippers themselves lacked grip and slipped out of my hands at times.

Verdict: While the $1,095 price tag is quite steep, KILLSPENCER justifies the sticker for the Utility Backpack by utilizing superb construction techniques, mil-spec testing, and an eye for style. Maintaining a functional purpose, the bag would be a great choice regardless of what it looked like. However, the aesthetic of the bag is one of the best we experienced as well.

Leather Backpack Comparison Chart

Why are leather backpacks good?

Much like other leather goods, it may cost more to buy and make leather backpacks compared to traditional options, but the end product is always worth it. The durability of leather alone makes a backpack more rugged and willing to stand up to everyday use, and a unique patina will develop over time that tells the story of your travels. On top of that, a leather backpack has a more interesting look in general, compared to the average fare, and makes for a meaningful heirloom that’s built to last, like an old leather jacket.

how to care for a leather backpack

For everyday care, using a dry cloth to get rid of gunk is advised, and if it gets wet you can do the same and let it air dry (you never want to apply heat to leather). If you need to spot clean, get a damp cloth and lightly rub the affected area (make sure not to rub for too long in one spot, as it can damage the leather). When you first get the backpack, and then at least once a year after, you’ll want to apply a leather conditioner to keep your backpack fresh and strong. While this isn’t essential to preserving the leather, and it depends on how frequently you’re using the pack.

Honorable Mentions

We got to test WP Standard’s The Ellis Backpack but found that it doesn’t do anything the others don’t do better. If we wanted a fold-top, we’d opt for the Harber London bag, and there are several better heritage-inspired options like the Satchel & Page option. Also, the laptop sleeve has almost no protection in the back. We really loved the minimalist aesthetic here but just couldn’t see anyone using this for commuting, which is one of its main purposes.

It’s not a bad pick but the Lotuff Leather Zipper Backpack was just too similar to better bags (e.g., Satchel & Page, GRAMS28, Killspencer). Likewise, it was really small and, upon testing, we found it also looked more like a ladies’ bag.

Billed as a do-anything bag, Shinola’s The Runwell bag wasn’t one of our favorites. Firstly, it’s easily the heaviest of the bunch and would be impractical for lugging around books, tech, or camera gear. Second of all, there’s no actual structure that would make this good for laptops or anything breakable like cameras. And for nearly $800, the backpack was just too steep. The Grams28 and Killspencer match this on an aesthetic and stylistic level, but they feel more like they have a finger on the pulse of what someone would want from a leather backpack.

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that reputable heritage boot brand Thursday Boot Co. also happens to make a pretty finely-crafted leather backpack using their signature materials and build quality. Their Perfecto Backpack also happens to be a good budget option at around $350.

With a padded full-size laptop sleeve, aircraft-grade aluminum hardware, and a full-grain leather shell construction, this Tanner Goods Holton Leather Pack would have easily been a main-guide pick but it’s listed as a Final Sale on the brand’s site which means it’s clearly being phased out.

TUMI is one of the few “mainstream” brands that actually makes fine leather backpacks that we’d actually wanna feature. While not besting the picks above, this Brief Pack is still a solid travel option.

Rawhide: The Best Leather EDC Essentials

If you’re in search of even more stellar leather gear, we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best leather EDC accessories on the market.