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Leather Backpack Vs Nylon Backpack - Which is Better For Travellers

27/02/2025 | Alina Tariq

Facing this decision of buying a pricey leather backpack or an economical nylon backpack is a sweet little conundrum to have. Both backpacks have their pros and certain cons as well. Our honest evaluation is going to put you into much better position when finalizing on a pack you want for everyday carry, travel or professional purpose for future.

Leather-verses-Nylon-Backpack

Personality And Function

Leather Backpack

  • A leather backpack is an elegant accessory to have thanks to the natural vintage vibrancy of leather. Its more suitable to a matured audience. Think corporate professional & senior individuals. Something more refined.
  • You might have limited color options in leather with black and shades of brown being the most viable options only. Both colors have a decent vibe to them.
  • Leather crafted backpacks carry a style statement but might not be ones you can over stuff. They come with versatile storage options but might not be the right bags if you're looking to dump a whole lot of stuff.

Nylon Backpack

  • Nylon backpacks come in numerous designs and colors carrying a very casual appearance in general. They are much appreciated among teenagers, young individuals and let's say the larger general audience.
  • They are ideal bags if you frequently carry heavier loads since they are lighter in weight making them easier to carry for longer durations. If its only the functional side you care for and don’t really want a bag that also looks good with you overtime, a nylon backpack is ok to go with.
  • With modern production techniques, more sleek, sophisticated designs of nylon and synthetic backpacks have been marketed but they definitely don't age as beautifully as a leather backpack does.

Comfort

Shoulder Straps & Paddings

Leather backpacks are hand crafted while synthetic and nylon backpacks are often mass factory produced products. This does not mean that a leather backpack can't come with appropriate paddings in their shoulder straps or back panel. Same rubber padding is used to provide comfort in shoulder straps while mesh padding is used more sparingly in fewer designs of packs crafted with leather. Mesh padding is most often found with different styles of nylon and synthetic backpacks.

The Weight Factor

Leather rucksacks are definitely slightly heavier than a nylon backpack. On average, a normal leather laptop backpack weighs around 1.5kg alone. Whereas, with highly advanced technological production, nowadays you get nylon packs that can feel weightless almost.

Durability

Leather Backpack
  • Leather is a naturally tough material. People love to invest in a leather bag of any design for its longevity and characterful natural ageing. It’s literally a one time purchase.
Nylon Backpack
  • Synthetic material backpacks don't have that natural durability to match a leather backpack.

Customization

Leather Backpack
  • You can customize an individual leather backpack to your liking. Be it a change in color for leather, custom lining, embossed or debossed image on leather or changing storage options according to your need etc. An online leather store brings expert craftsmanship in touch with demands of a customer for customization.
Nylon Backpack
  • Since nylon and synthetic material backpacks are often mass produced, it's impossible to have a single pack customized for your initials, logo, symbol etc. or anything else. The only option is to go for customization on a bulk quantity.

Affordability

Leather Backpack
  • An average original leather backpack mostly ranges between $150 - $250. Increase in price depends on higher grades leather, size of backpack, unique designs etc. You can find a $400 or $500 plus leather backpack online or in a store easily. This makes leather backpack a pricey item compared to other external competition.
Nylon Backpack
  • Prices of these backpacks depend on brand name and can fluctuate in a much wider range from extremely cheap to a premium price.

Pros And Cons – Leather Backpack

PROS
  • Leather has lifelong durability. It does not tear apart or gets worn off unless something dramatic happens. .
  • They are a sophisticated accessory that add to your personality. They can be personalized in a variety of different ways.
  • Leather has natural characterful ageing and turns into vintage classic overtime. A timeless statement piece that should make you proud of your purchase all those years back.
  • A leather backpack is going to hold its shape even after years and years of use and abuse.
Cons
  • While you have leather packs available in different designs, you might not get in touch with a leather travel backpack that' above 40 liters.
  • It's difficult to get your hands on to an original leather backpack that is under $100. Although its difficult to term this as Con but certainly, leather backpacks range on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of price.
  • They have a limited range of colors and sizes compared to synthetic and other material backpacks.

Pros And Cons – Nylon And Synthetic Backpacks

PROS
  • These backpacks are a good option to stuff in as much material you want.
  • They are available in a wide variety of colors, designs and sizes.
  • They have a price point for every pocket.
  • They are light weight to carry.
Cons
  • Nylon backpacks are not an essentially one time purchase. They might not last a fair while either if you buy from a cheaper brand.
  • These packs look obsolete and average in the long run. They don't particularly hold their shape either and it's difficult to maintain them with any particular care detail.

Parting Note

To sign off, we recommend that you consider your environment and purpose when deciding on making a buying decision for a leather backpack or nylon backpack. While both have their certain sets of Pros and Cons, A leather backpack is a great investment into a gift item or a classic functional accessory that's going to elevate your image while serving you in the long run. On the other hand, a nylon backpack is a more affordable option that will certainly wear off in the long run but is a useful bag to have for abuse in all sorts of conditions.