Premium backpacks with pure adventure DNA

Our classic backpacks made from premium leather and fine cotton fabrics adore life's small and big adventures. We drew inspiration from the honest and functional design of the 19th century when travels were still adventures and travellers were adventurers.

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What is a Backpack?

A backpack is a bag in the form of a sack, typically carried on the back with two shoulder straps. This is a significant advantage during longer travels as it evenly distributes the weight of the luggage on the back and shoulders. People have appreciated these benefits and features for over 5,000 years, as evidenced by findings from the Stone Age.

The backpack is the most popular type of luggage, mainly due to its practicality. It is an excellent companion for travel, daily use, hiking, or as a replacement for a handbag. Backpacks are also well-suited for bicycle and motorcycle trips. Backpacks with a laptop compartment are ideal for work, school, or study.

What are the Dimensions of a Regular Backpack?

A regular backpack for both men and women can come in various sizes, as they are manufactured for different purposes and styles. However, the dimensions of an average backpack are usually approximately as follows:

Height: 40 cm - 50 cm, Width: 20 cm - 30 cm, Depth: 15 cm - 25 cm

It's important to note that these sizes are only average values, and there may always be models that deviate from them depending on the brand, features, material, design, model, and usage. There are small daypacks for everyday use, medium-sized backpacks for hiking, and large travel backpacks for longer trips or outdoor adventures.

What should I consider when buying a backpack?

It is crucial to determine the intended use of the backpack, as its functionality and size or volume should be based on that. Many of our vintage backpacks in our collection are primarily designed for day trips (so-called daypacks) and not for long tours. For day trips, small to medium-sized backpacks with a volume of 20-30 liters are optimal.

The size of the backpack should also be proportionate to the size of the person using it. The length of the backpack's back should not exceed the wearer's back length. During fitting, the shoulder straps should be adjusted so that the backpack ends above the lower back.

If you are looking for a companion for a longer tour, we recommend the Dale backpack. This backpack has two advantages: it is waterproof and does not require a rain cover. The main compartment volume is variable from 40-60 liters, providing ample space for clothing for 4-6 days.

When choosing the right outer material, both the intended use and the price are essential factors. Canvas (pure cotton) is lighter and cheaper but offers less shape stability compared to leather. Leather, on the other hand, is particularly elegant but comes at a higher price.

Regarding the design and color, it heavily depends on personal preferences and the intended use. For outdoor trips and wildlife observation, more subdued colors like green or beige are recommended for better camouflage. For all other backpacks, any colors that bring joy are allowed.

What types of backpacks are available?

There is a wide variety of products designed for different purposes and activities. Here are some of the most common types of backpacks:

Daypack:

A small, lightweight backpack ideal for daily use, whether in school, work, or strolling around the city. A daypack is perfect for a trip to the city, hence it is sometimes called a city backpack.

Hiking Backpack or Travel Backpack:

This type of backpack is specially designed for hiking, trekking, and world travels. It generally offers much more comfort, details, storage space, and useful features like a hip belt, back system, carrying system, chest strap, ventilation, or additional attachment options for accessories.

Laptop Backpack:

A specially designed backpack with a padded compartment to securely carry a laptop and other electronic devices.

Roll-Top Backpack or Bicycle Backpack:

These backpacks are ergonomically designed and have a rollable edge, allowing for variable sizing. These designs are also perfect for transporting sports equipment.

School Backpack:

Bags specifically designed for school use, to carry books, notebooks, and other school supplies. Ideally, backpacks in this category are lightweight and have a compartment for a laptop. However, the items in our current collection are not suitable for children under 12 years old.

Military Backpack:

Robust backpacks appreciated by military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts for their durability and features. They are also suitable for classic marches and hiking. They certainly have a cool look.

Are DRAKENSBERG Backpacks Waterproof?

Most of our products are not waterproof or water-resistant.

The Adam and Dale items made from waxed cotton are water-repellent. These backpacks can withstand considerable rain and are particularly shape-stable due to the integrated wax in the outer material.

For the rest of our collection, we intentionally preserve their natural and non-impregnated state for authenticity. However, our backpacks for men and women can be relatively easily water-repellent for everyday use. Colorless impregnation sprays for leather and textiles, such as IMPRÄGNOL Universal Impregnation Spray, are suitable for this purpose. Alternatively, our cotton fabrics can also be treated with wax, such as Dr. Gee's Impregnation Wax. We recommend testing the wax on an inconspicuous area of the material before applying it to the entire bag. Please note: The color of the material usually becomes 1-2 shades darker when impregnated with wax.

In any case, a bag can only be 100% waterproof if it is entirely made of plastic material.

Is Backpack Henry Designed After the Swiss Army Design?

Indeed, the classic Swiss Army backpacks bear a strong resemblance to our looks and designs. However, we have drawn more inspiration from the civilian form of mountain backpacks for our style. In terms of quality and functionality, our designs are on par with classic military backpacks. They are perfect companions for daily use.

What is the Best Backpack Brand?

The DRAKENSBERG bags are anything but ordinary. Sustainability is not just a marketing statement for us but an integral part of our looks and characteristics. We aim to provide authentic travel companions that could have been made similarly over 200 years ago, with natural materials, without polyester or nylon. Instead, we use pure cotton, full-grain, and vegetable-tanned leather, and YKK zippers.

Currently, there are no top brands for men's and women's bags that serve as role models for us. Even the major brands continue to use classic chrome tanning and manipulate the surfaces of the leather. Plastic lamination is also widespread in the industry, where a foam insert is used to simulate a higher material thickness of the leather.

Behind "vegan leather" often hides ordinary plastic. Very rarely, you find leather-like materials that are genuinely 100% made from plants. Unfortunately, the term "genuine leather" is currently inflated. Leather reinforced with foam is not "genuine leather" for us but rather inferior quality leather.

A good backpack in the 21st century should also provide a genuine and honest feeling and not make empty promises. At DRAKENSBERG, we largely avoid using plastics. Our leather or canvas is not laminated with plastic. Our outer fabrics do not contain nylon or polyester. The leather used is sustainably vegetable-tanned, though not entirely without chrome. It is a genuine product with edges and character, but also an honest one.