Help wanted for designing a Leather Backpack

[Black Phoenix]

Hello,

my name is Tobias and im from Germany (so please excuse my not perfect English). I love Backpacks and since I couldnt find the perfect one to buy online I wanna get one hand made for me. I already have someone willing to manufacture it but I obviously need to provide plans with meassurements. I know its supposed to be 40cm x 25cm x 20cm in size and made fully out of full grain buffalo leather with brass hardware. The backpack is supposed to last my whole life so it needs to be durable. While having an idea how it should look like I just cant get a full design I like. For example the front looks empty without a pocket but having a pocket that is usable means it will make the bag look a little weird.

Here is a picture of the rough idea. I like the two straps holding the main flap. I definetly dont want a sipper or press fit buttons or magnets as the wont last 50 years (or longer). Also I feel like its lacking something. MAybe a little finesse or cool feature. Yes I want kind of a basic Bag but still Im not quite happy.

After filling pages with drawing that did not make me happy I decied to ask in this community.

Im happy for any help and open for any suggestions

Thank you

[Mulesaw]

Hello Tobias, and welcome to the forum 🙂

At first your backpack reminded me of an old military backpack (Tornister), but with a different type of leather.

My concerns with a backpack that is 25 x 20 is that it could easily look "roundish". Unless you add some stiffeners inside the sides like a small frame - or in the back part so that it will remain flat even after you put in a sweater or some other stuff.

If you look at something like Schweizer Armee Segeltuch Rucksack, It is a classic rucksack, and it has a front pocket, and it still looks good (in my opinion). I am not sure how the internal stiffening is made on that one, but I think it important to have something to make it last for the next 50 years. It looks very similar to your picture, and one could make the backpack in the size that you are aiming for.

I suppose it also depend on if you want to use the backpack for hiking or for everyday use or something else. If you want to use it for hiking, I think the shoulder straps should be wider compared to if you are going to use it as an everyday backpack to and from job/school etc.

Brgds

Jonas

 

 

[DieselTech]

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