When looking for a good backpack, look no further than the undeniable quality and style of a great American-made backpack. The right bag is essential for carrying digital devices, books, clothing, and everyday items like water bottles and other essentials. Apart from the right size and style, quality is also a critical element in choosing the right backpack as you need to ensure the backpack is comfortable enough to hang over your shoulders while keeping your favorite gear safe and secure.
A good backpack is no longer an accessory that is exclusive for students and teenagers. In fact, backpacks and travel bags have become an essential item for professionals, executives, and those just going about their day while running errands, as well as hikers and travelers. They allow you to keep a change of clothes with you as well as a packed lunch and the all-important water bottle.
Whether you are looking for a tactical backpack for hiking and camping or just a really good bag that will comfortably fit your laptop and keep everything safely secured during your daily commute, our selection of some of the best American-made backpacks has something for everyone.
- Best Hunting Backpack: Stone Glacier Sky 5900 American Made Backpack
- Best Waxed Canvas Backpack: Defy Bucktown Waxed Canvas American Made Backpack
- Best Rugged Backpack For Outdoorsmen: Goruck GR1 Military Grade American Made Backpack
- Best All-Round Backpack: Topo Designs Core Pack in Black American Made Backpack
- Best Backpack For Camping & Hiking: The Rambler Black Camo Expandable American Made Backpack
- Best All-Weather Backpack: Topo Daypack American Made Backpack
The Best American Made Backpack
1Stone Glacier Sky 5900 American Made Backpack
Born in Montana, Stone Glacier builds products for big game hunting in big mountains. But its products also work very well for recreational uses like backpacking. We tested the Sky 5900 backpack over two years of elk hunting and have been consistently impressed by the pack’s ability to carry very heavy loads with ease. And thanks to the expanding shelf, the already-large pack can expand to swallow immensely large loads. For those looking for one large backpack that can do it all, this one fits the bill. And it’s built with relatively heavy materials, like CORDURA 500 and Xpac fabrics and YKK #10 zippers, meaning it’ll last for many years. The only downsides are weight (the pack tips the scales at 5 lbs 7.1 oz on a Medium Xcruve frame) and price (from $659). Its modular nature means you can customize the pack to fit your needs. Read our full review on GearJunkie.
Load rating: 150-plus lbs.
Hydration-compatible
Full-panel zip for access to the main bag
Front zipped pocket
CORDURA 500 and Xpac fabric
1″ Duraflex military-approved buckles and webbing
Made in the USA
- BrandStone Glacier
- ModelSKy 5900
2Defy Bucktown Waxed Canvas American Made Backpack
Made in the USA, this Defy Bucktown Waxed Canvas backpack has been handcrafted in Chicago. It’s loaded with impressive features that make it a functional and stylish solution for carrying your everyday items and is perfect for heading to the hills on a snowy weekend.
This backpack has a built-in house for your laptop and other devices as well as pockets and compartments for books, documents, and other everyday carry items you need to take with you to the office or campus. There are plenty of compartments so you can carefully organize and pack your necessities for easy retrieval when you need them.
Made of Martexin Waxed Canvas
23 litre capacity and weighing 3 lbs
Spacious, easy load main compartment
Plenty of pockets and water repellent zippers
Incorporates a dedicated laptop sleeve
Handmade in Chicago, USA
- BrandDefy
- ModelBucktown Waxed Canvas Backpack
- Weight3 lb
3Goruck GR1 Military Grade American Made Backpack
The rugged outdoorsman needs a super-strong tactical backpack and the Goruck GR1 Military-Grade Backpack is about as tough as they come. The first thing you’ll notice with this US-made backpack is that it opens flat to make packing and organizing your items easier for quick access later. There are plenty of compartments and pockets for all of your essentials and it even includes a removable, hard plastic sheet to keep your laptop stable and protected inside your bag.
Rain or shine, your gear is protected inside this backpack thanks to the rainproof outer layer. The sturdy and durable YKK zippers ensure everything inside the bag is safe and secure while the wide shoulder straps are extra padded for comfort even when the bag is fully loaded.
Constructed from military grade water resistant material
Exceptional 26 litre capacity
Internal pocket layout for superior organisation
Integrated laptop pocket holds up to 17”
Extra padded comfort shoulder straps
Made in the USA and comes with a lifetime guarantee
- BrandGORUCK
- ModelGR1
4Topo Designs Core Pack in Black American Made Backpack
The hallmark of a good American-made backpack is versatility and this one from Topo Designs can easily see you through an entire day of activity from the boardroom, to classes and off to the gym at the end of the day.
There are many stylish design features with this backpack with the most important one being your comfort. The contoured comfort fit straps sit snugly over your shoulders and are fully adjustable. The addition of a sternum strap and waist belt allows you to completely secure the backpack to your torso to keep your bag and contents from bouncing around.
Highly durable 1000D Nylon exterior
Generous 25 litre capacity
Dedicated padded laptop compartment
Contoured comfort fit shoulder straps
Spacious internal capacity with clam shell opening for easy entry
Lots of internal and external pocket features
Handy additional sternum strap and waist belt
- BrandTopo Designs
- ModelCore Pack
5The Rambler Black Camo Expandable American Made Backpack
The Rambler Black Camo hails from San Francisco, making it 100% manufactured in the USA, where quality comes first. This is an incredibly versatile backpack that has been designed to cater to those heavy loads and can be adjusted, depending on how much you have to haul. The interior is quite deep making this ideal for the hiking pack rabbit that likes to travel fully prepared. Choose from roll-top adjustable on-demand storage or the traditional flap-down configuration. It can quickly and easily double its capacity making it ideal for campers and hikers.
Don’t let a bit of rain keep you locked indoors as this backpack is manufactured from 100% weather-resistant fabrics of the highest quality so you can hit the trails in any weather. It features Arkiv rails so you can attach extra accessories and the front zipped pocket can fit a laptop or tablet up to 15-inches.
Waterproof, expandable, roll top design Backpack
Carbon fibre internal frame for heavy load dependability
Shoulder straps featuring Arkiv rails for additional accessory attachments
Features front zipped pocket to fit up to a 15-inch laptop or tablet
Expands easily from 22 to 44 litres for your convenience
Features six large compartments and 4 small compartments
Guaranteed to last forever
- BrandMission Workshop
- ModelThe Rambler
6Topo Daypack American Made Backpack
A sturdy and stylish backpack shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg and this one has the high-end style that is packed with features you’d normally find in an upscale backpack.
This one is made with a 1000D nylon exterior coated construction that is water-resistant to protect the contents of the bag in any weather. It can take you from your daily commute to work or to your studies and it won’t let you down. There is also plenty of room for your other gear so you can get through your day without changing bags.
1000D ballistic nylon exterior coated construction
Stylish co-ordinated black leather base
Large main interior compartment
Internal organiser pocket
Fits most 15” laptops
20 litre capacity
- BrandTopo Designs
- ModelTopo Daypack
Why Trust Us
No one knows backpacks and gear as we do; from the daily commute, to hiking and camping on the weekends, to traveling whenever the opportunity arises, we at GearHungry carry our backpacks practically every day of the year. In addition to having lots of experience with various bags and backpacks, we've also taken the time to research a wide variety of new bags so that we could bring you the highest quality products made in the USA, including great everyday carry options for getting from A to B, and more durable packs for your weekend getaways.
Who This Is For
This guide has been put together for those who love and need their functional bags and packs and want one that is US-made. From hikers to gym enthusiasts as well as business executives and students, our guide to American-made backpacks offers multiple options that allow you to pack everything you need from day to day and into the weekend. Whether you need to pack laptops and books or camping gear and other supplies, these American-made backpacks are the way to go.
How We Picked
Narrowing down the infinite amount of choices available to what we consider to be the best backpacks required a fair bit of research including reading hundreds of customer reviews. We looked at backpack manufacturers who use quality materials to ensure our selection would offer practical storage solutions for the tough traveler, avid sportsman, and those who appreciate a good backpack.
How We Tested
To make sure the backpacks we chose as our top options were up to snuff, we tested them by wearing them during our outings, including hiking and hunting. One of our team members tested the Stone Glacier Sky 5900 backpack during a long-duration hunt and reported that it did an incredible job at being both a hiking daypack and a heavy hauler. The backpack, like all models we chose for our list, is rugged and durable and carries like a dream with heavy weight but easily transitions to a daypack when you need it. Aside from testing, we also did a fair bit of research online, reading hundreds of customer reviews - both positive and negative - to make sure we chose truly the best options out there.
Features To Look For In American-Made Backpacks
Strength - We use bags to pack and carry everything from documents, digital devices and many other everyday items. Convenience is one thing, but you also need the bag to be strong enough to endure everyday knocks. A nice strong bag needs to be made of quality materials that are tough and tear-resistant so you can easily take it with you anywhere you go. Both quality canvas and leather backpacks are strong and durable and should last you years, if not decades if you care for them properly.
Weight - The raw materials used to make backpacks need to be durable but also light in weight. Consider the fact that your gear will most likely be on the heavier side when it's all packed so opt for ultralight backpacks that will not add too much of a burden to your back, neck and shoulders.
Size - The size of your backpack will depend on what you need to carry. Smaller, lightweight backpacks are ideal for carrying documents and small devices and they make great everyday messenger bags. However, if you plan on lugging around your heavy mountain or camping gear, you will need a pack with a larger capacity.
Comfort - A good backpack must feel comfortable when it's hanging over your shoulders and along your spine. Even the tough traveler needs a bag that has an adequately padded body, particularly along the back, but the straps should also be padded and adjustable. Look for lightweight padding as well as an ergonomic design.
Compression system - Bags with a compression system allow you to tighten the pack to stabilize the contents which means they are less likely to shift during transit. Not only does this make the bag easier to carry, but the contents also won't move around so much and this can prevent damage. Some bags have an automatic compression system while others feature straps on the sides of the bags that you can compress as needed.
Weather resistance - When it comes to quality backpacks, water resistance is crucial in case you need to head out in the rain. This is especially important if you carry digital devices but also when you're hiking to protect your mountain gear. Even Hyperlite mountain gear serves you best when it is dry so make sure your pack is made from materials that repel water.
Authenticity - There are endless varieties of backpacks available in the market but if you want the real deal, you should stick to brands you trust that have a reputation for making bags that people want to carry. Also, look at brands that are known for manufacturing excellent quality American-made backpacks and support locally made. Steer clear of cheap imitations if you want a backpack that will last.
Laptops storage - Students and office workers pack a lot of gear into their bags with laptops and other digital devices being the most essential everyday item. Most of these bags have a dedicated compartment specially made for housing laptops, tablets and other devices. These compartments are generally padded to protect your device so you can pack your laptop and keep it protected while you commute to campus or work.
Sources:
- Bad Backs And Backpacks - Harvard Health
- Backpack - Wikipedia
