Canvas or leather for new messenger bag?

[Zartish]

I'm looking at getting a new messenger style bag made soon, and I'm not sure which material to go with, leather or canvas. I like the look and feel of both, so does one have clear advantages over the other?

What is better for water resistance/proofing, weight, durability and longterm wear and tear? I am in tropical areas a lot, so if one is lighter/better at protecting against water, that would be a significant factor.

Appreciate your input, thank you.

 

[Edward]

In my experience, for a quality item, leather is more expensive. A well-treated leather will always be more waterproof than a single-thickness canvas. Canvas can be very effectively waterproofed, though - I have a triple-thickness Brady fishing bag that I carry around, and it keeps its contents dry just fine. If you're in high humidity all the time, I'd be wary of leather rotting - but I might just be overthinkning that one. If you need it to look like a professional work briefcase, in my mind leather will look 'smarter' longer - it's also muhmore 'wipe-clean' than canvas. I find thick, durable canvas tends to be lighter than the more durable leathers.

 

[Zartish]

In my experience, for a quality item, leather is more expensive. A well-treated leather will always be more waterproof than a single-thickness canvas. Canvas can be very effectively waterproofed, though - I have a triple-thickness Brady fishing bag that I carry around, and it keeps its contents dry just fine. If you're in high humidity all the time, I'd be wary of leather rotting - but I might just be overthinkning that one. If you need it to look like a professional work briefcase, in my mind leather will look 'smarter' longer - it's also muhmore 'wipe-clean' than canvas. I find thick, durable canvas tends to be lighter than the more durable leathers.

Perfect summary, exactly the answers I needed, thanks

 

[kyboots]

I just purchased a leather one overseas and I love it. This is my second and leather is my choice.

 

[Benzadmiral]

My leather briefcase-with-strap (maybe it is a messenger bag style, at that) came from Eddie Bauer in the mid-Nineties. It's carried books and folders, a compact umbrella, flash drives and my checkbooks; been in high humidity, rain, snow, hot sun, you name it. The only things I've had to do for it were keep it clean and replace the brass hardware that the shoulder strap hooks on with. I'm biased; stipulated . . . but I think leather would very much be the way to go.

 

[emigran]

Go to TIMBUKTU website... you can custom design a really cool bag ... light, indestructible a zillion pockets... check it out... many sizes styles colors etc etc...

 

[IXL]

I went with a Filson brand canvas field bag. While it has not experienced any downpours, it has seen it's share of light rains with nothing inside getting wet.

 

[Blackadder]

I used to buy only full leather bags because I only use those for travelling and documents only when needed but in recent years, I find them too heavy for daily use as I start to carry my ipad around. I switched to using small to medium sized canvas mailbags and only use my leather ones in heavy rain.

 

[robrinay]

Leather every time - as thick as you're comfortable with - have a search for USPS mail bag and check out that vintage design - worth copying if you've got a good leather worker on hand. Lots of firms do copies with zipped pockets but they usually miss out the seam piping and use thin leather. A good thick hide will age beautifully, last several lifetimes and can be re-stitched should the seams ever pop.