See which brands are nailing the less is more thing with their backpacks.
In a world full of stuff, minimal backpacks are like a breath of fresh air. People started liking this simple style a lot more in 2024 (up 43%!), and they’re choosing smooth, plain-colored backpacks from brands like Bellroy and Tortuga. It shows people want to live simpler lives and buy things they really need. These brands get that looking good can come from being simple, useful, and classic.
Whether you travel a lot, work in the city, or just love clean designs, this guide will show you the best 20 minimal backpack brands that are leading the pack in 2025.
What Makes a Backpack Minimal?
Before we get to the top 20, let’s talk about what makes a backpack minimal:
Main Things:
- Simple shapes without extra stuff
- Plain colors (black, gray, blue, browns)
- Focus on being useful, not having tons of features
- Good materials that last
- Designs that don’t go out of style
- Easy to keep things organized
The Top 20 Minimal Backpack Brands
1. Bellroy – The Aussie Champs of Minimalism
Bellroy is a popular brand that makes smooth and simple designs. They’re known for making wallets, bags, and other things that look good and work well. That’s why people who work in offices or travel a lot love them.
Why They’re Great: Bellroy knows how to make things look good and still be useful. Their backpacks are simple but still have everything you need.
Cool Things About Them:
- Great leather and canvas
- Smart ways to keep things inside
- Made to handle the weather
- Guaranteed to be made well
The Bellroy Venture Ready Pack 20L is made of stuff that keeps water out and is comfy to carry. That makes it great for going to work or traveling light.
2. Peak Design – Minimal Design Meets New Ideas
We keep going back to the Peak Design Everyday Backpack because it is the right size, comfy, and has a lot of smart details.
What Makes Peak Design Special:
- Ways to change things inside
- Outside that keeps water out
- Closes with magnets
- Guaranteed for life
Best For: People who are artists, photographers, or like tech stuff and need to carry gear in an organized way.
3. Aer – City Minimalism Done Right
Aer is our favorite backpack brand overall. Their packs feel good and have a lot of features. But they still look simple, which minimalists like.
What Aer Does:
- Simple, straight lines
- Made with great Cordura fabric
- Good for laptops
- Perfect for people who travel around the city
Their Style: Plain black designs with small logos that fit in anywhere at work.
4. Tortuga – Travel Minimalism Pros
Tortuga makes the best travel backpacks, whether you carry them on the plane or use them as a small bag. The Tortuga Travel Backpack 40L has comfy shoulder straps, a hip belt, and a back panel, so you know you can be comfy without the bag being complicated.
Good Things for Travel:
- Fits on airplanes
- Opens from the front
- Straps to make it smaller
- Not a lot of extra straps on the outside
5. MUJI – Simple Japanese Style
MUJI believes in no brand, good stuff, and their backpacks show that. Muji has a modern way of making designs useful.
What MUJI is Like:
- No logos
- Uses natural stuff
- Minimalism that’s not costly
- Easy to use
6. UNIQLO – Simple Designs for Everyone
Uniqlo is famous for its basic clothes that are stylish and comfy, and that is sold at prices that most people can pay.
What UNIQLO is Good At:
- Minimalism that’s easy on your wallet
- Colors that never go out of style
- Made well
- Easy to find
7. Everlane – Honest Minimalism
Everlane is honest about how they make their backpacks and cares about the earth. They focus on being honest and making bags that last.
Their Best Things:
- Tell you exactly how much things cost to make
- Get materials that are good for the earth
- Shapes that are classic
- Focus on being strong
8. Away – Minimalism for Travelers
Away is mostly known for suitcases, and their backpacks have the same simple style for everyday use.
What Away Does:
- Good for travel
- Uses great materials
- Pays attention to details
- Guaranteed
9. Rains – Minimalist and Ready for Rain (From Denmark)
Rains mixes Scandinavian designs with protection from the weather. The result is backpacks that are simple and useful.
Things From Scandinavia:
- Waterproof coating
- Straight lines
- Looks smooth
- Lots of colors
10. COS – Minimalism That’s Stylish
COS is part of H&M and brings fancy minimalism to bags, including backpacks.
What Fashion Does:
- Looks like buildings
- Good materials
- Modern colors
- New designs each season
11. Patagonia – Minimalism That Loves the Outdoors
Patagonia is known for outdoor gear, but their minimal backpacks prove that you can care about the earth and still have a clean design.
Caring About the Earth:
- Made from recycled stuff
- Helps you fix your gear
- Small logos
- Made to last
12. Osprey – Minimalism That’s All About Tech
Osprey Ultralight is a backpack that you can fold up. There’s no extra stuff on this backpack!
Techy and Great:
- Super light
- Can be packed away
- Comfy
- Guaranteed for life
13. Herschel Supply Co. – Old-School Minimalism
Herschel uses old styles in new minimal designs, making backpacks that look classic but still work for modern life.
Old-School Stuff:
- Made of canvas
- Old-fashioned details
- Colors that will always look good
- Good for city life
14. Baggu – Simple Minimalism for Every Day
Baggu makes simple and easy-to-use designs that are good for all kinds of people.
Good for Every Day:
- Light
- Can be washed
- Affordable
- Lots of colors in simple styles
15. Côte&Ciel – Minimalism Like Buildings
This French brand makes backpacks that look like art and are useful.
Like Buildings:
- Focus on shapes
- Uses new materials
- Looks like sculptures
- Good for tech
16. Sandqvist – Swedish Minimalism That’s Handmade
Sandqvist mixes Swedish craftsmanship with modern designs, making backpacks that look better as they get older.
Scandinavian Made:
- Leather and canvas
- Made in the old way
- Colors that last
- Helps you fix your gear
17. Stutterheim – Minimalism That Works in Rain
This Swedish raincoat brand makes backpacks that keep your stuff dry.
Made for the Weather:
- Waterproof
- Not a lot of seams
- One color
- Stylish and useful
18. Carhartt WIP – Minimalism for Work
This line from Carhartt makes durable backpacks that are simple and practical.
Good for Work:
- Strong
- Not a lot of stuff on the outside
- Plain colors
- Made to last
19. A.P.C. – Expensive French Minimalism
A.P.C. makes backpacks that are high-quality and a little fancy.
French Things:
- Great materials
- Small logos
- Classic
- Worth the money
20. Lemaire – Minimalism That’s High Fashion
Lemaire is where fancy fashion meets simple designs, making backpacks that look good in art galleries and offices.
High Fashion:
- New shapes
- Fancy materials
- Not a lot made
- Something to collect
Why Do People Like Minimal Backpacks?
Why Minimalism is Popular in 2025
Minimal backpacks aren’t just about how they look. In a world where we’re always online and have too much to look at, these designs offer:
Clear Thinking: Simple shapes make you feel calmer.
Versatile Style: Simple designs work anywhere, from work to weekends.
Lasting Style: Buying minimal things means you don’t have to keep up with trends.
Focus on Quality: Minimal brands usually make things well instead of adding flashy stuff.
Good for Professionals
Minimal backpacks are a must for people who go to different places during the day.
Works in Many Places:
- Looks good at work
- Good for travel
- Works for weekends
- Makes you look good at meetings
How to Buy: Pick Your Minimal Backpack
Think About What You’ll Use It For
City Travel:
- Needs to protect your laptop
- Needs to handle rain
- Looks professional
- Comfy shoulder straps
Light Travel:
- Fits on airplanes
- Ways to keep things organized
- Straps to make it smaller
- Strong materials
Every Day:
- Right size
- Easy to get into
- Comfy to wear
- Looks good with anything
Expensive or Cheap?
Expensive Brands (Bellroy, A.P.C., Lemaire):
- Great materials
- Guaranteed for life
- Special designs
- Can sell them later
Middle Price (Aer, Peak Design, Tortuga):
- Made well
- Good guarantees
- Good features
- Works well
Easy on the Wallet (UNIQLO, Baggu, Herschel):
- Basic features
- Made okay
- Good prices
- Lots of styles
Think About the Earth
Many minimal brands care about the earth:
Things to Look For:
- Made from recycled stuff
- Can fix your gear
- Made in a good way
- Not a lot of packaging
- Ships in a way that doesn’t hurt the earth
How to Take Care of Your Minimal Backpack
Keep It Looking Good
Minimal backpacks are worth the money, so take care of them to make them last:
Do This Regularly:
- Clean with the right stuff (leather cleaner, canvas cleaner)
- Let it dry if it gets wet
- Keep it stuffed so it stays in shape
- Fix problems right away
Get Help:
- Use brand repair programs
- Fix problems with zippers early
- Get it cleaned if it is made of leather or something fancy
Minimal Backpacks in the Future
2025 and Later
What’s Coming:
- New materials that are good for the earth
- Ways to change things
- Tech that’s easy to use
- Designs for everyone
- Ways to recycle
Techy Things:
- Charges without wires
- GPS
- Smart ways to keep things organized
- Connect to apps
Why Minimal Designs Matter
More Than Just Fashion
Choosing minimal backpacks shows what you care about:
Careful Buying: Buying things you need instead of buying things without thinking.
Clear Mind: Simple things help you think clearly in a busy world.
Moving Around: Designs that work in different places for people who travel.
Caring for the Earth: Supporting brands that care about the earth instead of making things fast and cheap.
How to Choose: What’s Right for You?
Ask Yourself These Questions
Before you buy a minimal backpack, think about:
- What You’ll Use It For: What will you use this backpack for most of the time?
- What You Like: Do you like things super simple or with small details?
- How Much You Want to Pay: How much is a good price for you?
- What the Brand Believes: Do you like what the company stands for?
- How Long You Want It to Last: How long do you want to keep this backpack?
The Perfect Minimal Backpack
There’s no one best backpack but you can find it among the 20 brands, they all offer something different, and you’ll find one that’s perfect for you.
Whether you like Bellroy’s style, Peak Design’s features, or MUJI’s simplicity, there’s a minimalist backpack for you.
Minimalism isn’t about not having things, it’s about having what you need. When you choose a minimal backpack, you’re saying you care about quality, usefulness, and designs that don’t go out of style.
In a world that’s getting more complex, sometimes the best thing you can do is keep it simple. Your backpack, which you use every day says that less can be more.
Here’s a reminder:
Want to try minimalist backpacks? Think about how you’ll use it and what you like, then find the brands that fit you best.
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