Leather / Waxed canvas backpacks with a sternum strap / chest strap (for example treesizeverse)

[TartuWolf]

As I like leather boots, leather jackets, heavy cargo pants and denim..
I've been looking for a nice waxed canvas / leather backpack for some time now.
I don't want to deal with all the cheap knockoffs from China.
And I have one very strict requirement - it needs to have a sternum strap.
Once I started using them there's no going back - it's an absolutely essential feature for me.
Overall I've been using the helly hansen stockholm backpack for all of my needs, but I'd still like to find something more "heritage"-y.

So far the best option I found is this maker:
https://www.treesizeverse.com/
Seems like a small one-man opeartion in Belgium (great for me since I'm in the EU).
He explicitly has a sternum strap option:
https://www.treesizeverse.com/product/adding-a-leather-sternum-strap-to-my-backpack
And it seems like he makes one off custom backpacks meaning they should be very configurable in all ways.
I've reached out to him to see if he would take an order from me, how much would it cost etc.. Prices seem to be around 150-300eur depending on the size. I guess I'd be ok going up to 300eur if I get a good custom experience and a nice handmade custom backpack.

I'll report back how this endevour goes, but maybe some folks here have experience with this topic?
Maybe you know some other small makers in EU that make stuff like this?

Some of his work that I like:

 

[Zoro]

I think Thedi could do it, like this one in their website:

It doesn't have the chest strap but that should be a very easy thing to add.

Personally, though, when it comes to backpacks I rather the gorpcore over the heritage, so I choose Patagonia and their Ironclad warranty.

 

[barnabus]

View attachment 794620

I like this one very much.

That said, I went for utility and robustness over style when I chose a rucksack recently. I use a black military cordura pack with molle webbing. Utterly indestructible, sternum strap and a waist strap too.

But there's nothing heritage about that!

 

[l0fielectronic]

I have a Fjallraven Singi Stubben as a bigger pack which I've been really happy with, but I could use something a little smaller myself.

I really like the look of what you've posted. I do wonder about its weight. I had a nice waxed Filson weekend bag, built to last for sure but also it weighed as much unpacked as a polyester bag full of a weekends worth of clothes. So I sold it in the end.

 

[marker2037]

Kasperi in Finland would probably make something you like.

 

[raf]

I'm going to suggest some sort of fairly modern pack constructed of mostly lightweight synthetic fabric.

TLDR: I'm not buying an expensive Leather and Canvas pack when far less expensive and very decent alternatives exist.

While the packs pictured above look great, they are likely far heavier than similar all Syn-material packs and their long-term durability may be questionable. Both cotton and leather have well-known durability problems, although many such issues can be user-addressed.

All such packs, regardless of size/capacity will benefit from a horizontally (chest/clothing girth) adjustable Quick-Detach buckled Sternum Strap, which in turn is vertically adjustable on shoulder straps.

Even the smallest back packs will benefit from an adjustable and QD "bellyband" emplaced at the bottom of the pack and which is intended to prevent the pack from bouncing around during vigorous personal body movements. Sternum straps help anchor shoulder straps, but do NOT anchor bottom of pack. Running a fair bit to catch a bus/subway train with a loaded backpack will be "demonstrative".

Most Small- to Medium-size packs can definitely benefit from an internal plastic "Frame sheet" which stabilizes the pack and adds considerable weight capacity compared to same pack w/o Frame sheet. Frame sheets can certainly be DIY items, with 1'/16" thick black HDPE sheeting being available from Grainger's or other vendors.

.

 

[TartuWolf]

@Zoro Thanks for the Thedi suggestion, but I'm pretty sure it would be prohibitively expensive and I'm not too enthusiastic about communicating about something like that with master Thedi.
Gorpcore is very understandable for me having spent a lot of time in Norway, but it's not something I'd lean towards myself. Very functional obviously, but that kind of stuff is not hard to find.

@barnabus That is definitely a sensible route. The "buy once for life" crowd would clearly point me towards something like Savotta and for good reason. But it's a bit too militaristic for me personally. Would love to own a Savotta though, especially for actual outdoor/hiking use.

@l0fielectronic Fjallraven Singi Stubben looks like a fantastic backpack, but too outdorsy/huntery + sitting is not a priority. My usage will be mostly urban. That's why I can sacrifice functionality (and weight!) for style. I'm fine with the extra weight considering the kind of stuff I wear on my feet (White's boots), legs (often 21-25oz denim or equivalent cargo pants) and chest (heavy *** leather jackets) haha.

@marker2037 Thanks for the Kasperi suggestion, I've looked at them in the past but was scared off by the prices. No doubt they make fantastic stuff but nothing really clicked with me.

@raf Thanks for your opinion! I prefer to avoid synthetic materials in my life as much as possible. Not for some logical or practical reasons, but rather because I'm priviledged enough to allow myself to use (in most cases) suboptimal equipment in my life which has much more sentimental/emotional value nevertheless.
Some very good suggestions there though, thank you! I was also planning to ask the Belgian maker if he'd incorporate some sort of frame sheet.

 

[bobjones]

My thoughts: weight is a huge factor for me now having two bad shoulders, so I am transitioning from any leather bags I have left to nylon (will be putting my last leather messenger bag on sale here in the near future). You might be fine with heavier weight items now, but there is a cost to your body using them, a debt you might have to pay later on.

Also, you shouldn't wear a shoulder bag or backpack over a leather jacket, the straps will scuff the leather and the buckle might really damage it.