hi Jessica

the following companies specialise in packs made out of Canvas and leather

www.duluthpack.com
www.frostriver.com
www.barbour.co.uk

if you do a Google seach for canvas luggage, there are a few other companies that specialise in this sort of style of luggage.

If you want typical backpack but in canvas, try some of the Australian/NEW Zealand companies

www.macpac.co.nz (but i think their site is being redone)

www.seatosummit.com (Wilderness Equipment packs - this is what i use)

www.oneplanet.com.au

www.fairydown.co.nz

www.mont.com.au

let us know what you end up getting.

Good luck and happy travelling

cheers
Jeelan

An Army ALICE pack is nylon. Durable....sure...but OH MY LORD...I never enjoyed lugging mine.

Cordura nylon is the best.

durable
washable
abrasion resistant
tear resistant
doesn't rot
drys quick
light weight

I've got a Cordura pack I bought 20 years ago and its going strong.
If you want to be "earth friendly"...get somebody's used pack (E-bay, Craigslist...etc.) and call it "re-cycled".

I know that this post is extremely late, but, the one pack that I found the most user friendly was the Swiss Military Backpack (With a few modifications of my own).

The inside is lined with some rubberized material, so its totally water proof. It's extremely durable as well, since its made of 20oz Canvas and Leather.

Since I do leather work, I mounted a set of 10oz leather straps to the bottom to hold my bedroll, with stainless steel buckles (very little to worry about in the rust department). I also added three leather anchor strips (10oz latigo) to each side to mount additional pouches, and whatever else I could think of.

With these modifications, it turned out to be the backpack of my dreams. Fully capable of carrying everything that I needed it to, expandable, waterproof (not resistant), and kept the extremely cool asthetic rustic look that I have always loved. Couple that with my Saddleback Leather Company satchel, and I am set to go anywhere, anytime, to do almost anything.