Motorcycle Bushcraft Backpack Review: What Actually Works on the Road

You already know why you want a bushcraft backpack for your motorcycle. You’re not looking for something to carry a laptop to the office. You’re looking for something that works when you park up and walk into somewhere that isn’t a car park — a trail, a café, a farm track, a city without a plan. The difference between a motorcycle bushcraft backpack and a regular one is mostly in the details: how it attaches to the bike, how it handles weather, how it looks when you’re not riding.

Here’s what actually matters before you buy.

Why a Motorcycle Backpack Isn’t Just a Backpack

A regular backpack is fine for walking. On a motorcycle, it does two things wrong: it shifts under acceleration and braking, and it looks like you grabbed whatever was nearest to the door. A purpose-built motorcycle backpack solves both — anchor points that attach directly to the bike so the load doesn’t move, and a design that doesn’t disappear into commuter territory when you’re off the bike.

The bushcraft element adds a third thing: it needs to actually work in conditions that aren’t a paved road. Water-resistant or waterproof materials, durable construction that can take being dumped on a wet trail, and a roll-top or bucket-style opening that lets you access gear without everything falling out.

The Bushcraft Backpack — What You Actually Get

The HolyFreedom Bushcraft Backpack (€139) is the direct answer to “I want something that works on a scrambler and looks right when I’m not riding.”

Construction: 60% cowhide, 40% cotton canvas exterior. That’s the bushcraft formula — the cowhide gives it structure and weather resistance at the corners and contact points, the canvas keeps it light and flexible. Interior is 100% polyester for quick-drying after a wet ride.

The Roll-Top Advantage

The roll-top design is the practical centre of the whole thing. Buckle closure, rolls down to seal against the weather, extends to increase capacity when you need more than the base 14 litres. At full roll: 18 litres. That’s enough for a full day — spare layer, tools, food, small camera if that’s your thing.

Anchor Points That Actually Work

What sets this apart from a regular canvas roll-top: anchor points on the back for strapping it directly to the bike’s rear loop or rack. That’s the detail that changes how it rides. Without that, a backpack on a motorcycle eventually slides, shifts, and distracts. With it, it’s part of the bike.

Other details worth knowing: adjustable leather shoulder straps (not nylon webbing — these age better and feel better), leather carry handle with HolyFreedom branding, internal laptop pocket up to 16 inches, internal zip pocket. All hooks, loops, and buckles are burnished metal — not plastic. The whole thing is 100% handmade.

Dimensions: 45cm × 30cm × 14cm (rolled).

The Bushcraft Backpack in Green

The Bushcraft Backpack in Green (€139) is the same bag in olive/waxed canvas green. Same materials, same specs, same 100% handmade construction. The green colourway is the one that works with most scrambler colour schemes — olive drab, military green, khaki — and it’s the version that looks most at home on a Brixton Felsberg 125 XC or a Crossfire 500 XC with the luggage rack fitted.

If you’re matching to a specific bike colour: black bike → black Bushcraft. Green or grey bike → green Bushcraft. The leather elements on both versions are dark enough that they read correctly against most colour schemes.

The Folsom Pack — When You Want Something Different

The Folsom Pack (€149) is the same platform — 60% cowhide, 40% cotton canvas, roll-top, anchor points, leather straps, handmade — but with a striped canvas print instead of the plain waxed finish. If the Bushcraft reads as field gear, the Folsom reads as something between workwear and heritage. Both are HolyFreedom’s DNA, but the stripe changes the character.

Same capacity range: 14-18 litres. Same dimensions. Same laptop pocket and internal organisation. The only difference is the aesthetic. At €10 more, it’s a matter of which look works for you.

The Back to Black Option

If the other colourways aren’t your thing, the Back to Black (€149) is exactly what it sounds like — the same HolyFreedom construction but in all-black. Same roll-top, same anchor points, same leather shoulder straps and burnished metal hardware. This is the one for riders who want something that reads as understated when they’re off the bike and doesn’t shout about being a motorcycle bag.

What to Look For in a Motorcycle Bushcraft Backpack

If you’re comparing this to other options on the market, here’s the honest list of what matters:

• Anchor points — Must attach to the bike. A backpack that just sits on the seat will shift. Look for rear straps or dedicated mounting points.
• Roll-top or bucket opening — Superior to a zip-top for keeping water out and gear secure. A zip can gap under tension; a roll-top seals.
• Canvas or technical fabric, not nylon — Nylon is fine for commuting backpacks. For anything that goes further afield, canvas or waxed cotton ages better, handles UV better, and doesn’t melt or degrade near an exhaust.
• Leather trim at stress points — The corners and attachment points on a bag that moves on a motorcycle take more punishment than a walking bag. Leather reinforcement at the base and anchor points extends the life significantly.
• Internal laptop pocket — Not essential for every rider, but useful if you commute on the same bike you use for weekend riding.

The Sling Bag Alternative

When a Sling Makes More Sense

Not every ride needs a full roll-top. For days when you’re carrying less — just the essentials — the Johnny Reb Sling Backpack (€42) is a single-strap sling bag. Made from polyester with a wing-clip buckle closure, mesh phone pocket on the strap, and back padding for comfort. Dimensions: 32cm wide × 12cm deep × 47cm long. It’s the bag you grab when you’re doing a 30-minute urban run and don’t want a full backpack setup.

How to Pick the Right One

The specs are identical across the four HolyFreedom bags. The choice between them comes down to two things: your bike colour, and what you want the bag to say about you.

• Black bike? — Bushcraft Black or Back to Black. Both disappear visually against a dark bike.
• Green, olive, khaki bike? — Bushcraft Green. Matches the trail aesthetic without looking like an afterthought.
• Want something different? — Folsom Pack. The stripe is distinctive without being novelty — it reads as design confidence rather than costume.
• Urban-only, understated? — Back to Black. Full blackout, no branding, clean lines.

Which One to Buy

The Bushcraft line is the right answer for most scrambler riders:

• Bushcraft Backpack (black, €139) — The default. Works with any colour scheme, full roll-top, anchor points, leather trim. Buy this if you’re not sure.
• Bushcraft Backpack (green, €139) — Same thing, tactical colourway. If your bike is olive, grey, or khaki, this matches better.
• Folsom Pack (€149) — Same construction, striped canvas. For riders who want a more distinctive look without going novelty.
• Back to Black (€149) — Full blackout. Understated, clean, all-black.
• Johnny Reb Sling (€42) — For light days. Not a replacement for the roll-top if you carry real weight.

Pair It With

The backpack works best as part of a luggage system rather than your only storage:

• The Waratah Saddle Bag (€162) for rear-mounted capacity on longer rides
• The Leather Hip Bag (€47) for essentials you want accessible without stopping
• The Waratah II Toolkit (€52) for roadside essentials that live in the bag and don’t come out until needed

Ready to Pick Your Backpack?

All HolyFreedom bushcraft backpacks are handmade and built to last. Browse the full HolyFreedom backpack collection at Motorock →