The Cuyana Leather Backpack quickly rose to the top of my list as I started building out my collection of casual handbags. We travel fairly often and that, coupled with shoulder pain from carrying my bags on one side for many years, made a hands-free option very appealing. Both resilient and stylish, this little leather backpack has become one of my favorites. Today I’m sharing my honest review of the Cuyana Leather Backpack and answering FAQs about the bag.

Cuyana Leather Backpack Review

I bought the Cuyana Leather Backpack in the mini size in cappuccino, and I love it. While it isn’t my everyday bag, I use it 1-2 times a week. If you want a compact, chic, hands-free way to carry your essentials on the weekend or for travel, I highly recommend this backpack.

Cuyana offers the bag in two sizes: mini and large. The large version is designed to be a work bag and comes in two sizes with a built-in interior sleeve for a 13″ or 16″ laptop.

It’s surprising how well the Cuyana Backpack pairs with so many of my daily looks. The bags come in core colors, including black, stone gray, and cappuccino, plus limited edition colors. I chose the cappuccino, which is a cool taupe beige that goes with almost everything.

As for quality and design, the pebbled leather looks amazing and is easy to clean with a damp cloth. The bag has thoughtful details, like a magnetic closure, a front pocket for your phone, and an interior pocket for your valuables. The straps are adjustable so the bag sits in just the right spot on your back.

Would I buy the Cuyana Leather Backpack again? Yes! To be honest, I might opt for the 13″ Large Leather Backpack instead so that I could use it as a laptop bag during the work week. However, I love the compactness of the mini for errands, weekend travels, and any time I don’t feel like carrying a shoulder bag.

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Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Timeless look
• Comfortable
• Lightweight (1.5-2.6 lbs)
• High quality Italian leather
• Adjustable straps
• Large version can be carried on the shoulder
• Less expensive than luxury backpacks like Chanel and Gucci

Cons:

• Still costly
• Magnetic closure (a zipper or hook would offer better security)

What Fits Inside

In my Mini Cuyana Leather Backpack, I can fit my card holder, phone, headphones, a book, keys, sunglasses, and a few other small items, like lip gloss and pens. In the Large Cuyana Leather Backpacks, you could fit all that plus a laptop and a notebook.

Where to Buy a Cuyana Backpack

Cuyana sells pieces exclusively on its website. The Cuyana Mini Backpack costs $298 and the Large Leather Backpacks cost $478-$498 (depending on the size).

Cuyana also has a preloved program called Revive, which allows customers to sell and shop Cuyana bags and small leather goods for resale.

Cuyana Backpack Alternatives

There are both luxury and affordable alternatives to the Cuyana Leather Backpack. Senreve’s convertible backpack collection is beautiful and, of course, you have Chanel’s quilted backpacks.

Those two are great if you want more features or higher-quality leather, but what I love about the Cuyana is that it’s versatile and has minimal branding.

If you’re looking to spend less, check out Calpack. I also absolutely love my Lululemon backpack for casual wear.

About Cuyana

Cuyana is a premium women’s accessory and clothing brand with a focus on quality, sustainability, and timeless design. Their tagline is “Fewer, Better Things.” Cuyana’s accessories and apparel are designed to fit seamlessly together and with what you have in your wardrobe, making them easy to style. Their Core collection of accessories includes tote bags, crossbody bags, travel bags, and small leather goods.

It’s a permanent collection of staples mean for year-round wear (both the Large and Small Leather Backpacks are part of this). They also offer Limited Edition collections, which are released seasonally and typically include less versatile colors and textures, like burgundy, orange, croc-embossed finishes, etc. The leather goods are made in Italy in a small, family-owned factory outside Pisa.

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