Once You Try It, You Won’t Want to Go Back – The Secret Behind the Comfort of MUJI’s "Less Tiring Water Repellent Backpack"

There are countless backpacks out there that claim to reduce strain on your body. However, there is no other product that so perfectly balances design, function, and price as MUJI’s Less Tiring Water Repellent Backpack.

This series, born out of a project launched in 2017, utilizes patented, proprietary technology to distribute weight across your shoulders, delivering a simple yet refined design that’s easy to use for anyone, anywhere.

This time, we spoke with Suguru Miura, who plans backpacks at Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., about the secrets and improvements built into the "Less Tiring Water Repellent Backpack," as well as what’s ahead for this series.

Strap Fit Makes the Difference: The Comfort that Comes from Patented Technology

The "Less Tiring Water Repellent Backpack" was developed out of the 2017 "Backpack Revamp Project" and features an original design that utilizes patented technology officially registered in 2018.

We started by asking how the development got underway.

"When you carry a fully loaded backpack, your shoulders inevitably end up hurting. We launched this project to try to find a way to alleviate that burden.

"With conventional backpacks, the weight tends to concentrate on the inner part of the straps, which makes the bag feel heavier than it really is and causes the straps to dig painfully into your shoulders.

"The key to distributing the weight is for the entire width of the shoulder straps to fit snugly against your shoulders. The thickness and angle of the straps are critical to making that happen."

"For thickness, we made the core material on the outside of the strap thicker than the inside to create a height difference, preventing the outer edge from floating away from the body.

"We also adjusted the strap angle so that it better matches the slope of the shoulders. Thanks to these improvements, we succeeded in reducing the average strain on the shoulders by about 40%."

This unique MUJI strap design received patent approval in 2018. The straps, crafted with careful attention to detail, offer significant relief to the shoulders, but that’s not the only innovative aspect.

"If you’re into hiking, you probably know this, but the closer a backpack fits to your body, the less heavy it feels. That means it’s essential to position heavy items against your back.

"Every backpack in this series comes with an inside pocket for a laptop, placed at the very back so the load center is stable and the bag actually feels lighter. On top of that, we reduced the denier count of the fabric—as low as durability allows—to make the backpack itself as lightweight as possible."

A Simple, Elegant Design that Stands Out

High functionality is a given, but all MUJI items share a distinctive, minimalist beauty—and the "Less Tiring Water Repellent Backpack" series is no exception. So, what sets the design apart?

"In terms of design, our biggest focus was on pocket placement. There are a total of six pockets, including a hidden pocket on the back side. For security, most people feel uneasy about keeping their wallet or smartphone in external pockets. So, we specifically designed a pocket on the side that touches your body for storing important items safely.

"This pocket is located in front of the laptop pocket, so even if you put in a thick item like a long wallet, it won’t bulge out. We put a lot of thought into creating a pocket layout that’s both secure and allows for easy access."

"Also, starting from last year’s fall/winter season, we’ve been making the parts and tape the same color as the main body. Previously, the parts were always black regardless of the backpack’s color, but we received requests to unify everything in the same shade. We made improvements so the backpacks would look more beautiful and stylish."

Keep Your Eye on This Evolving Series

In addition to the original, the series now includes the second release, "Less Tiring Backpack for Business," and the third, "Less Tiring Toploader Backpack."

Let’s explore the main updates in each.

"The 'Less Tiring Backpack for Business' was designed specifically for business settings, just as the name suggests. For this one, we used recycled nylon fabric, making it look more refined while reducing casualness. Compared to our other backpacks, we made the gusset thinner, resulting in a more compact and stylish design."

"Function-wise, since we envisioned it for business use, it keeps the PC pocket but now has even more pockets so you can neatly store all your gadgets and accessories."

This backpack was originally a 2-way design with a side handle, so it could also be used as a brief bag.

However, many users said, "Once you try using it as a backpack, it’s so easy you can’t go back to carrying it by hand," so now the product features are focused solely on being a backpack. Even this single episode shows the product really lives up to its name.

"The newest in the series, 'Less Tiring Toploader Backpack,' was developed to increase capacity and make it even easier to access your belongings."

"This model also has a predecessor, which featured a front panel that opened wide. But as we continued to improve it, we realized it was sufficient for the top to open wide, which led to the current shape, and we added a front pocket instead. The front pocket is also roomy, so we included dividers to make it even more practical."

"Plus, it has adjustable straps on the sides—if you’re not carrying much, you can tighten the main compartment so the backpack stays compact."

This model is being recognized not only for daily use and leisure, but also as a strong candidate for a disaster-preparedness bag.

The series has won over so many fans that once they try it, they can’t imagine going back. To close, we asked Miura for his thoughts on the future.

"Backpacks have long been a staple at our company, and they’re an item that receives continued support. Moving forward, in addition to our core lineup, we’re eager to tackle the development of products that address even more specific needs and different use cases. We plan to roll out a variety of versions, so please stay tuned!"

The "Less Tiring Toploader Backpack" series prioritizes reducing shoulder strain while maintaining everyday usability and good looks. Going forward, these thoughtfully refined backpacks will undoubtedly keep evolving to support an ever-wider range of lifestyles.