Material is the single biggest factor in how a pack ages, and the marketing rarely tells you the trade-off.
Waxed canvas
Heavy, water-repellent, and it develops a patina that most people either love or hate. It is the least technical of the three and the most repairable — a torn panel can be patched and re-waxed. Expect to add a pound over a nylon equivalent.
Ballistic and ripstop nylon
The workhorse. High abrasion resistance, low weight, and a ripstop weave that stops a small puncture from becoming a long tear. It is the right answer for anything that spends time in a cargo hold.
Recycled polyester
Lighter and cheaper than both, with a lower abrasion threshold. Excellent for packable daypacks that live inside another bag, less convincing as a main travel pack.
What about the coating?
“Waterproof” usually means a PU coating on the inside face and a DWR finish on the outside. Both wear off. Reproofing spray once a year does more for water resistance than choosing a different fabric.