Sewing outdoor fabric / padded laptop bag?

Dear users, dear authors,
I was reading product descriptions again and found something I’m not familiar with. :-) 

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The backpack is sewn from outdoor fabric, which has the advantage of being sturdy and wipeable. For the lining, I recommend coated cotton fabric, which is therefore wipeable.
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What is outdoor fabric? 
How do you pad a laptop bag well?
The product description says that 

• padding Vlieseline (e.g. Style-Vil), approx. 100 cm x 100 cm
• Vlieseline H250, approx. 60 cm x 110 cm

are needed. What is the difference between the two types of Vlieseline?
What is cotton fabric coated with so that it can be wiped clean?

It’s about this pattern:

Laptop backpack 17‘‘ – pattern & sewing pattern

Does anyone else have anything to add? That would be great.

Outdoor fabric is very often made of canvas, which is a very tightly woven cotton-blend fabric that’s frequently used for backpacks, sports bags, etc. Outdoor fabrics are usually water-repellent, so the contents of the bag won’t get soaking wet right away when it rains, which is a major advantage. It’s also commonly used for weather-resistant jackets for sports and leisure, as well as for work jackets, because it’s very durable.
I pad a laptop bag or camera bag with iron-on batting. I pad both the outer fabric AND the lining equally to ensure my laptop or camera is well protected. An outdoor fabric works very well for the outer layer; while it’s not absolutely necessary for a laptop, a camera bag should definitely be made from a water-repellent fabric.

Best regards, Inge

How waterproof is it, anyway?
Not 100%?

Some are fairly waterproof, while others are only water-repellent; meaning that if they’re exposed to rain for a long time, they’ll eventually get soaked through. So you should make sure to get a good water-repellent—if not actually waterproof—fabric, especially if you’re planning a hiking trip or going camping, because there you’re often mercilessly exposed to the elements, and out in the wild, you won’t easily find shelter. The downside of fully waterproof fabrics is that, unfortunately, they’re often not breathable, and when it’s really warm, you might end up wetter underneath the garment than you are on the outside—or rather, on top ;-)

Best regards, Inge

Are there also sprays you can use to make the fabric water-repellent after the fact? Do they work?

In my experience, these so-called waterproofing sprays don’t do much—if anything at all—except that they’re expensive and line the seller’s pockets.

Best regards, Inge

I bought one of those once, ages ago. It was for shoes back then. It smelled awful—like strong chemicals. I never used it again. 

That’s another thing, Josefa: that stuff stinks to high heaven and pollutes the environment, because it usually still contains propellant gas.

Best, Inge

I thought propellant gas had been banned for a long time?

That’s right, but unfortunately there is still some remaining stock.

Best regards, Inge