A computer-implemented method for synthetic backups may include identifying a full backup of a volume of files. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a set of incremental backups that were performed subsequently to the full backup. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying a set of storage devices that store the full backup and the set of incremental backups. The computer-implemented method may additionally include identifying a request to create a synthetic backup incorporating the full backup and the set of incremental backups. The computer-implemented method may moreover include generating a sorted catalog for the synthetic backup by indexing files for the synthetic backup in an order based on at least one characteristic of the files. The computer-implemented method may also include creating the synthetic backup of the indexed files in the sorted catalog by reading the indexed files in an order based on locations of the indexed files on the set of storage devices. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.