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School backpacks: Choose a backpack that makes the grade
Have you done your homework on school backpacks? Here's what you need to know about choosing, packing and wearing school backpacks.
By Mayo Clinic staffSchool backpacks are a convenient way to carry books and school supplies. For many kids, however, school backpacks also serve as a fashion statement — and a prime source of back and shoulder strain. Here's what you need to know about choosing, packing and wearing school backpacks.
Buying school backpacks
When you're shopping for school backpacks, strike a balance between style and common sense.
- Look for wide, padded straps. Choose a backpack with padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Better yet, opt for a backpack with an additional waist belt, which helps distribute the weight of the backpack more evenly. Avoid bags with a single shoulder strap.
- Check the compartments. Multiple compartments for smaller items can better distribute weight within the backpack, as well as make it easy to find things that might otherwise be lost in the jumble.
- Think small. Choose the smallest backpack that accommodates your child's books, notebooks, folders and other school supplies. As a general rule, the backpack shouldn't be wider than your child's torso. The bottom of the backpack should rest against the curve of your child's lower back — and never more than 4 inches below your child's waist.
- Consider the material. Choose a backpack made of lightweight nylon or canvas, rather than a backpack made of leather or other heavy materials.
- Know the rules on wheels. Backpacks that can be pulled with wheels are easier on your child's back. But check with your child's school before you invest in a set of wheels. Wheeled backpacks aren't allowed in some schools because they pose a tripping hazard. They can also be tough to pull up stairs or through slush or snow.
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