Which Backpack is Best?

One of the first things to hit store shelves for back-to-school stock is the reliable, iconic backpack. In recent years, it's undergone something of a transformation: increasingly, you'll see suitcase-style rolling backpacks (sometimes with straps, sometimes without) among them, as well as single straps meant to be worn across the body.

Before you head out to purchase school supplies, find out which backpacks and school bags to avoid and which is best for your child. Here are some things to consider.

Divide and Conquer

A cute graphic image on the backpack might make it appealing to your young student, but what works best is a backpack that is well-constructed and contains multiple compartments for materials. The reason? It's best to keep books and heavy items in the center, closer to the back, with lighter items on the sides or so they sit "on top" of the books, further away from your back, when the backpack is in use. A lunchbox, for example, shouldn't come between books and your child's back, and it shouldn't hang on one side, either.

School Commute

Does your student commute to school by bus? Consider that a rolling backpack might not be safe, especially for young children, to carry up stairs. It's easy to lose balance or get wheels hung up while trying to navigate on and off the bus or roll down an aisle. On the other hand, a rolling suitcase may help older students who carry heavy books home on a daily basis, especially if they walk to school.

Health and Safety

The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses rolling backpacks for students who carry a heavy load. If a rolling suitcase is something you and your child want to use, select one that is convertible and offers the option to retract the wheels and use a handle for climbing stairs. However, the AAP suggests that a full backpack not exceed 10-20% of your child's total body weight. In other words, if your child weighs 50 pounds, the total weight of his backpack should be less than 10 pounds. More than that and you risk injuring your child.

Avoid the use of messenger-style bags. Even the lightest of these, when filled, cause your child to adjust her posture to accommodate the single-shoulder use.

Construction Concerns

Make sure the backpack has wide straps and that your child can comfortably wear it with both straps. Try it on in the store and make sure it doesn't hang down too low, or pinch your child so that she feels inclined to keep it on one shoulder, which is unsafe and throws her natural alignment and balance, and, according to the AAP, might strain your child's shoulder muscles.

If you purchase a single strap sling-style backpack, be sure it's centered on the back, and not under the arm or up on one shoulder.

School Rules

If you're considering using a rolling backpack, be aware that some schools prohibit their use. They don't hang over the back of a chair or fit under student desks very well and they block aisles in the classroom, which poses a distinct safety hazard. Additionally, students, particularly young children, trip over them in hallways, and have even suffered serious injury as a result. If your student is required to use a rolling backpack for health reasons, be sure you have a doctor's note and talk to the teacher and school administration ahead of time, to discuss your particular issue.

Lastly, don't make your backpack selection primarily on its colors or design. It's not a fashion accessory; a backpack is a piece of equipment and its daily use may affect the health and safety of your child (and others). Also, make sure you consider the way the pack will be used, the age of your student, and school rules before making your purchase, and save your receipts in case you change your mind.