School backpacks

• email
• save PDF
• print

The high number of reports of adolescents suffering from regular episodes of spinal (back, neck or shoulder) pain are of concern worldwide. Victorian studies found one in three school students suffered significant back or neck pain, often thought to be caused by carrying heavy schoolbags.

Keeping the weight down as far as possible and carrying a backpack appropriately may help reduce the incidence of acute and long-term spinal problems.

A good school backpack should:

• Be appropriately sized for the child. It should neither extend past their shoulders when sitting down with it, nor be wider than their chest.
• Be comparatively lightweight. Fully packed it shouldn’t weigh more than 10% of the child’s body weight (that’s the lean body weight, so it’s even less for overweight children).
• Be sturdy and reasonably water-resistant (or have a rain cover). The material should be firm to prevent sagging. The base should be abrasive-resistant and/or reinforced.
• Have a moulded frame and/or an adjustable hip or waist strap, so most of the weight rests on the hips and pelvis, not on the shoulders and spine. The waist/hip belt is particularly important to secure the load when walking, running or cycling.
• Have adjustable, broad, padded shoulder straps that help distribute the weight evenly and don’t dig into the wearer.
• Have a padded or quilted back for comfortable wear.
• Have compression straps at the sides to draw the load together and bring it close to the child’s back. They’ll also help stabilise the contents of a partially filled pack.
• Have a sternum (chest) strap to help stabilise the load and prevent the straps slipping off the shoulders. It should sit about 10 cm down from the Adam’s apple. (Look for a detachable strap if you’re not sure your child will wear it.)
• Have several pockets to help with even weight distribution and organisation inside. A drink bottle holder on the side keeps potential spillages outside the pack.

Using it properly

While a pack with a limited capacity and the ‘less than 10% of body weight’ benchmark are attempts to tackle the problem, what can you do if kids can’t avoid carrying more sometimes? That’s where using a backpack properly comes in.

• Backpacks are designed to carry a load safely — symmetrical, stable and close to the spine — but not if they’re worn casually slung over just one shoulder.
• If necessary, show your child how to put the backpack on properly: lift it up by the loop with both hands and bent knees, facing the straps and pushing up with the legs. Place one strap over the shoulder, then the other, or put it on the edge of a desk and loop both arms through together.
• A backpack should be worn so the waist strap (or hip belt) sits firmly where intended.
• Shoulder straps should be adjusted so the child doesn’t have to lean forward and the base of the pack rests on their hips, not on the bum, as many like to wear it.
• Before your child heads off to school, make sure they’ve packed their backpack properly. Items shouldn’t be able to move around; the heaviest ones should be packed closest to their back to reduce stress on the spine, lighter items away from the spine.
• Encourage them to repack their bag daily, only take what they need that day and make use of lockers at school, if available.

Wheeled bags

If your child needs to carry lots of things regularly, a bag with wheels and a pull-out handle might seem like a good idea. The theory is fine, but there are concerns about the practical implications:

• They may have to pull it over bumpy terrain, on grassed footpaths, lift and carry it on stairs or onto public transport.
• Experts think using one in such conditions could not only be awkward but create other problems, such as minor injuries from bags flipping over, a sore arm (as we tend to use one hand only to pull the bag), or a back injury from lifting a heavy bag — they’re not likely to weigh any less than a packed backpack.

See the full CHOICE online report for more information on school backpacks, what to look for, endorsed bags, brands and trends.

Go to CHOICE for expert, unbiased tests and reports on baby products, appliances, electronics, food and finances.

• Rated1 ratingsRate this item
• FeedbackTell us what you think of this item
• Your story Share your parenting tips