Buy School Backpacks Online
From Cheap to Pricey, Get the Right Back to School Book Bags
Jul 21, 2008
When you choose a backpack, keep muscle and joint safety in mind with these recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Look for:
- Wide padded shoulder straps – narrow straps can dig into shoulders
- A padded back – protects against sharp objects in the pack
- A waist strap – distributes that weight of the backpack more evenly
- A lightweight design – the backpack itself should not add much weight
- Rolling wheels – great for heavy loads, but difficult to roll up stairs and in snow
See the following selection of online stores that offer a variety of sturdy, rolling, and laptop backpacks and sling backpacks.
eBags Laptop Backpacks
On the pricey end of the school backpack spectrum is the North Face Surge Backpack, available from eBags.com (see photo below). For $108.95, the Surge sports a back-saving compression panel, a zippered dedicated laptop pocket with padding, padded shoulder straps, a frontside electronics organizer pocket, and side stretch-woven water-bottle pockets. Measurements: 20 inches high by 13.5 inches long by 9.5 inches wide. Fits laptops 15.75 high by 11.25 long by 2 inches wide. Shipping is $13.95.
Overstock.com Backpacks
Cheap shipping and a variety of choices make Overstock.com a great choice for back-to-school backpacks. Choose from a variety of large and small backpacks from makers such as Swiss Gear, Olympia, and Eddie Bauer. Backpacks are also available through the site’s Worldstock store, which sells native crafts from developing regions. Women from Nepal hand-sew a large 100-percent hemp backpacks that have an interior lining and three exterior pockets (pictured below). This backpack, which measures 18 inches high by 12 inches long by 6 inches wide, holds light loads and would make a nice fit on college campuses. Price: $41.99. Shipping is $2.95.
Lands’ End Backpacks
Reasonably priced, well-made backpacks from Lands’ End will last through a few school years for most kids. The catalog and online store features selections and sizes that will fit kindergartners through college seniors. The Lands’ End Featherlight Backpack (pictured below) is 15 percent lighter than the company’s next lightest pack and includes among its extras an exterior bungee cord for stashing a jacket. Price: $39.50. Shipping is $6.95.
L.L. Bean Rolling Backpacks
This big catalog and online merchant allows shoppers to choose from a variety of backpacks and book packs and also offers a create-your-own book pack feature that lets users select the colors of seven separate parts of the bag. Another product is a student-sized Rolling Original Book Pack with a retractable T-handle, in-line skate wheels, and funky fabric choices (see photo below). The bag’s capacity is 1,625 cubic inches and is perfect for kids ages 7 through 12. Price: $49.50. Shipping is $6.95.
JanSport Sling Backpacks
BagKing.com is one of the online retailers that sells JansSport backpacks online, including the cool Air Cisco Messenger Bag (pictured below). The Air Cisco features a one-strap sling style with a twist: the cross-over strap is held together in front with a magnetic clip, so wearers can slip it on or off in a hurry. The bag has a capacity of 1,600 cubic inches and measures 18.75 inches high by 14.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep. Price: $49.90. Shipping is $6.95.
Backpack Safety Comes First
Whatever backpack you choose for yourself o your child, choose one that matches the anticipated load and the physical needs of the wearer.
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