The Bag You Carry Every Day

It’s the most ignored piece of furniture you own — you wear it. The backpack is so common that we rarely stop to ask: how did this lumpy nylon sack become the universal symbol of school, travel, and commuting? The answer is a mix of military surplus, mountaineering innovation, and a couple of college kids in Seattle who accidentally started a fashion trend.

This page is part of a deeper dive into school supplies. If you haven’t read the parent page yet, start with School Supplies, or go all the way back to the root: The Number 2 Pencil. Here, we unpack the backpack — literally and figuratively.

A Short History

The backpack didn’t start in a classroom. It started as survival gear. Ancient hunters and gatherers used simple slings and baskets to carry food and tools. Over centuries, that evolved into military rucksacks — canvas bags on wooden frames designed for soldiers to haul heavy loads over long distances. (History.com)

The modern framed backpack was patented in 1886 by Charles Beverly. That’s the first time someone officially put a rigid frame on a bag to transfer weight to the hips. But it took another half-century for the zipper to appear — in 1938, Gerry Outdoors introduced the first zippered backpack. (Eiken Shop)

Gerry Cunningham, owner of Gerry Outdoors in Boulder, Colorado, gets credit for two big leaps: the zipper and, later, nylon construction. Nylon was lighter and more waterproof than canvas, which made backpacks practical for everyday use, not just expeditions. (NPR, Eiken Shop)

Then came the Kelty revolution. In 1952, Dick and Nina Kelty used leftover WWII materials to build large, lightweight frame backpacks. These weren’t school bags — they were for backpacking. But they proved that a bag could be both comfortable and spacious. (Buffalo Jackson)

The final piece fell into place in 1967. JanSport was founded in Seattle by college students Murray Pletz (later McCory) and Skip Yowell. Their first product was a convertible aluminum-frame backpack — designed for hiking, but soon adopted by students. JanSport is widely credited with popularizing the school backpack as we know it. (History.com, Mental Floss, MOHAI)

From Book-Strap to Burrito

Before the backpack, how did kids carry books? NPR has covered this forgotten era. The answer: a leather strap — literally a belt or a strap with a buckle — wrapped around a stack of textbooks. You’d cinch it tight and carry the bundle by hand, or sling it over one shoulder. Some wealthier students had leather satchels with handles, but those were expensive and awkward.

The “book-strap” method was terrible for your hands and posture. It forced you to carry all your weight on one side, and you couldn’t do anything else with your hands. Then, in the 1970s and 80s, students started abandoning the book-strap and leather satchel en masse. The nylon backpack — light, cheap, and with two shoulder straps — took over. (NPR, Mental Floss)

Why the School Backpack Won

The backpack’s victory wasn’t an accident. It solved three problems the old methods couldn’t:

  1. Two hands free. With a backpack, you can open doors, carry a lunch bag, or hold a friend’s hand while walking to class. Try that with a book-strap.
  2. Weight on hips, not hands. A well-designed backpack transfers load to the shoulders and hips, which are built for carrying. Your hands and forearms are not.
  3. Durability. Nylon and zippers made backpacks tough enough to survive a school year (or at least a semester). Leather satchels wore out, and book-straps tore pages.

The backpack also became a canvas for self-expression — patches, pins, colors. JanSport’s simple design became a blank slate for generations of students. (History.com, Mental Floss)

The Weight Problem

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the backpack is now too heavy for the kids carrying it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Spine Health both recommend that a school backpack weigh no more than about 10% of the child’s body weight. For a 60-pound third-grader, that’s 6 pounds. For a 100-pound middle-schooler, 10 pounds.

But the National Safety Council notes that kids often carry up to a quarter (25%) of their weight. That’s 15 pounds for a 60-pound kid — more than double the safe limit. (AAP, NSC, Spine Health)

Why the gap? Textbooks, laptops, binders, water bottles, and “just in case” items pile up. And most kids don’t pack strategically — they just throw everything in.

How to Pack a Backpack Safely

Spine Health offers simple, actionable advice. Follow these rules to minimize strain:

  • Wide, padded shoulder straps. Thin straps dig into shoulders and restrict circulation.
  • Wear both straps. One-strap slinging (the “cool” way) causes uneven loading and muscle strain. It’s not cool for your spine.
  • Distribute weight evenly. Heavy items (textbooks, laptops) should sit closest to the back, not at the front of the bag. Lighter items go in the outer pockets.
  • Tighten the straps so the bag sits snug against the back, not sagging down to the hips.
  • Use the waist belt if your backpack has one — it transfers load to the hips.

And if the bag weighs more than 10% of your child’s weight, leave something at home or in a locker.

What to Look For When Buying

You don’t need a $200 technical backpack for school, but you shouldn’t buy the cheapest thing at the drugstore either. Here’s a rough guide, with real Amazon search links (tag=worthlesscc-20):

Budget ($15–$30)

Mid-range ($30–$60)

  • Look for: padded shoulder straps, multiple compartments, laptop sleeve, water bottle pocket.
  • Good for: middle school, high school, daily commutes.
  • Search mid-range backpacks on Amazon

Premium ($60+)

Key features to check regardless of price:

  • Wide, padded straps (at least 2 inches).
  • A padded back panel.
  • A sternum strap or hip belt for heavier loads.
  • A laptop compartment with padding.

FAQ

Q: When was the first zippered backpack made? A: 1938, by Gerry Outdoors. (Eiken Shop)

Q: Who invented the modern school backpack? A: No single person. JanSport (founded 1967) is credited with popularizing it, but the design came from military rucksacks, Kelty’s 1952 frames, and Gerry’s nylon + zipper innovations. (History.com, NPR, MOHAI)

Q: Is a rolling backpack better for kids? A: It helps with heavy loads, but rolling bags are hard to carry up stairs and can cause shoulder strain from dragging. The 10% rule still applies. (AAP)

Q: How much should a school backpack weigh? A: No more than 10% of the child’s body weight. Many kids carry 25%. (AAP, NSC, Spine Health)

Q: Are backpack weights really a problem? A: Yes. The National Safety Council highlights that 25% of body weight is common, and Spine Health links this to back pain in children. (NSC, Spine Health)

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This page is part of a chain. Go back to the parent: School Supplies — or the root: The Number 2 Pencil.

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