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Shop at Home 101: How to select a backpack for school
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Lands' End Launches Packland (PRNewsFoto/Lands' End)
Shopping for back to school supplies is on every parent’s summer to do list. School backpacks are the most expensive and the most important item on the shopping list. You’ll find that selecting a backpack for school is as important as choosing the right footwear.
Parents need to consider the back health of their child when shopping for a backpack. Unfortunately the features they should look for in a backpack are not usually found in the sales blurbs. Come September parents will be longing for an adult version of the Lands’ End Packland Fantasy Backpack Creator, one that eliminates back pain and can magically hold all of their child’s school supplies and more.
Luckily for parents the Lands’ End FeatherLight may fit the bill as a superlight backpack. The price of $40 is in the lightweight category as well. JanSport, the number one selling backpack manufacturer offers the Big Student at a comparable price and a reputation of holding a lot.
Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine recommends staying away from the novelty backpacks. Many fail the durability tests and while very affordable some may not last out the first week of school.
Although on the pricey side when one thinks of buying a backpack for school, Tough Traveler’s Padre is recommended for durability and ergonomic features. Tough Traveler makes bags and packs that are guaranteed and purchasers quickly find they’ve brought a product that just may well last a lifetime. You can easily expect for a Tough Traveler product to make it through high school and/or college. The little ones will have a hard time destroying one in the early years as well.
On the non-conventional side is BackTpack. Endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association, this is actually two bags in one, each harnessed over both the wearer’s shoulders. If you are tired of seeing a loved one slumped forward trying to walk with a conventional backpack, maybe it is time to try something new.
With the many choices there are on the market making a back pack selection can seem daunting. Consumer Reports weighs in on backpacks and they share a fitting guide so you can determine which backpack will deliver the perfect fit for you or your child.
Essentially the best backpacks are lightweight and should include two wide padded shoulder straps, padding between the wearer and the pack and a waist strap to keep the pack stabilized.
Educate yourself and others on backpack safety
Selecting the right backpack is not the only task at hand. You need to consider backpack safety and learn how to pack a backpack. Guidelines recommend that a backpack should weigh 10% to 15% of the wearer’s weight. There is also much to learn in regards to weight distribution and wearing a backpack properly. Heavy items should always be packed closest to the body with lighter items further out.
Consider asking your school to recognize The American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) National School Backpack Awareness Day. Held the third Wednesday of September, National School Backpack Awareness Day serves to educate children, parents and teachers about choosing and wearing backpacks.
This year the AOTA plans to “broaden the event and activities to include "packs" throughout the lifespan—from school backpacks and purses to briefcases and suitcases.” Learn more at AOTA where they provide information on backpack weighing and their Event Planning Toolkit.
Shop at home
While shopping for a backpack it is desirable to try them on to determine the perfect fit. Once you can gauge what size to look for based on the fitting or measuring the child there is no reason not to shop at home for ease of finding the right price for your pocketbook.
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