A backpack is probably your most useful school supply. Backpacks aren’t just functional; they’re also a kind of fashion statement. Think about the bag you use: the color of your backpack, the brand name, the style, what’s in it and on it, and how you wear it. And unlike your favorite shirt or pair of jeans, you wear your backpack EVERYDAY! So if you’re gonna buy a backpack, it had better be one you can live with!

The other thing that you need to think about when you buy a backpack is your back! Since the late ‘90s more and more people have started questioning how safe backpacks are for kids and teens. Lots of kids complained of back pain or other problems, probably as a result of wearing a really heavy backpack. Adding to the problem was the new fashion of wearing a backpack by only one strap. That put all the weight of the backpack onto one side of a kid’s body, and over time it seemed to result in more problems. The U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission estimated that in one year about 5,000 students go to the emergency room for injuries caused by backpacks or other bags. The problem is that kids sometimes are carrying way more weight than they safely can manage. All those books, binders, gym clothes, and personal stuff can really add up!

So what can you do to make sure you don’t have a bad back in your teenage years? It’s pretty simple – just make sure that you aren’t carrying more than 10-15% of your body weight on your back! The American Chiropractic Association recommends that students only carry 10% of your body weight. Always use a well-designed and comfortable backpack. A good way to test yourself is to pack up your bag to its normal weight and put it on, and then weigh yourself on a scale. Take the bag off and weigh yourself again. The difference between the two weights is how much your bag weighs. So if you’re 150 pounds, your bag shouldn’t weigh more than about 15 pounds. If it does, it’s time to re-prioritize what you carry around!!