As well as taking their lunch every day, school students often have to pack along homework, binders, textbooks, water bottles, gym clothes and more.
According to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, lugging it all in an improperly fit, or too-heavy backpack can lead to problems.
Camille Kellie, at Mountain Equipment Co-op in North Vancouver, says the range of pack sizes and styles at the store means there is a proper fit for everyone, from toddlers to college students.
The MEC Book Bag Daypack, for example, is a good fit for middle-to highschoolers, and can carry books, laptop, and academic essentials.
The MEC Kinder Book Bag is a scaleddown version of the same pack, for Kindergarten and elementary students. The main compartment has one zippered pocket and a padded back panel. There's a toy loop on the outside of the pack for a stuffed animal, and a stretch pocket on one side for a water bottle.
As with other MEC packs, Air Mesh foam on the back panel and shoulder straps help spread the load, the sternum strap has a whistle built into the buckle, and there's a reflective strip on the back for nighttime visibility.
"All of them have padded straps," explains Kellie. "The sternum strap gives more comfort, and the waistbelt should be used when the load is heavier."
Colours this year include what she calls "superhero," shades of blue and red, bright green and pink.
For college students, there's even more variety, like the sling pack that features cords that will even hold a skateboard.
NO MATTER WHAT PACK YOU CHOOSE, GUIDELINES FROM THE CAOT RECOMMEND:
- The backpack should fit comfortably between the top edge of the shoulders down to the lower part of the back.
- The shoulder straps should be well padded and shaped so that they are wider over the shoulder and narrower as they pass under the arms.
- A wide hip belt will help distribute the packing weight better than a narrow one, keep the weight closer to the body and help steady the load.
- For students carrying a lot of books or a laptop, look for packs that have a foampadded panel that will prevent sharp edges and corners from digging into the child's back.
-The weight of the pack should not exceed 10 to 15 per cent of the child's body weight (10 per cent ratio for elementary school children, 15 per cent for secondary school students).
- Place heavier items on top and along the back of the pack. This puts the greatest amount of weight higher up on the back and closer to the body.
- Use both straps.
- Keep it simple. Pack only the items that are absolutely needed.
