Make sure it’s a good fit

Kids can easily outgrow their old bag, and a new one can be too big. Check to make sure the bottom of the backpack aligns properly with the curve of the lower back; it should be no more than four inches below the waistline. The shoulder-strap anchor points should rest 1 to 2 inches below the top of the shoulders.

Inspect before you invest, reuse, or take hand-me-downs

Make sure the stitching of any old or new backpack is strong and there aren’t any loose threads or raw or frayed fabric. Also, look for flaps of fabric covering the zippers; our tests show that rain can penetrate some uncovered zippers. 

Look for these important features and make sure kids use them:

• wide, padded, contoured shoulder straps that distribute the pack's load over a large area of the shoulder
• an abdominal strap, which can help distribute the pack's weight evenly on the back, waist, and hips
• reflectors or reflective fabrics on the pack to add visibility when kids travel to and from school at dusk or dawn. 

Prevent injury with a lighter load

Experts differ on exactly what the upper limit backpack load should be. The American Occupational Therapy Association recommends carrying no more than 15 percent of your body weight in a backpack, and the American Academy of Pediatrics puts it at between 10 and 20 percent. We think keeping the weight toward the lower end of that range is best. 

Keep checking back here at our Safety Blog for more useful Back-to-School safety tips. Tomorrow: school bus safety. 

—Carolyn Cairns