Studies show that in America alone, there are over 40 million students who carry backpacks. The fact that millions of people use this kind of bag every day speaks for its popularity.
Did you know that:
- There are a lot of backpack varieties. If you’re shopping for a backpack, you can choose from a sports backpack, a day pack, an alpine pack, a travel backpack, a baby pack, a computer backpack, a book bag, a picnic pack, a hiking rucksack, a camping backpack, a rolling pack, a school backpack, a leather pack, or a waterproof backpack.
- The majority of backpacks – regardless of their variety – come with safety features that include hip belts to reduce discomfort and prevent back and hip injuries.
- The lightest things in your backpack must be placed at the bottom of the bag.
- To minimize the side effect on your posture, the bag must be worn on the lower half of your back.
- Backpacks come in all shapes and sizes. Some hiking backpacks are more than 3 feet tall.
- Each year, thousands of people go to the hospital for backpack-related injuries. Most of the time, it’s due to the improper handling of the – like carrying it with just one strap instead of both.
- Knapsacks are a better option than messenger bags for carrying school books. This is because the weight of the pack is distributed evenly across your body. Your back and abdominal muscles – two of the strongest muscles in the body – support the bag.
- Girls are more prone to injury when carrying a backpack compared to boys. This is because of their smaller frame.
- People who often carry heavy backpacks tend to lean forward. This may cause the shoulders to be rounded and the upper back to be curved over time.
- In ancient times, backpacks were used to carry the large game and prey caught by hunters. Back then, the backpacks were made of a combination of sturdy cloth and animal skin.
Backpacks are also called rucksacks or knapsacks. The word backpack was made up in the US sometime in 1910. Before that, they were called moneybag or packsack. The word rucksack is a loaned word from Germany – the word “rucken” means “back” and the word “sack” means bag. It The term is mainly used by the Western military forces. The word knapsack was the usual name for a backpack until the mid-20th century.
Shopping for a backpack soon? Here are some photos to help you find the style to fit your needs.