When you’re a kid, backpack choice pretty much centers on which sports team or superhero you like best. Besides shoving in a few schoolbooks, some paper and pencils, and forbidden contraband like gum and those lingerie magazines you were hiding from your mom and showing to all of your friends, you never gave a thought to the actual function of your backpack.
Grownup backpacks are different. Once you hit college, bags that were once nothing more than a pledge of allegiance to the Incredible Hulk or the New England Patriots suddenly serve an actual purpose. Sure, they need to be sleek and stylish, but a backpack for a grown man has to be functional. After working my way through several different backpacks through my college career and on into my professional career, I’ve shopped, read up, and learned a thing or two about backpacks – enough to present an ultimate backpack buyer’s guide that’s short, simple, and to-the-point.
To Wheel or Not to Wheel?
When I entered college, I bought a bag that had a telescoping handle and a set of durable wheels so that I could roll it everywhere I went. It made me feel like a grownup rolling their luggage around, rather than a kid carrying my books from class to class. (Truth be told, sometimes I pretended I was an airline pilot swaggering his way to the cockpit of my commercial jet. Welcome to the clear blue skies, ladies!)
Silly flight-related fantasies aside, the rolling bag was awesome and saved me a lot of back strain during long schleps across campus. The only downside to wheeled backpacks is that the wheel/handle contraption takes up what could be potential book storage inside the bag. It also adds to the weight and size of the overall bag, so these aren’t a good option if you’re looking for something more compact.
Room for a Computer and More
When I left college and got my first job, I opted for a laptop bag. It had room for my then-bulky laptop, as well as the charging cord and any other paraphernalia I needed to tote to and from the office. Think of a laptop bag as a soft-sided briefcase with a handle, as well as an over-the-shoulder carrying strap. They hold more than a backpack, but aren’t as convenient to carry.
The Traditional Backpack
Two things have happened over the past few years: I’ve settled in and moved up in my career, and technology has gotten increasingly more awesome. I now work via a tiny laptop, a tablet, or my phone. Secure in my adulthood, I’ve gone back to the traditional backpack (minus the Hulk or sports insignias). Whether I’m on the subway, catching a cab or a flight, or moving down the street, a regular backpack is easy to carry and small enough to stash away anywhere.
There you have it! The ideal backpack for you will depend on where you’re at in your life and career, but with the help of the ultimate backpack buyer’s guide, you’ll easily be able to find the perfect one to suit your lifestyle!
