Everyday Carry

National School Backpack Awareness Day

Authored by:
Mikey Bautista
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
National School Backpack Awareness Day

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September 20th is National School Backpack Awareness Day, and while many of us are no longer in school, there are some good lessons to take away from the event. The American Occupational Therapy Association coined it to bring awareness to the proper use of backpacks for kids in school and teach them and their parents to always use them right. Namely:

  • Backpacks should weigh no more than 10% of the student’s body weight
  • Avoid pain from carrying heavy loads in their backpack
  • Wear backpacks properly and not slung off one shoulder
  • Backpacks should be packed and balanced correctly so that the child can stand up straight

So what does that mean for everyday carry? The day is a good reminder to reconsider our EDCs and try not to overpack. Comfort and ergonomics should also be core features for your everyday backpack, so be sure to utilize things like load lifters, sternum straps, and hip belts, and ensure your pack rides high and tight, especially when packed heavy.

But while we're on the subject of backpacks and school, we'd also like to recommend some of our recent favorites to consider if you're looking for one in the first place. Here are five bags across five price points we think would be good considerations for your next school backpack. And remember, try not to stuff them too much and employ the ergonomic features they have where you can.

  1. Amazon Basics Laptop Backpack: An affordable option with multiple compartments, dual mesh water bottle pockets, and can accommodate even extra large 17" laptops.
  2. Mystery Ranch Catalyst 18: An EDC favorite brand that brings the versatile tri-zip opening to a more minimal everyday bag. It comes in three sizes and lots of colors, but the 18 is a great daily size and can fit up to 15" laptops.
  3. Moment Everything Backpack 17L: Moment always wows us with their phone and camera tech, so if you carry a lot of those, their Everything bags are a great and roomy consideration for both daily carry and travel. You can fit up to a 16" laptop and Moment's array of inserts to dial in your carry.
  4. Thule Subterra 23L: Thule has long been a stalwart for robust backpacks and pouches, and the Subterra line is a nice and sleek option. It comes with a hi-vis interior, water bottle pocket, 15" laptop compatibility, and nice comfort features like a sternum strap and a mesh padded back panel.
  5. Timbuk2 x ASTRO Gaming BP35 Backpack: Work hard, play hard with this pack that can take on up to two 16" gaming laptops (but we highly recommend you don't carry that heavy) with room to spare for even an extra pair of gym shoes. Bonus that it's made by Timbuk2, one of our favorite bagmakers as well.


Interested in more backpacks, bags, and pouches? Check out our other guides:


Mikey Bautista

Director of Everyday Carry Operations


About the Author
Mikey Bautista is an everyday carry (EDC) expert who has been working with the EverydayCarry.com team for nearly a decade, starting with an interest in EDC as a hobby and ending up as a writer for the site in 2014. Through the years, he’s led the site in editorial content and writing about products across every category, from knives to bags to flashlights and everything in between, as well as discovering, bringing exposure, and building bridges with many brands in the industry. Today, he is the site's Director of Everyday Carry Operations, leading the editorial team and managing day-to-day operations.

He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.

Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

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