Backpacks shopping and fitting guide

These shopping and fitting tips should help you find the right backpack for you

One size does not fit all

Ideally, the bottom of the backpack should align with the curve of the lower back, and not more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack's shoulder-strap anchor points should also rest 1 to 2 inches below the top of the shoulders. (See our backpack Ratings, which are available to subscribers, for models that performed well.)

Inspect before you invest

Things to look for on the inside and outside of a backpack before you buy it include:

• Sloppy stitching or loose threads, which can indicate poor manufacturing
• Raw, exposed fabric edges, which can fray and weaken the fabric, and possibly get stuck in the zipper
• Zippers without covering fabric flaps. In our rain test, zippers that were not protected by flaps of fabric allowed water to seep in.

Comfort, convenience, and safety are important

Features to look for include 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, and 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

To prevent discomfort and injury, load and wear the backpack correctly. The American Occupational Therapy Association recommends carrying no more than 15 percent of your body weight in a backpack. But the less you carry, the better for your back.

See also:

Car seats

Baby bathtubs

Backpack carriers

Baby monitors