Be the cool kid in school (or at work), and buy backpacks that are both fun and functional. Fit never mattered so much as when you need an accessory that affects your everyday health. In order to make sure you buy backpacks that fit right, and have every, (or at least some) ergonomic advantages, read on! Why is it so important to buy backpacks that promote physiological health? If worn improperly, imbalanced, or over-packed, the wrong choice can cause harm to you and your body. Aside from general discomfort while wearing them, misused backpacks can cause: chronic back pain or even poor posture. While these problems cause issues for everyone, they can be particularly to children who are still growing. In other words, this is a big problem! So, what are the main safety tips, actions, and plans of attack to buy backpacks that will minimize the pain? To Wheel or Not to Wheel, that is the question. It's true: wheelie backpacks are a fabulous option for lightening the load. But, when you look to buy a backpack, make sure you think about the environment in which you'll be rolling. Most schools and workplaces have areas only conveniently accessible via stairs. If your child's school, or your work has more stairs than you can count wheels are probably not the best choice for you. Lugging suitcase-shaped bags up and down stairs all day will actually increase your chances of a trauma or accident! The One-Minute Rule: Every time you look to buy backpacks, take at least a minute out of your day to really inspect the quality, size, distribution, and straps of the item. (Hopefully, you already do this for fashion reasons, of course!) Proportion'Do the Math! Don't buy backpacks that don't fit their owner! If you have a smaller child, don't pair him or her with the XXL adult option. Likewise, if you, yourself are of smaller stature, look to buy backpacks that would suit your size. Much the way you would go about perusing jeans, use a keen eye when it comes time to buy backpacks. Weighing in On Straps: Do not underestimate the value of quality straps! Backpacks with solid, well-supported straps will help you to balance and distribute the overall weight of your bag. So, finding appropriately sized, lasting straps is absolutely a requirement. Whether for you, or your children, buy backpacks with lasting straps! (PS: Extra, evenly distributed back padding will give not only a little extra cushioning, but may alleviate pressure points, as well.) Size Matters: Do not assume that just because a bag is bigger, it's better; in fact, the opposite is true! Bigger backpacks mean more room for heavy things to settle in random spots. Oversized backpacks cause oversized pain'don't do it! As long as you take just a moment to think about the right kind of bag for you, we guarantee you'll be set to buy backpacks that fit your needs like a glove.