Are tote bags safer than backpacks?7 replies

In middle school,to be more “fashionable” I would like a tote bag instead of a backpack. My grandma says a tote bag will mess up my back worse than a backpack. I say it wouldn’t be any worse than a purse. What’s the real deal?

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1. pinky100894 said on February 19, 2009 at 9:09 am

   it depends what u have in there, because totes are worn on one shoulder while backpacks distribute the weight evenly, if u have a little bit in it, it won’t really do too much, but if ur carrying like a lot of textbooks then it could mess up ur back, and it will be A LOT heavier than the stuff you have in ur purse
2. Sally L said on February 21, 2009 at 7:54 pm

   it depends on how heavy the tote/backpack is.
3. nichibear said on February 21, 2009 at 8:23 pm

   Well, a tote bag with a lot of stuff in it is putting a lot of strain on one shoulder, whereas a backpack distributes the weight more evenly on both of your shoulders. A purse isn’t very heavy, so it’s not putting alot of strain on your shoulder. At least, not as much as a big tote bag full of school supplies.

   I had a tote bag, and I had to forego it for a bookbag. It hurt my shoulder pretty bad. There was no longstanding damage, but it is really uncomfortable to carry that much weight on one shoulder. If you don’t have a lot of books/supplies, a tote might be fine for you. But if you have more than one book or so, I wouldn’t reccomend it.

   A nice option would be a fashionable backpack. They make lots of backpacks in pretty prints. Jansport and Dickies make some really nice ones. I have a dickies backpack and it wasn’t too expensive, not to mention it’s cute. I put a Louis Vuitton tote bag in the closet to use a Dickies backpack, simply because it’s just that uncomfortable to carry a lot of stuff in a tote bag.
4. Abby said on February 24, 2009 at 2:58 am

   Ehh….

   I thought the same as you earlier this year. BIG MISTAKE! (I’m a junior.) On the first day, I had to bring home 5 textbooks out of 7 classes. Ugh, my shoulder was killing me! Plus, I had two workbooks as well, so I had to carry half half. The other thing I didn’t like was that I would hit people as I walked by because it was big and on the side. :/

   But to be honest… It depends on what grade you’re in, how many things you have to carry, etc. If you’re going to have to carry a lot, bring a backpack, if not, tote. Function > Fashion
5. iceprincess said on February 24, 2009 at 5:21 am

   well at our school we dont have to take textbooks back and forth but honestly they both have the same disadvantages so which ever you like better
6. danceprincess9 said on February 25, 2009 at 8:54 am

   okay i can tell u rite now tote bags are the new bookbags at some schools like mine but i have tried them and ur grandma is rite they will hurt ur back and things can get unorganized so if u want to have a tote bag u can cuz its ur choice but i prefer bookbags.
7. gagagrl said on February 26, 2009 at 6:07 pm

   Tote bags are a lot more affordable and cheap than backpacks. With tote bags you don’t have to stop by your locker in between every class. On the other hand, backpacks are easier to carry around and are usually bigger. Tote bags don’t really mess up your back.