Tote Bag/ Book Bag

You could try a small suitcase on wheels - like the airplane carry-on size. They also make larger bookbags that have wheels as well.

Eddie Bauer has some great looking bags that are very versatile with lots of storage spaces and are not too pricey. Most are comfortable to carry too. Hope you find something that works out for you.

I picked up a rolling backpack at WalMart. I wish I had shopped around more. Dropped $25 on what I thought would be a decent bag, and it turned out to be crap. I actually went to about 4 different stores, and this bag was the *only* rolling backpack I could find.

I thought it was big enough. HA! Big enough for normal college students, maybe. Not for a nursing student! Also, the overwhelming weight of my books caused the carrying strap on top to snap off after about a wek of use.

Now I'm so strained by fees, books, fees, supplies, and fees that I can't afford to go looking around for a decent replacement.

BSN grad here, with 4 years of book-lugging experience~

I HATE ROLLING BACKPACKS!!! I can't tell you how many times I've nearly broken my neck by tripping over one!


get yourself a good messenger bag with lots of pockets. I have a Lands End that's still going strong.

Figure out what you really NEED to bring to class. Half of the time you maybe look at one paragraph in one book during a class period. Write down the page reference, and look at it later. My school used a powerpoint/notetaker/worksheet system, and I rarely had to bring more than one (albeit 30 lbs) book to class for the day.

Maybe you could rent a locker, or find a place to hide your books?

I use a large backpack that was designed to hold books and a laptop. I am also fortunate enough that I don't require many of my books in class. Especially since I have two texts that weigh in close to that of the latest PDR. I had to figure out what books I truly needed to carry, which were just my folders and notebooks, with one day needing to carry my A&P lab manual.

For the most part, lecture classes won't require a text book unless it's a mathatics class or the class does exercises out of the book. For lab type classes, you should only need the lab manual or just the section for the lab you are doing during that class. If you're doing homework between classes, try to park near where you plan to study and leave your text books in the trunk.

As for bag choices, I strongly suggest a backpack and using both straps, no matter how goofy you think you may look. Find one made of a durable cloth, as nylon will fall apart the moment you look cross-eyed at it. Padded shoulder straps are a must, your shoulders will thank you. The best brands in my opinion are Targus, Land's End, LL Bean, and Eastern Mountain Sports. Although some may look like camping style backpacks they will at least hold up. My Targus is on it's second year.

Personally, I despise carrying my books to class. Generally the only time I need them is for reference when I'm studying. SO>...I carry a nice messenger bag when I need the laptop or a slimmer one when I don't. I take my powerpoints in a folder and lots of pens/pencils, but rarely carry a book.

ebags.com has nice stuff and Old Navy has some... flashy, cool looking ones for the light days.

Richard

Fwiw, I'm using the same old huge backpack I used when I met my wife 19 years ago on an 8 day whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River through the lower half of the Grand Canyon ..... it's a CampTrails brand (???), have used it every year for camping,hiking, etc, still holding up, although it's a hideous green color and rather plain and simple. But the seams are supposedly guaranteed for life, and so far, so good.
And, like others mentioned, I try to only carry what's really necessary for that day..........easy enough to figure out and pack it up the evening before.

- B

I got an Eastpack rolling backpack and it's very nice. It was used through law school (not by me) and is still in great shape including the wheels.

I've seen a few varieties of bags that men carry. If it is one of thoe days that I have several classes and need those books I actually carry a tote bag of sorts (specifically the LLBean bags). Otherwise I tend to carry my bookbag because I find bringing the books sometimes distracts from the lcture.

Also maybe you can arrange with a friend or 2 to split the book carrying so everyone brings some books and you share.