Backpack recommendations for nursing student

[metfan]

I hope this is appropriate to ask in this forum. I am starting LPN school in September. The school is about a mile from my house. I will be biking or walking most days. I need a good backpack or messenger bag. I don't mind paying for an expensive one. It needs to be waterproof. Rain and snow will not stop me from getting to school. I imagine it will need to be big. I hear there are alot of books involved. I am just learning how to ride a bike so I can ride to school. I guess it would need to fit securly on my back. Any advice? Would a messenger bag be better? They seem to have more room. Thanks. Colleen

[HHW2006]

Kelty makes great backpacks. They are designed for hiking, so they are very durable. They are more expensive than Jansport or Eastport would be, but a good investment if you are going to be biking or walking to school.

[mandana]

One word - wheels.

Amanda

[Angel 3]

You should look on rei.com. They have a lot of outdoor gear, and backpacks for all types. I just ordered one from there, it was a Northface and they make them to fit especially for women or men. So I would suggest looking online.

[wookie23]

you really want two straps i oftan walk and one strap just doesent cut it two straps helps distribute the weight better

[emllpn2006]

mandana said it WHEELS!!! I had a plain back pack that just went on your back and after a week of shoulder and back time out came the back pack with wheels.

[smile123]

Definitely a wheeled backpack. Nursing books are really heavy, they are more like tomes! You do not want to injure your back carrying around all your books and binders. Get a good wheeled backpack with lots of pockets so you can carry a tape recorder, pens, pencils, and water bottles with you! I switched and was really glad I did.

[eric909]

I got a wheeled one but it also has straps for when you want to bike with it from ebags.com

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/router_wheeled_laptop_convertible/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=20172

[prmenrs, RN]

One word - wheels.

Amanda

ABSOLUTELY. Either Lands End or LL Bean has some good ones.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

I slogged through school with a sturdy backpack - which came with a waist strap.

Ofcourse, I was already used to lugging crap in the Army

If you do stick to plain old backpack, get one which has some kind of backboarding built in - if your bag doesn't keep the books supported, trust me, your back WILL.

And you don't want that happening, no sireebob!

If you're willing to splurge - look for a portable wheelie bag.

[casi, ASN, RN]

The REI backpacks are amazing. I have this talent of loading down backpacks until shoulder straps litterally snap. I got one of the REI bags back in high school (graduated 2002) and still haven't managed to break the thing.

Otherwise if you're worried about your back, I would definately say a wheely back pack, though I don't know how well that would work if you are biking it to school.

[Miss Calculation]

One word - wheels.

Amanda

Another word- Walmart.