FAQs
No matter how well-designed the backpack, less weight is always better. Use the bathroom scale to check that a pack isn't over 10% to 20% of your body weight (for example, if you weigh 120 pounds you shouldn't carry a backpack that weighs more than 12 to 24 pounds).
How do you know if your backpack is too heavy? ›
This is how you'll find out what your child's backpack should weigh if you want them to carry only 10% of their body weight. Weigh the backpack. Weigh the backpack alone on the scale to see what it weighs, and see if it's close to the 10%. If it's 10% of your child's weight, you're in a good range.
How much is too heavy for a backpack? ›
A loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. (If you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds for backpacking.) A loaded day hiking pack should not weigh more than about 10 percent of your body weight.
Are students backpacks too heavy? ›
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that backpacks weigh no more than 15% of a student's body weight, although some experts — and Senate Concurrent Resolution 86, passed by the California Legislature in 2014 — draw the line at 10%.
How do I know if my bag is too heavy? ›
If you can't easily pick up your bag, chances are it's too heavy. Many airlines also have a sizer bin at the ticket counter, where you can make sure your bags are small enough to fit in the overhead bin of the aircraft before going through security.
Is 35 pounds too heavy for a backpack? ›
Most beginners will carry around 30 to 35 pounds for their first few trips (including the pack itself). As you gain more experience and upgrade gear, your weight will likely decrease to around 30 to 32 pounds. Some backpackers stay around the 30 pound mark while others strive to get their weight as low as possible.
What is the weight limit for a backpack? ›
While it's common these days to see children carrying as much as a quarter of their body weight, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a backpack weigh no more than 5% to 10% of a child's weight.
How heavy is a full backpack? ›
The typical conventional backpacker has a base weight around 25 to 30 pounds. Conventional backpacker's total pack weight with food and water can easily exceed thirty to forty pounds.
How heavy is the average highschoolers backpack? ›
The average high school student's backpack weighs around 20 to 30 pounds. Valerie Loughney, a backpack pro who works at a REI Silverdale (backpack shop) in Washington recommends that the weight you should carry on your shoulders is three pounds per every 20 pounds of body weight.
Can a heavy backpack break your back? ›
Wearing a backpack that is too heavy can cause back pain, neck pain, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, and weakness in the arms and hands. Done repetitively or for long periods of time, this practice can potentially damage the spine and sensitive nerves of the neck and back.
In addition to the negative effects on posture, carrying around heavy backpacks for a long period of time could also cause a certain degree of scoliosis, kyphosis or other spinal malformations, even though it is not permanent.
What is a healthy backpack weight? ›
No matter how well-designed the backpack, less weight is always better. Use the bathroom scale to check that a pack isn't over 10% to 20% of your child's body weight. For example, a child who weighs 80 pounds shouldn't carry a backpack that weighs more than 8 to 16 pounds.
How much can a 12 year old carry? ›
Age 8+ “The older/larger/more experienced a child is the more they can carry,” says Schimelpfenig. Under his guidelines, children of this age could carry between 15 to 20% of their body weight. If your child is 80 pounds, then that child could carry pack-weight—the weight of a backpack plus its contents—of 12 pounds.
Why is my backpack so heavy? ›
Carrying a week (or a month's) worth of supplies can add weight and make your bag extra heavy. Think about what you actually use on a daily basis: how much paper, how many pens, how much makeup, what kind of gym supplies. Remove extra or excess amounts of these items. Pack heavy items close to the inside.
Does carrying a heavy backpack make you shorter? ›
The sad truth is, yes, carrying a heavy backpack for prolonged periods of time can actually make you shorter. A heavy backpack has the potential to compress your spine over time, which makes you shorter.
Where should the weight be in my backpack? ›
Here are some smart tips from and advice Bergans.com about how to pack your pack correctly, paying particular attention to the distribution of weight. Heavy things should lie high in the backpack right next to your back. Heavy things can lie low right next to the hips.
Is it better to have your backpack tight or loose? ›
Readjust the straps when you are wearing different thicknesses of clothing so they are not too tight nor too loose. The pack should not extend past your waist—it should ride an inch or more above your hips. If the backpack has a waist strap or chest strap, you should use it.
How to make a backpack feel less heavy? ›
Wear it tight
Keeping a backpack closer to the body makes it feel lighter and easier to carry. Wear both shoulder straps to prevent injury. Shoulder straps should be padded and tightened so that the backpack sits snugly against your child's back. Consider backpacks with a hip belt or chest belt.
