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A modern backpack
Swiss army backpack ca. 1960
Integrated bearer frame.


Backpacks are often preferred to handbags for carrying heavy loads or carrying any sort of equipment, because of the limited capacity to carry heavy weights for long periods of time in the hands. Large backpacks, used to carry loads over 10 kg (22 lbs), usually offload the largest part (up to about 90%) of their weight onto padded hip belts, leaving the shoulder straps mainly for stabilising the load. This improves the potential to carry heavy loads, as the hips are stronger than the shoulders, and also increases agility and balance, since the load rides nearer the wearer's own center of mass.

In ancient times, the backpack was used as a means to carry the hunter's larger game and other types of prey and as a way of easier transport for other materials. In the cases of larger hunts, the hunters would dismember their prey and distribute the pieces of the animal around, each one packing the meat into many wrappings and then into bags which they placed on to their backs. The bag itself was made up of different animal hide and skin (depending on what sorts of animals were in the area) and sewn together by animal intestines, which were woven together tightly to make a sturdy thread-like material.[1]


The word backpack was coined in the United States in the 1910s. Moneybag and packsack were used before; they now occur mainly as regionalisms. The word rucksack is a German loanword mainly used in the UK and in western military forces: in German 'der Rücken' means 'the back' (the part of the body), and Sack for bag. The name Rucksack is cognate with Danish Rygsæk, Norwegian Ryggsekk, Dutch Rugzak, Afrikaans Rugsak and Swedish Ryggsäck. Alternative names include Haversack, and in German language called Kraxe (in 19th century the term kraxeln was used for climbing). (The term "haversack" more properly describes a small cloth bag on a strap worn over one shoulder, and used to carry one or more "havers" or havercakes or oatcakes.)


A bodypack is a backpack fitted with pocket(s) that are suspended on the wearer's front side (chest) and loaded in such a way that the load in the front and the load in the back are about equal. The majority of the load on a bodypack is carried by the hips.

The ideal load carrying system should not disturb the wearer's natural posture, balance and movement of the body. The load must be dispersed onto the skeletal structure in a balanced way, and should not produce forces on the body forward, aft, right, or left.

Backpack designs[edit]




Some outdoor packs, particularly those sold for day hikes, ultralight backpacking and mountaineering are sometimes frameless as well.

The safety of some of the designs of these backpacks have been criticized by the UK NHS, many bag designs being deemed "unsafe" for children.[citation needed]

External frame packs[edit]

A back frame with shelf used to carry loads in the Allgäu, where it is known as a Reff
Two examples of external frame backpack designs dating to the 1860s

External frame packs were designed to carry heavy loads (>20 kg or 40 lb), giving the wearer more support and protection and better weight distribution than a simple, frameless strapped bag. Wooden pack frames were used for centuries around the world. Ötzi the Iceman may have used one in Copper Age Alpine Italy,[2][3] though some archaeologists believe the frame found with the body was part of a snowshoe. Such packs are common in military and mountaineering applications;[4] metal versions first appeared in the mid-20th century.


Internal frame packs[edit]


Daily use[edit]

In many countries, backpacks are heavily identified with students, and are a primary means of transporting educational materials to and from school.[6] In this context they are sometimes known as bookbags or schoolbags. The purchase of a suitably fashionable, attractive, and useful backpack is a crucial back-to-school ritual for many students.[7]

Typical school backpacks generally lack the rigid frame of an outdoor-style backpack and include only a few pockets in addition to the main storage compartment. While traditionally very simple in design, school backpacks are often made with padded shoulder straps and backs as well as additional reinforcement to hold large numbers of heavy textbooks, as well as safety features such as reflective panels to make the wearer of the pack more visible at night. Padded waist straps may also be provided to distribute weight across the body.

Backpacks are sometimes worn as fashion accessories, in which they perform the same function as a purse.[7] Some such backpacks designed specifically for women are no larger than a typical purse, and are generally associated with younger women.

Special-purpose backpacks[edit]

Camera backpack

Some backpacks are specifically designed to carry certain items. Common examples include backpacks for small valuable items such as laptops and cameras (see photo);[7] backpacks designed to hold laptop computers in particular generally have a padded compartment to hold the computer and medium sized pockets and flaps to accommodate accessories such as charger cables and cordless/corded mice. These are especially common in college and university settings. In order to supply these devices with electricity, a few high-end backpacks are equipped with solar panels.[8]

There are also single-strap packs that are essentially a hybrid between a backpack and a messenger bag.

Inexpensive, very simple packs that combine the drawstring and straps into a single piece of cloth or webbing are occasionally sold for use at sporting events and the like. Some high-end retailers (notably Apple Stores) use a similar design for their shopping bags as well.


Professional use[edit]


Many police tactical units, as well as players of military-style combat games such as paintball and airsoft, use military-style backpacks and webbing for storing gear and ammunition. There is also a small but thriving industry devoted to creating historical reproductions of military gear; such companies generally produce period-appropriate uniforms and other gear in addition to backpacks.

Some more recent military/tactical designs, especially the MOLLE and ILBE packs used by the United States armed forces, are covered with webbing loop attachment points for increased carrying capacity.

Backpacks for travel[edit]




See also[edit]


  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^
  3. ^ The Three-Stick Roycroft Packframe
  4. ^ Mountaineers
  5. ^ "Innovations". Lowepro. 
  6. ^ Bruce Horovitz, "New 'badge' of cool: High-tech, high-fashion backpacks," USA Today, 20 August 2007, 1A.
  7. ^ a b c Horovitz, 1A.
  8. ^ John Kalish. "Sun Inspired: How To Build A Solar Backpack". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009. 

External links[edit]