A sternum strap connects the two shoulder straps across the chest and can make a school backpack feel more stable during walking, biking or long commutes. It is not a weight-reduction device and it cannot fix a backpack that is too large, too heavy or poorly fitted. Its value is narrow but real: keeping the shoulder harness positioned.Quick Answer: Choose a school backpack with...

A padded back panel can improve school-backpack comfort by creating a buffer between the student and hard books, binders or a laptop. But more foam is not automatically better. The back panel must fit the student’s torso, work with the full load and avoid adding unnecessary heat, stiffness or weight.Quick Answer: Choose a padded back panel that supports the real school load without making...

The bottom panel of a school backpack receives repeated abuse: classroom floors, bus steps, locker rooms, bleachers, sidewalks and the occasional wet surface. Reinforcement at the base can improve durability and can also contribute to laptop protection by adding structure beneath the heaviest contents.Quick Answer: Choose a reinforced-bottom school backpack when the student carries dense books or electronics and regularly places the bag on...