Backpack vs Trolley Bag: Which Is Better For Your Kid?

Starting a new school term also means shopping for new school supplies for your kid. One of the important school essentials is a school bag. There are many different and cool designs for a school bag on the market! But they are boiled down to two types of bags for school — backpacks and trolley bags. Which will it be for your child? This post will discuss the pros and cons of both backpacks and trolley bags and provide you with some tips to help decide which type of bag suits your little one best!

The pros and cons of backpacks

A backpack offers convenience as it is portable to easily transport books and supplies and ensure your child has all the necessary materials at hand. It also does not have the added weight of the long handle and wheels when it has to be carried up and down the school stairs. While there are cheaper options for backpacks, the ergonomic designs are usually more expensive but they are great for long-term wear as carrying a heavy backpack can cause your child to experience back pain or injury.

Tips for choosing backpacks

• ensure the straps are broad, padded, sturdy, and firm
• ensure the straps are easy for your little one to adjust to their desired fit
• check if the back of the backpack is padded
• check if all the zippers are functioning well
• check all the compartments and pockets (the bag should be big enough to fit textbooks and files but not too large for your child)
• if the backpack comes with a waist strap, ensure the strap is snug to fit your child and the bag is not hanging down
• ensure your child tests out the backpack and gets one that is just the right size

The pros and cons of trolley bags

A trolley bag eases the burden of carrying heavy textbooks and school supplies which significantly helps to reduce back strain while navigating crowded hallways. While it can be convenient for your child, the wheels and the long handle make it bulky and impose additional weight on the overall weight which makes it difficult for your little one to carry. Here are some questions to think about before getting a trolley bag: is your child's class on the ground floor? Does your child have to carry the bag up and down a bus? If all these are okay with you and your child, then getting a trolley bag is a good idea!

Tips for choosing trolley bags

• ensure the wheels are in good condition as your child will be dragging the bag everywhere on all kinds of surfaces
• ensure the mechanism of the handle is easy for your kid to pull up and down

Apart from backpacks and trolley bags, you might want to also consider a homework bag — a smaller rectangular size bag —  for your child to store homework for the day or exercise books to distribute the weight so their back is not strained.