TIPS ON BACK PAIN

by Christelle Day July 20, 2020

and how to wear a backpack properly...

Are you experiencing back pain when carrying a handbag or shoulder bag? Or simply nagging back pain day in day out? Then it may be time to switch to an ergonomic backpack. You may feel an improvement in your back right away, like I did.

For women, the shoulder bags we wear, even if very small, can hurt our back in a sneaky way. It can also take a while for us to become aware that our back pain could actually be worsened by the bags we’ve been wearing for many years!

This is my experience. I've been wearing exclusively my backpack for a few years now and after over 30 years of back pain I've been back pain free since I started wearing it instead of a regular bag, and I will not return to other bags for this reason. I was 27 when I started having back pain and had no idea back then that it was due to my shoulder bag.

At some point I tried the famous American sling bags that are ergonomic, thinking that these would solve this problem, but these bags actually gave me even more back pain! This was disappointing since these bags are quality products.

So it would be nice if my humble experience benefited other people and helped bring an improvement to somebody else’s daily challenge, or at least an awareness.

We think we know how to wear a backpack. We sling it over our back and that’s it. Well no. If you wear your backpack too low, too high, too loose or if it is too heavy, you are straining your back.

When your backpack settings are just right, it should feel very comfortable to wear and you should not feel any straining in your back. In the end, you will be the one finding out what settings and load weight work for you. The following links will put you on the right tracks.

➔ Click here if you'd like to watch a short YouTube video showing how to wear your backpack properly.

The GoApe™ model available on this website can hold up to a 32 ounce (1 litre) bottle (although I recommend 24 ounces (750 ml) or less for the sake of weight), an umbrella, tablet, sandwich, accessory pouch, thin sweater, cellphone and wallet.

➔ Click here to read precise tips on how to wear a backpack properly for back pain prevention.

It is also suggested to own two backpacks: a smaller one like the GoApe™ for daily use, and a larger one with padded shoulder straps and a sternum/waist strap too. This way if you really need to carry more weight than the GoApe™ should take, you can switch to the larger backpack and hopefully still be comfortable. This larger type of backpacks abound on line and in stores.

But beware, the question of weight is still there, and in the end it will depend on how much weight your back can take.

Back pain can also come from many other different sources, among which stress and anxiety as well as bad posture stand out.

The body of the bag conforms to your back perfectly. It feels very comfortable to carry just like this. This size of backpack does not require a waist or sternum belt.