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Focus on Male Spinal Health and...Fashion? Yessir: Male Backpacks are so Back!

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Focus on Male Spinal Health and...Fashion? Yessir: Male Backpacks are so Back!

-Dave McNamara


Male Spinal Health and Fashion (Excuse Me?!)
It’s high time medical professionals and fashion designers start, like, TALKING to each other. It often feels like they're shouting from two different galaxies. Take an essential for every male urban-dweller (or male hip to what’s what): your bag. When you’re out and about for long periods of time, with no car to boot, your bag is your source for...everything. For a long time, it seemed the shoulder bag was the male/fashion bag of choice. Problem is, shoulder bags can be very bad for your back.

Your Bag and Your Back
Take what the blog Health Guidance says, “A heavy shoulder bag places an uneven strain on your spine, core and legs which forces you to brace yourself in order to remain upright and to maintain a good centre of balance….in the long term [this] could lead to an imbalance….In the worst case scenarios this could contribute to scoliosis.” Backpacks, on the other hand, when worn correctly, distribute weight more evenly across the bag, which helps posture, curvature, and shoulder pain.

Good News!
And guess what? There’s a new trend popping up. Well, it’s both new and retro. Designers are starting to wake up to the health of backs, and are making some pretty cool backpacks. The backpack is back. And nope: it’s not just for kids anymore. Lots are now being smartly designed for men.

Let’s take a gander at some of these backpacks currently on the market, yes? You’ll not only be soooo Winter 2017 but could potentially save yourself future back pain.

A Style For Every Man
Using a custom-designed algorithm (disclaimer: this isn’t true) below I’ve assembled a sample of backpack “looks” out there for the adult male using a career “type” to separate them. So no matter your style, look, (or price point), if you need or want something different, I’m sure there is one out there just for you.

The Recs

  • The Minimalist Architect: check out the Côte & Ciel Rhine Eco Yarn Laptop Backpack. With clean lines and an accordion-opening style, this is a handsome and sleek backpack. The fabric is lightweight, strong, and designed to hold a 15″ laptop and tablet.
  • The Creative: The brand Hex is starting to be seen around more and more. Their Babylon backpack is made of waxed cotton and is simple to throw your laptop, wallet, quality notebook, or whatever you need, in. It’s roomy, and it’s rectangular design may not be for every “creative,” but to be honest, the market for “creative”s is huge with lots to choose from.
  • The Professional: If a more upscale leather backpack is what you’re after, try The Uptown by Airbac. With soft brown leather and two front pockets, it has the classic style of the rucksack but updated with an air support system which allows weight in the pack rest comfortably just above the waistline. This is the correct way to wear a backpack; it takes the weight off your back and shoulders. It’s described as, “perfect for the traveling businessman...on the go.”
  • The Working Man’s Man: you may not believe it, but Carhartt is remaking itself to serve both the blue-collar worker and a trendier set. Take the Carhartt Legacy Classic Work Pack. This bag, while not the most ergonomic, is amazingly inexpensive, carries the classic brown Carhartt color, and even has a laptop sleeve. No nonsense, tough material, inexpensive: CARHARTT.
  • The Day-Trekker: Ok, so North Face and Patagonia are staples for the Day-Trekker. But have you looked at Mystery Ranch’s Kletterworks Flip Bag? It’s kinda cooler, to be honest. It’s based on a bag originally designed for scaling mountainsides but has been more streamlined and modernized. With its 1000D Cordura, 1680 ballistic nylon exterior, and 23-liter capacity interior, this bag is both rugged while remaining a “day-to-day.”

Oh, so many other cool backpacks, Sirs! There’s Penfield, Herschel (of course), Rag and Bone, and...well. I think I should stop there. Check out the references below for more bags. There are just too many!

I should know: I’ve wasted hours online checking out cool backpacks instead of...well...comin’ up with, um, new blogs for our North American Spine readers.

Enjoy the new trend always take care of that back!

References

  1. ORG, HEALTHGUIDANCE, rss feed, and e-mail. ‘Is Carrying a Bag Bad for Your Back?’. Accessed October 8, 2016. http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/17379/1/Is-Carrying-a-Bag-Bad-for-Your-Back.html.
  2. Han, Gregory. ‘9 Minimalist Modern Laptop Backpacks - Design Milk’. March 18, 2015. Accessed October 8, 2016. http://design-milk.com/9-minimalist-modern-laptop-backpacks/.
  3. Many, Man of. ‘All Grown up - Best Men’s Backpacks’. May 31, 2015. Accessed October 8, 2016. http://manofmany.com/fashion/all-grown-up-mens-backpacks.
  4. Mosscrop, Jennifer. ‘5 Ergonomic Backpacks That Give Your Body a Break’. April 25, 2016. Accessed October 8, 2016. http://www.hellawella.com/take-load-5-ergonomic-backpacks-give-your-body-break.
  5. Tirman, Sean. ‘25 Best Everyday Backpacks for Men’. August 16, 2016. Accessed October 8, 2016. http://hiconsumption.com/2016/08/best-everyday-carry-backpacks-for-adult-men/.