The Backpack Breakdown

Carrying books is a necessary evil of college. There are no lockers conveniently located in Baker Center and having a burro following you around would be too messy. Therefore, bags of every shape and size are employed to do the heavy lifting. What does your bag say about you? Here’s a quick breakdown.

The Traditional Bookbag
This option says ‘I’m studious and practical.’ It also says ‘I have at least three different colors of pens in here, and no, you can’t borrow one.’ It’s definitely the most comfortable option and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Lots of students look at the back pack as a blank canvas, decorating it with buttons that show the world just how unique they are. The best part about a backpack? You’ll never lose your stuff…as long as you zip it up.
The Little Draw String Bag
This look is most often sported by bros who only need a pencil and a piece of paper for class. They’re comically small when worn by the muscley and tall, but they’ve somehow caught on. The draw string bag comes in cool fabrics like that swishy material used for windbreakers. The best use for these is to use the huge logo on the back to identify whether you’re a Nike or Adidas enthusiast.

A Gigantic Purse
Every girl has at least 10 purses, so why not use one to carry your school stuff? The girls who carry the gigantic purses are telling the world that their bag WILL match their outfit, no matter how impractical said bag is. Respect to the girl who can fit three class notebooks, a laptop, a tube of lip gloss and an extra pair of comfy shoes, because she will be wearing heels every day of the week, in one these monsters.

The Messenger Bag
Usually made of canvas, these bags are a favorite of hipsters. They’ll kill your shoulder but you’ll look desperately cool while doing so. The messenger is best suited for transporting your Mac and notebook full of angsty poetry around campus. Plus a ‘Free Tibet’ button would look awesome next to that patch of Che Guevera your mom sewed on for you.

A Canvas Tote
In terms of practicality, a canvas tote ranks a little bit above the gigantic purse. The totes are carried by two very distinct groups: the literary and hippies. The literary’s totes have a picture of Emily Dickinson with some creepy quote about death scrawled across the top. The hippies’ will smell like a farmer’s market and have a mason jar of herbal tea rolling around in the bottom.

And Finally….

The Gym Bag
You know that super fit girl in class? The one who wears PINK yoga pants and a different pair of neon colored Pumas every day? She carries this bag. Not only does it have all her school stuff, it also has the equipment for the twenty different sports she plays. She can usually be seen jogging to and from class, somehow looking effortless and sweat free while doing so.