Rolling backpacks: one of the biggest status symbols from elementary school. Take Zucas which reigned in popularity during the late 2010s — the rolling backpacks that double as a personal locker with a built-in seat. Their designs cater to mainly younger students, with their playful patterns and bright colors. While well-suited for a more laid-back school environment, rolling backpacks can pose multiple challenges to high school students.
Getting to class during five-minute passing periods is already a huge scramble for students. Add a rolling backpack into the mix and it becomes even more inconvenient — for both the person it belongs to and everyone surrounding them. Pulling a rolling backpack through a crowded hallway proves to be a risk to the backpack and materials inside it, as well as a tripping hazard. Additionally, the rigid nature of rolling backpacks makes it inconvenient for students to fit all their school materials inside of their bags.
Despite their slight practicality, nothing is worse than the annoyance felt by students as they avoid someone holding a rolling backpack as they teeter up the crowded FHS stairs. If you are late to your class, walking at a quick pace, and you expect sympathy for the rolling backpack you hold in your hands, you have another thing coming.
Though rolling backpacks take the strain of a heavy load off of your shoulders, they can be difficult to navigate on any surface that is not smooth. Because of their clunky nature, it is difficult for students to steer through crowded spaces. With the number of staircases at FHS, the cons of lugging around a rolling backpack even further outweigh the pros.
Not only are rolling backpacks impractical, they can also be extremely expensive, with prices ranging from $30 to $300. The more complex design means that repairs will be needed more frequently. Though traditional backpacks can also be expensive, they have specific features designed so that users can have a more ergonomic experience. Additionally, traditional backpacks make getting from class to class a lot easier, as they take up less space.
To conclude, rolling backpacks are simply inefficient in a high school environment. So to all of you who have had your feet rolled over by a rolling backpack or have gotten stuck behind one in a crowded hallway, know that your sentiments are shared.
