WE'VE GOT YOUR BACKPACK STYLISH SCHOOL TOTES SAVE YOUNG SPINES.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer Parents and pediatricians have been concerned for years about the long- term effects of students' daily backpack use. Last year the medical journal Spine reported that three out of four backpack users suffer back pain. It seems makers of book totes really got the message this season. Yes, there still are backpacks for sale, but there also is a wide array of sling packs, messenger bags and other styles aimed at taking a load off kids' aching shoulders and shifting it to hips and chests. Slings - a larger version of the popular purse styles - are now available in many lines, including JanSport, Lands' End
U.S. professional basketball league. It was formed in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Basketball League (founded 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (1946). . Worn to the rear with the strap across the chest, they shift some of the weight to the sternum sternum: see rib. and can easily be flipped forward to dig out to depart; to leave, esp. hastily; decamp. See also: Dig a pencil or cell phone on the fly. NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= gear is available with the Lakers' insignia at Team LA stores at Universal CityWalk and Staples Center, and products with the NBA logo and other team insignias - like the Miami Heat for truly loyal Shaq fans - are sold online at www.nba.com. Gap's Attachables line starts with a nylon sling bag or vertically oriented messenger bag ($34 each) with padded straps in blue, black or khaki. Add interchangeable parts, such as cases for PDAs and cell phones. Both styles include a padded pocket for a CD player with a cord port for headphones Head-mounted speakers. Headphones have a strap that rests on top of the head, positioning a pair of speakers over both ears. For listening to music or monitoring live performances and audio tracks, both left and right channels are required. - no more chewing up the cord on zipper zipper Device for binding the edges of an opening, as on a garment or a bag. A zipper consists of two strips of material with metal or plastic teeth along the edges, and a sliding piece that interlocks the teeth when moved in one direction and separates them again when moved teeth. Rectangular messenger bags can be multifunctional, as is L.L. Bean's Big Easy pack ($59) that can be carried by handle, shoulder strap or backpack straps. Others are fashion statements in their own right. Hilary Duff may have moved on from Lizzie McGuire, but her fans haven't. Limited Too sells a Lizzie messenger bag ($26.50) in black with a metallic pink ``L'' and the cartoon image of the TV character. Older students trying hard to look like they don't care how they look should check out American Eagle Outfitters' tan canvas messenger bag ($39.50) with saddle-brown leather trim, heavy grommets and a rugged woven strap. Its broken-in condition and deliberately faded logo dispense with that geeky ``check out my new school gear'' look. If a backpack still is the preference, Lands' End (www.landsend.com or 800-356-4444) has some good choices. Its new wheeled Collegiate backpack ($54.50) is ideal for heavy loads - as long as tight locker space is not an issue. Its retractable re·tract v. re·tract·ed, re·tract·ing, re·tracts v.tr. 1. To take back; disavow: refused to retract the statement. 2. handle and wheels (the same as used on inline skates) are as durable as those on a good piece of luggage. The bells and whistles A slang English term for exceptional features in some product. In the computer field, it typically refers to functions in software that may be greatly appreciated by some users, even though they may not be necessary most of the time. on the new Cordura Zip Top pack ($44.50) include a padded pocket for a CD player and lots of organizer nooks. It has pads built into the back, extra cushy cush·y adj. cush·i·er, cush·i·est Informal Making few demands; comfortable: a cushy job. [Origin unknown. straps and a padded belt to clip around the hips, diverting some of the weight to the pelvis. Versatility is the word with Lands' End's convertible gear. The convertible duffel ($32.50) goes from backpack to duffel with shoulder strap and handle for an overnight trip or team practice. The new unstructured convertible pack ($19.50) has the capacity of a medium-size backpack when opened fully, but it can scale down to a small satchel when the load is lighter. The Children's Place keeps in mind that one size does not fit all, with smaller nylon backpacks and messengers in camouflage or animal prints. They're economical in both price ($12.50) and size - ideal for a first-grader's workbook, reader, PB&J and milk money. When it comes to stuffing bags with supplies, it takes more than perfectly pointy point·y adj. point·i·er, point·i·est Having an end tapering to a point. crayons and tasty paste to impress students. Write stuff includes a pink duster-top ball-point pen (Limited Too) and small clip notebook from the whimsical Laughing Boy/Laughing Girl stationery line (Limited Too and other stores listed at www.laughingboylaughinggirl.com). Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Get off my BACK! Book bags for school get an A for style and comfort (2) no caption (Boy wearing backpack) (3) no caption (Cordura Zip Top pack) (4) no caption (NBA logo pack) (5) no caption (Lands' End Collegiate backpack) Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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