STRAPPED IN

Everyone knows there’s more to a backpack than book storage. At Boston College, there’s a long list of criteria for a good backpack. Is it light enough to survive a quick sprint up the Million Dollar Stairs for that dreaded 9 a.m. class? Does it have enough space to cram all your textbooks in for that long night in O’Neill? What if the weather turns biblical and you're faced with a long walk home in the rain—will it make it out intact?

No backpack can fulfill all these daunting tasks—but some do a better job than others. If you’re in the market for a new backpack or simply want to see how your choice measures up to the competition, look no further. Here are some common backpacks at BC rated by effectiveness because, at the end of the day, what really matters is if your bag can hold it all together.

The Red New Balance Athlete Backpack – 8.5/10
Built like its wearers: sturdy, functional, and occasionally exhausted. This bag features cavernous compartments and a durability that screams 'NCAA budget line item.’ Downsides: it weighs approximately as much as a kettlebell, and unless you’re on a roster, it feels like stolen valor. It practically hums with 6 a.m. lifts and mandatory team dinners. Great for hauling gear, less great for subtlety: you could be wearing pajamas, but the bag still announces, Yes, I’m on the team. Please clap.

The Navy Longchamp Tote – 6/10
Sleek, stylish, and about as padded as a paper bag. The Longchamp’s “effectiveness” depends entirely on your priorities: it looks amazing in Hillside photos but offers zero ergonomic support when loaded with theology tomes. Weatherproofing is decent, but expect straps to groan under a MacBook plus three lattes. Beautiful? Yes. Functional? Debatable.

Any BC-Branded Backpack – 7.5/10
These bags say “I support the bookstore economy.” Effectiveness score rises if you managed to snag the Lulu edition—extra points for stretchy compartments that actually accommodate both gym clothes and PULSE binders. Still, zippers jam after a semester of overstuffing, and the maroon fades into “mystery brown” after too many walks through Comm Ave drizzle.

The Leather Tote – 5/10
Aesthetic: elite. Practicality: tragic. This bag cannot handle Jesuit-level workloads. No compartments, no mercy on your shoulder blades, no rain protection. Effective only if your daily cargo is The New Yorker and a single fountain pen. A+ for image, F for spinal health.

The North Face Borealis – 9/10
The workhorse of campus. Water-resistant, back-supporting, endlessly pocketed. These bags last longer than your BC email account. True, they lack the flex of a Longchamp or Lulu collab, but they’ll hold three textbooks, two coffees, and your will to live during finals. This is the Honda Civic of backpacks: reliable, unglamorous, unbeatable.

Your High School Backpack – 3/10
Effectiveness is not just about straps and zippers; it’s about context. And nothing screams “I peaked in high school” like lugging around your Jansport with faded Sharpie doodles. Structurally, it still works. Socially, not so much.