Textbooks, notebooks, paper and pens, a wallet and a cell phone, not to mention a bunch of other items -- University students carry around all of these on any given day. There are many ways to tote everything around: From the traditional to practical, from stylish to downright random, all students have to find a way to carry their stuff around.
Some students carry a notebook under one arm and a pencil in the other hand, while others choose messenger bags or big purses.
The two most popular methods of school supply transportation are, however, the backpack and the tote bag.
There are numerous pros and cons for each method, and there is also a variety of reasons that students choose whether to take their books around in a bag or a backpack.
Some students really can't decide, so they switch bags back and forth, depending on their load.
"I switch bags all the time because my laptop doesn't fit in a little tote bag," second-year College student Lizzie Mullen said. "If I have a lot of books, I take a backpack. Otherwise, I use a tote bag."
For most students who pick tote bags, aesthetics takes precedent over everything else. Even though a backpack allows for ample arm freedom, some students said they feel frumpy with a big load on their shoulders and prefer a smaller tote bag for their books.
Others, however, said comfort and health trumps style and appearance.
"I like taking a tote bag around because it's not as bulky," third-year College student Alison Taylor said.
Backpack-wearing students are correct about health concerns, as backpacks are better than tote bags because they distribute weight more evenly across the shoulders and upper back, according to webmd.com.
On the other hand, webmd.com explains, backpacks can strain the back if they are too heavy, if they are worn on one shoulder or if they are worn too low on the back.
Backpack or tote bag -- either way, too many books are not always a good thing.
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