Three children's backpacks: a green monster design, a holographic unicorn, and a yellow bag filled with school supplies

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The History of Backpacks

By Tricia Culligan

From the September 2026 Issue

Featured Skill: Sequencing,

Standards

It’s the first day of school! Time to pack your notebooks, pencils, and water bottle. How do you carry all your supplies? You put them in your backpack, of course! But where did this handy bag come from?

Wood and Fur

One of the oldest known backpacks was made of wood and animal fur. It belonged to a man who lived in Europe 5,000 years ago!

By the late 1800s, backpacks were mostly worn by travelers, hikers, and soldiers. The bags were called knapsacks or rucksacks. They were used to carry food, clothes, and blankets.

Then, in the late 1930s, a teenager named Gerry Cunningham had an idea. He loved hiking. But his backpack was uncomfortable and hard to use.

So Gerry made a new bag. He added a special feature: zippers. His zippered bag was comfortable and convenient!

A Top Seller

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Gerry started selling his bag in 1946. About 20 years later, a company named JanSport began making backpacks too. A college bookstore sold the bags in its outdoor section. They became a top seller—and not just for camping.

At the time, students carried their books under their arms or tied together with a belt called a book strap. If it rained, the books would get soaked!

Students soon learned that JanSport backpacks were made out of sturdy cloth that kept books dry. Before long, they were in college bookstores across the country. By the 1980s, students of all ages were using backpacks!

Patterns and Colors

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Today backpacks are everywhere! You can decorate them with pins or patches. You can choose a bold pattern or color. You can even get one that looks like your favorite animal! What does your backpack look like?