No compromise on the ergonomics of our school bags and backpacks

Why is it essential to carefully work on the ergonomics of school bags and backpacks? Because schoolbag weight has been declared a public health issue for years but that it remains most often neglected. Numerous surveys have shown that the maximum tolerable weight of a full school bag is 10% of the child's weight. This threshold is too often exceeded... the video proof on a weekday after school.

The average weight of a schoolbag in middle school is 8.5 kilos, which corresponds to approximately 20% of the child's weight. In our small survey, we were above 15% most of the time. It is therefore almost systematically too high. The excessive weight of schoolbags is not without impact on the health of children at an age when their bodies are still developing: fatigue, back pain, spinal deformity.

However, despite efforts being made—for example, reducing the number of supplies and reducing the weight of books—the problem remains. For the FCPE, only a legislative or regulatory text could more easily impose change, as the circular is not generally perceived as a constraint.

To date, there is no legislative or regulatory text, and even if efforts are made to reduce the number of supplies and books, this challenge remains unresolved. It is therefore essential that school bag manufacturers adapt by offering lightweight and, above all, ergonomic bags.

At Caramel & cie we feel responsible for the future and development of children and We do not compromise on the ergonomics of our school bags and backpacks .

Our bags meet very precise specifications. Because our school bags, before being designed, are technical products studied and designed to be comfortable, lightweight, and durable. We design our school bags to provide your children with the best posture, transferring weight to the pelvis to protect their backs.

To achieve this, we take special care with the back of the bag and the straps.
The technicality of a bag is the combination of several essential factors:
• The design
• Comfort
• Quality
• Robustness

Comfort, providing the best support to protect your child's back

When choosing a bag for your child, we advise you to carefully consider the following essential criteria, as not all bags offer the same technical features and safety features:

• The interior : to better distribute the weight of the supplies, it must be compartmentalized And stiffened so that you can store heavier books and binders near the back, so as not to unbalance the schoolbag towards the back, and lighter supplies towards the outside. Little tip: if it stands up on its own, that's a good start.

• The back : for optimal comfort it must be padded and made from a breathable micro-alveolar material to allow good breathing when it is closest to the child's back.

• The suspenders : they must be wide, S-shaped and adjustable to follow the child's movements as they move. To relieve the shoulders and prevent friction, they must also be padded and made from micro-honeycomb fabric.

• The weight of the schoolbag is also an essential criterion that should not be overlooked. Your child will carry their bag every day for a school year or even two, and notebooks and school supplies weigh a lot on the back of a growing child. It is therefore important to choose a lightweight one. Think again: a sturdy school bag can also be lightweight! At Caramel & cie, our medium school bags weigh no more than 950g and our backpacks 800g.

• The chest strap : present on our backpacks and our mini collection, it has the advantage of keeping the bag firmly in place to prevent it from being unbalanced on the child's shoulders.

• Some countries like Germany have already legislated on security road by making it compulsory on school bags reflective strips . Caramel & cie has placed reflective strips on the straps of all its school bags and backpacks so that schoolchildren are clearly visible when leaving class at nightfall.

Quality is our priority: high-quality fabrics for great robustness

We use high-quality fabrics for our bags. In 900 denier, which is a more durable weave. And the shades of all our fabrics are created exclusively for Caramel & cie, so you won't find a color from any other manufacturer, and all our prints have a specific coating to improve their resistance and protect them from the rain.

THE clasps , specially created for Caramel & cie, are made from a single piece to be more solid.

THE seams must be strong, doubled or even tripled in the areas of greatest traction, the outer bases reinforced and the materials resistant. All our school bags and bags have reinforced seams at weak points and at all wear points.

And that's not all! Buying a Caramel & cie product is a responsible gesture. Our products are durable, and to combat waste, we replace parts free of charge. In addition, all our school bags and backpacks are guaranteed for two years .

A new format: the Ergo bag

The ergo bag is designed as a hiking bag , hybridized with the German school bags to offer a larger capacity. It is ultra ergonomic, super comfortable. Adapted to the child's size, it will evolve with him during his school years. Very practical, it is designed for school with all the advantages of a hiking bag, with the Caramel & cie style to boot!

Its ergonomic padded back with adjustable height allows the bag to be adjusted according to the child's size. The Ergo bag has the advantage of being able to be used for several years while offering the child comfort and support adapted to their growth and morphology.

It has all the features of a hiking bag designed to protect children's backs:

• The abdominal belt will allow the bag to be wedged as close as possible to the child's back for better stability and to prevent it from moving too much during travel.

• Ergonomic padded shoulder straps and the chest strap provide additional support for optimal weight distribution.

As you will have understood, the choosing a school bag must be carefully considered And meet certain essential criteria . For back-to-school, opt for an ergonomic, lightweight and robust Caramel & cie bag which respects the growth of your children .