Product FAQs

Q: Why are the bags healthy?
A: Healthy Back Bags® were developed in collaboration with a doctor and a chiropractor to address weight stress issues in a one-strap bag. The teardrop shape distributes weight ergonomically throughout the length of the bag, rather than pulling from one point on the shoulder. The bag doesn't pull away from the body, it contours to your back, whether you wear it on one shoulder (either shoulder) or cross-body.

There are no rigid elements in the Healthy Back Bag's construction, so it moulds to any shape back. The more places a bag touches your body when you wear it, the lighter it feels - it becomes part of you - and the less it adversely affects your posture.

All bags have a non-slip strap lining so it can be worn on one shoulder without slipping off or pulling away from the body, so the wearer does not need to make any corresponding adjustments (like unconsciously hunching the shoulder) to keep the bag in place. When the bag is worn across the back, it frees the arms allowing the wearer to walk in a correct bio-mechanic fashion. 

Q: Why is it better than a rucksack?
A: A Healthy Back Bag is a one-strap alternative to a rucksack. We fully endorse the fact that a two-strap bag (assuming it is fitted correctly and carried properly!) is the best way to carry weight around, however there is a great temptation to use only one strap, which is the worst thing you can do. Many people find rucksacks just plain ugly, uncomfortable and inconvenient, are worried about security, or can't carry them for health reasons, and this is where a Healthy Back Bag comes into its own.

Q: What is the inside like?
A: Designed to keep you organised. All the Classic ranges have identical pocket configurations, 4 on the outside, and 5 or 6 on the inside, plus a keyhook and a D ring in the top. No two pockets are the same, so if you get used to keeping items in a certain place you can easily locate them without having to look. The interior pockets are angled for easy access while wearing the bag, and all bags have a silver lining for stress-free rummaging!
                             

Q: What about security?
A: The bags feature a full-length double zip, which is always against your back, however you wear the bag. We recommend that the main zipper pulls are positioned at the bottom of the bag during wear. Whether on the shoulder or across your back you can pull the bag round to access it without taking it off, and the double zip means you only have to open it at the exact spot required to get at what you need, so the contents are less vulnerable.

Q: Can the bag be worn across the front of the body?
A: The main reasons you might consider this are ease of access and for extra security, but both these issues are addressed when the bag is worn conventionally, either on the shoulder or across the back. If the weight is in front of you it is pulling in the wrong place and the benefit of correct weight distribution across the back is negated.

Q: Are they suitable for kids or students?
A: The Classic bags are not ideal for use with books and folders, although the Medium size will fit soft A4 files. There are bags within the Healthy Back Bag range that can accommodate A4, namely the Highpoint laptop bag and the large DNA Pack from the HelixX range, and The 'Big Bag' and the Tech Bag are also used as student or work bags. The issues of kids using bags is a very important one, as most have too big a bag and carry far too much weight in their bags. They should be encouraged to use smaller bags, which will by default mean they carry less.

Q: How long will bags last?
A: The bags are made from the highest quality materials and manufactured to exacting standards. Simply put, as long as correct care instructions are followed and the bag is not subjected to unreasonable abuse, the bags are designed to give years of stress- free wear, and if we consider that any element of manufacturing has failed prematurely, we will repair or replace at our discretion.

Q: Are the bags waterproof?
A: All materials are selected and treated where necessary to be weather resistant, and the bags won't come to any harm if they get wet. This, together with the 200-denier nylon lining, means it is rare for any contents to get wet.

Q: Can the bags be sprayed with a protector to make them waterproof?
A: The bags are water resistant, but you can use a good quality waterproofer for added protection. Follow the manufacturers instructions and test a small section prior to spraying the entire bag. Alternatively, use a wash-in proofing product on the bags that can be machine washed. Bear in mind that once the bag is sprayed this may thereafter affect the cleaning of the bag and it would need to be re-proofed. This may also change the basic characteristics of the material, so may impact on the “life of materials” guarantee.

Q: Where are the bags made?
A: The bags are mainly made in Malaysia and Taiwan, with a small proportion of bags manufactured in China, USA and the Caribbean.

Q: Is it patented?
A: The bags are based on patented design concept of the Healthy Back Bag®, U.S. Patent #D363599. The shape of the Healthy Back Bag® is a registered trademark of AmeriBag, Inc.

Q: How much weight can a bag carry? 
A: There are no set limits to the bags, but the simple rule is the less somebody carries the better it is for their body. Overloading a bag will make it uncomfortable to carry and will be detrimental to the wearer.