When it was invented: 1938
Why we loved it: Technically, the first backpack was invented in 1938 by Gerry Outdoors. At the time, backpacks were mostly used for outdoor recreation, like hiking and camping, rather than for school.
Some people used leather bookbags like the one pictured above. These more traditional bookbags made of canvas or leather were invented sometime between the 1930s and the 1960s. At the time, they were commonly called satchels, and they were usually secured with a single leather strap or two buckles. Many students, however, still carried their books by hand.
JanSport was invented for that very reason. Many students were still using makeshift book carrying devices in the 70s, so they invented an alternative that stuck.
