Backpacks are a back-to-school staple. But multiple classes and extracurriculars can mean lots of textbooks and supplies — and the weight of these items may be overbearing.
If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional backpacks with shoulder straps, rolling backpacks can take the weight off your back (literally). We consulted experts on how heavy backpacks can impact students and whether rolling backpacks are a safer option.
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How we picked the best rolling backpacks
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a student’s backpack should not exceed 10% to 15% of their body weight due to concerns of discomfort and risk of injury to muscles and joints. “Our backs house some of the strongest muscles in our body. But add food, schoolbooks, electronics and an assortment of other items, and the weight can add up quickly,” says Shai Karpf, the owner and directing physician at North Broward Chiropractic & Wellness.
When compiling all the products in this list, here are some factors experts recommend considered:
- Weight distribution: Backpacks with multiple storage compartments help distribute weight to alleviate wrist, back, elbow or shoulder pain.
- Wheels: Each rolling backpack we list has wheels and handles that make moving it around easy and stress-free, especially in a busy environment like school.
- Capacity and dimensions: We included options that can fit a lot without making the bag overly heavy. Also, each option below is fit to use at school, work and while traveling, with age recommendations ranging from toddlers to adults.
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The best rolling backpacks of 2025
We rounded up highly rated rolling backpacks, all of which are in line with our experts’ guidance. We also note the dimensions, capacity in liters and the age recommendations for each option.
Best overall
Designed for kids ages 8 and up, this J World rolling backpack is our overall pick thanks to its durable ripstop polyester fabric and rubber bottom that can withstand being dragged on hard floors and pavement, according to the brand. It also comes with two mesh side pockets for water bottles and its front pocket organizer has a key clip, pen holders, card slots and an internal zip pocket to keep small items safe. The highly rated backpack, which has a 4.4-star average rating from over 9,200 reviews on Amazon, is available in 40 kid-friendly designs and patterns, including Safari, Garden Purple and Color Dots.
Best budget-friendly
If you’re looking for a good-quality rolling backpack on a budget, this Rockland option is made from durable polyester and equips a heavy-duty plastic stand on the bottom to keep it upright. You can choose from several patterns and designs, including polka dots, pink chevron, multi-colored hearts and leopard prints. The backpack has a 4.2-star average rating from over 13,100 reviews on Amazon.
Best for travel
NBC Select editorial intern Andriana Kourkoumelis loves this garment roller by Halfday because it’s lightweight, easy to transport and makes packing extremely easy. “One of my favorite travel hacks is putting clothes on hangers for easy packing and unpacking. This duffle allows me to maximize space and distribute weight in my carry-on, especially as an overpacker,” she says. This duffle has different pockets that help evenly spread out items so they don’t feel as heavy, plus it fits close to a week’s worth of clothes without having to check a bag, according to the brand.
Best with laptop compartment
This durable waterproof rolling backpack is ideal for both travel or work purposes. It has a large pocket on the front with even smaller pockets on the inside. The main compartment has a laptop sleeve and one for a tablet, and the middle compartment has a mesh pocket for books and more. The main compartment also has a space for folded clothing, making the backpack ideal for short trips. It has a pocket on the side for a water bottle and you can hide the handle on top when you’re not rolling it.
Best durable
This backpack, which has a 4.3-star average rating from over 3,100 reviews on Amazon, is made from water- and mold-resistant canvas that keeps it in good shape despite long days at school, according to the brand. Its spacious main compartment has a double zipper closure for extra security and a double-zippered front pocket with a mesh pocket, a built-in organizer and keyring to keep smaller essentials in one place. The backpack has four additional pockets on the front and three side pockets for even more storage. It’s available in eight colors, including navy, burgundy and black.
Best for toddlers
Your toddler can carry this small dinosaur backpack by hand, strap it on their back or roll it around using the telescopic handle. It has one large compartment and a smaller padded front pouch, as well as two mesh pockets on either side to hold a water bottle. The back panel is padded for comfort and it has two zippers to allow you to open it in either direction, according to the brand. The small size makes it ideal for toddlers up to three years old. This rolling backpack has an average rating of 4.6 stars from over 3,200 reviews on Amazon.
Best for elementary school
The Twise Side-Kick is designed for young children between the ages of 3 and 9 and comes in several animal-inspired designs, including dinosaurs, penguins and unicorns. It has a padded grip handle, two side pockets for water bottles and a front pocket organizer with a pencil holder, key fob and zipper pocket. The backpack, made from water-resistant polyester, also has a cushioned back for comfort when you use it as a traditional backpack, according to the brand. This roller by Twise has a 4.6 star average rating from over 300 reviews on Amazon.
Best for middle and high school
The JanSport Driver 8 is the brand’s classic backpack silhouette on wheels. It comes in several colors and patterns and has a padded handle, a padded back panel and shoulder straps that you can tuck away. It also has multiple compartments, including two main ones to store larger supplies, a laptop sleeve, a front utility pocket with an organizer for pens and pencils, a front stash pocket for smaller items and a side water bottle pocket. The Driver 8 has an average of 4.4 stars from over 1,100 reviews on Amazon.
Best personalized
You can personalize this rolling backpack to display your child’s name, which can help teachers, school staff and other students identify them during the first few days of school and return it if it gets lost. It’s made from a durable and water-resistant polyester material designed to glow softly in the dark for approximately three to four hours, according to the brand. The Mackenzie collection comes with various additional patterns like unicorns, dinosaurs and multi-colored hearts, and you can purchase matching items separately, including a lunch box and water bottle.
Best with lunchbox
This matching rolling backpack and lunch box set comes in 16 kid-friendly designs, including mermaid, galaxy, and camouflage. The lunch box has a handy strap that attaches to the backpack’s handle. There’s multiple compartments, including a main pocket, a middle pocket, a front pocket to store stationary and a small top-front pocket for smaller items like glasses and headphones. The highly rated set has a 4.6-star average rating from over 3,300 reviews on Amazon.
Best eco-friendly (not for jem: out of stock)
This backpack is made from water-resistant, 100% recycled polyester for a more eco-friendly option. You can also personalize it with your teen’s name or initials. The rolling backpack has four exterior pockets, a laptop compartment, a cinch mesh pocket on the side to hold a water bottle and a durable plastic base to keep it from getting scratched and damaged, according to the brand. It has multiple designs and patterns, including interstellar, tie-dye and ombre.
Best with multiple carry modes
You can carry this backpack in three ways: as a backpack, a roller or a weekender. It has a laptop sleeve, water bottle holder and a zip-pocket for all your smaller necessities. When it comes to comfort, this roller backpack has padded stowable shoulder straps, an aluminum handle with two height options, an adjustable sternum strap and rollerblade-inspired wheels that glide with ease, according to the brand. Whether you roll or carry, this option fits a lot without adding too much weight to your back, according to reviewers on Bagsmart. This three-in-one roller has a 4.5-star average rating from over 900 reviews on Amazon.
How to shop for rolling backpacks
When shopping for a backpack to avoid back pain, experts recommend taking these following factors into consideration:
- Size and storage: Rolling backpacks should offer a main compartment and multiple pockets to help kids store their school supplies, water bottles and smaller essentials like keys, pencils and more.
- Comfort: Our experts say that rolling backpacks might be hard to take up and down the stairs or on uneven surfaces, so consider a multifunctional option that your child can roll or wear on their shoulders. Also, look for padded shoulder straps, padded backs, a grip handle for comfort and an adjustable handle that can conform to your child’s size and height (though keep in mind the manufacturer’s age recommendations).
- Durability: Look for backpacks made from durable, water-resistant fabrics like polyester, canvas and nylon. And because kids are dragging around their rolling backpacks for hours each day, you should consider a rubber bottom that helps prevent it from getting torn, scratched or other damage.
Frequently asked questions
What are the potential health implications of carrying around a heavy backpack?
Heavy backpacks are all too common, and they can take a toll when students carry them around for eight or more hours at school every day. Carrying a heavy backpack can put strain on the spine and shoulders, potentially causing short-term effects like soreness and fatigue and long-term bad habits like slouching and poor posture.
Other health implications include lower and upper back pain caused by wearing the backpack on one shoulder and thus trying to offset the weight by leaning to one side, according to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Traditional backpacks can also lead to bad posture, especially in girls and younger children carrying heavier backpacks that aren’t proportional to their body weight.
However, the experts we spoke to say there’s limited evidence that suggests carrying a heavy backpack can cause significant back pain or have major long-term effects on children. In fact, in a systematic review of five prospective studies, backpack characteristics like weight and carrying method were not associated with increased risk of back pain in children and adolescents.
“The back will compensate for any load applied to it for an extended period of time,” says Dr. Jill Noble, the division director of general pediatrics at Michigan Medicine, and Dr. Ingrid Ichesco, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Michigan Medicine, in a joint email response. “There is no evidence that structural spinal deformity can result from backpack use. There is little chance a child or teen will be permanently injured by carrying a heavy backpack.”
A variety of factors can contribute to back pain that aren’t necessarily related to a heavy backpack. These include sports participation, soft bedding, back flexibility and psychosocial distress like depression and anxiety, according to Noble and Ichesco. Always check with a physician to assess the reason for any back pain.
Are rolling backpacks a good alternative to regular backpacks?
Rolling backpacks can be a great alternative to traditional backpacks since they “put the weight on the wheels instead of on your musculoskeletal system,” says Karpf. This is helpful for children experiencing discomfort from lugging their backpacks at school every day. It can also be a good option for those who do extracurricular activities or walk home from school.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Shai Karpf is a chiropractor and the owner and directing physician at North Broward Chiropractic & Wellness in Coconut Creek, Florida.
- Dr. Jill Noble is a board-certified pediatrician and the division director of general pediatrics at Michigan Medicine.
- Dr. Ingrid Ichesco is a board-certified pediatrician and a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Michigan Medicine who specializes in sports medicine.
Why trust NBC Select?
Mili Godio is an editor at NBC Select who has written about a variety of back-to-school topics, including lunch boxes, dorm storage essentials and gifts for teachers. Andriana Kourkoumelis is an editorial and production intern at NBC Select. For this article, they spoke to three experts about the benefits of rolling backpacks and how to shop for the best one for kids.
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