Very few products receive a trademark registration solely for their shapes, but the Healthy Back Bag tote by Ameribag has one for its unusual ergonomic, kidney-shaped design that was created to best distribute weight along the entire length of a user’s back, rather than one pressure point on the shoulder. Since the bag was created in the mid-1990s, Ameribag’s founders (who still own the company) have rolled out dozens of different styles for men and women — from classic leather totes to a tiny “Baglett” and from diaper totes to earthy eco-friendly bags made from recycled materials.
I sampled the oversized Healthy Back Carry-All Bag made with sporty, distressed nylon in a bright crimson. Surprisingly roomy, despite solely a side zipper, the Carry-All is designed to hold a laptop (but no protective sleeve or pocket is included) and a whole lot of other stuff. It does come with a removable plastic pouch for wet/dry items, and a clip-on removable little pouch for small items. I like that the interior is silver instead of black, so it’s easy to find whatever’s inside. Multiple exterior zippered pockets and open pouches help keep everything organized.
I carried this bag while chaperoning second graders on snowshoeing field trip on Aspen Mountain a couple weeks ago, and I also used it on my outdoor adventures — tubing, dogsledding, ice skating — in Keystone, Colorado, this weekend. The nylon material is ideal for winter outdoor use — I set it in the snow without worrying about water stains, and it protected my gear while it snowed, too. Indeed, the bag fits a ton of stuff — including a padded, smaller camera bag for my DSLR camera, my kids’ extra gloves, wallet, tissues, notebook and cough drops.
Since I often carry backpacks with only one shoulder strap on a shoulder, using the one-strapped Healthy Back Carry-All Bag wasn’t unnatural for me. But I was most comfortable wearing it messenger-bag style across my back. The wide, padded shoulder strap is adjustable; the shorter the strap and the closer you wear the bag to your body, the lighter the bag will feel.
Check for bag availability on the Ameribag website (at time of writing some bag colors are out of stock), or you might purchase from Amazon.com or eBags. Retail price is $70.
#1 by Michelle - February 2nd, 2011 at 13:10
Thanks for the heads up on this one! I’ve been on the look out for a camera bag which can hold my Nikon D60 and a whole lot of photo equipment. This bag seems promising enough. What’s more, if what you say is true, I won’t have to suffer from shoulder aches at the end of the day. I’ll definitely check this out.
#2 by Maggie - June 4th, 2011 at 02:53
I really like this bag’s shape, Kara! It seems like it will not be too hard to carry around because it seems like the type that will snugly adhere to one’s body. Perfect for out of town trips with my feisty little girl in tow.
#3 by Pat - July 10th, 2011 at 03:01
I love bags like this that tend to keep close to one’s body. Aside from them being able to keep my arms and hands free, they also give me a sense of security about the items I have stashed into the bag.
#4 by Allison - July 27th, 2011 at 10:59
Hi there, Kara! How smart of them to make the interior silver. Thinking back, I can indeed cite a handful of instances when I had to rummage inside my bag, sometimes even resorting to shaking out the contents, simply because it’s too dark to see anything in it.
#5 by Tammy - August 3rd, 2011 at 10:32
Love nylon! It’s durable, water resistant and stain resistant (well, almost). It’s very easy to clean, too. I clean my nylon bags either by brushing them or by wiping them with a cloth. This bag is right up my alley!