<p>I'm just shopping for back to school stuff before i have to fly to north carolina. Anyways, what are the most popular backpacks for students? Do you really need to get one of those heavy duty college backpacks or will those abercrombie totebags hold it for you?</p>
<p>and also, to the current dukies: anything you wish you would have brought but didn't?</p>
<p>If you are a science major or have classes with major textbooks (mostly science and engineering), then a backpack might be advisable. </p>
<p>If you just have one or two such classes, then a light backpack or messenger bag is perfectly fine. Anything that's on sale for $20 or less should have you covered.</p>
<p>If you have a lot of those classes (especially close together) and you are not sure you can make it back to dorm regularly, consider a bigger backpack. I myself have opted to continue using my LLBean backpack from high school because that thing can really take a beating and hold up to the elements. But it is kinda expensive and I wouldn't recommend buying it new just for college. </p>
<p>Also, consider whether or not you want to carry your laptop (if you are bringing one) in your backpack/messenger bag. Personally, I don't want to carry a laptop bag in addition to a bookbag, so I just got a sleeve for it and stuffed it into my backpack. That's also one of the reasons I wanted a sturdy, roomy backpack. But if you aren't planning to do that, choose whatever you are comfortable with.</p>
<p>I just use a big tote bag...it's just so much easier for me. You're never going to have to bring textbooks to class or anything, so at most I'll have two or three spiral notebooks and a few smaller books with me during the day. Usually I'll suck it up and just stuff everything in there if I go to the library/union to study, and if I'm bringing my computer throw it in a sleeve and then throw it in my tote.</p>
<p>Longchamps and Herve Chapelier bags are really popular...on the expensive side...but I consider mine to be one of the best investments I made going into college. But basically, whatever you feel comfortable with and think you'll need.</p>
<p>You might not need textbooks in class, but I often have a string of classes together where I don't want to make a 30 minute trip back to East, on those days I sometimes carry textbooks with me to do homework or study in between classes.</p>
<p>i usually only ever have to carry a notebook or two...but when i bring my laptop, it obviously weighs everything down a bit more. i consider it as though im carrying on heavy textbook and one or two light notebooks. (unless you have math, you usually dont have to carry too many books to class every day; math profs often take problems from the book during class so you have to bring it) sooo, that said...if youre used to carrying something like a longchamp bag with a few books, you should be fine using that here. if you like more support and have always used a backpack, go for that. its most likely going to be pretty comparable to whatever you did in high school</p>
<p>i always use a longchamp tote bag or some vintage totebag which is slightly smaller. i always keep the necessities (a small wallet with id, keys, etc; pencils/pens, gum, phone, whatever) in my bag with a planner/organizer and notebooks for class. on a daily basis i've never felt that i have too little space. i only use a regular backpack if i'm going to the library for the day/night and have a ton of things to bring.</p>