bags - Backpacks, Duffel Bags, Luggage: Fashion and Function

As the character Clairee Belcher so famously said in the movie Steel Magnolias, "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." Today, handbags have surpassed jewelry and shoes as the ultimate fashion accessory. Indeed, for many women, a handbag is much more than a vehicle for carrying items around; it's a statement of identity. Although they're more utilitarian in nature, the same thing can be said for backpacks, duffel bags, luggage, sports bags, cooler bags, and even laptop briefcases. Any parent who has ever shopped for school backpacks knows that a backpack is more than a bag for carrying books; the color, the features, and the design of backpacks are all important to a child, teen, or college student. Likewise, someone who spends their leisure time hiking may want you to think function is more important than fashion, but they want their hiking backpacks to both fit great and look great. Ditto for travel bags and even fanny packs. Regardless of the type of backpack or bag, the owner wants to feel as though it reflects his or her personality. That doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice quality for style, though, or that you have to buy backpacks that are the equivalent of the stiletto heel - attractive but completely impractical. You can indulge your fashion preferences while still buying affordable, well-constructed backpacks and bags. Here are some tips for finding the perfect backpack: * Before shopping, decide which features are important and which you (or your child) can live without. Is a mesh water bottle holder a must-have? Can you live without a CD holder and earphone hole? Do you prefer sling backpacks or traditional backpacks? * When shopping for a backpack, look at the compartments and think about how they will be used. Will multiple outside storage compartments make it easier to find items? Is a front pocket organizer the perfect place to keep often-used items? * Always go for quality construction. If it's going to be worn as a backpack, look for padded shoulder straps - especially if heavy books will be lugged around. A reinforced handle is also an indicator of quality construction. Make sure that the backpack is made from superior materials and has reinforced double stitching and strong, non-rusting zippers. * Buy backpacks that are guaranteed. There's nothing more frustrating than investing in a backpack, only to have it tear or fall apart in a month or two. Find a company or an online store offer a money-back guarantee for their products. Backpacks, duffel bags, daypacks, and hiking packs are definitely practical, but they can also be cool accessories. Indulge your whimsy, but keep an eye on quality. Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Backpacks: Fashion and Function or Majon's Shopping - General directory. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson bags - Disposable Diaper Bags When you have a baby, no matter where you travel or where you go, you always need to have a diaper bag in tow. Diaper bags are a very convenient way to stores all the essentials that baby needs to keep them well fed, well clothed and dry. Good bags are equipped with compartments for extra clothes, bottles, baby food, diapers, creams, and of course sanitary wipes. One very important item that many parents forget about is disposable diaper bags. No matter where you are - inside or outside of your home - when you change baby's diaper, it is always a good idea to have an extra disposable diaper bag to throw the diaper in before disposing of it in a trash can. There is nothing worse in a public restroom than the smell of a diaper that has been tossed into a can without some sort of wrap. When you're at home, you either throws the dirty diapers in a diaper pail or directly into a contained trashcan. You know what it's like when a diaper has been sitting to long. The odor is not pretty, and you or your husband takes the trash outside. The same applies when you are out and about with baby. If you don't use disposable diaper bags, you're really not taking into consideration anyone else who might be in the same room where the baby is being changed, or who might be in the room hours later. Disposable diaper bags should be a must in every mother?s diaper bag. Although they are gaining in popularity, there still needs to be a major marketing campaign to let parents know that disposing of a soiled diaper should include wrapping it in a disposable diaper bag, before throwing it away. Those parents, who do use them, know that you can purchase them at a very low cost in bulks of 75 to 100. You can also buy scented or unscented and use them for other things like garbage and dog liter.