JanSport was founded in 1967 by Skip Yowell, Murray Pletz, and Janis Lewis. After Pletz won an award for designing an adjustable aluminum backpack frame, his then-girlfriend (and later, wife) Jan was tasked with creating a backpack pattern for the frame. After everything worked out well enough for the trio – as is evident – the company was named JanSport, after Lewis.
While the first products launched by the company were hiking packs inspired by the founders’ love for the mountains and hiking, there was a shift in priorities after 1972, when it was found that a bunch of students are the University of Washington were using these hiking packs to lug around their books so that they were kept a safe distance from the rain. At this moment, JanSport decided to venture into the realm of daypacks, which were produced by bolstering the backpacks first with vinyl and then leather.
From here, it didn’t take long before students on campuses across the country were stuffing their books, gym equipment, water bottles, packed lunches and more in these sturdy, well-built packs that were seen to combine quality with style.
Many years later, the backpacks designed and manufactured by JanSport are still considered one of the most durable packs available in the market, offering students, office goers and travelers with impressive functionality and versatility that makes JanSport their go-to company for bags. The company truly believes in its products, which is easily showcased by the lifetime warranty that comes with the backpacks and other products put out by them.
Picking the right backpack for your needs can get a little tricky if you want a product that gives you a stylish edge without compromising on the functional aspects of things. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind while choosing a backpack
