What Kind of Strap Suits a Shoulder Bag?

Wide, padded and adjustable. The Ontario Chiropractic Association says to choose a bag with a wide, padded adjustable shoulder strap, and AOTA says to avoid thin and long straps, and to ensure that pressure caused by the straps does not cause discomfort.

What the sources say

• The Ontario Chiropractic Association: whether your bag is a purse or home to your laptop, choose one with a wide, padded, adjustable shoulder strap.
• AOTA: avoid thin and long straps; straps should be wide and adjustable.
• AOTA: ensure that any pressure caused by the straps does not cause discomfort.
• AOTA also says that unpadded straps and heavy purses put extra pressure on the nerves of the neck and shoulders.

How to check a strap

1. Look at the width and see whether it is padded where it meets the shoulder.
2. Check that it has adjustment holes or a slider, with a good range.
3. Load the bag and wear it for several minutes.
4. Notice any pressure point, or any tendency to slip.
5. Try it on each shoulder, and across the body.

Fashion and comfort

Many bags are sold with a thin strap as a design feature. If you like the bag, ask whether a wider strap can be added. The strap is the part of the bag that carries the load, so it is the part worth checking first.

Questions to ask a seller

If you are buying online, a few questions save time. What is the width of the strap? Is the padding built in or removable? How long is the strap at its longest and shortest settings? Can the strap be detached and replaced? Clear answers suggest that the seller knows the product, and a vague answer may be a reason to look elsewhere.

Where this answer stops

The advice is general and does not say how wide a strap should be. Comfort depends on the load, your body and how long you wear the bag.