Can you imagine a world without backpacks? Neither can we. Yet is wasn't long ago that they were strictly outdoor gear. One Fall in the late 60's, the JanSport team heard that students were using the brands small cross country daypacks to cross campus instead. It made sense, with comfortable padded straps, an easy access front panel opening and catch resistant nylon zippers, the bags were just as great for carrying books as they were for carrying gear. Seeing the potential, the team made a few noteworthy design adjustments, including the addition of a durable vinyl base to improve weight capacity. Soon ever, JanSport began selling the first ever campus backpacks into colleges around the country