Why buy your kids a new backpack every year?

Buy the redesigned Red Oxx K-12 Kat Pack Backpack for life.

BACK (PACK) IN THE DAY
Once upon a time, there was the Red Oxx K5 Kid's Backpack. You see them once in a while on auction sites or at second hand stores. Simple, sturdy, and square. Sadly, a couple years back, it went away. New priorities on the production schedule pushed it aside.

Then, one day, our production manager decided to upgrade the K5 for her growing kids. Her middle school children’s K5 Daypacks needed new features like a raised pocket, a reinforced bottom using our toughest ballistic nylon, a nice upgrade for the shoulder straps featuring the softer, but stronger hi-tech synergy suede, a series of Daisy chain accessory loops stitched to the straps and finally, a couple elastic mesh side pockets. Needless to say, her kids were stoked. The redesigned K-12 Kat Pack Backpack was born.

RECTANGULAR BAGS CARRY MORE
Working with the same philosophy we incorporate on all our bags, the K-12 Kat Pack Backpack has the same spacious rectangular shape, a design set in motion by our flagship soft-sided carry-on bag, the Air Boss. Expect a spacious school backpack that will really haul books.

At just under a grand in cubic inch volume, the main compartment features the same 420-denier red nylon lining as our top of the line travel bags. The bright color makes searching inside the pack easier and adds a level of toughness and weather resistance not usually found in typical school backpacks, even famous name brands sold in department stores.

CURING THE TYPICAL BACKPACK'S WEAK POINTS
Ever had a backpack start disintegrating from the inside out where the lining tape covers the seams? Our seam tape runs sideways instead of lengthwise, effectively eliminating tearing, and the loose weaving threads that tend to run. In fact, unless you're going to regularly fill your K-12 backpack with sharp rocks, broken glass and rusty nails, we doubt the interior will wear out. If it does, our ironclad "No Bull" Lifetime Warranty covers pack repairs and, if needed, bag replacements.

STRONG SHOULD STRAPS
How about the shoulder straps ripping loose? The K-12 Kat Pack has reinforced double box stitching at major stress points: the top of the bag's shoulder contact area and the base's outer corners. Overbuilt? Perhaps. We added a strip of 2-inch poly webbing to anchor the box stitches all across the width of the back of the pack. At the bottom, the 1 inch nylon strap holds down the corners. If there are kids alive who can rip out these straps, the team USA Olympic wrestling committee will want to talk to them.

BIG ZIPPERS LAST
Ever had the zipper break on a pack otherwise still looks new? It's the Number One failure zone on every backpack built except ours. The #10 YKK nylon self-locking zipper, a touted feature on all our bags, is about as tough and practical a zipper as money can buy. The competition can go "zip, zip" open and close with their cute little straight line zipper puller testing machine, but when it comes to a kid using a zipper in the real world, we can guarantee it won't be "zip, zip."

Instead, think grunt, yank, jerk, and rip in every direction imaginable. This zipper will also work in any weather conditions, right down to below zero. We top off this prized zipper feature with our fair trade Monkey Fist Zip Knots, sized just right for any child's grip. Every pocket and compartment on this backpack has not one, but two of these fail-safe monsters.

If you've ever watched kids roaming home from school you're aware that their "backpack" is anywhere but on their back. For some reason, kids find dragging a pack not only more fun than wearing one, but a deep-seated challenge to shred their pack to pieces. Although we can't be sure, it's probably due to some secret longing to lose their books along the way.

DRAG TESTED - PASSED
Buy your child the one and only backpack they'll use from grade school to graduation. The K-12 probably is the only school bag with a "ballistic bottom." The 1050-weight ballistic nylon shields the bottom of this backpack from grit and gravel. This is the same material that we use on our roughest, toughest oil rigger and railroader bags. It's even designed in a cup-like pattern to keep the seams from scraping the ground. Not that scraping the seams would do damage to the UV protected #92 bonded SolarMax nylon thread. The thread that’s so tough it will slice your fingers clean off before you can break it.

A PLACE FOR YOUR TABLET
The K-12 Kat Pack has other clever design features. We developed the raised outer pocket to carry any number of the popular modern electronic tablets and e-readers like the iPad, Kindle, and so on. The flat zippered pocket located above it will also fit these tablets. The back area in the main compartment is padded with a dense 4 lb. Volara closed cell foam padding that is not only comfortable on the back, but also easily protects a notepad laptop computer.

TAKE YOUR WATER WITH YOU
The dual elastic side pockets will securely hold a couple of water bottles, a thermos or a cell phone or calculator. Moreover, the mesh fabric will quickly shed moisture from a leaky water bottle or condensation.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COMPETITION?
Out of curiosity, we gathered a half dozen popular school backpacks and book bags from a variety of contemporary backpack manufacturers. First we noted they were ALL manufactured offshore. The differences went beyond the monster zippers, double box stitched seams and heavy-duty ballistic bottom. The most astonishing difference between the K-12 Kat Pack Backpack and the competition was the startling simplicity of the Kat Pack's design.

SIMPLICITY BY DESIGN
Every other schoolbag had multiple pockets, flaps, buckles and innumerable surefire fail zones built into the complexity of the packs. Said pack designer and Red Oxx President Perry Jones, "All those pockets, and hardly any of 'em ever get used."CEO Jim Markel pitched in, "You couldn't build a school pack like these here in the States. It would cost hundreds of dollars in labor to make them."

In the hustle and bustle of our children's lives, having a simple school pack helps to make the entire existence of the convolution of one's school years oh so very ... simple.

NOT JUST FOR SCHOOL – FOR TRAVEL, TOO!
The K-12 Kat Pack Backpack was born to be the toughest kid's school backpack on the planet. But it also lives the life of a world traveler. It easily holds a weekend's worth of clothes as your main carry-on flight bag. Since the zippers open all the way down the sides, finding deeply buried items is a no-brainer.

USE IT AS A PERSONAL ITEM
This pack will fit in the overhead bins of nearly any commercial airliner, lounge under just about any kind of seat, taxi, plane or bus, and of course, pass as a "personal item" without so much as a bat of a flight attendant's eyelash. Naturally, it also works great as a day pack, an overnight bag, a flight bag or a work carry-all.

BUY IT ONCE, KEEP IT FOREVER
The K-12 Kat Pack Backpack is clearly built to take on the meanest, most ruthless kid on the block. Available in 12 vibrant colors, kids are sure to find their favorite. Since we back all our bags and packs with our "No Bull" Lifetime Warranty, buy it once, own it forever, and pass it on. This backpack is destined to become the world's only hand-me-down school bag.

School Backpack Packing Tips:

• Teach your kids to pack only necessary items each day. Warning: this may lead to under packing as an adult. Results have not been verified or tested.
• Kids should carry less than 10-20 percent of their body weight in a backpack.
• Distribute the contents evenly with heaviest items, like books, on the bottom or against the padded back.
• Carry the backpack above the waist. Adjust the shoulder straps until the bottom of the bag rests just above the hips, or the lowest point of curvature, also known as the cup of the lumbar.
• If your child bends forward to compensate for their backpack's weight, the pack is too heavy.
• If your child struggles to put the pack on, it's too heavy.
• If possible, heavy text books should be stored in their locker until needed for class.
• Teach children to use both shoulder straps! This keeps the weight equally distributed and prevents sore shoulders and pinched nerves.

Exterior dimensions:
Large main compartment: 11.5"W x 5.5"D x 14.5"H
Capacity: 917 cubic inches (1,078 cu. inches with exterior pocket)

Pocket measurements:

• Raised front pocket: 7"H x 2"D x 11.5"W
• Front slip pocket: 10.5"H x 11.5"W

"No Bull" Lifetime Warranty.
Designed AND made in Billings, Montana USA.
UPS Shipping Time.
Online orders will receive an order confirmation email, a UPS tracking information email and a review request followup email three weeks after delivery. Your email address is secure.

Every great bag needs cool accessories.

Kat Pack Backpack Trivia: While researching a unique name for our new backpack several were selected from a pool of names solicited from our sewing crew. Alas, most proved to be taken by other companies. While tossing out the name rat pack, which was also taken, our Minister of Information suggested calling it the Kat Pack, in honor of our PR Intern Kathleen, who goes by the nickname "Kat". CEO Jim Markel liked it and the rest is history.

• "No Bull" Lifetime Warranty
• Designed AND made in USA
• Fabric: 1000 weight urethane coated, Dupont certified Cordura nylon
• Weather resistant (NOT waterproof)
• 400 weight denier soft red nylon lining
• All zippers #10 YKK self locking
• Thread: #92 bonded SolarMax Nylon
• Critical seams double stitched and bound
• Double box stitching on stress points such as shoulder straps
• Monkey Fist Zip knots on all zippers
• Daisy chain accessory loops on both shoulder straps
• Embroidered Logo Patches
• Grab loop handle
• 4-lb. closed cell Volara foam padding in back
• Synergy Performer Suede padded shoulder straps
• "Drag-resistant" 1050 weight Ballistic nylon bottom
• Padded back with internal sleeve will fit laptops up to 15"
• Includes Cable Lock
• Raised front pocket for school supplies storage
• Deep mesh side pockets for water bottles or school supplies
• Interior Laptop sleeve holds computer
• Rectangular design to efficiently hold books, files, notepad laptops, magazines
• Plenty of room for books, school supplies, even a lunch
• Daisy chain loops on shoulder straps for keys and other small items
• Two elastic mesh pockets, each sized to carry water bottles or thermos
• Choose from 12 bright colors
• US Dimensions: 11.5"W x 7.5"D x 14.5"H
• Raised front pocket: 7"H x 2"D x 11.5"W
• Flat front slip pocket: 10.5"H x 11.5"W
• Metric Dimensions Main Compartment only: 37cm L x 19cm W x 29cm H
• US Capacity: 1,078 Cubic Inches
• Metric Capacity (total): 20,387 Cubic Centimeters

K-12 Kat Pack Backpack Color Translator

• Amethyst = Purple
• Black
• Bordeaux = Dark Red
• Coal = Gray
• Forest = Green
• Khaki = Tan
• Mariner = Blue
• Midnight = Dark Blue
• Olive = Military Green
• Red
• Saffron = Yellow
• Safari = 1940s Olive Drab

Keep in Mind: Colors on your monitor will vary from the actual color of the fabric. The only way to accurately gauge a color is to request a swatch.

In production: Orders typically shipped within 21 days. Call 1-888-733-6999 for details.