It looks like any good-looking modern backpack. However, the Nike Elite EasyOn Backpack is different because it was originally developed for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with features specifically designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring it’s easily usable even among athletes that face issues with dexterity and motor skills. Now, you can buy one of those accessibility-focused packs.
That’s right, Nike just made their backpack from this year’s Paralympic Games available to the general public, allowing you to enjoy the same innovative features on your everyday backpack. Whether you actually have some form of disability or simply want a thoughtfully-designed bag, this thing offers some unique features that streamlines packing, unpacking, and a whole load of other stuff.
The Nike Elite EasyOn Backpack has a clamshell opening that allows full access to the main compartment, making it easy to both organize your stuff when packing and take anything out once you’re done. That means, there’s no need to rummage around to find that bag of protein powder that slid down to the bottom, since you can easily see and access everything inside as soon as you unzip the whole thing. You know how most clamshell-style bags come with long zips that go all the way around? Well, that’s the kind of thing that’s very challenging for people with dexterity issues to open and close. As such, they didn’t do that here.
Instead, they opted for a multi-step closure system that’s actually easier for those individuals. To open, you first pull down the zippers on the left and right sides of the bag using large ring-shaped pulls that should be a lot easier to hold than traditional zipper pulls. After that, you should unsnap the button magnets on the top flap, then raise the flap out of the way. From there, you can take down the front opening and gain full access to the main compartment. According to the outfit, the combination of the shorter zipper travel, the large zipper pulls, and the magnetic snap buttons should make it easy for normal people to open with one hand, while also making it accessible for those with dexterity problems.
The Nike Elite EasyOn Backpack comes with multiple clasps on the back that you can use to attach straps in different positions. This allows you to put on traditional backpack straps for carrying on your back, as well as a sling strap for carrying the bag across your torso. Additionally, this makes it possible to use wheelchair straps instead of a sling strap or backpack straps. Even better, you can make the separation between the straps wider or narrower to ensure they fit perfectly on different wheelchairs’ handlebars. You can even arrange the wheelchair straps as loops if that works better with a specific wheelchair design.
The bag measures 21 x 12 x 9 inches (height x width x depth), with a 31L capacity that should make it usable as a daypack, a gym bag, or even an overnight pack. Other features include adjustable padded shoulder straps, a separate shoe compartment, internal pockets for organizing, and a sternum strap for when there’s a but more load than usual.
The Nike Elite EasyOn Backpack is available now, priced at $150.