Nike’s new easy open backpack was designed to prioritize accessibility

Nike’s new Elite EasyOn backpack was designed with innovative features making it accessible for as many athletes as possible, including those with low dexterity or motor skills. Originally developed for athletes competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the backpack is now available to everyone through the company’s online store for $150.

The bag’s most unique feature is a full clamshell opening that fully exposes its exterior. That eliminates the need to empty the backpack or dig through its contents to reach items at the bottom or those stashed in several of its internal pockets.

But securing the large flap with a zipper would require a long continuous path that could challenge some Paralympic athletes. “A comment we were frequently hearing from adaptive athletes was how difficult it was to open and close traditional backpacks without a high-dexterity anchor point, like a hand,” says Brent Radewald, Nike’s Lead Equipment Designer.

The solution was to pair shorter zippers, upgraded with larger U-shaped pulls that make them easier to grasp, with a top flap, held in place with magnets, that can be opened using just one hand. Then, with a continued downward peeling motion, the entire backpack can be opened without touching the zippers on either side.

To improve the backpack’s security and to prevent it from falling open on its own, the large flap can be secured using a simple hook and loop system at the top. To explain how to use the features, the backpack’s internal liner is printed with illustrated instructions.

Another key tweak for the Elite EasyOn backpack is its modular strap design. A traditional approach with dual shoulder straps can be used, but the backpack can also be customized with just a single strap that runs across the chest or a pair of straps with adjustable clasps on either side, allowing it to hang off the handles on a wheelchair.

Nike said that addresses issues experienced by a local wheelchair rugby team in Portland, who pointed out that because they used wheelchairs with handles that didn’t have a standard width, they couldn’t find compatible backpacks.