I recently started a new job that requires me to commute on the train to my office. As a reader I like to have one or two books on the go, ready for the journey, but the problem is that I also pack lunch and a number of other things in my bag with the risk of damaging my paperbacks. I’ve had all kinds of horrific things happen to my paperbacks in my bag, from bent covers, to torn pages, water spillage and coffee stains. With that being said, here’s a list of ways you may be able to protect your beloved books from damage when carrying them with you on any type of journey.
UPDATE: Since I wrote this article some of the products have been made unavailable, so I have updated them for you. 02/20/2020
A bag with compartments
You may have a preference on the type of back you like to carry, some like backpacks and some prefer messenger bags. Whichever bag you decide on, make sure it has multiple compartments so that you can separate your books from everything else you carry that could potentially do harm.
My problem before was that I had a simple back with no compartments to separate my food from my bulky goods. So things were always sitting on top of one another. If you’re buying online then do yourself a favour and make sure the bag has multiple compartments.
Here’s some good options to choose from if you need to purchase a bag:
– Multi-compartment backpack for men and woman UK | US
– OSOCE Extra Large Backpack UK | US
– AmazonBasics Laptop Backpack UK | US
– Estarer 17-17.3 inch Laptop Messenger Bag UK | US
Heavy duty plastic bags
You may already have some plastic bag solutions around your home for other purposes, so there may not be any reason to go and buy some. But these clear plastic bags can help protect your books from damage when travelling. Many of them are even waterproof, so will provide protection from rain if you’re outdoors a lot.
You can probably even get away with using a plastic wallet used for A4 paper, but you’ll have to fold it over the book.
Canvased book covers
You can also purchase zipped canvas book covers. These are mainly popular for Bibles, but if they’re accessible to you then it’s something to consider if the plastic books aren’t efficient enough for you and you need a more durable solution. They can be difficult to find in some market places, but Etsy seems to have lots to choose from, and here’s a standard one I found on Barnes & Nobel.
This solution can also double as eReader protection if you want to bring your eBook device with you. They’re great for Kindles.
Stretchable book covers
Stretchable book covers are for protecting hardbacks, they’ll protect the original covert from damage as they act as a protective layer. These are also great for those who like to carry large diaries or journals. Stationary supplies like Staples or Office Depot seem to be the best marketplaces to find them.
A T-shirt or cloth
Another solution that won’t hurt your wallet is to simply wrap your book in a thin item of clothing (like a T-shirt), or any similar type of cloth you have to spare. It’s not a fancy solution but if you’re back doesn’t have compartments or much space to protect your precious books; this is the perfect hack to keep it safe.
Share your solutions with us!
Let us know which bags you own or which protection methods you use to protect your books when travelling with them. Our books are important to us, so we need to make sure that we protect as we adventure around this big bad world of ours. Do also let us know if you’ve had any horror stories from carrying your books with you, so we can all learn from it together.
