Not being the slimmest of women, I decided upon experimenting with cool backpacks. Being chubby, overweight, plus size (call it what you will – I call it being fat) means that we big girls tend to have to work a bit harder to look good.

Fact is that the only exercise I willingly take part in is the short walk from here to the cookie jar; therefore I have decided to move away from the usual route to weight loss (generally known as diet and exercise) in favor of misdirection.

This is what led me to my experimenting with trying out a variety of unique backpacks, to see which one gave the best fit. So to speak. I figured out that if everyone’s eyes were on my awesome backpack and not on the size of my not so awesome ass then I could consider myself as close to being thinner as anyone would ever have the right to do.

Admittedly one cool backpack does not a thin person make but you can’t argue with the results. These days I’m showered with compliments about what’s attached to my back, rather than on the fat that’s attached to my hips.

Moving along, my top rated cool backpack is the Mobile Edge MEBPEX2 Express Backpack. It is, in a word, cool. Very much so. It’s good for laptops, spacious enough for books and work projects and don’t get me started on the neat pockets and niches that allow you to lose all kinds of stationary and other non-interesting paraphernalia.

It also makes me look good. It draws the eyes of the detractors and the snickerers, and it’s also been known to draw an admiring glance or two. I don’t mind that those flattering peeks relate to my bag because I can’t fault its design, the hardware and versatility. Not to mention that I know they’re peeking at my backpack and not by butt simply because the girth of that baby requires a full on stare. It’s that big.

As far as cool backpacks go, this one’s cool to the chromosomes. And if I wear cool, I look cool. And so will you. The design, the styling and details all add up to one happy customer and let’s face it, being on the wrong side of chubby means that I need a bag to match my physique. And this bag is heavy on quality, looks and function. And almost as cheap as a three course meal of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Mobile Edge MEBPEX2 Express Backpack (Polka Dot) List Price: $59.99 Sale Price: $37.21 You save: $22.78 (38%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Vera Bradley Laptop Backpack

Hmmmmm. I think misdirection is an awesome way of taking the heat away from the junk in your trunk, which is why this busy looking laptop backpack is not only cool, it's eye-catching too. And that's what we're after here. This is not an exercise in looking trendy so much as it's an exercise that creates an illusion of ... a thinner you. Even if you're not.

The usual suspects of the bash-the-big brigade will only ever see this gorgeous, interesting and altogether unique backpack. It's available in a wide range of colors and once you've caught the eye of anyone in sight, you also get a bonus conversation thrown in. Once they've got over fawning and drooling all over your bag (better than not drooling over anything at all) you can inform them about all it's plus points.

There's an organizer pocket, two other front zippered pockets, an interior space that will comfortably fit a 15" laptop that's sat  inside the matching laptop sleeve. It's spacious enough to hold your laptop peripherals, as well as folders, books and other paraphernalia.

It's a vibrant backpack, tougher than it looks and trust me ... you can still find room to hide several bars of chocolate and a bag lunch in there. Remember: thin people are just chocolate waiting to happen.

Vera Bradley Laptop Backpack