The Neon Backpack that just wouldn't Die

When I was a little kid, my grandparents on my mom’s side (Grandma and Grandpa Arnold) started a business making bags for railroaders. The company is called Tuffbag. Now in 2023, my sister runs the company. They make their backpacks and duffle bags to take a beating and last forever. 

One day when we were visiting my grandparents I saw that they had some new fabric. Usually, their bags were made from practical colors like black, navy blue, and dark red. But this fabric was neon pink, like so neon you could stop traffic with it.

I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen! Neon was very cool in the ’80s. I also needed a new backpack for school which my grandma agreed to make. I’m not sure how old I was, maybe in second or third grade.

So there I was the coolest kid, with the brightest backpack on the block for, third grade, and fourth grade. We moved the year I started 5th grade, so then I was the new kid on the block (80’s boy band reference intended) with the bright pink backpack that wasn’t as cool as it used to be.

By the time I was in 9th grade that backpack was still going strong. It was a Tuffbag after all. They were meant to last forever. Neon, unfortunately in my backpack’s case, did not last forever, it was no longer cool to be able to stop traffic with your backpack. And of course, my mom wouldn’t get me a new backpack because the one I had was “still good”.

When I was in 9th grade I used my own money to buy a Winnie the Pooh backpack from Kmart. I admit my taste in backpacks was not timeless. Luckily the Winnie the Pooh backpack wore out after only a year.

The neon backpack was handed down to my younger siblings and I think we eventually donated it to the DI (thrift store). So I guess the moral of the story is that if you are going to buy something that lasts forever a boring color like black, navy blue, or dark red might be a better choice than trendy neon pink.

This story if from my sister, in her words, with a few edits. I'm Super grateful for her sending it to me. I remember that backpack, and my little child mind thought it was the prettiest bag ever! Now as an adult, I don't think I could pull it off.

If you have stories about your Tuffbag, we’d love to hear them! Please email us @ originaltuffbag+stories@gmail.com