diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4f0689e0..d3ce71d9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Knapsack and ZDT5 now initialize solutions with their sampled random bits
+  instead of leaving all bits false. Knapsack also supports an empty bit vector.
+
 * [Current]
   * Added the multi-objective TSP problem
   * Added the Average Hausdorff Distance (AHD) quality indicator.
diff --git a/src/jmetal/problem/multiobjective/zdt.py b/src/jmetal/problem/multiobjective/zdt.py
index 47bc396a..f68965eb 100644
--- a/src/jmetal/problem/multiobjective/zdt.py
+++ b/src/jmetal/problem/multiobjective/zdt.py
@@ -223,8 +223,13 @@ def eval_v(self, value: int) -> float:
         return 1.0
 
     def create_solution(self, rng: np.random.Generator | None = None) -> BinarySolution:
-        """
-        Create a new random solution.
+        """Create a solution containing the sampled random bits.
+
+        Args:
+            rng: Random generator. Uses Python's global random generator when omitted.
+
+        Returns:
+            A binary solution whose bits are true for scalar draws below 0.5.
         """
         solution = BinarySolution(
             number_of_variables=self.total_number_of_bits,
@@ -234,11 +239,9 @@ def create_solution(self, rng: np.random.Generator | None = None) -> BinarySolut
 
         # Initialize with random bits
         if rng is not None:
-            for i in range(self.total_number_of_bits):
-                solution.variables[i] = rng.random() < 0.5
+            solution.variables = [rng.random() < 0.5 for _ in range(self.total_number_of_bits)]
         else:
-            for i in range(self.total_number_of_bits):
-                solution.variables[i] = random.random() < 0.5
+            solution.variables = [random.random() < 0.5 for _ in range(self.total_number_of_bits)]
 
         return solution
 
diff --git a/src/jmetal/problem/singleobjective/knapsack.py b/src/jmetal/problem/singleobjective/knapsack.py
index 7ebbf381..0b56f932 100644
--- a/src/jmetal/problem/singleobjective/knapsack.py
+++ b/src/jmetal/problem/singleobjective/knapsack.py
@@ -91,17 +91,24 @@ def evaluate(self, solution: BinarySolution) -> BinarySolution:
         return solution
 
     def create_solution(self, rng: np.random.Generator | None = None) -> BinarySolution:
+        """Create a solution containing the sampled random bits.
+
+        Args:
+            rng: Random generator. Uses NumPy's global generator when omitted.
+
+        Returns:
+            A binary solution with one sampled bit per item, or no bits for zero items.
+        """
         new_solution = BinarySolution(
             number_of_variables=self.number_of_bits,
             number_of_objectives=self.number_of_objectives(),
         )
 
-        # The BinarySolution initializes with empty variables, we need to set the bits
-        # The bits will be stored in variables[0] as a numpy array
+        # Initialize the flat bit vector through its storage setter.
         if rng is not None:
-            new_solution.variables[0] = rng.choice([True, False], size=self.number_of_bits)
+            new_solution.bits = rng.choice([True, False], size=self.number_of_bits)
         else:
-            new_solution.variables[0] = np.random.choice([True, False], size=self.number_of_bits)
+            new_solution.bits = np.random.choice([True, False], size=self.number_of_bits)
         return new_solution
 
     def name(self):
diff --git a/tests/problem/multiobjective/test_zdt.py b/tests/problem/multiobjective/test_zdt.py
index 988e3599..4038818a 100644
--- a/tests/problem/multiobjective/test_zdt.py
+++ b/tests/problem/multiobjective/test_zdt.py
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 import unittest
+from unittest import mock
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
 
 from jmetal.problem.multiobjective.zdt import ZDT1, ZDT2, ZDT3, ZDT4, ZDT5, ZDT6
 
@@ -247,5 +251,26 @@ def test_should_get_name_return_the_right_name(self):
         self.assertEqual("ZDT5", problem.name())
 
 
+class TestZDT5Initialization:
+    """Regression tests for storing scalar samples as binary values."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("use_generator", [True, False])
+    def test_should_store_bits_using_the_existing_threshold(self, use_generator: bool) -> None:
+        """A draw equal to 0.5 remains false for both random sources."""
+        draws: list[float] = [0.0, 0.49, 0.5, 0.99] * 20
+        expected: list[bool] = [True, True, False, False] * 20
+        rng = mock.Mock(spec=np.random.Generator)
+        rng.random.side_effect = draws
+        with mock.patch(
+            "jmetal.problem.multiobjective.zdt.random.random", side_effect=draws
+        ) as global_random:
+            solution = ZDT5().create_solution(rng if use_generator else None)
+
+        assert solution.variables == expected
+        selected = rng.random if use_generator else global_random
+        assert selected.call_args_list == [mock.call()] * len(draws)
+        (global_random if use_generator else rng.random).assert_not_called()
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/problem/singleobjective/test_knapsack.py b/tests/problem/singleobjective/test_knapsack.py
index 42ba5824..fb6e028a 100644
--- a/tests/problem/singleobjective/test_knapsack.py
+++ b/tests/problem/singleobjective/test_knapsack.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
 from unittest import mock
 
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+
 from jmetal.problem.singleobjective.knapsack import Knapsack
 
 
@@ -58,3 +61,32 @@ def test_should_create_solution_from_file(self) -> None:
     def test_should_get_name_return_the_right_name(self):
         problem = Knapsack()
         self.assertEqual("Knapsack", problem.name())
+
+
+class TestKnapsackInitialization:
+    """Regression tests for storing sampled bits during initialization."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("use_generator", [True, False])
+    def test_should_store_sampled_bits(self, use_generator: bool) -> None:
+        """Both random sources must populate the returned solution's storage."""
+        expected: np.ndarray = np.array([True, False, False, True, True])
+        rng = mock.Mock(spec=np.random.Generator)
+        rng.choice.return_value = expected
+        with mock.patch(
+            "jmetal.problem.singleobjective.knapsack.np.random.choice", return_value=expected
+        ) as global_choice:
+            solution = Knapsack(5).create_solution(rng if use_generator else None)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(solution.bits, expected)
+        selected = rng.choice if use_generator else global_choice
+        selected.assert_called_once_with([True, False], size=5)
+        (global_choice if use_generator else rng.choice).assert_not_called()
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("use_generator", [True, False])
+    def test_should_initialize_zero_items(self, use_generator: bool) -> None:
+        """Zero items produce an empty vector for either random source."""
+        rng = np.random.default_rng(42) if use_generator else None
+
+        solution = Knapsack(0).create_solution(rng)
+
+        assert solution.bits.size == 0