But with unusual shades and patterns like indigo tie-dye, details such as bubble-like sequins and embroidery, and unique finishes including tassels on the zipper pulls, the packs have an out-of-the-ordinary look and feel thats likely to appeal to kids and parents who want a special backpack to start a new school year. The Gear-Up (shown here in the 28-liter size) has a large main compartment with plenty of space for notebooks, some textbooks, a laptop, and lunch. Though it held up in our initial testing, we were concerned about the backpacks top handle, which appears minimally reinforced. Available in 28- or 30-liter sizes, including a rolling option, the Gear-Up backpacks are roomy and durable, and they have a padded back with mesh lining and padded contoured shoulder straps. Here are 35 of our favorite school supplies. So many kids at my DD's school had "junior size" backpacks that just couldn't quite hold a folder, crafts, etc. The main compartmentlined with an assortment of cute patterns, such as the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiacincludes a (non-padded) mesh pocket that can hold a 13-inch laptop, as well as two elastic interior pockets, and its roomy enough to fit a lunch bag, standard school folders, and a sweatshirt. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Overall though the Junior Original is a very high quality pack. They also have additional bells and whistles, such as a height-adjustable sternum strap, a laptop sleeve with Velcro closure for the small and large backpacks (though its not padded), mesh lining on the padded back, contoured shoulder straps, a clip to attach a lunchbox, and a daisy chain for attaching knickknacks (a feature kids ask for). As intended, this pack was a great fit on the smaller end of our spectrum. This is the one I got my daughter for k last yearshe's used it all year without a problem. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. For Prek, they had to use the schools bag so my question is should I just buy her the larger original size backpack for Kindergarten? It's a winner on the organization front, too, with plenty of compartments. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. We got the critter last year. We independently review everything we recommend. But this line also comes with more-appealing designs for tweens and teens, as well as additional ways to carry and organize all the gear that older students need to pack. My neighbors were going through Hannah Montanna and Dora Explorer backpacks like crazy. It is not large enough to hold a bulky winter jacket, but he has his own cubbie at school for that. I really do believe you get what you pay for - and we definitely got our money's worth for hers. We use it for sleep overs at the grandparents house. There's a lot to love about the quality here. Both the small and large Pottery Barn Mackenzie packs have sternum straps, which can help keep the shoulder straps from slipping. Back to home page. With three cascading tiers of pockets, the Gear-Up backpack lets students easily stash and organize their belongings. He used the lizard one for 2 years, and it still looks brand new. We tested nine lunch boxes for kids and found the L.L.Bean Lunch Box is the best insulated lunch box, and the Bentgo Fresh is the best bento-style lunch box. Junior. The back of the backpack is padded, ergonomically contoured, and lined with mesh. I love LLBean - you can't go wrong with their backpacks. Oh no three replies each one for a different size. Search The main compartment of the Kane Kids backpack could fit up to a 13-inch laptop, but it also has no extra cushioning. This could be fine for younger kids, but its available only in a 21-liter capacity. But thefront pocket has five additional compartments, including two slots for pens or pencilsand a smaller pocket that zips closed. In 2008 and 2009, there was a terrible lice epidemic. You must log in or register to reply here. The Gear-Up has two water-bottle pouches, but theyre made from mesh, which tends to be less durable than woven nylon. Hottest Topics -- Last 30 Days If youre looking for kids backpacks for hiking, camping, and travel, check out our guide to the best camping and hiking backpacks for kids. For older kids, or those ready for bigger, more grown-up styles, check out our favorite laptop backpacks. It is great on size. I am not sure if kids end up carrying their lunch box or putting it in their backpacks. It should also be appropriately sized for smaller bodies and comfortable to lug around. An elastic bungee cord can wrangle extra gear like a sweatshirt or gym sneakers. In MDso she maybe jamming her coat and stuff in there at times. Like the L.L.Bean packs, the Kane packs external bottle pockets are made from the same sturdy material as the rest of the backpackthough the Kane Kids water-bottle pockets dont have the same elastic strip at the top to hold a bottle in securely. A great school backpack for kids should be able to corral all the stuff they need for the school day. But they dont have a sternum strap, which can help keep the shoulder straps from sliding. The Junior and Original packs are identical in design; the only real difference between them is size. Overall, the L.L.Bean packs offer excellent value: Theyre among the least expensive of the kids backpacks we looked at, and theyre the only packs in our top picks that offer a generous, one-year satisfaction guarantee. But while we were intrigued that the backpack unzips completely so that it lies flat, it is otherwise boxy and bulky, and we did not find the design practical for school. But compared with our picks, it has fewer, and less practical, organizational pockets. A small zippered compartment fits school supplies like pens, pencils, and a calculator. Backpack needs can be as individual as kids are. Pottery Barn does not offer a warranty on its backpacks, and monogrammed bags cannot be returned. Today he finishes his last day of 3 day a week preschool so this has been to school for 2 years. We put labels from seven companies through 12 wash cycles to see how well they stuck and found that the best labels to put on kids gear come from Name Bubbles. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. I'm glad I didall kids had full size packs and it worked out great. The Fjllrven Knken original, at 16 liters, is more appropriately sized for smaller kids, but we dismissed it before testing because the shoulder straps are webbing only and unsupportive. But the backpack was available only in patterns, not traditional solid colors, which we found somewhat unappealing. Pockets and organization: The Gear-Up has a spacious main compartment with a padded laptop sleeve, a midsize zippered compartment, a small zippered compartment, and two external bottle pockets. But its suitable only for preschoolers, and it fits, at most, lunch. The Junior Original passed our capacity test (ability to fit a full-sized folder, a small notebook, and a couple books), but not withmuch room to spare. We previously recommended the 16-liter Lands End ClassMate Small Backpack and the 21-liter Medium because they have plenty of space to pack essentials, an adjustable sternum strap, daisy chains for attaching trinkets, and, in the Medium, an (unpadded, non-elastic) interior sleeve that fits a 14-inch laptop. Whether youre looking for an affordable classic that will last for years, a fun backpack that comes in multiple sizes and tons of designs (including a rolling option), a larger backpack with laptop storage for older students, or an artsy, super-organized backpack for all ages, these packs earn top marks from kids and parents alike. One section has a padded laptop sleeve and enough space for one or two notebooks. That helps us focus on the products, so you can focus on the fun. The now-discontinued, 26-liter Jansport Super Lite felt durable and (as promised) lightweight, and came in bright, appealing colors. (L.L.Bean also makes a rolling backpack for kids, but at 35 liters, its too big for most elementary-schoolers and even middle-schoolers.). That is what the salesperson recommeneded when I was buying for DS last year for K. She said the backpacks are good quality and will last years into the future so she would recommend a big one. And while the back is padded, the shoulder straps are not. The Pottery Barn Kids packs are roomy and durable, with convenient organizational pockets. I just bought the original size for my DD who will start K this fall. However, one parent described Herschel bags as cute designs, shit product. The third-grader also noted that the REI Workload Mini (now discontinued) was more comfortable than the Herschel. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Parents on our staff have reported that these packs typically last at least two school years (which is not as long as L.L.Bean packs generally last). The Kane backpacks are the most expensive of our picks. The junior doesn't fit folder, lunch, and cold weather stuff - trust me! The removable seat pad is a nice bonus, but the children we consulted found the convertible strap system more fiddly and difficult to adjust than useful. Who its for: The Junior Original Book Pack should fit kids ages 4 to 7; the Original Book Pack fits kids ages 8 to 12. If our main picks dont suit your childs needs, here are some other well-performing options weve testedand in some cases recommendedover the past six years. The small zippered compartment contains an organizer panel with three open pouches, three pencil/pen slots, and a lanyard with a clip for keys or tchotchkes. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Unlike our other picks, the L.L.Bean packs dont come with a sternum strap to help keep the shoulder straps from sliding back and off the childs shoulders. Why its great: L.L.Beans 16-liter Junior Original and 24-liter Original Book Pack rank among the highest-quality kids backpacks weve tested, and theyve been our top pick for six years running. I bought the Original for DS1 when he was in 1st grade, and last year I bought one for DS2 when he started kindergarten. Like the Pottery Barn Mackenzies top handle, the Gear-Ups is padded and has reinforced stitching for durability. Some Gear-Up backpacks also have a small zippered pocket near the top handle that can also be used to stash a smartphone. A sleeve with a Velcro closure can hold a laptop (up to a 13-inch laptop for the small; the large can hold a 15-inch laptop), though its not padded. And the second section, meant to carry the bulk of a students binders, books, and lunch, has the same organizer panel as the one in the smaller Kane Kids backpacks. L.L.Bean introduced its now-classic Book Pack in 1982. Depending on the design, Kane packs have an exterior thats made from durable canvas, coated cotton, or polyester. Materials: water-resistant 600-denier polyesterWater-bottle holder: twoLaptop sleeve: yes, padded; fits up to a 15-inch laptopWarranty: noColors and patterns: more than 80 prints. It has just two zippered pockets and no organizational features. Subscribe now for unlimited access. It has held up well to daily abuse. But when filled, its three cascading pockets expand outward, making the bag feel bulky and unbalanced. Our kid testers found the L.L.Bean packs to be comfortable. My kids also packed the bags with their personal belongings (down to their favorite pens and pencils in the pen holders). The North Face Berkeley (25 liters) and Berkeley Mini (19 liters) are well constructed, but their single external pocket is wide and long without an organizing panel. Flaws but not dealbreakers: The smaller, 14-liter Kane Kids backpack may feel snug if your child carries a large lunchbox, notebooks, and folders. And it comes in grown-up but fun designs. The midsize compartment also contains an organizer panel with two open pouches, a zippered mesh pouch for money, two pencil/pen slots, and a lanyard with a clip for keys or tchotchkes. Excellent reflective strip. And it didnt have much in the way of internal organization. (Because of the angle of the zipper, its hard to zip and unzip the backpack quickly and easily.) It'll still be good for her next year for 4th grade. The handle on the Pottery Barn Kids packs is notably reinforced with double stitching and is the only one among our picks (along with the Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up backpack) that is padded for comfort. It has a reinforced, padded handle for more convenient carrying. We count Osprey packs among the best hiking daypacks for kids and the best travel packs for adults, but we didnt like that this more general backpack came only in blue or black. Although we didnt think it was the most functional hiking pack, Wirecutter senior editor Kalee Thompsons 10-year-old son has since used this pack for three school years, as well as for stints at summer camp. In 2021, my family tested five additional packs, the Light+Nine Student Foldable Backpack, TwelveLittles Adventure Backpack, the L.L. And weve found that their all-mesh water-bottle pockets are likely to tear within the first year of use. According to a third-grader and fifth-grader at different schools, the Herschel Heritage XL Youth is a popular bag for its brand appeal and design. The Light+Nine Student Foldable Backpack is an innovative bag that kids can customize with charms (similar to adding shoe charms on your Crocs, but easier). As with the zippers on the L.L.Bean packs, the zippers on the Kane packs are protected by a storm flap. But this bag is worth considering if your kid needs a durable, ergonomic backpack for both school and outdoor activities. In 2020, I tested 11 backpacks with my kids (then ages 4, 10, and 12), pitting our previous top picks against a slate of five new backpacks: State Bagss Kane Kids Large, the Kids Burton Day Hiker Backpack, the Jansport Super Lite (no longer available), the Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up, and the Parkland Bayside. Older elementary- and middle-school students will likely also need to pack a binder, notebooks, and, increasingly, a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. I examined each backpack carefully (repeatedly zipping and unzipping the bags, inspecting the seams, and comparing the touch and feel of the material), and I filled them with various combinations of kids stuff. Materials: weatherproof 600-denier nylonWater-bottle holder: oneLaptop sleeve: noWarranty: one-year satisfaction guaranteeColors and patterns: four colors and five prints for the Junior Original; six colors and nine prints for the Original.