School backpacks

[FLTiger]

With August bearing down on us, it is time for new backpacks for the chillens. I have a stepdaughter who will be a sophomore in high school, and a son starting kindergarten. Any suggestions on where to go for durable backpacks (that won't make me weep openly when she explains that she lost it)?

[withoutink]

Was going to say north face till you said this... (that won't make me weep openly when she explains that she lost it)

JanSport makes some nice ones that are less money.

[DunEdinRanger]

Working at a college, the 'Swiss Army Knife" backpacks seem popular, as do the LL Bean packs.

Bean used to and probably still does come with a lifetime warranty.

The Swiss Army Knife ones are durable as I have seen kids overstuff them, and one of the kids who works for me, who will be a junior in college in september still uses his Bean backpack from when he was in HS.

[Obsessed]

L.L. Bean. They have full-size ones and smaller ones that should be good for the kindergardener.

[FLTiger]

Thank you for all the feedback (and thank you in advance for the feedback of those yet to post)!

Now, if I can just find a machine washable cell phone for her.... :rolleyes:

[Walter Sobchak]

I'll +1 on LL Bean. It's no secret that Bean is my favorite retailer on the planet. Plus you can have it embroidered w/ the kids' initials!

[Left Coast DJ]

Lunchboxes.com (http://www.lunchboxes.com) for a cool lunch box.

[northpaw]

I've abused the heck out of two Targus backpacks and been really impressed at how they've held up. Best Buy has them, but eBay has them cheaper. :biggrin:

[Jethro1984]

I have a SwissGear laptop backpack that I love but it wasn't cheap. I would recommend holding off until the Daughter hits college.

Someone else mentioned JanSport. Those are good. Or Eastpac are also good.

Never have had one from LLBean but they make good stuff anyway so I would assume that applies to their packs.

[Kratos]

Thank you for all the feedback (and thank you in advance for the feedback of those yet to post)!

Now, if I can just find a machine washable cell phone for her.... :rolleyes:

Just make her start paying for them. Target may have some good ones. And as much as I hate the place, Wal-Mart has been phasing in some higher-quality goods lately. Couldn't hurt to go by.

[mretzloff]

I just graduated highschool. High Sierra is a great company. Their backpacks are tough and if they break, they have lifetime warranties on them. The same goes for JanSport.

Avoid NorthFace at all cost. They cannot hold many books and are nothing more than a fashion piece.

[ratcheer]

With August bearing down on us, it is time for new backpacks for the chillens. I have a stepdaughter who will be a sophomore in high school, and a son starting kindergarten. Any suggestions on where to go for durable backpacks (that won't make me weep openly when she explains that she lost it)?

We got my son a great one at an Oakley outlet, last fall. It is built for the rigors of outdoor hiking but even has a special pouch for a notebook PC. And it was half-price, around $60.

Tim

[Jethro1984]

Yea the Oakley Bags are nice, I wouldn't mind one myself.

I would just be wary though of spending a great deal of money on a bag until at least college. You carry around a TON of huge books in high school which puts a LOT of stress on a bag, zippers break and everything. Why not wait until college when your schedule is much different and you have a higher respect for your property. Buy a decent but cheaper bag for high school, it's going to get very beat up, possibly stolen, caught on lockers, etc.

[Kratos]

Yea the Oakley Bags are nice, I wouldn't mind one myself.

I would just be wary though of spending a great deal of money on a bag until at least college. You carry around a TON of huge books in high school which puts a LOT of stress on a bag, zippers break and everything. Why not wait until college when your schedule is much different and you have a higher respect for your property. Buy a decent but cheaper bag for high school, it's going to get very beat up, possibly stolen, caught on lockers, etc.

+1 on this. She's just a soph(and washing cell phones :lol:), so I'd go with the "least weepy" quality option you can find. I'm gonna head to Target here in a bit. If I see anything the guys haven't mentioned I'll chime back in.

[RazorDingo]

With August bearing down on us, it is time for new backpacks ...

An unnitended pun, perhaps, but one that brings up an important point.

For some time now there has been growing concern about the health risks kids face from backpacks that are too heavy. Make sure any bag you buy is appropriately sized for the kid - especially the kindergartner. Oversize bags encourage over-filling. Straps should be wide - and ought to be worn over both shoulders.

You'd have thought with the Internet and the proliferation of tiny electronic devices, kids wouldn't have to stagger around with half their lives strapped to their backs. But they do.

[Emmett]

I still have an Eastpac bag that I got in 7th grade. I've outgrown it but I still use it as a regular bag. I've the zipper replaced twice but the bottom is super thick full grain leather that looks practically new. It is indestructable. I've had some Jansports, which are very usable but not quite as durable. And my shoulder briefcase (satchel?) that I have now is Ogio. I would recommend any of the three.

[Walter Sobchak]

Just remembered, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Homegoods (I think) all have excellent prices on some nice bags. I got a pretty nice messenger bag for my netbook at TJ Maxx for dirt cheap.

[JBLAZE725]

I don't remember the brand I used in high school, but I do remember it was a canvassy type material for most of the backpack and a leather base. It was quite comfortable and lasted forever and at least back then it was cheap. If you want a bag that will last that was a great one.

[Kratos]

An unnitended pun, perhaps, but one that brings up an important point.

For some time now there has been growing concern about the health risks kids face from backpacks that are too heavy. Make sure any bag you buy is appropriately sized for the kid - especially the kindergartner. Oversize bags encourage over-filling. Straps should be wide - and ought to be worn over both shoulders.

You'd have thought with the Internet and the proliferation of tiny electronic devices, kids wouldn't have to stagger around with half their lives strapped to their backs. But they do.

Good observation. But you forget to factor in kids' propensity to lose those tiny devices.

[The Nid Hog]

My kids used JanSport in high school. Very strong and durable, hold lots of stuff, good padded straps and reliable zippers. When my older daughter started college, she wanted one that would hold her laptop too and we got a Northface. She's had it for a year and uses it constantly--still looks brand new.

[Dubbya]

LL Bean packs.
Bean used to and probably still does come with a lifetime warranty.


That's my vote. I still use the L.L. Bean messenger bag that I had all through high school and college.

[JLA334]

I personally have a Jansport and have had 2 LL Bean backpacks that have been extremely durable. The first LL Bean I got while I was still in high school. I graduated 19 years ago, and other than being a little faded it is still in good shape and completely functional.

[dpm802]

I have a pack called SportsPlus that has held up well for over a year ... it has three roomy outer pockets and a huge interior compartment, and a mesh-thingy where I carry my thermos bottle. It was only $20.

I chose this one because it has WHEELS and an collapsible handle ... I can carry a lot more dead-weight, and its much more convenient to get things in and out rather than needing to slip a backpack on and off.

[FLTiger]

Again, my thanks to everyone that has offered an opinion, I really appreciate it!



Good observation. But you forget to factor in kids' propensity to lose those tiny devices.

Or to wash them. :rolleyes:

After destroying her third phone in a year, she's now stuck with my wife's old i90c until the end of her contract (or until she can pay to replace it). If she destroys that one, my old i90c is waiting in reserve. :biggrin:

[Barbarian]

Poor kids need something 'expedition quality' since they have to carry so much weight around. I heard there are some Sherpa's in Tibet looking for work. Might be willing to carry books around!

Bring back the school locker!!

My kids have had good luck with Jansport.

[krissy]

I told my hubby this same exact thing this year. Last year all the kids got backpacks from walmart and while my oldest daughters wasn't in bad shape it wasn't in good shape either. My other two kids barely made it to the end of the year.

This year I am getting them backpacks without the cute prints that are made from cordura fabric. This is very strong material and can withstand a beating.

Several years ago our son got a backpack from Cabelas (their kids one) (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0048441516645a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=backpack&sort=all&Go.y=0&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1) And it's still going strong and looks great! He used it for a year of school and I was tempted to pull it out last year but he wanted his with the hulk on it, falling apart or not.

Since we do a lot of shopping at Cabelas I highly suggest one from there. But we also got a catalog from LL Bean (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LLBSearchDispatch?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&init=0&freeText=backpacks&opver=b) and they have more colors and different sizes available, so I'm not sure where I will order from.

That is just my opinion as a mom who is going through the same thing right now. I want it to last more than just a few months.

[Capaldo]

Campmor.com is a good source of decent quality stuff at reasonable prices. I shop their Hot Deals when I'm looking for gear. Here's a link to daypacks (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/SubCategory___40000000226_200368423?ip_navtype=Adv ancedSearch&catFilter=&searchKeywords=200368423&ip_sortBy=priceAsc&filters=Type~School~School%20(17)&ip_constrain=&pageSize=24&catType=&searchCategory=browsefilter&manNameFilter=&sizeFilter=&ip_state=&priceFilter=&currentPage=0&colorFilter=).

[Obsessed]

By the way, if you'll forgive a bit of a tangent, L.L. Bean also has great winter coats for little kids that allow you to lengthen the sleeves as the kids grow and thus possibly use the coat for more than one winter.

[tg16]

Lunchboxes.com (http://www.lunchboxes.com) for a cool lunch box.

Thanks! They even had a bacon dome lunchbox.

[Wendy]

Thank you for all the feedback (and thank you in advance for the feedback of those yet to post)!

Now, if I can just find a machine washable cell phone for her.... :rolleyes:

Machine washable. I got close. I have had two LG phones which I never really liked but they have been dropped in the toilet (yes I know that is gross) and the second one I could not find at my moms house one day when I was leaving so I called my phone from her house phone in hopes of finding it and I could hear a faint ringing sound and could not find for a few rings. The phone was in the dogs water bowl ringing that is why I struggled to hear it. My one and three year old do a number on my phones. The phone that soaked in the water bowl for a couple hours was fine until my daughter dropped a bottle of aftershave splash on it a month later and that seemed to do it in. I was still able to power up and get numbers off of it though.

As far as the backpacks go do not spend much on the little one. If he is 6ish and like most boys he will be using it to beat up his friends and dragging it on the ground. All of them on our street seem to think that is a requirement.

[scooby074]

Another vote for LLBEAN. I had one all through school and it was still in great condition when i lost it a few years ago. I intend on getting a replacement if I ever get back to the store, or put in a mail order.

[FFJim]

Another vote for the LLBean packs. I had one in school (many, many years ago) and other than the obvious fading of the pigment, it is still going strong. I also use a Swiss Army one for work, but due to the cost, I would wait to get one for the kids.

[GarageBoy]

If your kid hands out with the ghetto crowd- TNF is a must
Jansport has mixed feelings for me- some are nice, some make me feel "I paid $60 for THIS?" (the heritage/vintage line is utter garbage)
LL Bean by popular consensus

[mretzloff]

If your kid hands out with the ghetto crowd

:biggrin: :lol:

[M. McCord]

I got a Jansport pack as a going away present from my coworkers when I left to go back to school. Six years later it not only survived college but still sees daily use going back and forth to work. I think back then it was in the $30 range.

[FLTiger]

I'd like to thank everyone for their input and reflections on this matter!

In the end, we went with LL Bean. We even sprung for monogramming with the hope of discouraging theft.

[fight the line]

My Jansport bag is on its 9th year. When it isn't my school bag, I've used it to travel and as a work and gym bag.

I have a Jack Spade messenger I use for my laptop. I absolutely love it.

[tgarza]

JanSport, if you bag tears or the zipper breaks from normal use they fix it or send you a new bag for free. I have had the same JanSport for 19 years since my junior year in HS, I still use it as a range bag.

[kwk285]

As a side note. My daughter is trying to earn an award for her girl scout troop. She had to come up with a project that shows leadership and to help those who have fallen on tough times. She is doing a backpack drive. There is a great shelter in the Seattle area that helps a lot of people. My daughter is getting people to donate their used backpacks to this shelter.

If you have spare backpacks, I am sure you can find a group or organization that would appreciate the donation.

['71_Olds]

FLTiger, you made a smart choice. Those bags are tough. It takes a lot to wear them out, and if for some reason it doesnt meet up to your standard Beans has a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. And by the way, which ones did you choose? I'm just curious as I happen to work for LL Bean.