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A great school backpack should be able to corral all the stuff your kid needs for the day. It should also sit comfortably on your child’s back, be durable enough to last for years, and express their sense of style as they head off to face the world (and the lunch line). Kids Bookbag Set With Lunch Box Pencil Case
We looked for well-made, high-quality backpacks that could last the entire school year and beyond.
We sought backpacks with features like adjustable padded straps and padded backs to help ease potentially heavy loads.
School backpacks should be the right size for a child’s body, with enough space to hold their lunch, schoolwork, and gear.
Since backpacks are a way for kids to express themselves, we wanted to find models that come in a variety of colors and designs.
Since 2015, we’ve tested 35 popular backpacks for kids, in some cases sending the packs to school with our own children year after year. The backpacks we recommend are suited for kids in a range of ages, from preschool through middle school. Whether you’re 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 a style-forward, super-organized backpack for all ages, these packs earn top marks from kids and caregivers alike.
Since 2015, when we originally published this guide, we’ve conducted seven rounds of testing. We’ve invested many hours of research to determine what makes the ideal school backpack for a kid. And we’ve spent years observing how our top picks have performed in the wild as our own kids have taken them to school. This guide also draws from the collective wisdom of many Wirecutter staffers and contributors who are also parents.
I’ve written for the San Francisco Chronicle and other major newspapers, and I’ve reported on family and parenting for publications such as Parents and Real Simple. I also wrote the Wirecutter guides to the best diaper bags, kids water bottles, and apps to manage your child’s smartphone.
Sonjia Hyon, Dan Frakes, and Michael Berk wrote previous versions of this guide. I’ve been its author since 2020. I’m the parent of three kids—ages 7, 13, and 15—who have tested our contenders and made their opinions known.
This guide focuses on backpacks for kids from preschool through middle school. We concentrated on backpacks that are designed for use during a typical school day, with space and organization for school supplies, books, lunch, a water bottle, and other light gear (including, in some cases, a laptop, a smartphone, or other tech). The picks in this guide should stand up to the rigors of a full school year of daily wear and tear. (And in many cases they’ve lasted through multiple school years and have been handed down.) The designs and styles are likely to appeal to kids ages 14 and younger.
For older kids or those ready for bigger, more grown-up styles, check out our guide to the best laptop backpacks. If you’re looking for kids backpacks that are specifically suited for hiking, camping, and outdoor travel, we have a guide to the best camping and hiking backpacks for kids.
This classic backpack has a nostalgic look, durable build, and spacious design. And it lasts for years.
The same classic, durable backpack but with a smaller main compartment and back and shoulder straps built to fit smaller backs and arms.
Who it’s for: The Junior Original Book Pack should fit kids ages 4 to 7; the larger Original Book Pack fits kids ages 8 to 12.
Why it’s great: L.L.Bean’s 16-liter Junior Original and 24-liter Original Book Pack rank among the highest-quality kids backpacks we’ve tested, and they’ve been our top pick for eight years running. The backpacks last for years, are comfortable and appropriately sized for young kids, and are spacious enough to hold plenty of gear without becoming unwieldy.
L.L.Bean introduced its now-classic Book Pack in 1982. Virtually unchanged today, the Book Pack has a nostalgic, hipster appeal—and it has even been said to have a cult following. The Junior and Original packs are identical in design; the only real difference between them is size. Both have water-bottle pockets, made with the same durable nylon as the bag. In our years of testing, we’ve found that this type of water-bottle pocket fares far better over time than pockets made of mesh (since those often rip or get snagged). And the thick strip of elastic at the top of the L.L.Bean pocket will securely hold your child’s water bottle in place. On both the Junior and Original packs, the water-bottle pocket comfortably holds a 12- to 14-ounce kid-size water bottle.
Both sizes have high-quality finishes, including sturdy zipper pulls, a storm flap to protect the main zipper, and a thick, 3M Scotchlite reflective strip on the front (a safety plus for kids who walk or bike to school). After using this pack for a year, one of our testers noted the expected dirt and a few scratches on the reflective strip; otherwise, the bag still looked and functioned great. The thickly padded shoulder straps on our Junior Original test bag showed no signs of breaking down or compressing.
Overall, the L.L.Bean packs offer excellent value. As audience development director Lauren Sullivan, who bought this pack for the first time last year, says, “This was the first year we didn’t need to trash our backpacks at school-year end.” The L.L. Bean packs are also among the least expensive of the kids backpacks we looked at, and they’re the only packs we recommend that offer a generous, one-year satisfaction guarantee with a full refund. (After the first year, return requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. But in our experience the company honors its warranties quickly and easily, with few or no questions asked.)
The Original Book Pack comes in a range of solid primary colors, and that’s the aesthetic it’s best known for. But in recent years, it’s also been offered in an increasingly wide array of lively prints, such as a fun green alligator pattern and rainbow dot design. If you’ve been steering clear of L.L.Bean packs because you don’t think they have enough personality or design options, you may be surprised by how far they’ve come.
Pockets and organization: Both L.L. Bean backpack models have a roomy main compartment, a midsize zippered compartment, and one external water-bottle pocket. The midsize zippered compartment, which also has a zippered pocket sewn onto the front, is large enough to hold a pencil case or a hardcover book. The midsize compartment also contains an organizer panel with two open pouches, a zippered mesh pouch, two 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 don’t come with a sternum strap—the strap worn across the chest that connects to the shoulder straps and helps to keep them from sliding back and off the shoulders. (Sternum straps can be purchased separately from lots of different manufacturers and are available in kids sizes; we have not individually tested them.) Since the L.L.Bean packs don’t have a sternum strap, it’s particularly important that you get the right size pack for your child (rather than a larger backpack for them to “grow into”), so that the shoulder straps fit correctly.
Although the L.L.Bean packs’ back is padded, they do not have mesh panels, like some of our other picks (the mesh is intended to provide ventilation and prevent your child’s back from getting too sweaty, though its effectiveness is debatable). The Junior Original and Original packs also do not include a laptop sleeve; if your child totes a laptop or tablet to school, you may need to purchase a separate laptop sleeve.
Materials: weatherproof 600-denier nylon Water-bottle holder: one Laptop sleeve: no Warranty: one-year satisfaction guarantee Colors and patterns: five colors and eight prints for the Junior Original; five colors and 14 prints for the Original Monogramming available: yes, for $8 (up to 10 characters)
The Mackenzie backpack comes in the widest variety of styles we’ve found for younger kids, including some of the most durable character backpacks available. It’s also the only pack among our picks that comes in a rolling option appropriately sized for elementary-age students.
Who it’s for: The mini pack option, available in some patterns, is sized for preschoolers (or kids 36 inches to 42 inches tall); the small backpack fits kids ages 4 to 6 (or 43 inches to 49 inches tall); and the large, XL, and rolling versions fit kids ages 7 to 12 (or more than 48 inches tall). Pottery Barn also makes an adaptive backpack designed for kids with disabilities.
Why it’s great: For kids who want to pick out the perfect pattern for their backpack or who covet a particular character or franchise (think Star Wars, Disney princesses, and Paw Patrol), Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie backpacks are the best option. The well-made packs come in dozens of designs, including glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs, a shimmery rainbow ombre, and camouflage.
The Mackenzie lineup includes five size options, and it’s the only one of our picks that offers a rolling bag (in certain styles) sized correctly for younger, elementary-school kids.
The Mackenzie packs are roomy and durable. They also come with some welcome bells and whistles, such as a height-adjustable sternum strap, a laptop or tablet slot (which on the XL comes with a Velcro closure, though it’s not padded), a padded back with mesh lining, contoured shoulder straps, a clip to attach a lunchbox, and a daisy chain for attaching a keychain or knickknacks (a feature that many kids request).
One parent in our testing pool noted that on poor-quality backpacks, the top handle is often the first thing to break. The handle on the Mackenzie packs is notably reinforced with double stitching, and it’s the only one (along with the Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up backpack) among our picks that’s padded, making the bag more comfortable to lift and carry.
Parents whose kids have used both the Mackenzie and one of our L.L.Bean kids backpack picks have told us that the L.L.Bean pack had the better quality and design overall. (The L.L.Bean packs do have a very loyal following.) But those same parents reported that their kids preferred the Mackenzie packs’ patterns. And even though the Mackenzie packs typically cost a bit more than the L.L.Bean packs, when there’s a back-to-school promotion or other sale, the Mackenzie packs can end up costing the same.
Pockets and organization: The small and large Mackenzie bags have a roomy main compartment with a non-padded laptop sleeve. The sleeve on the small pack can hold a laptop up to 13 inches; the sleeve on the large pack can hold a laptop up to 15 inches. (The mini and rolling packs do not come with laptop sleeves). All of the Mackenzie packs have a midsize zippered compartment on the front that has an organizer panel with open pouches (some have dedicated pencil slots) and a lanyard with a clip for keys or tchotchkes. Some styles of the large backpack also have a small internal zippered pocket at the top of the bag (near the handle) for storing a phone or small electronic device. The bag has two external water-bottle pockets, made partially from mesh.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Wirecutter parents have reported that these packs typically last their kids at least two school years, which is not as long as the L.L.Bean packs generally last. The designs in the Mackenzie line are best suited for elementary-schoolers; older elementary-school and middle-school kids may find them too childish. (Case in point: The children in my family outgrew their chosen designs before the backpacks showed much wear and tear.)
Depending on the exact style of the pack, the two external bottle pockets will have some combination of mesh, woven nylon, and elastic tops. The weaker mesh is vulnerable to catching on something and snagging or tearing; although the water-bottle pockets on our test pack had not ripped after more than a year of use, other people have complained about this happening. Also, the Mackenzie’s laptop sleeve, which is unpadded and has a small Velcro closure, is flimsy. So if your child needs to carry a laptop, you’ll likely want additional protection. Pottery Barn does not offer a warranty on its backpacks.
Materials: water-resistant 600-denier polyester Water-bottle holder: two Laptop sleeve: yes, unpadded; fits up to a 13-inch laptop in the small pack and a 15-inch laptop in the large and XL packs (no laptop sleeve in the mini and rolling packs) Warranty: none Colors and patterns: more than 70 prints and designs Monogramming available: yes, for $15 (up to nine characters)
This bigger backpack has more space and additional organizational features—including a smartphone pouch and padded laptop sleeve. And it comes in mature but fun designs.
Who it’s for: This pack is for kids around age 12 and up.
Why it’s great: The Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up Backpack has many of the same features as Pottery Barn Kids’ younger-skewing Mackenzie, but this one is scaled up for older kids who need to tote more stuff. The Gear-Up comes in a range of colors and patterns that will appeal to tweens and teens. And it comes in roomy styles to help more-mature students pack, carry, and organize their gear; these include a rolling model and a sports model (which has a separate zippered pocket at the bottom for shoes).
Available in 15 liters (small), 28 liters (large, sports and rolling models), and 30 liters (XL), the Gear-Up pack is spacious and durable. It has a padded back with a mesh lining and padded contoured shoulder straps. Like the handle on the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie pack, this pack’s top handle is reinforced with double stitching and padded for comfort—especially helpful for the heavier loads that older students have to carry.
With three cascading tiers of pockets in its main compartment, the Gear-Up backpack allows students to easily stash and organize their belongings. The 28-liter backpack we tested provided plenty of space for our 6th-grade tester’s lunch, three notebooks, and a school-issued 11.6-inch Chromebook. For kids who need to carry multiple textbooks, sports attire, or other gear, the 30-liter size offers even more room.
Though the Gear-Up line does include a few characters and franchises—like Harry Potter, Minecraft, and Pac-Man—it features mostly more-grown-up-but-still-whimsical designs, such as vibrant swirls of color, neon patterns, tie-dye, and geometric prints.
Pockets and organization: The large, XL, and sport Gear-Up backpacks have a spacious main compartment with a padded laptop sleeve that accommodates a laptop up to 17 inches. It has a midsize front compartment and a smaller zippered compartment in the front, as well as two external mesh bottle pockets. 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. There’s a D-ring on the outside of the midsize compartment and a second D-ring on one of the shoulder straps, for clipping things. And a cinching bungee cord on the front of the small compartment—not a feature on the smaller Pottery Barn Mackenzie backpack—can hold outerwear or shoes. Some Gear-Up backpacks also have an additional small internal zippered pocket (near the top handle), which can be used to stash a smartphone.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although they’re reinforced at the bottoms, the water-bottle pockets are made from wide-loop mesh, so they’re vulnerable to catching on something and ripping—or simply tearing from the sheer weight of the bottle. Also, unlike the Pottery Barn Mackenzie packs, the Gear-Up backpacks do not come with a sternum strap (which helps keep the shoulder straps from sliding off); this omission seems counterintuitive since older kids are likely to be carrying a heavier load. Pottery Barn does not offer a warranty on its backpacks.
Materials: water-resistant 600-denier polyester Water-bottle holder: two Laptop sleeve: yes, padded (the small fits up to a 14-inch laptop; the large, XL, and sport sizes fit up to a 17-inch laptop) Warranty: no Colors and patterns: more than 50 prints Monogramming available: yes, for $15 (up to nine characters)
The Kane Kids pack stands out for its style, with loads of eye-catching, fashion-forward designs, interesting details, special finishes, and excellent organizational features. But it’s the most expensive of our picks.
Who it’s for: The 6.9-liter Kane Kids Mini fits kids ages 2 to 4; the 12.9-liter Kane Kids fits kids ages 4 to 8; the 20.6-liter Kane Kids Double Pocket fits kids ages 7 and up. The 27.1-liter Kane Kids Large fits kids ages 9 and up, but after my 13-year-old used it for middle school last year, the interior pocket tore. We don’t recommend these backpacks for middle schoolers who have to carry more gear.
Why it’s great: Kane Kids backpacks (available in a range of sizes for different ages) have a sleek, modern shape and an ultra-stylish aesthetic. Plus, they’re durable, with high-quality finishes and lots of pockets to help kids organize and stash their belongings.
From a pink metallic showstopper with oversize sequins to a simple yet distinctive strawberry-and-checkered print pack, the Kane Kids packs feel more sophisticated and fashion-forward than typical kiddie offerings. They come in unusual shades (like blue-black ombre) and textures (hello, fuzzy lightning bolt), and they have unique finishes, like decorative tassels on the zipper pulls. The packs have a special look and feel that’s likely to appeal to both parents and kids (including middle-schoolers) who are seeking a distinctive backpack to start off a new school year. They’re also the most expensive of our picks.
Depending on the design, the exterior is made from durable canvas, coated cotton, or polyester. The interior is lined with a slick, tightly woven polyester that is the easiest of our picks to wipe clean. Like the zippers on the L.L.Bean packs, the zippers on the Kane Kids packs are protected by a storm flap. The Kane Kids bags have high-quality finishes, including reinforced stitching along the top of the padded laptop sleeve on the 27.1-liter Kane Kids Large (in contrast with the flimsy laptop sleeve in our Pottery Barn picks, the Gear-Up and the Mackenzie). The Kane Kids packs’ organizer panel is more elaborate than those on the Pottery Barn Mackenzie and L.L.Bean packs, with a combination of open sleeves (for loose pieces of paper), a zippered pocket, and a mesh pocket to collect other small items.
As with our L.L.Bean pick’s water-bottle pocket, the Kane Kids’ external water-bottle pockets are made from the same sturdy material as the rest of the backpack (rather than from mesh, which is susceptible to rips and tears). And the newer Kane Kids packs also have an elastic strip at the top to hold the bottle in securely.
The Kane Kids backpacks have padded shoulder straps, and most designs feature daisy chains from top to bottom for attaching decorative charms or tchotchkes. The back of the bag is padded and comfortable as well, though it doesn’t have a breathable mesh lining, like the Pottery Barn backpacks do. Kane Kids packs don’t come with a sternum strap (which helps prevent the shoulder straps from slipping off). But the company does sell chest straps separately ($18 at the time of publishing) in a range of cute colors. State Bags offers a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects on its kids’ backpacks.
Pockets and organization: The Kane Kids bags feature one or two main compartments (depending on the size of the pack), a small zippered front compartment, and two external water-bottle pockets. On all of the bags except for the Kane Kids Mini, the main compartment has an organizer panel with two large open sleeves, a wide zippered pocket, two smaller open pockets (one made with mesh) that can hold a smartphone, four pencil/pen slots, and a lanyard with a clip for keys. The Kane Kids Double Pocket and the Kane Kids Large have two main compartments: The first compartment has a padded laptop sleeve and enough space for one or two notebooks, and the second compartment can hold a student’s lunch and the bulk of their binders and books. It also features the organizer panel. (Note: The smallest bag in the line, the Kane Kids Mini, has an internal water-bottle pocket and no organizer panel.)
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Even though the 12.9-liter Kane Kids bag has a large open sleeve in the organizer panel that can fit a 13-inch laptop, it’s not padded, so you can’t necessarily count on it to provide adequate cushioning and protection. Kane Kids packs aren’t cheap; if your kid is especially hard on backpacks—or gets new ones frequently—the cost is gonna add up. (The additional $20 for monogramming, while optional, also seems overly steep.) And despite the high price, the Kane Kids packs don’t come with a sternum strap. The inside lining of the backpack we tested featured repeated printed rows of the “State” logo, along with the message, “This lining used to be plastic bottles” (one of our tween testers found this to be pretentious; clearly, that’s pretty subjective).
Materials: coated cotton, canvas, water-repellent 600-denier polyester Water-bottle holder: two Laptop sleeve: yes (in all sizes but the 6.9-liter Kane Kids Mini); fits up to a 13-inch laptop for the 12,9-liter size (unpadded); fits up to a 13-inch laptop for the 20.6-liter size (padded); fits up to a 15-inch laptop for the 27.1-liter size (padded) Warranty: one-year warranty for manufacturing defects Colors and patterns: 26 styles for the 6.9-liter Kane Kids Mini; 47 styles for the 12.9-liter Kane Kids; 21 styles for the 20.6-liter Kane Kids Double Pocket; 16 styles for the 27.1-liter Kane Kids Large Monogramming available: yes, for $20 (up to six characters; embroidered symbols available for $15 to $20)
Backpack needs can be as individual as kids are. If our main picks don’t suit your child’s needs, here are some other options that performed well in our testing and that may fit the bill.
If you want an attractive backpack with a zipper that won’t catch (and you don’t mind the lack of interior compartments): In 2022, Crate & Kids launched a new line of kids backpacks in three sizes: a small backpack for preschoolers, a medium backpack for early elementary-school kids, and a large backpack for older elementary-school kids. This line features dozens of colorful designs—including astronauts, a cheetah print, lightning bolts, and sharks—that should appeal to younger kids. The zippers are among the most noticeable features on the Crate & Kids pack. They have wider metal teeth than zippers on any of the other backpacks we tested, and therefore they’re potentially less likely to get caught on, say, a child’s sweater. The Crate & Kids pack has two side water-bottle pockets that are made from the same polyester shell as the rest of the backpack, with an elastic cinch at the top. Both the back of the pack and the straps are padded, and the straps have daisy chains for attaching decorations. Unlike our main picks, however, the Crate & Kids backpack doesn’t offer much in the way of internal organization. The main compartment has only a padded laptop sleeve (our 13.3-inch laptop could easily fit into both the medium and large backpacks) and two open pockets; the bag’s front zippered pocket also lacks any dedicated panel for school supplies or other special pockets. Monogramming is available for $12 (up to 12 letters).
If you’re looking for a roomy pack with a sternum strap: We previously recommended the 16-liter Lands’ End ClassMate Small Backpack and the 21-liter Lands’ End ClassMate Medium Backpack because they have plenty of space for essentials, an adjustable sternum strap, and daisy chains for attaching trinkets. And in the Medium, there’s an (unpadded, non-elastic) interior sleeve that fits a 14-inch laptop. But compared with our current top picks, these Lands’ End packs have backs that aren’t quite as padded, their interior organization is not as usable, and their material feels flimsier. And we’ve found that their all-mesh water-bottle pockets are likely to tear within the first year of use. We think the similarly priced and more durable L.L.Bean backpacks are a better value. But the Lands’ End packs may be worth considering if you find them on sale. Monogramming is available for $8 (up to seven letters; you can also have a symbol embroidered).
If you’re seeking a school pack that can do double-duty on outdoor adventures: We tested the 18-liter Deuter Junior for our guide to the best hiking and camping backpacks for kids. Although we didn’t think the Deuter Junior was the most functional hiking pack, senior editor Kalee Thompson’s older son used this pack for three school years, as well as for stints at summer camp, and it held up well to daily abuse. And with its nicely padded shoulder straps, ergonomically padded back, and adjustable sternum strap, this bag was comfortable to wear for daily half-mile walks to his after-school program. She later purchased the exact same pack for her younger son, who has used it for two school years and plans to use it for a third. One drawback is that the Deuter’s main compartment has a buckle-down top covering a drawstring opening rather than the zipper typically found on a school bag, which means it’s not ideal for quickly accessing items throughout the day.
If you like the L.L.Bean Original Book Pack but need something larger: The L.L.Bean Comfort Carry Laptop Pack is a 28-liter backpack that works well for tweens and up. The no-nonsense pack’s padded back with mesh lining, contoured padded straps, adjustable sternum strap, and tuck-away waist belt all help to make the backpack comfortable to carry. The roomy main pocket includes a padded sleeve that can fit a 15-inch laptop; a small zippered pocket at the top of the backpack can hold a smartphone (or another small item, like a wallet). The water-bottle pockets on each side of the pack are deep (so the bottles don’t topple out), made with the same 420-denier nylon as the body of the backpack, and cinched with elastic. The design of the front pocket, however, is a bit frustrating: Though it includes an organizational panel (with two small zippered pockets), the pocket is deep but zips open only partway, so accessing it can be annoying. The Comfort Carry Laptop Pack comes in four solid colors and three (fairly subdued) prints; it’s definitely a departure from the more “kiddie”-feeling aesthetic of the L.L.Bean Book Pack.
If your tween or teen is close to adult size: The 28-liter North Face Borealis is a durable and versatile backpack that’s available in 14 colors and patterns. The material (a combination of ripstop nylon, 600-denier polyester, and 500-denier nylon) feels solid and durable, and we appreciate the overall craftsmanship, which includes reinforced stitching, a reflective strip on the shoulder straps, and handy zipper pulls. The back of the backpack is padded, ergonomically contoured, and lined with mesh. A sternum strap and a hip belt help to distribute the weight of the backpack and make it more comfortable to carry. (An unexpected bonus: There’s also a whistle on the buckle of the sternum strap.) But with a starting weight of about 2 pounds (and two additional inches in length, compared with our next-largest pick, the Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up Backpack), it is the heaviest and largest backpack we tested. This size fits most adults, but it can be noticeably too big or heavy for a still-growing tween or teen. Note: There is a women’s version of the Borealis. It’s 27 liters (versus 28 liters) and about an inch shorter than the original Borealis, and it comes in different colors and prints; we have not tested it.
After considering nearly 35 backpacks over the past eight years, we’ve determined that a good kids backpack should be:
Over the past eight years, we’ve tested nearly 35 backpacks for kids, in some cases for multiple school years, to see how they would hold up over time. A number of Wirecutter staffers have sent the backpacks to school with their kids, and they’ve shared their kids’ likes and dislikes; we’ve collected and incorporated that feedback into this guide.
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 Bags’ Kane Kids Large, the Kids’ Burton Day Hiker Backpack (no longer available), the Jansport Super Lite (no longer available), the Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up, and the Parkland Bayside. 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.
In 2021, my family tested five additional packs, the Light+Nine Student Foldable Backpack (no longer available), TwelveLittle’s Adventure Backpack, the L.L.Bean Super Deluxe Book Pack, the Columbia Mazama 26L Backpack (no longer available), and the North Face Borealis, again pitting them against our current picks.
In 2022, we tested Crate & Kids’ new line of backpacks, L.L.Bean’s Comfort Carry Laptop Pack, L.L.Bean’s Mountain Classic School Backpack, and the State Bags Kane Kids Double Pocket (which is a new, 20-liter size of our existing Kane Kids pick).
Elementary-school backpacks need to be roomy enough to hold, at minimum, a standard two-pocket folder, a book, a child’s lunch, and a sweatshirt. Older elementary- and middle-school students will likely also need to pack a binder, notebooks, and, increasingly, a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. My kids—at that time aged 6, 12, and 14—also packed the bags with their personal belongings, down to their favorite pens and pencils in the pen holders. For several weeks, they dragged, lugged, and carelessly tossed around the fully loaded backpacks and rated them based on comfort and ease of use. They also used their favorite ones throughout the school year and for summer camp. Finally, they ranked their favorite designs, noting the ones they most definitely would want to take to school (and the ones they would never, ever want to use).
For this guide, we have decided to prioritize finding durable kids backpacks that last, so that they don’t have to be replaced frequently. Ideally, a pack can be passed from one child to the next once it has been outgrown. L.L.Bean’s Original Book Pack, in particular, has been known to stay in great condition for years. When choosing a pack, it’s a good idea to try to steer your child toward a classic pattern or color that they can grow with—and that other kids will like too, if it gets handed down.
Polyester, made from plastic, is a material commonly used for backpacks (it’s found in all of our picks) because it’s durable, easy to clean, and water repellant. And in recent years, an increasing number of brands, including State Bags, Crate & Kids, and Pottery Barn Teen, have begun using recycled polyester (commonly referenced as plastic water bottles) to make some of the materials for their backpacks. Pottery Barn Teen’s Gear-Up backpacks, for instance, are made with Repreve, a recycled plastic fiber also found in merchandise from Patagonia, Lands’ End, and other manufacturers. (While any move toward improved sustainability is commendable, there have also been questions raised as to whether some fashion retailers are attempting to leverage consumers’ concerns about the environment by engaging in greenwashing.)
In some cases, backpacks can be resold—or you can purchase a second-hand one for your kids that’s still in good condition. State Bags provides an online marketplace for the authorized reselling of its bags. The North Face Renewed is an online store that features refurbished North Face gear and clothing; you can buy and sell pre-owned North Face backpacks in various sizes. Or, as we explain in this blog post on how to responsibly get rid of old clothes, you can tap into your neighborhood Buy Nothing group, local consignment store, or an online marketplace like Poshmark to either buy or sell a used kids backpack.
The 8-liter Deuter Kikki is cute and well made. It has contoured shoulder straps and two sturdy, mesh-free water-bottle pockets. But it’s suitable only for preschoolers, and it fits, at most, lunch.
The L.L.Bean Mountain Classic School Backpack is a 24-liter backpack that’s also designed for teens, with a zippered laptop pocket (for a 15-inch laptop), a roomy main compartment, a smaller pocket with an organizational panel, and a small zippered front panel pocket. It also has a padded back and padded sleeves. But while this 420-denier backpack is a sturdy, reliable option for a middle-schooler, we didn’t find the six color options very exciting. In addition, the laptop sleeve is not padded, the water-bottle pockets are made with mesh, and the panel organizer is not as nice as the one in the Original Book Pack (no keychain clip, for instance). And there’s no sternum clip or hip belt to help distribute the weight. We also miss the reflective strip on the front panel of the backpack.
The L.L.Bean Super Deluxe Book Pack is a 40-liter backpack designed for teens, with a padded laptop sleeve (for a 15-inch laptop), a padded back, and plenty of organizational pockets. Like the Original Book Pack, this pack is sturdy and well made, with heavy-duty 420-denier ripstop nylon. But when this bag is filled, its three cascading pockets expand outward, making it feel bulky and unbalanced. There is also no chest clip or hip belt to help distribute the weight.
The 20-liter Parkland Bayside is available in several fun patterns, including a monster version. It includes a laptop sleeve (not padded; holds a 13.3-inch laptop) and a water-bottle pocket. But this pack’s padded back is thinner and less supportive than those on our top picks, making the Parkland bag less comfortable to carry. And it doesn’t have much in the way of internal organization.
The 10-liter Wildkin backpack for preschoolers and the 12-liter Wildkin backpack for kindergartners to second-graders both come in more than a few dozen popular patterns. But the mesh water-bottle pocket ripped within the first few months of use, and Wildkin offers only a 90-day warranty.
The Fjällräven Kånken Mini is durable and beautiful. But at 7 liters, it’s too small for anything beyond preschool use, and it’s too expensive for most to consider, given its impracticality.
The Fjällräven Kånken original, at 16 liters, is appropriately sized for smaller kids (approximately ages 6 to 10), but we dismissed it before testing because the shoulder straps are made from (unpadded) webbing material and are unsupportive. This pack has a removable seat pad, which is a nice bonus, but the children we consulted found the convertible strap system more fiddly and difficult to adjust than useful.
The Herschel Heritage XL Youth is a popular backpack for its brand appeal and attractive designs (including nearly 20 colors and fun patterns). Intended for kids ages 8 to 12, it includes a laptop sleeve that fits up to a 13-inch laptop and has a removable sternum strap. However, one parent described Herschel bags as “cute designs, shit product.” One kid tester, a third-grader at the time, also noted that the REI Workload Mini backpack (now discontinued) was more comfortable than the Herschel.
Jansport backpacks come with a lifetime warranty, but the well-made 10.2-liter Jansport Half Pint is too small for school-age kids and is best suited for preschoolers. The Jansport Superbreak (25 liters) is lightweight and appropriately sized for older students. But it does not provide as much padding and comfort as our picks, nor does it have a sternum clip or laptop sleeve. The 31-liter Jansport Right Pack is too large for most kids.
The TwelveLittle Adventure Backpack is an 11-liter backpack we like for early elementary school kids, but it is in the process of being discontinued. (At the time of publication, limited quantities are still available.) It comes in fun, stylish patterns, and the main compartment of the bags is also lined with engaging prints. It’s the right size for kids between the ages of 4 and 7, and it includes a non-padded mesh pocket that can hold a 13-inch laptop, as well as two elastic interior pockets. The external mesh water-bottle pocket is reinforced with extra lining, making it less likely to snag or rip than some other mesh water-bottle pockets. And there is a sternum clip built into the padded shoulder straps.
This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Kalee Thompson.
Ellen Lee is a Wirecutter contributor covering parenting, kids, and teens. Her writing has also appeared in The Atlantic, BBC, and Real Simple, and she was previously a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. She is also the author of the (ADJECTIVE) Lunar New Year Mad Libs book. (We’re hoping you filled in the blank with “hilarious.”)
by Sonjia Hyon, Arianna Flores, and Anna Perling
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