If you have the llbean visa you can get free monograming and free shipping. I've got a jr. And it fits lunchbox, folder, and a jacket.formy son's K, the backpack must fit the lunchbox and folder. I know the LLBEANs sell out fast in the good colors over the summer for the next school yearso If I am ordering I want to do so now. Both sizes include high-quality finishes, such as sturdy zipper pulls, a storm flap to protect the zipper, and a thick, 3M Scotchlite reflective strip on the front of the backpack (a safety plus for kids who walk or bike to school). Not too big but fits her reading book, binder or folder, and word wall words. He used the lizard one for 2 years, and it still looks brand new. You are using an out of date browser. We use it for sleep overs at the grandparents house. And they last for years. But its suitable only for preschoolers, and it fits, at most, lunch. In 2021, my family tested five additional packs, the Light+Nine Student Foldable Backpack, TwelveLittles Adventure Backpack, the L.L. For older kids, or those ready for bigger, more grown-up styles, check out our favorite laptop backpacks. Excellent reflective strip. An elastic bungee cord can wrangle extra gear like a sweatshirt or gym sneakers. 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). 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. The backpacks roomy main compartment can hold notebooks, textbooks, and a lunch box, but it doesnt have a laptop sleeve. And with its nicely padded shoulder straps, an ergonomically padded back, and an adjustable sternum strap, this bag was comfortable for daily half-mile walks to his after-school program. Compression straps can help keep the backpack compact when full. There's also a zippable compartment on the exterior of the front pocket that's handy for anything littles might want to access quickly without digging through the entire pack. The backpacks we recommend suit a range of ages (from preschool through middle school), have been thoroughly evaluated for comfort and durability, and feature smart organization and high-quality construction. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The thickly padded shoulder straps on our Junior Original test bag showed no signs of breaking down or compressing. Pottery Barn does not offer a warranty on its backpacks. 2018 by Red Jellies. Why its great: Sleek and modern, State Bagss 12-liter Kane Kids and 23-liter Kane Kids Large backpacks stand out for their artistic, eye-catching designs, for their durability and high-quality finishes, and for the many pockets that let kids organize and store their belongings. If youre looking for kids backpacks for hiking, camping, and travel, check out our guide to the best camping and hiking backpacks for kids. The smaller zippered pouch has organization for school supplies and a lanyard. The 31-liter Jansport Right Pack is too large for elementary-school kids. You'll need the original size for winter time or else you'll have to send a separate bag. The AmazonBasics Classic Backpack is quite the value at its current price of $18, but its a bit too basiceven for kids. Ok, My oldest dd will be going to Kindergarten in the fall. 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. This may be a matter of design: online,L.L.Bean aims this pack at the younger sibs of school-aged kids and envisions them using it for"packing treasures around the backyard.". In addition, the laptop sleeve (with a small Velcro closure) is flimsy, so youll likely want additional protection if your child needs to carry a laptop. Who its for: The 12-liter small backpack fits kids ages 4 to 6 (or 43 inches to 49 inches tall); the 20-liter large and 18-liter rolling versions fit kids ages 7 to 12 (or more than 48 inches tall). In our district the kids are required to put coats, hats, gloves etc. My DS sees the Target ads every week and has his heart set on Spiderman. I have a JR from preschool and plan to use it in Kindergarten. 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. And it didnt have much in the way of internal organization. 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. It includes a laptop sleeve and a water-bottle pocket, and has a limited lifetime warranty. Columbias Mazama 26L Backpack is a dependable, inexpensive backpack that is suitable for middle-schoolers and shares many of the key features of our picks: a padded back, padded shoulder straps (with a chest clip), and a padded, felt-lined laptop sleeve. The L.L.Bean packs do have a very loyal following, due to their functional design and overall quality; parents whod used both the Pottery Barn packs and the L.L.Bean packs told us the L.L.Bean packs design and quality were better than that of the Pottery Barn packs. Original. Though the Gear-Up line does include a few characters such as Harry Potter and Black Panther, the designs mostly skew toward more grown-up-but-still-whimsical looks, such as vibrant swirls of color, neon patterns, and geometric prints. We even took it on Disney trip. My son used his LLBean junior backback for K, 1st and 2nd grade. Do they have a good selection of backpacks in the stores? Bonus: Two buckled straps on the front of the bag are meant for kids to carry their skateboards. The small top pocket near the handle is designed to store a phone or small electronic device and has a headphone port. But at 7 liters, its too small for anything beyond preschool use, and its too expensive (around $85 as of this writing) for most to consider. Great backpack and I'm going to buy another one this year (different color of course) for my son when he heads to K in the fall. This year no letters at all. We think the similarly priced and more durable L.L.Bean backpacks are a better value, but the Lands End pack may be worth considering if you find it on sale. From a silver metallic backpackwith large, colorful pieces of confetti embedded in the fabricto a simple yet distinctive strawberry-and-mint colorblock pack, State Bagss prints and designs feel more modern and sophisticated than those offered on typical kids backpacks. Some Gear-Up backpacks also have a small zippered pocket near the top handle that can also be used to stash a smartphone. It had some of the best internal organization of any pack we tested and was well made, with mesh backing, compression straps, and sternum straps, plus tight-knit mesh water-bottle pockets. State Bagss backpacks are the most expensive of our picks, and monogrammed backpacks are not returnable. I'd get the junior one. A small zippered compartment fits school supplies like pens, pencils, and a calculator. Older elementary- and middle-school students will likely also need to pack a binder, notebooks, and, increasingly, a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. With three cascading tiers of pockets, the Gear-Up backpack lets students easily stash and organize their belongings. The interior is lined with a slick, tightly woven polyester that was the easiest among our picks to wipe clean. The back and shoulder straps may not have the flexibility of some of the more expensive models, but they are nicely padded. After testing it for a full school year, we found it to be a well-made, durable backpack thats comfortable to carry. I would go with a full size. 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. The 8-liter Deuter Kikki, which we also tested, is cute and well made. On all of the bags, the main compartment includes 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. 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 best suited to preschoolers. The Fjllrven Knken Mini is durable and beautiful. Our guide draws from the collective wisdom of our parent staffers and contributors, six rounds of testing (stretching back to 2015), research into the ideal backpack for kids, and years of sending our top picks to school with our own kids for hands-on, real-world vetting. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. And while the back is padded, the shoulder straps are not. And even though the Pottery Barn Kids packs generally cost a bit more than the L.L.Bean packs, with a back-to-school or other promotion, the Pottery Barn packs can be just as affordable. As intended, this pack was a great fit on the smaller end of our spectrum. The midsize zippered compartment contains an organizer panel with three open pouches, four pencil/pen slots, and a lanyard with a clip for keys or tchotchkes. It has a reinforced, padded handle for more convenient carrying. 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). A generously sized backpack with lots of compartments. 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). TwelveLittles Adventure Backpack is a sturdy pack thats the right size for kids between the ages of 4 and 7 (preschool and early elementary school). *At the time of publishing, the price was $37. The Burton 20-liter Kids Day Hiker Backpack comes with both an adjustable sternum strap and a hip belt, making it comfortable and sturdy when a kid is carrying even the heaviest loads (the bags nicely padded back with ridges for ventilation helps, too). 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. Flaws but not dealbreakers: The smaller, 14-liter Kane Kids backpack may feel snug if your child carries a large lunchbox, notebooks, and folders. The Kane Kids Large pack has an open panel on the back so you can slip the pack over a luggage handle. Jr. We got one when DS entered PK and is still going strong in year 3--he will be in 1st this fall. Depending on the design, Kane packs have an exterior thats made from durable canvas, coated cotton, or polyester. Our picks cost more but are a lot more functional. It is not large enough to hold a bulky winter jacket, but he has his own cubbie at school for that.