Coolest school bag for a girl starting secondary school?

[Blinktwice2]

Please can I ask for recommendations? DD is starting secondary and I’d like to buy her a nice bag (surprise). Are smiggle ones considered childish ?

[Ohyesiam]

Yes, smuggle is for primary.
At dds school( massive comp) most girls favour leather look tote bags over their shoulder.

[TeenTimesTwo]

I don't think Smiggle is for secondary.

Your best bet would be to eye up the local girls and see the type of thing they have, as it can be quite school dependent, (especially as some schools send loads of books home, and others don't).

Or get your DD to keep an eye out when she goes for transition days (but that might spoil the surprise).

[AlsoKnownAsMillicent]

Our local secondary insists on backpacks for yr 7&8 so tote bags would be a no-no.

All the girls round here seem to favour hype bags.

[Mokepon]

I'm going to watch with interest a sin the same boat.
Smiggle for high school though, not a chance. Some of the girls at DDs primary are using Fjallraven bags which likely belong to older siblings. .hoping to avoid that at £80 a pop .

[BelindasGleeTeam]

Hype rucksacks seem popular with ours

[Ratatouille76]

Following. My daughter wants a rucksack but a sports brand. Not sure which.

[stucknoue]

Get a danskin backpack, lots of great designs and really strong. A parent cannot choose a "cool" anything, trust me, so buy sensible

[SavoyCabbage]

It’s completely school driven.

I would have said it might be better for her to choose it, rather than you getting it as a surprise. She should have a say.

[Bluebird797]

My daughter started comp last year, it's Hype or Vans for the win

[BillywilliamV]

I have 2 teenage DDs and my advice to you is take her shopping and let her choose. Whatever you choose will be WRONG!

[Embarassingbumproblem]

Definitely not smiggle for secondary.
Hype is definitely the way to go

[troppibambini]

Kanken they're £80 though. Our school only allow backpacks.

[DropZoneOne]

Hype bags here ... gave DD the website link and just put in card details at the necessary time 😆

[WouldHAVEcouldHAVEshouldHAVE]

Can’t go wrong with Hype, loads of designs to choose from though so hard to pick unless you know which one she’d like.
DD’s friends who had the big handbags mostly went back to backpacks as they’re so much easier to carry.

[LolaSmiles]

It depends on the school and their policy.

The cool bags around here are faux leather totes by brand names that costs a fortune but seem to fall apart if they carry anything substantial.

Other girls have some nice backpacks with patterns, hype, Roxy, O'Neill and others.

[TeenTimesTwo]

I'd not go for a surprise. Get her in on it, she needs to be happy.

Is she walking to school?

[QueenofCBA]

Hype or Kanken will do the trick, with Hype being a lot more purse friendly!
I would also subtly guide towards something light and/or reflective. Most secondaries around here stupidly insist on black or navy coats. Great idea for kids who walk in the dark...

[Bookworm4]

Hype or Vans, absolutely no cutesy or characters.

[Fucktuates]

All the kids here have Vans bags.

I dread having to spend like £80 on a schoolbag

[RedSkyLastNight]

I know you want to buy it as a surprise, but I'd say better to let her start with a bag she already has and have a good look at what everyone else is using, and then let her pick herself.

You'll also find out things like e.g. at DC's school, you need a bag both big enough for an a4 folder and small enough to squish down in a fairly small locker, which narrows options down considerably.

[Deafdonkey]

Agree with looking at what the local senior school kids have. I don't think she can choose well now as what's cool end of primary will be lame (ha! my kids have just started using this 90s term)

[Blinktwice2]

Thanks all. She’ll be taking a bus (or a train may be). We’ll stick with backpacks for now, although she asked if she can have a tote.
I think I’ll play safe and just let her choose

[pikapikachu]

Definitely avoid Smiggle.

I would talk to your dd and not choose for her. She will probably have definite preferences. My dd is going into Sixth Form but has chosen plain leather (unbranded) backpacks for school. I see Hype quite a lot with y6/7 kids but bold designs have to be their taste iykwim.

[m0therofdragons]

Ours seem to favour Superdry or sports bags like Nike.

[trinitybleu]

I'd avoid Hype.... Took 3 attempts to get a non faulty one for DD, and then the front pocket came away within 4 months. Sewing quality is shockingly bad.