Best backpack for secondary for girls?

When I was at school ergonomic backpacks were de rigeur but wearing them on two shoulders was certain social death.

Cockyfox, it's strange whats acceptable in different areas. Quite a few have rucksacks here and after two fashion bags breaking in the first term, she agreed to a rucksack with no protest. I asked her if she would wear a coat to school and she said yes if it was black. About 70% have coats, 30% don't. Some of her friends were really cold in the winter and one arrived on my doorstep one morning drenched through to her bra after a long walk, and my daughter said she is glad she had a coat. This year she her only stipulation was that it was a dark colour, so she has a navy one.

DD had a cheapish rucksack from Sports Direct in year 7 but then - despite not being into fashion - declared that no-one beyond yr7 uses them. She had a nice messenger bag (funky filly) but that eventually broke and I had to find replacement quickly.I found a green satchel-type bag with spots - by chance it seems to be one of the 'in' styles but its a bit on the small side (not really big enough for ring binders) so I got her a bigger bag - which turns out to be the ubiquitous owl design. She uses the spotty one most but the other if she's got a lot of stuff to carry.

The bags she absolutely wouldn't have were the 'designer' ones which she said are used by girls who think they're cool but aren't.

She uses the backpack for her sports kit now.

At my DD school Vans are all the rage for both shoes and backpacks. She has this one which is sturdy and big enough for all her stuff.

My dd going into Yr7 has just bought a messenger style bag, on the advice of her sister who has been at the school 3 yrs.
Anthracite - my ds has always had a back pack, but it doesn't mean he carries it with "the weight is distributed properly" - I don't expect the "ergonomic design" works quite so well once a teen has it hanging off the one shoulder.
You have to get the balance right between 'being the parent not the friend' and setting them up to be visibly 'different' or 'dressed by their Mummy' as soon as they come into sight. It's a fine line. I'm not into following fashion, but I'm not into setting my dc up for a fall either.

Just bought my DD an owl backpack from Amazon, cost £15 which I thought was OK.

She says a friend has one similar and it has lasted really well, a cheaper Primark one someone had broke after a few weeks.

Her yr 7 one was a sporty pink one from Sports Direct or somewhere, but that was about £12 I think so if this one lasts and she likes it I am happy.

Isn't it strange how fashions travel - it was PB bags here about 18months ago. Now it's embroidered Aztec-y backpacks.

Hi, I'm not a secondary parent but I do live next to the local secondary. I haven't seen a backpack on a girl for a long time in July they were all carrying quilted Paul's Boutique handbags. They are often carrying their books separately as the bags are very small.
Oh yes and they don't wear coats even in the depths of winter with all that snow it was blazers with a scarf and gloves.

At least actual backpacks are fashionable now - much better than messenger style bags.

Anthracite, even ergonomically designed backpack straps loosen enough to hang about bottom height, making them cool.

StarBallBunny, that statement makes so much sense . I think Anthracite feels it's an 'ergonomic back pack' or we are failing parents . What is with the OTT replies on MN lately?

Anthracite, where shall I pin your badge?

Anthracite, you may not dds friend. DD2 wouldn't ever be her geeky mothers friend. However, do not be her enemy, over things that don't matter.

I take the view that I am not my daughters' friend, therefore I do not concern myself with the latest fashion or what other girls are doing,

As a mother, I am concerned with health, so will get a backpack that will not give back, neck or shoulder pains. I don't care if it is fashionable or not. Really.

I think girls like to have prudish parents who cafe about them.

My daughter started Year 7 last September and went through two fashion bags the first time, one broke on the handles, the other wore at the bottom, both due to the weight of what she has to carry. I then insisted she had a rucksack and we got one from Animal - I'm pleased to say it's still in use! Her friend swapped over to a rucksack at around the same time as she'd had two fashion bags go on her and her other friend has a satchel type bag but it's a real squeeze to get everything in.

Yes to cheap and cheerful, DD2 has used all sorts, but generally reverts to her original cheep Adidas messenger bag. Grr she has a much nicer animal ruck sack.

DD1 just takes a sensible plain rucksack, but DD1 was born immune to giving a fig what her peer group thinks.

I don't have girls but almost all school going girls I see have Jansport bags which seem to be rigeur here. They aren't cheap but last for years and do make a difference to the weight issue. I was amazed at the difference when D's got one on recommendation from a physio. I know kids who used their Jansport bag from school right through college. Of course if they're not fashionable in your DD's school then forget what I just said...!

DD decided to go for a slouchy backpack for year 8 after getting through two Paul Frank messenger bags in year 7. She rejected all the Anna Smith style owl/butterfly designs though as "(insert name) has that one already".

She has gone for
this
backpack, from the Victoria's Secret Pink store in the Trafford Centre. It is big enough to hold all her kit, seems quite sturdy (time will tell!) and she loves the design. It cost £40 but I contributed £25 and she paid the rest.

I was talking to another Mum whose sixth form DD had a Cath Kidston backpack. That was also quite expensive but again she made her DD pay a contribution towards it, and it had lasted her the whole school year.

yes, owl print, how did you guess?
In blue of course.
Got mine on Ebid, btw, with delivery same price as local ones.

As a secondary teacher and mother of two girls I would buy something cheap from Primark for the first weeks until your daughter gets a feel for what she would feel comfortable with. Where I work satchels and Cath Kidston are all the rage but two years ago it was Paul's Boutique and messenger bags. However for shoes brogues are the way to go!

My children all have proper ergonomic backpacks. They have sections for everything, and are designed so that the weight is distributed properly.

I third the idea of taking an old or cheap one until you find out what's 'in'. At our school (quite geeky grammar), the girls have a mix of proper Cath Kidstons (all styles), 'fake' CKs, real or fake Cambridge satchels and regular sporty back packs.

Anna Smith Bags all the rage here (Norfolk). Only £20 (don't think that's outrageous).