Best school bags for primary and secondary school: Jansport, Eastpak, Nike and more

A firm favourite among Mumsnetters, JanSport backpacks are repeatedly praised for their durability and come with an impressive 30-year guarantee for peace of mind. This iconic US brand has been producing school bags since 1967. While it’s not the cheapest option on our list, the JanSport Superbreak Plus Backpack is a true ‘buy best, buy once’ investment that could easily support your child’s entire education. 

The Jansport Superbreak Plus is available in a huge range of colours, so your tween or teen is sure to find the perfect backpack to suit their style. It’s both stylish and practical, with a spacious main compartment, an internal 15-inch laptop sleeve, a front utility pocket with an organiser for smaller essentials, and a side pocket for their water bottle. 

Thanks to the ergonomic back panel and padded shoulder straps, this school bag is comfortable to carry, even on longer school runs. The 26-litre capacity can easily accommodate PE kits and home tech ingredients, but with an additional compartment, older teens may prefer the larger ‘Big Student’ model as they approach their GCSEs.

If the cost of blazers, ties, and branded school uniforms has left you with a more limited school bag budget, this affordable Argos backpack definitely won’t disappoint. 

It doesn’t have a separate bottle pocket (so you’ll need to buy a leakproof water bottle); however, its 18-litre capacity is plenty big enough for workbooks, a pencil case and a lunchbox. Its splashproof design helps keep the contents dry, while the well-padded, adjustable straps ensure comfortable commutes - spreading the load equally across both shoulders. 

Parents will love the small pocket for teens to stash their phone and house keys safely. Even picky tweens and teens will struggle to find fault with this discreet black bag, which doesn’t look out of place amongst more costly, branded designs. 

Hype bags are popular amongst junior-aged children, perhaps best known for their bright, bold designs and striking patterns. If you’re looking for a bag that’ll seamlessly support the transition from Year 6 to Year 7, this black design from the Hype range is also a solid choice. 

With an 18-litre capacity, it's non-bulky on a smaller frame while still accommodating larger A4 workbooks. 

We love the padded laptop sleeve nestled inside, protecting their tech from knocks or damage, while the padded mesh bottle holder keeps drinks upright and secure throughout the entire day. Thanks to the accessible grab handle, you may even get out of the house faster in the mornings (just as soon as they’ve located their missing shoe).

If you’re looking for a trustworthy brand that will blend in with the crowd at secondary school, Mumsnet users say you can’t go wrong with a Nike backpack, and I’ve seen this first hand with my daughter.  

After initially wanting a tote bag, I convinced her to go for the Nike Elemental backpack for Year 7. She soon realised that lots of students at her school wear Nike backpacks and was proud to say ‘I told you so’. While many of her friends suffer sore shoulders from single-strap tote bags, Nike’s ventilated design and padded straps have kept her cool and comfortable, even with a substantial 30-minute walk to and from school.

The black design with the white logo is nice and neutral - perfect for fashion-conscious teenagers. The spacious 25L compartment has a dual-zip that opens from either side, with a sleeve which can hold up to a 15” laptop. It's also been able to withstand PE kits, food tech ingredients and trainers without showing signs of wear. 

She loves the decent-sized front zip compartment, which makes it easy to find her keys and her lunch card in a rush. The only downside is the bottle pouch,  which can feel a little snug with larger drink bottles.

While it’s a little more costly than some of our top picks, the Eastpak Day Pak’r is a durable, hard-wearing backpack that's been created with school kids in mind. It offers a substantial 30-year guarantee and is built to withstand being kicked, dropped, and filled to the brim with essentials.

At 24 litres, secondary kids will have space to store everything they need during the day, including A4 folders and laptops up to 14 inches stashed in the internal pocket. We love the hidden pocket that can keep a purse or wallet safe and hidden during the walk home from school.

The Eastpak Day Pak’r has also got comfort covered, with adjustable padded straps and a cushioned back panel to encourage good posture and reduce strain on the shoulders. If the good old British weather lives up to its reputation, the water-repellent nylon exterior will also keep books, tech and other essentials protected from the rain. 

The Nike Brasilla Drawstring Gymbag is a handy extra bag for PE days, after-school clubs or swimming. Its lightweight design is convenient to grab alongside their usual school bag, while the large main compartment has plenty of room for trainers, sportswear or a towel. We love the single zip pocket at the front, which keeps smaller items like goggles or hair bobbles so they’re always easy to find. 

With a simple drawstring design, they won’t find the same level of comfort as with cushioned shoulder straps. They may need to occasionally readjust the shoulder cords to keep the bag sitting evenly on their back. 

If your child regularly lugs their laptop and heavy workbooks to school, this Fjällräven backpack is worth considering.

Its smart, boxy shape is one of its standout features, allowing A4 folders, exercise books and textbooks to slide in neatly without getting dog-eared or damaged. There's also a padded compartment that securely fits laptops up to 17 inches, making it an excellent choice for secondary school students who carry their tech between lessons.

The water-resistant, quick-drying fabric offers extra protection against the unpredictable British weather, helping to keep school essentials dry during the walk to and from school.

The main drawback is the shoulder straps, which, while padded, can be a little fiddly to adjust, especially for children with smaller frames. There’s no getting around the premium price tag; however, it could be a wise investment for kids who carry heavier school loads every day.

While the price tag is enough to make your eyes water, older teen girls are going crazy for the fashionable Longchamp Pliage tote bags. Available in several shades including black and navy, it's not hard to see why - this stylish bag can easily transition from the classroom to days out with friends at the weekend. 

The lightweight design is surprisingly spacious, accommodating everyday school essentials and laptops up to 13 inches, and the zip-and-snap closure keeps contents safe and secure. 

However, it isn't without its drawbacks. The shoulder straps are relatively slim and are best worn over one shoulder, which can become uncomfortable when carrying heavy textbooks for long periods. It's also one of the most expensive bags on our list, making it a significant investment compared with a more traditional school backpack.

If your teen prefers a handbag-style tote over a traditional backpack for school, New Look's affordable tote bags come highly rated. 

The New Look Black Faux Leather Front Zip Pocket Tote Bag is a stylish yet practical option for school, retailing at just £20. Along with four lip glosses, body sprays, and all the other questionable school ‘essentials’, the spacious interior easily holds A4 folders and notebooks. At the same time, the front zip pocket keeps smaller items, such as a bus pass or earbuds, within easy reach. 

We love the stylish faux leather finish, but it's worth noting that tote bags aren't designed with comfort in mind. Carrying books and a laptop on one shoulder can quickly become uncomfortable, especially on longer walks to and from school.