Rucksack for a student

[Pinga]

Hello
My son needs a rucksack for starting 6thform/A levels in September. He hasnt been to school since he was 7 so we are rather out of the loop regarding such things

We would love some reccomendations - we cant agree on size vs cost vs how many compartments vs brand.

Only absolute must is - it must be mostly black.
Help! (and thankyou)

Eastpak are always good. To be honest, I don't think £80 is a bad price, given it will be getting daily use, carrying a lot of stuff, and with 6 miles of walking involved. Cheap bags = back and shoulder issues.

Just to be clear - I'd absolutely recommend something cheaper if it wasn't for the 6 mile a day walking. ASOS have got some eastpak on clearance too (occasionally have herschel too)

By sixth form they should be past the stage of 'de rigeur' brands or laughing at people for the 'wrong' brands, and be capable of deciding for themselves what they like. There's nothing cool about being a sheep.

My DD either picked something from sports direct or the internet, but usually they weren't big enough for her larger folders. If she'd had to walk 6 miles a day I think she'd have chosen from an outdoors shop (as a uni student she's using a karrimor)

Try the healthy back bag, a lot of choice and prices.

Cheap doesnt necessarily mean bad. And expensive doesnt necessarily mean good in my experience. Often you are paying for a name rather than anything thats actually better.
£80 on a teenage boys rucksack is excessive. And unnecessary.

The kanken bags are GORGEOUS. I love them but the straps are ridiculous. No way would those straps and a humans back cope with what an A level student needs to carry. And they are £75.

Anyway Ive ordered 4 from sports direct with a total spend of £64 - he is going to choose which he likes best and we will return the rest to our local store. Job done.

Im hugely greatful for the suggestions anyway and the reassurance that mostly its just a bag and no one will really care!

Those Eastpak ones honestly dont look any better for the price Userplusnumbers - 6 miles or 3 miles those straps look nothing special and actually plenty of the cheaper bags from sports direct have far better back cooling mesh airflow wotnots. £80 nope!

Thats reassuring Errol, thanks. Thats what Im hoping - personally I would go for a Karrimor Urban as they are pretty fabulous.

Asos is a good suggestion for bargains, Ill check them out and the healthy bag pack.

skinandbones - Im looking at their website. I can only see a teardrop shape, nothing that looks suitable for A Level A4 folders and books. They all look too small

Kanken are popular at my dd's school. I thought the price was outrageous. However having been to London for a few days , they seem to be very popular with a whole range of people of various ages - students, professionals, backpackers, cyclists etc which makes me think that they must be good quality, and are likely to last for at least two school years. They are selling them on Amazon a bit cheaper.

personally I would go for a Karrimor Urban as they are pretty fabulous.

DD started borrowing mine when she was going to uni open days, then decided to get her own. It (but fortunately not she) managed to get its picture in a daily mail non-story of students picnicking on Jesus Green so I have to assume it's socially acceptable.

Seriously, by sixth form if anyone gives a toss about someone using any bag which is fit for purpose then they're probably best given a wide berth. He'll find his own tribe.

We're moving this over to chat now.

What about him looking on the school/college website to see if there are any student photos showing the building or facilities with students in photo

Or if he is worried about it --- alternatively wait until after his 1st day just using a lever arch folder and go shopping that evening for new bag

Beforehand go on a search to locate which shops sell which bags iyswim so you know where to go after 1st day

OP - sports direct will offer store credit only as return

Freenickname - thats so interesting re Kanken. Hmm. Ive never seen anyone here with one though.
Errol - Yup Im inclined to think a karrimor Urban is a great choice.
Subtitles - yes as a variation on what youve said I think a cheap whatever for the first days then see what the others have is a good way to go.
Highway - no trouble there, Its the only major retailer in our town I shop in so it does well out of me. (rubbish shops!)
Ta mn - chat is obvs better than general health!

Overall what Im reading here is that choose what you like, follow your own path, forget anyone who is silly enough to be so judgy about a bag etc - all brilliant news to here. Locally its the most international school so I think its quite diverse in its range of pupils (its the closest one to the army base)