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Original poster

Where do you buy children's backpacks for school?

52 replies

Puffinshop · 09/03/2023 13:51

My son is starting school next autumn and he'll need a backpack big enough to fit an A4 reading folder plus swimming/sports kit, but bags seem to be so expensive where we live. It's hard to get one for under 80 pounds and I'm not exaggerating. We'll be in the UK this summer before he starts (we don't live in the UK) so I was thinking we could maybe order one online to my parents' house and take it home with us.

Where is good for school bags? Ideally one that is good enough quality to last several years and is comfortable etc, but costs less than 80 pounds. He will be 6 and he likes very typical things I would say: Spiderman, Super Mario, Ninjago... but it definitely doesn't have to have a character on it! It can be colourful, though, no rules about plain backpacks.

OP posts:
JustSoTired23 · 09/03/2023 13:52

JD sports

JustSoTired23 · 09/03/2023 13:53

Sorry for character? Um would be hard to get one big enough. Don't sports kit go in a seperate bag left on their peg each week?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 09/03/2023 13:54

We've had some from amazon. Mountain Warehouse is the place of choice for my teens. Usually get a couple of years before they get thin at the bottom.

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Original poster
Puffinshop · 09/03/2023 13:55

No, the kids go to sports after lessons are over and it's in a different place. He will need to take everything all together. They don't change for P.E. really, this is for handball or swimming etc. I put the kits into drawstring bags and pop them inside the big bag. He has a little backpack for preschool but his school bag needs to be A4 size minimum.

OP posts:
Clymene · 09/03/2023 13:57

Most of the shops have them in summer - supermarkets, M&S etc.

cocksstrideintheevening · 09/03/2023 13:57

The character ones are aimed at kids so smaller. You might get something in Smiggle with patterns on.

holierthanthou73 · 09/03/2023 13:57

Online?
Sports Direct
M & M
Hype

ErrolTheDragon · 09/03/2023 13:57

Sports direct

FrenchTrellis · 09/03/2023 13:58

Argos

Although my DD currently has a cheap eBay one which is holding up ok-ish

Original poster
Puffinshop · 09/03/2023 13:59

Doesn't need to be a character but he'd be disappointed if it didn't have something 'cool'. He is a kid, he's only 5 and will be 6 when he starts! He won't be impressed with a plain coloured teenager bag.

Thanks for the recommendations :) I will have a browse.

OP posts:
SBAM · 09/03/2023 14:00

My daughter has a mountain warehouse one which seems solidly constructed and I’m expecting it to last a few years. It was in the sale around £12 but I think full price was 25-30.

Longwhiskers · 09/03/2023 14:00

My son’s last one was from M&S but the zip broke after four months so I returned it. The replacement I got from the Hype website in the sale. They have lots of choice OP, maybe have a look there?

Mol1628 · 09/03/2023 14:01

My primary children love hype backpacks. They do lots of designs / patterns and are often on sale.

SBAM · 09/03/2023 14:02

www.mountainwarehouse.com/bookworm-20l-backpack-p17730.aspx/mixed/

horrible link - sorry. This is the one my daughter has but she has a different pattern. It’s definitely big enough for an a4 book and a change of clothes.

TeenDivided · 09/03/2023 14:04

If you happen to be in Germany I think there is a whole 'thing' about buying the first backpack. It seems they are expensive but well made.

Of course you are probably in one of the 193 countries.

Marymary987 · 09/03/2023 14:09

www.marksandspencer.com/kids-water-repellent-marvel-avengers-school-backpack/p/clp60537027?prevPage=srp#intid=plpnav_pid_pg1pip48g4r9c4 My kids have these style from M&S, they’re a good size and waterproof.

wipeowt · 09/03/2023 14:09

My teenage son asked for one of these, and it seems to be a popular brand: www.eastpak.com/uk-en/backpacks-c120.html

listsandbudgets · 09/03/2023 14:10

We've had some goodnines from Smiggle in the past. They often do bundles with matching pencil case, water bottle and lunch box

MumVUnicorns · 09/03/2023 14:11

My daughter loves her Smiggle one, it's large enough to fit her A4 reading packet in and has now lasted two years. Smiggle now do character ranges too, but is limited to what is seemingly trending at the moment.

Original poster
Puffinshop · 09/03/2023 14:14

Not in Germany but I think it's similar here and yes, my daughter's backpack which I paid an absolutely eye-watering amount for (made the mistake of taking her to the shop to choose one without realising that there weren't any cheaper options) is certainly a good bag. It is well-made and has a fluorescent rain-cover and various other bells and whistles which is nice and all, but for the second child I'm more realistic about what they actually need. Plus the exact same bags cost way less in other countries, it is just silly.

The Mountain Warehouse, Hype and M&S ones look like they would be just the thing!

OP posts:
Gingerlygreen · 09/03/2023 14:16

Mine liked the Smiggle ones, they regularly have really good offers on too.

If you're hoping to get a few years out of it then probably better to buy one without a character on, my daughter was crazy about Elsa when she was 5 but now aged 7 she thinks Princesses are for babies

Original poster
Puffinshop · 09/03/2023 14:19

Gingerlygreen · 09/03/2023 14:16

Mine liked the Smiggle ones, they regularly have really good offers on too.

If you're hoping to get a few years out of it then probably better to buy one without a character on, my daughter was crazy about Elsa when she was 5 but now aged 7 she thinks Princesses are for babies

Yes, I am also wary of that. My 7 year old still likes her unicorn one now she's in Year 2 but I doubt it will last another two years. I can see a Hype one that is lava pattern and I think he would be into something like that. It's 'cool' but not something he's going to think is lame when he's 9.

OP posts:
RedChooChoo · 09/03/2023 14:20

Be careful going in to smuggle because nothing has the price on, DS obviously ended up picking one of the most expensive bags from there and I felt bad saying it was too much when the sales assistant told me the total so he now has a bag that cost £40 😩

RedChooChoo · 09/03/2023 14:21

Smiggle**

Honoraryuce · 09/03/2023 14:21

Frugi. They have a sale on at moment. I actually use one as well as they're comfortable, practical and have hidden rain protector.