What size backpack for secondary school?

[InterferingOutsider]

How much stuff do they usually carry around with them? Is 16L (40 x 28x 20cm) large enough? Or should I go for the 23L which is 46 x 28 x 22?
He'll have a separate bag for sports kit.

You need to fit A4 books and folders in it. I'd get the bigger size

Depends if they have lockers or not but I'd get the bigger one regardless. Mine cart all sorts of shit around with them

Definitely the big one!

Decathlon I'm thinking of this one. It's nondescript enough isn't it? It will take normal but not lever-arch files (I never carried those, so guess he won't have to!)

I got my son a Puma 30l one.

the choice of bag in y76 can be social suicide. Any idea what the other kids use? It won't be decathlon...

That bag is huge... my DS, just coming out of Y10 has a plain black Adidas one. If you buy that one I guarantee you'll be replacing it for a smaller one fairly soon (as I did!)

This is the one my DS has
https://m.jdsports.co.uk/product/black-adidas-badge-of-sport-backpack/16025531/?cm_mmc=googleshop--google--shopping-_-pla&istCompanyId=9c5cf6f7-3142-4f9f-be57-2fce9c67adfd&istFeedId=014e8b49-620d-4e56-9e87-79529c403af2&istItemId=ilmiamrqp&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwzo2mBhAUEiwAf7wjkmbJWxF-VrC1qM3Xw0PPRGbavgByRHgahnqvWJAIhbeNrYXWKOpUPBoCpEMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I went through 3 last year. First one not quite big enough and definitely not strong enough. Second one perfect but DS too small and it was bad fit. Third one works ok but it's a real issue that for such young children, there's no lockers and they have to carry such weight.

My son's bag weighs loads. He has to take packed lunch, pe kit, Chromebook, reading book and a4 homework book most days plus water bottle.

Definitely check the fit on your child not just the bag capacity.

This!! Our secondary kids are all Adidas, Nike, Vans etc. Maybe a Fjallraven Kanken. I’ve been instructed to get Jansport Superbreak Plus this year (admittedly from my DD, but it’s just a black backpack, she’s not into the girly bags).

Depends on your school. My son goes grammar and there is no politics in bags on the otherhand when I went to school it was the smallest bag in the world.

No one really cares at either of the schools my DCs go to but about 50% of bags seem to be Eastpak.
(DD did care in y7 to be fair but DS didn't at all).

That bag is huge... my DS, just coming out of Y10 has a plain black Adidas one. If you buy that one I guarantee you'll be replacing it for a smaller one fairly soon (as I did!). This is the one my DS has
But that's a 27.5 litre (15 x 36 x 44) according to google, so larger than the one I linked?

@Spanglybangles all the girls seem to have Fjallraven Kanken, the boys black but I've no idea which brand. I did ask DH to keep an eye out on the bus on his way to work but he was not very helpful!

We've had no information from the school, about books etc and I've no idea how much or what he will be expected to carry.

@InterferingOutsider haha sorry, I didn't check the dimensions! The one you linked just looks really big on the picture, maybe because it's a hiking one and reinforced? I'd still go for something like the one I linked as it's more sporty and I suppose 'cooler'. My DS fits in his PE kit, books, water bottle and his surface go tablet and keyboard in his so holds a lot but doesn't look bulky when he doesn't put as much in it.

Check with your local fb group. The schools differ a lot and sometimes Y7 is still young and they don't look at brands, by Y9/10 it may be very different.

DD had a Jansport and that was the only bag during secondary which survived not only a full year but also stayed fully intact. She is a bit of a squirell but she had A4 workbooks, a A4 notebook, textbooks and revision books for each of the subjects. Lockers went out of fashion when Covid hit and they weren't allowed to be near each other and they also needed the books at home for homework.

I hate to say it but that bag will look like his mum chose it. Go to JD sports or sports direct and buy from there. I think if you buy that you'll be replacing it one term in for something more in fashion.

Bigger than 23 litre. Minimum 30 l

23l?! Fml I do overnight with a tent and stuff with 26l. I was going to suggest 13l.

My son always used a black Adidas or Nike backpack. If it fits A4 notebooks then it should be fine assuming that he's happy to carry Food Tech ingredients or PE kit separately.

DH has corrected me. He thinks 23l isn’t too big especially with PE kit. I think it just depend on the school though, if you have lockers you wouldn’t be lugging textbooks about.

Get Nike or another sports brand. Anything else may be social suicide (depending on the school)

Our boys always used Adidas or Nike backpacks like a pp linked earlier; daughters had all sorts of different ones from bog standard totes to Kanken backpacks.

Last year DD had in her bag on an average day...

5-6 A4 exercise books
Planner
Pencil cases (the required stationery list was extensive)
Water bottle
Lunch
Umbrella
Reading book

She could also add food ingredients, play scripts, Art work....

PE bag was separate!

My son has this. He has to carry books, equipment, PE kit, trainers etc. It's very strong, loads of sections. No particular branding visible.

They will get harder use than you can imagine, inside and out. After going through 3 Sports Direct fashion ones in y7 for 1st, I bought a Berghaus daypack. Second boy got the exact same from y7. (They don't care about branding though.) They lasted all through secondary and onto university (although disgustingly battered now!) just stick then in the wash every summer/time something explodes inside.