What size backpack for secondary school?

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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.

Should have said - 30L to answer your question!

Dd has a 30L trespass black backpack. It will need replacing for September but it's done two years of hard work! It's well padded on the shoulders, and has good lumber support. Walking home dd does the chest and waist straps up, so the weight of the pack is more evenly distributed, but apparently uncool to have them done up at school. She carries most of her A4 books daily, I weighed it out of interest at the end of last term...nearly 10Kg!
She's requested same style, but in dark blue for this year. DS has gone for something similar (not a brand name I know) but it's water resistant and has a usb charging port!!) also in black. They get a lot of wear and tear, and need replacing every couple of years as the seams start to give, and the mesh water bottle pockets get holes by by the summer term. I guess like most things wh you live might be relevant to what brand you get, but local state school here with 1000 students, and no one cares what bag you have, although smiggle or bright pink unicorns might not be a good idea😂😂😂

OP, are you really set on that bag? It seems a bit of a strange choice....

'Everybody' around here has a pretty large Nike/North Face/Berghaus/Adidas/Eastpak rucksack.

My son just finished year 11 with a two years old bog standard plain navy Primark backpack. Has a small Nike kit bag for the whole time.

I'd go for 30L as although there might be a separate bag for PE kit, mine like to put their PE kit and trainers bag in their rucksack to keep their hands free (or at least their trainers bag, sometimes they are happy to carry the lighter PE kit). I've found the Trespass Albus 30L very good, or there's Nike ones of the same size (styles vary, but no matter which backpack, thick padded shoulder straps and padded back are a must).

I think it's a strange choice too. It's a hiking backpack with a chest strap. And it's expensive.

My child never had to bring home any books, all homework was online. So big enough for sports clothes and drink. Didn't have lockers either

She carries most of her A4 books daily, I weighed it out of interest at the end of last term...nearly 10Kg!

That's madness. I don't think mine carried even a quarter of that. I suppose it all depends on the set up. Mine never had text books for example to carry. And their exercise books mostly stayed at school too.

Also stick with nike or north face etc. Not decathlon unless you want a bullied ds on your hands. Its social suicide as pp said

My dd had a Kanken which is 16L. She used to plan on a smaller packed lunch on PE days as she didn't have room for both.

She didn't carry books though. And she kept the contents of her pencil case in her blazer pockets.

DC1 has this one https://www.sportsdirect.com/puma-academy-bpack-23-710074

Given the name I think it’s 23L. 16L is far too small.

I agree with others though that you shouldn’t buy a new bag yet unless you are happy to replace it in a few months. DD used her year 6 bag at the start of the year. I told her specifically I was happy to get her a new one once she figured out what to get. She had a hype bag which was popular in primary only.

16L is far too small.

Loads of kids have Kankens for secondary. One of mine had one all the way through since year seven and has just done the first year of university and still uses it as her main bag.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-backpack-and-lunch-box-712033#colcode=71203341

This one. It has a lunch bag in it too. Sports direct are great for school bags.

So North Face is ok?

we’re looking at this one

https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/shop/en-gb/tnf-gb/bags-equipment-activities-school-backpacks/hot-shot-backpack-special-edition-3kyj?variationId=KY4

Mine had fjalraven backpacks. Not kanken they were not quite big enough and awful thin webbed straps for weight carrying. Their bigger backpack has proper padded straps

Also what pencil case??

I don't know anyone who had a pencil case in high school

What do they use to carry stationary?

DD has a pencil case. It carries a lot of crap. It’s just one off Amazon.

It needs to fit:
Exercise books,
Text book (occasionally)
PE kit in the bag so you are not losing £100 equipment
Trainers daily for the astro
Coat. Plus blazer in summer.possibly jumper depending on your kid/school
Lunch,
Water bottle
Food tech ingredients and box to carry result home in which needs to be put in flat. (Possibly same day as PE kit. )
Pencil case contents
Maths kit
Calculator
Their phone. (Though that often migrates to the blazer pocket even though it shouldn't)
A football
Any medication
Musical instruments and books possibly.

What do they use to carry stationary?

Their pockets.

DD has a pencil case. Ds carries his stuff in his blazer.

My DC never particularly bothered about being cool so no idea whether these are but both mine had Eastpak. DD has just finished Y13 and the backpack has lasted 7 years, despite being really full every day and still not damaged or looking tatty so though pricier than some were definitely a good purchase.

Lots of students have pencil cases, particularly girls. Some use their blazer pockets and consequently never have a pen on non-uniform day