What bags are you buying for secondary school

[winewolfhowls]

Good morning.

I was wondering what type of bags people were buying for their year six going into seven children? I'm trying to spread the cost a bit.

My son is a quiet and geeky type and I don't want him to stand out. He has no interest in brands.

I was thinking of buying a plain black rucksack, probably from a brand like Berghaus or North Face. Then at least it's non descript and if he gets a liking for a brand then it can be used for other things. He doesn't like shopping and will agree to anything.

I was one of those kids never allowed the cool brands at school and I think it's one of those things that seems unimportant to adults but matters to kids as they get older.

rucksack - dark,plain and robust. worked for our teen

After a few losses of pe kits, my friend recommended an Under Armour one which has loads of sections in it and can fit books and pe kits with ease. It's just plain black with the logo.

Ps I know not exactly what you were asking but it is useful.

I work in a secondary school.

Get him a plain simple un fancy black Nike /Nike air / adidas (maybe puma)backpack that is not gigantic and a second either drawstring gym bag or “boot bag” (the rectangular ones) for PE.

TNF can be super cool or have the potential to look like a hiking bag. Berghaus is really uncool at my school.

Although this varies from school to school / area to area i think these are safe options!

Black Nike backpack is your safest option. North face and under armour as also pretty safe but generally for a conscious kid, I'd just go for the Nike.

pretty plain black Nike ones are pretty ubiquitous here. I’d look for inner pocket as handy for books, water bottle pocket on the side and make sure big enough to get his pe kit in there, definitely agree with @StasisMom on that one!

Maybe wait until he's had his transition day in July and then he can see what other children there have which may influence what he wants.

Also, have a look at the school shoes the kids are wearing in that uniform if you can. My son's school are so strict and they all wear plain black Clarks without the pointed toe. But all the other schools in the area allow black leather trainers and if they aren't in the black air force ones, you aren't 'cool'.

My son's in year 8 and I felt the same as you. I spent ages looking for the 'in' thing for him so he wouldn't be picked on. Black north face puffa is the coat of choice as well and a grey Nike tech fleece for non full coat weather. It's worked well for my son and we've had no comments from peers on choice of clothes.

Adidas is a big no at my DC's school, so second the suggestions to check what others have. I went with a black North Face vault for DS. After about a term we also got him a north face duffel xs for his sports kit.

DD has a north Face Berkeley in pale blue, and a similar style duffel bag which is local sports shop own brand.

I'm in Manchester. The boys all seems to have plain black Nike, Adidas or Under Armour rucksack. PE kits are all in JD drawstring carrier bags if they don't fit in the rucksack.

https://m.jdsports.co.uk/product/black-nike-elemental-backpack/19653433/?cm_mmc=googleshop--google--shopping-_-pla&istCompanyId=9c5cf6f7-3142-4f9f-be57-2fce9c67adfd&istFeedId=014e8b49-620d-4e56-9e87-79529c403af2&istItemId=mmmqwwxpm&istBid=t&applink=1&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADqUegftBQVFDBuVkQWU7ZCCiB7qZ&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_5jhtOyLjAMVT5FQBh1EAA9jEAQYASABEgKFzPD_BwE

black Nike rucksack, this one is very popular. Ds prefers a black logo rather than the white

for a pe bag get the drawstring Nike ones

DS is y10 and on his 4th plain black nike one, he never wants anything different, it’s a decent size rucksack
they last the whole year and probably longer but I buy a new one for September as you can guarantee it would break if I didn’t
he then has a boot bag for footy boots which fits in his bag. He seems to need much less stuff now he’s in gcse years no cooking equipment etc

Black Nike rucksack here too. Dd1 had a sky blue one, she's quiet but happy to be different also. Dd2 wants to fit in with the crowd. She didn't want one with a huge logo though, so make sure dc does choose with some guidance.

I'm in Ireland, but virtually every teenager in DCs schools use a Jansport backpack. DS2 has plain black like 99% of the school, whereas DD has a plain red one. A lot more variety amongst the girls bags.

The Jansport bags are virtually indestructible and, I think, have a lifetime guarantee (that may have changed). I still have a light blue one myself from the early 90s 😳

My ds in year 7 has a black and grey puma rucksack. Seems to be a pretty standard normal bags for the boys in his school.

The Under Armour Hustle 5.0 or 6.0(newer)

It fits pe kit and everything. It's really robust and after trying two others in two terms which bust zips due to squeezing too much in, this bag is on its 3rd year. We got another for Ds2 in yr7 this year.

Black Nike rucksack
It's what they all have at my sons school

I have a son in y8 and also work next to a secondary school. I would say 80% of the boys in y7/8 have black Nike rucksacks.

Black is the obvious choice. If you can have a look yourself at the children going to that school to see what they are carrying. Black Nike or Adidas is a brilliant choice.

Both of my children had no known brand laptop rucksacks because they had to walk to school and the extra padding on the back, straps and the breathability of the fabric meant they weren't sweaty. Plus they also had a waterproof cover with 2 straps so their books stayed dry. Lots of the children had this too.

For sports they either had a drawstring bag, lots of children had JD Sports ones or cross body messenger type bags. They also had a carabiner clip permanently on their rucksack so when they pulled their rucksack from under the desk the PE kit bag was attached to it and not left behind.

Consider a house key on a retractable keyring attached inside the bag too if he will be coming home to an empty house or just to be able to let himself in. That way he won't lose the key.

DD(14) and DS (12) have black Herschel backpacks. DD had a Hype one in years 7 and 8 and desperately wanted a plain black one because apparently “Hype is social suicide”.

My yr9 ds had a plain black Nike backpack and for the start of yr9 he got a black under armour. Both had multiple sections and a padded section for his iPad.

another vote for plain black Nike here. One without a huge logo / with a black logo is favoured.

And a black north face puffer.

Black Nike is the safe buy. I regularly see the swoosh, writing, Jumpman logo or a combination of the three.

Thank you everyone.

Black Nike is looking like a safe bet.

Great tip about the house key being attached thanks too!