MUST HAVE School Bag.. is this still a thing?

[AnnaMxx]

I was wondering if anyone with older kids could help.. is there a must have school bag for kids these days? I remember growing up and if you didn't go to school with either a Jane Norman shopping bag or a Nike Just Do It bag, you were labelled a dork .. is this still a thing? And if so, what is the must have bag?

I don't think so, and they're not as hard wearing as they used to be anyway - I bought DS1 a Head bag (the sort with a detachable end bag) in a fit of nostalgia and it didn't even last a term. My DBro had one all the way through high school when we were young 😡

I don't think it's the thing nowadays.
Back in my day it had to be a head!

Ds got an adidas bag when he started secondary, quickly changed to a more expensive plain-ish black North Face bag when all his jotters were soaking in the adidas one when it rained.

He's just started his 5th year in secondary and he still has the same Northface bag.

For girls? All my DDs friends have Michael Korrs! Yep bloody ridiculous although half of them are probably fake 😂😂

Ah yes, I should have mentioned for girls.

Michael Kors??!! ... arghhhhh ... I don't think we'll be affording one of those!

At DD1's school, most of the girls seem to have a Kanken or Eastpak backpack. She's coming to the end of Y10 and her Eastpak is still going strong. Do check the rules about bags; a few round here have regulation school backpacks they want used, others ban hand bags and specify it must be a rucksack.

Ordinarily, I'd suggest you loiter near the school at the end of the day so you get an idea of popular bags but that's not going to help much at the moment. Maybe post in a local FB to ask other parents at the school what the current Y7 girls use?

Ooooh!! I didn’t know there was a Middle School section.

DS is in Y6 at a Middle school that runs y6-y8. Hype bags are popular with boys and girls.

at DD1's school it's a standard nike or adidas backpack. Hype have fallen away recently. Luckily from a cost point of view Fjallraven haven't taken off yet.

Whatever you get will be stuffed to bursting point.
I’m a fan of Eastpack.
DS had his from 12-20 years old until the inside perished and it was no longer waterproof. DD seems to be going the same way at 3 years+. They fit an A4 ring binder and plenty of books, the back is well padded and the straps have never come unstitched.
Lots of cute one-year-only designs with matching pencil cases, wallets etc. or just get a plain colour. Amazon will have them.

Kanken here.

Kids at school seem to have Hype or kanken. Some of the girls do have handbags but not many.

Can't remember where I read it but I'm sure I read that school guidance going forward was for no bags, so don't spend out yet.

Kanken here, rugby kids have the club backpack