Where to buy a backpack for DS, Y3 next September with dividers for packed lunch, workbook and other things?

[ssaw2012]

I am thinking of getting him a nice backpack suitable for his age. The ideal backpack would be with pockets and dividers. DS2 starts foundation in September and I do not want to buy another bookpack if I can buy a backpack for his older brother. Many thanks.

I think I should not have asked where to buy as obviously you can buy school backpacks everywhere. I just wanted someone to suggest a backpack suitable for that age, the quality and the usefulness of the product.

GAP they do great ruck sacks with lunch packs that clip on.

Thanks Madamcastafiore. I saw Gap backpack once along time ago and do not remember whether there inside separators or dividers for workbooks etc. That would be usel as I do not like when there is just one compartment inside.

At DS1's junior school a lot of the boys have bags like this one.

I bought him a backpack but after a while he decided it wasn't trendy enough so abandoned it for one like my link which he got for xmas.

I see cece. But it looks as that bag would be too big for a 7 or 8- year-old boys. I think he would be happy to have a bag with angry birds or similar. It is funny to see how they follow the trend. Our primary school is full with cars 2 lunch bags. :)

For me, the bag needs to have a durable outer side pocket where a water bottle can be stored upright. The pockets made of net/mesh seem to last about three weeks and seem to be the weakest point on most bags, with the zips coming a close second.

If mine don't have inner dividers / pockets, they put their books and letters from school into a tough zippy bag which goes inside the main compartment.

Well that is what pretty much every boy in his Y4 class has. I can assure you none of them would be seen dead with a Cars bag.. Funny how things differ from school to school.

Some of the older boys do carry the messenger-style bags, but mine seem to carry around quite heavy library books (at least one copy of the hardback Guinness World Records, among others) so I'm trying to encourage them to wear their bag on both shoulders for as long as possible. In secondary school, DS1's bag often weighs more than 15% of his body weight.

You need to get those Nike water bottles - they don't leak ime but are expensive for a water bottle. Here

LOL Don't get me started on secondary school bags... Fashion over function definitely for DD! She has a shoulder bag on her bike...

Cece, my DS cannot look at his cars 2 lunch bag anymore. They geow out if it but i cannot afford to keep up with trends.
ThreeBee, i agree about the mash. It is useless. Your children carry quite a lot of stuff. It can be bad for their spine and posture in general so that is why I am looking for a good satchel-like backpack.

Thanks Cece, they also look lighter in weight than the aluminium ones we are currently using.

I try to encourage the primary age ones to carry less weight, but in secondary it seems to be unavoidable. He has a locker, but it's too far away to go to during the school day, so he only uses it for PE kit etc.

Despite being 13, he doesn't really care about how his school bag looks. He says he just wants one that's comfortable with padded shoulder straps. He's not that sensible about everything, though!

How much room does your ds have on his peg/locker?

Lands End are the best imvho.

They have dividers,reflectors,grown up designs,3 sizes,pockets,even a money/phone pocket on the straps,matching lunch bags,come with a pencil case,take a battering.My boys have had their Lands End backpacks 3 years and they're still going strong.

They have a far bigger range on the US site and. I ordered dd's lunch bag also fab from there,came quicker than the UK site and customer service waaaay better.

Only tend to sell them in September though.

www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-urban-30-rucksack-791033 is the kind of bag I would buy DS if he needed a new bag. His lunch box is a box and it would fit OK in the smaller pocket along with his bike water bottle if he were walking rather than cycling.

I got Jansport Big Student for DS who is in Y8. Plenty of pockets and compartments and the bag itself is very light. So far so good.

I am sorry I did not come back earlier. it is the holiday time and my children have confiscated my tablet. it was meant to be mine :)
I think I might check Gap in the summer as I do not want to buy DS anything that is big and not colourful. He is still such a kid and not practical at all. I guess Y3 is not going to be that much different from Y2 so we might buy him a new bookback if we do not find anything nice. Currently in his class only one boy has a backpack. All the rest have bookbags.
Thank you again.

Our school have these, with the logo on.

www.greatforschool.co.uk/accessories/bags/2191/JB03

I have to say they are great, a front pocket with detachable ourse and pen holders and two large separate pockets for books etc.

Dd has had hers two years and although it gets thrown about, it has worn really well.