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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Sturdy and comfortable rucksack recommendations

37 replies

mumzy · 13/07/2012 22:28

DS1 starts secondary school in Sept and needs a rucksack for books, sports gear, pack lunch. Tell me your best recommendations for rucksacks TIA

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 13/07/2012 22:34

Is that what he wants or what you want him to have?Grin

mummytime · 13/07/2012 22:49

The ones from Tescos. I started with one from John Lewis and it didn't last a year, the Tescos one has lasted two. If he's at private school they seem to have wheels sports bags for all their kit.

Original poster
mumzy · 13/07/2012 23:15

BigTilly it's what his school recommends and considering the list of things he needs to take in daily a good rucksack is the best option. Ds1 is leaving it up to me to decide the best one for him

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 13/07/2012 23:20

Ds (Year8) has this one.

otherpeopleslifes · 14/07/2012 18:54

Whatever bag you buy what will happen is that a few weeks after starting your child will come home and say it is not right and the one he absolutely has to have is the one EVERYONE else has got, which will generally be expensive but rubbish quality and last about 1 month Grin

happyAvocado · 14/07/2012 19:00

I have to agree that a sensible rucksak you are hoping him top use won't be the one you have in mind :)

take him for a quick scan of what's available in shops but with no pressure what to buy, discuss what you suggest to take into account when buying it

eventually he will find something he likes and you agree to
if he likes the design/colours he is more likely to use it

do they have any lockers at his new school?

OddBoots · 14/07/2012 19:06

My 13 yo DS has this one which we got in TKMaxx for £25. It's not a trendy make but it's a good solid one with features he thinks are cool (although this is the same boy I mentioned on another thread who still prefers to call me Mummy so his opinion of cool may not be a shared one).

Bubbless · 14/07/2012 19:13

ask him to find something he likes
or he might end up with something hes embaressed of
i was bullied in y7 because of my backpack

Sparklingbrook · 14/07/2012 19:17

Last year when DS started High School in Year 8 everyone had a Gola or Adidas bag and not a rucksack.

He has now changed schools and it's all rucksacks, nobody interested in brands at all. Confused

Original poster
mumzy · 14/07/2012 22:52

Thanks all great advice will have to take him shopping to try a few out and see what he thinks

OP posts:
Kez100 · 15/07/2012 00:11

What we did - bought a cheap, plain colour bag. After a week they knew what bag they wanted and we bought that. The cheap bag has since been used for PE kit when the first PE bag fell apart.

The reason we did this was because the uniform is so prescriptive it's nice to have something which is what you want (which is often what everyone else has too, ironically!)

SophiaWinters · 15/07/2012 12:41

DS has a Jansport rucksack like this one I started off with a cheap Tesco rucksack and the zip broke in the first week. Replaced it for the same and again the zipper fell apart in the space of a few weeks. Decided to pay more and bought the Jansport rucksack, it's been going strong for 2 years now and still looks like new.

Sparklingbrook · 15/07/2012 12:54

Yes, you do get what you pay for I think. I was a bit Hmm at the Animal one being a 'brand', but it's really good and has already survived a week long residential Germany trip. Smile

4lovelychildren · 15/07/2012 18:51

When my son went for his induction day I got him to suss out the older kids bags and shoes!

racingheart · 17/07/2012 11:33

We bought a Benetton one that has lasted 5 years to my son's disgust. He wants a new one but this has years of life left in it. It's indestructible.

JJ02 · 17/07/2012 17:10

Eastpak My sons was bought two years ago and still going strong, despite being filled with very heavy books and files each day. Not the cheapest brand but I would defiantly invest again.

GrimmaTheNome · 17/07/2012 17:16

There's no way DDs stuff would all fit in one rucksack - you might want to consider a separate sports bag which can be left to fester in the locker all term

leftthehighlands · 18/07/2012 09:54

I agree with "SophiaWinters", tried different rucksacks but the Jansport Big Student Backpack are excellent quality and a good square edged top so A4 folders fit in with ease, also has plenty of compartments and a bottle holder on the side. Both mine DC's have had them all year and both still look brand new. They also have some great colours and designs.

wildkat · 18/07/2012 19:07

I'm picking up great tips for DS' bag for September - thanks for starting the thread mumzy!

Any lunchbox recommendations guys? I've seen only cutesy ones for younger kids, and the concentrate one which annoys me for some reason (irrational, especially as I won't be using it)

Sparklingbrook · 18/07/2012 19:10

DS1 takes one of those plastic tubs with the blue clicky things on the lid. It fits better in the rucksack.

bigTillyMint · 18/07/2012 19:47

DD also takes a "tupperware" type box as it takes up the least space in her Gola bag. Though I'm sure she'll have her eye on a new bag for SeptemberHmm

cmt1375 · 18/07/2012 19:51

If he has weighty books files etc in it, consider looking at the outdoor gear manufacturers who have started to offer student type rucksacks with good back systems, they make a difference to how comfortable they are to use and reduce damage on young backs!

SkiBumMum · 18/07/2012 19:54

Do they still have Head bags (in pale grey and pink) and/or Warehouse record bags?

wildkat · 18/07/2012 20:43

Thanks Sparklingbrook and BigTillyMint - hadn't thought of just good old tupperware with clicky bits, probably the best plan.

Uberly · 18/07/2012 22:19

DS starts Y7 in Sept. I've already bought an adidas bag at half price in Argos (seems to a be a popular choice in my area). Haven't a clue how long it will last...but it looks good at the moment!

I'm particularly interested in the lunchbox question. I figure that most secondary school kids have tupperware boxes? My DS doesn't believe me when I said that, I think he still wants one of those horrible cartoon character lunch bag which is a bugger to clean!