Please recommend a good school bag - large but portable

[dreamygirl]

DD1 is starting secondary in Sept. We went to her transition evening last night and it turns out that because the school site is large and sprawling they do not have lockers/anywhere to keep their stuff, because it would often be too far to go and get it, but instead must carry it all around with them. So I'm looking for recommendations of bags suitable for this purpose.
She'll need space for books, stationery, purse and bus pass, personal stuff and PE kit (wondering about the possibility of having the PE kit in another bag inside the main one).
I thought there might be people out there in the same position who could point me in the right direction.

I'd hold fire on getting the bag atm. Buy a cheap one, and let DD find out what everyone else is carrying. And you may find that practicality is way down the list of desirable criteria.

My DC tend to use another bag for their PE kit, btw - a bag big enough to take this and all the junk they have to transport for school would be absolutely massive.

That's useful advice, thanks - I was thinking that it was going to have to be an enormous bag (I carried home the PE kit we bought last night and that was a big enough bundle!) so 2 bags might be better.

We got DS1 a wheeled backpack when he started coming home from school by himself. Most of the time he wheels it but can put it on his back in a busy corridor. He has a separate bag for pe kit.

this thread comes up regularly, I searched for it recently. Lots of great information here

Thanks for the link pamplemoussed - I did try various searches for similar threads before I posted but I couldn't find anything, not sure why. That thread was just the sort of thing I was looking for.

Chazs - I didn't know there was such a thing as a wheeled backpack! I'll have to get googling!

Anyway, DD has a full day visit on Friday so I shall suggest a good look round at what current students are carrying to see if she spots something she likes the look of! And we can look at some of the links in the other thread as well, for some more ideas.

Most of the girls at dd's school have something like this or this or a large "weekend" style bag from Primark or Accessorize.

Primark ones are crap for school bags though as they're not strong enough ime to handle the abuse and weight.

I'd be cautious about getting a wheeled bag as anything too different marks kids out. Especially for a girl. I've never known anyone have a wheeled bag and I reckon at dd's school comments would be made about such a bag. Silly isnt it but that's teen girls, pre teens for you.

It might be worth driving by the school and having a look at what everyone is using. It seems to be easier for boys as at DS's school it does appear to be practicality over style.

Dakine backpacks are good and some have sleeves for laptops if needed.

DS goes to a school where they have to carry everything around. He uses a black Kipling Seoul. He has a separate PE bag, but can fit his cookery stuff in his rucksack along with his school books, lunchbox etc.

It may seem expensive, but it is very well made. DS is coming up to the end of Year 7 and the back straps, zips etc are all in very good condition and I think it will easily last at least another year or two.

Should have added, it comes in lots of pretty colours as well. Have a look for it on Amazon.

DS1 is at the school where I work and has a Superdry rucksack. I was resistant at first but it's pretty well-made.

Lots of yr7 and 8 girls have similar rucksacks but in 'girlier' colours. Some have Hollister and Jack Wills ones. Alternatively, the brightly patterned ones linked to earlier are very popular. And definitely get a separate PE bag.

my sons have Fox backpacks they are really strong and roomy

They put their PE kit in a light gymsack and pop it inside the backpack but it also give the option of carrying it separately if their bag fills up more during the day.

Mine have the Kicker 2 style (in different colours) but they do some that are more girly.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=fox+backpack&rlz=1C1CHNY_en-GBGB447GB447&es_sm=93&tbm=shop&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=4garU9fPBcuQ0QWS14CwAw&ved=0CA0Q_AUoAg&biw=1024&bih=677&dpr=1#q=fox+backpack+woman&tbm=shop

Eastpak backpacks are very popular here in french secondary schools. Loads of styles on Amazon. Apart from being fashionable they last more than one year!

Apologies for completely forgetting about this and not acknowledging all your great advice. Thanks all. We're still thinking!

Eastpaks, Mipacs, Cath Kidston and Accessorize bags are all "in" at the moment according to my older nieces and nephews.