Coolest school bag for a girl starting secondary school?

[Blinktwice2]

Please can I ask for recommendations? DD is starting secondary and I’d like to buy her a nice bag (surprise). Are smiggle ones considered childish ?

I’d say the opposite. DD is on her second Hype one and she used the first one every day for YR7. She wanted a different one for YR8 and it’s great. Really roomy, waterproof and still going strong.

Have a look at these on eBay. My year 9 son and year 5 daughter have just ordered one each and there's about 20 different colour combinations. I'm a bit tempted myself!

Our daughter got a Kanken last year and we have noticed that they are everywhere now. They are a rectangular shape so hold books better and she can also fit her PE kit in it.

It is very school specific. One school near here they all ditch the backpacks first few weeks and have handbags. My dds school nearby all use rucksacks. Mine is year 8 with a hype one.

Yes dd had a hype one yr7 too both been great. One from amazon one from shuh.

My DD agreed to use her old bag and then she decided after the first 6 weeks! That way she got an idea of what she wanted. The adidas ones with the stripes are roomy and good quality. TKMaxx often have a good range.

Our school has specified only black bags. Bloody nightmare as all the bags look the same so the kids add keyrings and charms, which then get lost!

Most kids here seem to go for back packs.

We like the Kalidi ones on amazon. Like the £80 similar style brand but much less expensive.

Nike backpacks here... also Hype.

DD has a VANS backpack.

It’s definitely school dependent. Hype bags are no longer cool here and we’re in a rural county not known for coolness. All the kids had them 2 year ago.

Here the girls seem to favour the floral/patterned Adidas ones and the boys are going for black and totally plain Nike or Adidas.

At DD’s school the bag has to be black and fit in their locker as no space to carry it around the school. Parents who’d bought enormous bags before the taster day were disappointed about having lost money on a wrong purchase. We got a plain black one no logo or brand from a market stall, cost £10 and lasted two years. We bought a similar one for Y9 and she customises it with badges. She hadn’t been ridiculed for it and I am fortunate she is the type of girl who is confident in having a functional bag than trying to look cool.

Definitely a backpack but probably best if she chooses it herself. At my dd’s London girls school no one has tote bags - it’s all backpacks - all different brands but Herschel and Kanken are popular.

Check with the school on this, as most our introducing a school rucksack now I thought if they don't already.

Dd2 started year 7 in a comp with the Adidas one in burgundy and has found it fine
I use the nike one for shopping in grey and it's very roomy and comfortable and things feel light in it. Seems sturdy.
I'm not suggesting your dd should emulate a middle aged woman's shopping bag, but I've seen a boy at dd's school.using one

Go and have a look at the school at the end of the day - you'll get an idea of what the others tend to go for. At DD1's school they all have to have a backpack in a plain, dark colour. No handbags or shoulder bags are allowed. DD1 started Y7 with an Eastpak backpack and got a Kanken at the start of Y9. The Kanken was pricey but she uses it out of school too, it's a sensible shape and it means she feels as though she fits in. I'd prefer to spend that sort of money on a backpack than on a less functional bag/item.

At my school many y7/8/9 kids have kranken, the others have designer handbag fakes. There may or may not be a strong correlation between your choice of school bag and your behaviour and attitude to.

Attitude to learning

They usually go for hype, Adidas or Nike - I think converse is no longer on trend

Go for something with a splash of colour and not all black (DS has orange) his bag stands out on the bag rack.

Look at the under armour drawstring bags for PR they are made well lots of pockets and built to last (3 years and counting)

You can often get the Kanken bags at a good discount. Cotswold Outdoors stock them and often have 25-30% off everything, keep an eye out for vouchers.

It really depends how much they need to carry. Mine only use the kanken bags for very light days or if they need a bit of extra PE kit. Day to day they have much sturdier rucksacks which i can barely lift.

Another vote for kanken here. Lots of lovely colours and they wear really well. Plus I can borrow it ;)

Our head just introduced a backpack only policy from Y7-Y9. So better check what your school says.

Last year I asked DD to keep on eye on backpacks during induction day (she was already aware that a handbag was a big no from DH and me even when they weren't on the forbidden list) and we originally settled for a laptop bag style. She now asks for a hype bag for her birthday/start of Y8.

DD goes to a girl school though and most have non-sport brands for bags. So it really depends on school and location as well.

Do not choose for her, I came up with a short list chosen for practical issues like price, size and quality and then DD could have a go for the design.

we haven't bought one yet but have been looking online. DD wants a drink pocket on the side (frees up space in the bag itself, ideally one on each side so umbrella can go in the other one), different pockets for organising a bit and waterproof. other than that we haven't got any further. Definitely check waterproof though, there is nothing worse than all your work getting wet

Definitely Kanken bags. They’re also really well made and don’t crumple books up.

www.fjallraven.co.uk/

Are the Kanken bags properly waterproof?