Schoolbag for 11 year old boy

[Bigoystershell]

I have no idea what to get! Ideally waterproof so that seems to be sports brands. But is that uncool?!

Best thing if you can is to see what other Children going to the school are using, if you want the ‘right’ bag trends vary so much school by school, let alone across the country! The other common suggestion is to keep using current bag for a few weeks until they decide what they want!

That being said, Vans, Hype and similar generally seem to be relatively popular.

Ask him?

Check if the school has any rules

I’d say Nike is a pretty safe bet for an 11yr old. But it def varies from school to school. Hype (for example) is ok for girls here but it’s def not cool for boys.

Ask him - branded back packs here. So Addidas, Nike etc.

Thanks all - he doesn't have a clue, it's a new school out of area (he currently has to use a leather satchel so this is all new).

Will have a look this aft at what local boys are using

Maybe best to get a plainish black backpack (sports direct has loads) and then if he wants something else when he knows what the norm is he can ask for it for Xmas.

Not all kids are into 'brands', some rather despise them - DDs opinion was that brands were for people who wanted to look cool and therefore, by definition, weren't. Saved me a fortune!

Black underarmour rucksack has worked well for my son (used it for 2 years now) - decent straps to distribute the weight well and pretty capacious

Thanks Dinky I'll look at those

DS isnt into brands either, yet anyway!

DS1 had too much to carry for the satchel he had at primary, and now has a capacious (and comfortable) plain black rucksack from a Mountain Warehouse sale.

Just get him a Herschel Heritage bag

Are you actually serious?

Seems to be adidas, hype and super dry at ds school, although he likes northface as it's big enough and sturdy enough to carry all his books and pe kit

Superdry rucksack.x

DS1 has a rucksack I got free with a stationery order at work!! It’s a proper laptop one so lots of padding and pockets and things. There’s compartments and pockets for everything which helps keep him organised. He uses the laptop part for his school work etc. It’s plain black and he’s not the step
To be bothered by brands or anything.

DD is starting In September and she’s chosen a smiggle bag which I know a lot of place think is babyish but her class are still into all of that and none of them are into brands.

My 12 year old son has this rucksack. He started secondary last September and they were told that all bags needed to be plain black (although most of the school didn't seem to get the memo...).

It has pockets on the side for water bottles, a separate zipped section on the front, and a divided area inside that he keeps his chromebook in. And it's still in good condition despite being sat on, having food and drink spilt on it, being used as a football...!

I would say at my Ds school mostly Adidas but some nike .

Hype tend to be worn by the girls.

Does he have induction days ? Ask him to check out then

Adidas would be fine at a comp. He could look in JD Sports.

Pretty sure Smiggle is a brand @BrieAndChilli I’m surprised it’s still “acceptable” have have a Smiggle bag at secondary though. It’s the height of uncool in yr5 here

Thanks all, I'll have a look at those suggested

Get some plain but with something distinctive. Then take a photo of it for when it gets lost...

tk maxx has some good options

Definitely go for one that has a mesh pocket on the outside for a bottle of water otherwise...

TKMaxx usually have a good range.

Thanks will definitely have a look in TK maxx, have one near work

Not the Adidas one in black with the white stripes. Sooo many boys have this at my DS's school that they keep bringing other peoples bags home by accident.

Both my DSs have laptop rucksacks, very padded shoulder straps, breathable material and padded against their backs.

Ds1 has just finished year 11 and had one all the way through, I believe 3 bags over 5 years. They were £25 ish from Amazon and both my children had a separate waterproof cover for the bag for any downpours.

Lots of children had the same Superdry bag but in a sea of rucksacks my children can spot their easily.