If your dc has a fjallraven kanken for school

[Whiteblouse]

Are they able to fit a chrome book, small lunchbox, water bottle and 4-5 workbooks, plus pencil case? Or would that be a tight fit?

Second question, what other black backpacks are 'cool' and decent quality? I know it can depend from school to school, but generally?

Eastpak very popular at both DCs schools. DD had a kanken one year but didn't last very well and went back to an Eastpak.

My DCs one fits a water bottle in the outside pocket, an iPad, pencil case, lunchbox, reading book plus sometimes music books as well. And various other smaller bits and bobs. Is a chrome book about the same size as an iPad?

My DC had one and was struggling to fit lunch and a drink bottle in it with all the books. I don’t think they’re big enough for secondary school.

I out r of favour now. Eastpak

My daughter in sixth form has a Jansport. It's a larger size one and fits several folders, water bottle and lunch.

Don't do it!! They are incredibly poor quality and the straps are uncomfortable. My daughters looked like she'd had it a year after only a month.
She now has a very plain Timberland one.

I've been asked for Jansport one too. Kanken too small, not waterproof and the zip has just broken on it.

Criticisms from my DC is that the straps are too thin and not at all padded. Also, it has scuffed up a lot on all the edges. We'll be getting a new one for next year, definitely something larger with padded straps.

I've got one for work. I take the seat pad out of the compartment in the back and put my small laptop (in padded sleeve) in that bit.

Giant water bottle and lunch and a couple of books in the front.

Snacks and keys in the small pocket.

No issues with it but as others have said the straps are thin and dig in.

Another saying the straps hurt when you've got lots of stuff in the Kanken!

Roka bags are great.

Did you know you can get a bottle holder which slots into the side pockets (which are too small for Chilly water bottles unless you have a 15" laptop Kanken)

Black is definitely the right colour. We have this one (for a laptop being carried each day plus exercise books, pencil case, water, lunch etc). No complaints re branding from my DC. Structure seems strong. Trespass Deptron Black 30L Laptop Backpack

Re waterproofing. Due to the laptop and walking home, I bought a black drybag to keep the laptop and books in (as no rucksack is completely waterproof and I didn't want to risk messing up the laptop).

Look at a different style of Fjellraven backpacks. The kanken is quite small.

I've got a normal sized Kanken and a 500ml chilly water bottle and it fits.

My teenagers have both got kankens and have been using them for years and they have been gear bags. My oldest, who got hers when she was fifteen and is twenty now (the bag had a rest in lockdown) fits a laptop in hers but it's the 17inch and my youngest has the 15 inch and can't fit her laptop in.

Awful. Very thin straps which hurt and not much room inside. The corners wore away very quickly. Binned before the end of year 7

The laptop ones don't have the thin straps, only the smaller standard size ones do.

My dd has had hers for three school years and although itbwas more expensive than the bags she had before, it has saved me money in the long run. Hers is yellow so it does get dirty but she just puts it in the washing machine. It's definitely not worn out and it's taken some battering.