Best rucksack for secondary

[OpalSky]

Looking for recommendations for a strong rucksack for secondary as my DD rucksack already falling apart and only had it since start of term.
Need one that can:

1. carry a very heavy load
2. can fit an A4 ring binder or 2
3. colour black preferable
4. has a water bottle holder section on the side
5. no massive great brand logos, small ones fine
6. lasts ok in rainy conditions without all books getting soaked
7. strong and last well!

Is this a difficult ask? 🙏🏼

Yes, i think it is a difficult ask because I spent the summer looking for the same! Superdry larger rucksack has done my son well for years but you do have the logo so still doesn't fit the brief.

DD(17) is in year 13. I suppose we had 2 years of part time school but she started with a standard Fjallraven Kanken and then upgraded to the Kanken 17 inch laptop bag so she could fit other stuff into it after a year. She walks 20 minutes to/from school. The smaller bag tends to act as a day-bag if we are going away.

I re-waxed the outsides over the summer. That's it.

They aren't cheap but they do seem to be bomb-proof.

Not cheap, but neither is needing to replace a back pack every 6 months versus bags lasting 6 years.

https://www.johnlewis.com/browse/sport-leisure/suitcases-bags-accessories/backpacks/fj%C3%A4llr%C3%A4ven/_/N-et6Z1z00e1k

I have had 2 children go right through school and the only bars that age lasted the full year are Superdry bags. Dd even uses hers for uni too.

They are a good size, have a few pockets, coke in a multitude of colours and have good straps on them. I used one of dds old ones for holidays and they are great bags,

School Backpack Boys / Girls /... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RW36W3K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

my Y9 has a variation of this and after 2 years it still looks fine, hardly any sign of wear and tear, soft shoulder straps and lots of pockets!

Herschel bags are great cost £££ but you can pick them up in TK Maxx for a good price. Some of them have the bottle holder on the inside though. DDs Little America one is very well padded on the back. It's still going strong over 3 years later. I figure the initial outlay is made up by the fact it's unlikely we'll need to buy a different bag for her school career.

2 DDs yr 13 and yr 11, London commute to school involving bus and tube. Older DD started with a Kanken as that was the trend but it got battered and looked very tired quickly. Since that they have both had this:

https://www.johnlewis.com/eastpak-orbit-backpack/black/p109859970?sppc=2dxxmixedfashionnBAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1wiXor-VFINfttxmqugTK192&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6NFu9izSsPYhllHxDKnmPLZJfHis6UBZCaJD1BtotZ1fVzaSl118dcaArFEALwwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

not had to replace and still both looking very good despite the books and files they have to carry.

Also recommend Eastpak- have survived cycling, tubes, trains, planes etc.

Not obvious teenagerish but Sammsonite ones actually lasted 5 years… Samuel Vimes Boots…

Berghaus 24/7 bag will do the job. They last forever and come in black. Can be pricey but worth it.

Got this one for my daughter, we have the same criteria as you and it fits the brief
https://uk.justhype.com/products/hype-black-maxi-backpack-2?variant=39328875839588&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6Pt75yZL4-WnMcRW2-Dy0M6YlP6YhUx5rRGqwv63TU1-TMGMaZa0pgaArlmEALw_wcB

Thank you all. These are great suggestions! I will look into them and see if DD happy with the look too. I don’t mind paying more, as long as it lasts.

My two both got Firetrap backpacks this year. My new y7 DD is tiny and we wanted something well padded to make sure it was comfortable. My DS liked it too so he got the same bag with a slightly different pockets configuration. The only issue we have is that there isn't an outside water bottle pocket. They are so much better quality than the Adidas bags that DS has chosen since y7. We got them for a very good price in Sports Direct.

@MyBestFriendKenny I didn’t want to name the brand, but Firetrap brand I will not be buying as I bought the Firetrap City Backpack from Sports Direct, this particular one does have a bottle holder pocket. It has got a hole at the bottom of the bottle holder pocket within one week of having it, and now another hole has appeared at the bottom of the bag today. It’s only been 3 weeks of school, surely a bag should last longer than that😓

Eastpak and Jansport. Check Jansport website using the filters so you get the right specs and buy on Amazon if they have a deal on same item.

Have a look at Dakine, it’s a German brand which you can buy on eBay. They come in different sizes and I have 2, they’re really well made and have lots of pockets and comfy straps.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126572171711?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=lEAW0_gUR2O&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=GKHOP_WtRMy&var=427616032513&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

My son has this rucksack.

PROETRADE Extra Large Backpack... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C2YLXB4Z?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

Not cheap but my DD in Year 10 has a Nordace Siena backback that she got in Year 7 and it's still going strong with not a mark on it or any frayed material. And we're talking a girl here that insists on carrying everything including the kitchen sink in it at all times...

Jansport Big Student backpack.

Ooh lots of good suggestions. @AmberDachs wow that rucksack looks amazing, I want one for myself 😅

A large kanken. My dd is still using hers in y12 - we got it for her in Y7. Still in top condition

Another vote for Eastpak. My DDs got new bags a few years ago, the Eastpak looks good as new and is now being used for 6th form, the Kanken looks bashed about (although still fully functional and I suspect the bashed appearance is part of the charm). My youngest has just started secondary and based on the performance we've bought him an Eastpak.

@OpalSky it was in fact so amazing I bought myself a slightly different model for work. And that one is still going strong too 🤣

Swissgear are very popular with IT workers. Mine is 10+ years old and still going strong.

https://www.swissgear.com/backpacks

Another vote for Kanken. They are ££ but indestructable.
DD got hers in year 12 and it has seen her through A levels, a degree, various trips abroad and weekend visits to friends in the UK and daily use taking lunch etc to work.