"Cool" backpacks for secondary school

[chocolatecheesecake]

DD starts year 7 in September and wants a "cool" backpack. I can get no more specifics than that! Where do I start? Any suggestions on brands or good shops to go and look in? She's more of a check shirt/hoody and ripped jeans rather than a sporty type.

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MNHQ

Hype still very much the thing here for years 7-8, (west Kent). DD had a kanken in Yr6, but as other posters have said, it was much too small for Yr7, (I've pinched it for myself!). The older girls, (all girls school), seem to have a mixture of various backpacks and large handbags.

DD had a Kanken a couple of years ago. But has replaced with a Nike backpack as it got knackered and DS has just got another Adidas one.

Lots of DC still have kanken but you can't go wrong with Adidas or Nike

@UserAtLarge

In the opposite situation to De88, DC's school don't allow bags in corridors or books out of classrooms, so you have to put bags in your locker but don't have to carry books about. Some lockers are pretty small so a large bag won't fit. I suggest that OP needs to work out exactly what is expected at her school to add to her bag considerations!

You're lucky lots of schools won't allow lockers so they have to carry everything all day

You're lucky lots of schools won't allow lockers so they have to carry everything all day

Swing and roundabouts ... not being able to take books home is a PITA.

As far as I know, there were no trends for certain backpacks at my DDs school. DD1 had a new backpack for 6th form - a Kanken, one of the recyc ones, Re-Kanken which she has still got and uses at university. She also uses the Osprey backpack which zips off her rucksack. DD2 had a Hype one and when that finally fell apart, chose a Doughnut bag from Ebay which is available in lots of colours and has been great.

If they don't have a lot to carry they sub the backpacks for various canvas shopping bags - D1 has a collection from various university open days, for example. But this isn't generally for schools as they have to carry so much around with them all day.

www.amazon.co.uk/SEVENTEEN-LONDON-Wimbledon-Backpack-Classic/dp/B07WS1SK8T?th=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

These are v v v popular at my school- sound like they would suit with the checked short/ ripped jeans etc- our girls like having their 'hydroflask' on the side and they have badges/ patches on theirs or some have even embroidered on (it's on tiktok apparently) Lots of our 6th formers have these which also adds to the'cool' factor

Teacher here. Kanken still very popular as is jansport. My daughter has an Adidas backpack as do a few of her friends

I think plain is key. They don’t tend to like the multi coloured, standout colours in year 7. Certainly stay away from shiney, glittery or metallic!!!

Louis Vuitton Neverful 😫

Under Armour cool with secondary kids round here