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Original poster

Durable back pack for high school

24 replies

Polarbearyfairy · 13/03/2023 07:02

I'm looking for some suggestions for a durable backpack for my DD when she starts high school
In September. I don't want to spend a fortune but would like it to last longer than 5 mins! All suggestions gratefully received.

OP posts:
NotLovingWFH · 13/03/2023 07:09

We have one from Decathlon. Not expensive but has done a year and a half and shows no wear at all. It has lots of space, padded straps, pockets and best of all a chest strap to spread the weight. It’s so much better than the fashion bags we used to buy.

TeenDivided · 13/03/2023 07:13

This comes up quite often on the Secondary boards.
I hear from there that 'Hype' is quite popular.

cocksstrideintheevening · 13/03/2023 07:14

Hype would be social suicide here, it's for primary but it does seem to be area dependent. Dts are in Y7 and have Vans which are still going strong.

Singleandproud · 13/03/2023 07:18

Have a look at Surfdome, they often have bag sales on. I bought DD a Hershel one, it still looks pristine after several years. They are expensive (around £100 full price) but I got it for £50 and don't think I'll have to replace it at all during her school career so that works out at £10 a year which is a bargain.

TeenDivided · 13/03/2023 07:19

cocksstrideintheevening · 13/03/2023 07:14

Hype would be social suicide here, it's for primary but it does seem to be area dependent. Dts are in Y7 and have Vans which are still going strong.

And therein lies the problem.

Best bet is to have a look to see what type of bags the younger girls have on their way to/from secondary or on the transition day.

Singleandproud · 13/03/2023 07:24

DD has his one Its £105 at the minute but there is a different colour way that is £78 or some other styles that are more traditional ruck sack shape for less than £40.

I have the same brand is my work shoulder bag and it is extremely well made.

CaptainCallisto · 13/03/2023 07:25

Have a look at Jansport. Great quality (almost bloody indestructible), and lots of designs/patterns to choose from.

blumppump · 13/03/2023 07:26

Look at what current students have, and pick one of them

redskylight · 13/03/2023 07:32

As well as durable, you need to factor in "socially acceptable at my DC's future school". I'd try looking to see what the students there take to school, or ask parents who already have children there.

If she already owns an inoffensive bag, your best bet might be to let her take that for the first few weeks, while she works out what is what.

You should also bear in mind that you might want your DC to have a back pack, but they might prefer a different type of bag.

Also check school bag policy - at my DC's school, for example, you can't have bags in corridors, so it's essential to have a bag that squashes into a locker.

2023istheyearigetmyacttogether · 13/03/2023 08:27

As with a PP, most definitely not Hype here. It's all Vans or Nike. But both of those brands only do about 3 or 4 suitable rucksacks and DD doesn't want the same as everyone else as it would be too confusing.
She has a completely bland one from Mountain Warehouse which I used to use for work and then we decided she'd have it for the first couple of weeks of secondary before seeing what everyone else had. She's now in Yr8 & still using it as she can't decide, it does the job & is inoffensive. The only problem is that the mesh side pockets have gone so her water bottle has to go in the bag itself.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 13/03/2023 09:19

DS has an old Jansport one of mine. He chose it over going out for a new one if any sort. 23 years old and going strong. It did me a few years of train commuting, and is doing well in its second term at high school.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 13/03/2023 09:23

Hype is definitely younger. We have middle school for Y6-8 (a little corner of Yorkshire) A lot of kids had Hype bags going into Y6. No one had them by the Y8!

riotlady · 13/03/2023 10:01

I have a Vans backpack that’s going on for 12 years old so definitely recommend them. Saw me all through uni and now I use it to throw all the kid stuff in for day trips

fairtrauchled · 13/03/2023 10:02

DD still uses her Jansport backpack she got halfway through secondary school.She's now in her 30s

carriedout · 13/03/2023 10:04

Mine have always used Vans, the most recent was £9 from an outlet. They carry very heavy books daily (walk both ways) and they last on average 2 years.

Am Shock at spending £105 on a school bag!

I always have a spare in the loft!

itsalwayscycling · 13/03/2023 10:06

It’s totally area (and even specific school) dependent as to what is acceptable. Round here Vans would be social suicide!! The boys all
have identical Nike or Adidas ones and the girls either big tote bags or maybe those Fjallraven backpacks. I’d have a look at what girls in the lower years are carrying just now before making any decision.

FayCarew · 13/03/2023 10:07

I have an Eastpak bag that I use for grocery shopping. It's ancient but still going strong. Might not be trendy. I have a Jansport one but it tended to open if overloaded.
Both are comfortable strap-wise even when full

Guardup · 13/03/2023 10:14

www.johnlewis.com/fjallraven-nankeen-classic-backpack/black/p4845079

I bought this for my daughter (annoyingly when it was £95). She did have another bag before I had bought from accessorise but it really hurt her back and this is perfect for carrying all her books. Plus I believe it’s a completely acceptable brand in the south. She is delighted with it.

SageRosemary · 13/03/2023 11:35

For durability try Sporthouse or Jansport, they will last decades. They can go in the washing machine at mid-term and end of term. DH is using my Jansport daily for the last 20 years and it was already very old at that point! Expensive initially but the cost per year of use is tiny. Schoolbags become carry on luggage for us on holidays. BUT, we are in Ireland and nobody gives a flying feck about schoolbag brand around here.

whatsagoodusername · 13/03/2023 15:28

DS12 has a jansport one. It's plain black and has a laptop compartment.

My own Jansport is going strong 20+ years on. I

Original poster
Polarbearyfairy · 13/03/2023 22:41

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'd not factored in the socially acceptable angle.... oh goodness and so it begins. She's still oblivious to all that but I guess that will change rapidly.

She's off to an independent but not posh school. I think so long as I don't send her in with a briefcase on her first day she will be fine socially 😆

Jansport I remember being really hardy, and she has a small eastpak for dancing that has served her well.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 14/03/2023 06:34

Keep in mind the size of the bag, DD had food tech and PE on the same day and managed to fit everything in her Herschel one but their were plenty others that were attempting to manage their rucksack, PE bag, boot bag (especially if outdoors doing muddy sports, otherwise most keep their PE kits and boots together) and another for food tech.

If she's off to an independent will she have to carry extra sports kit or an instrument as well?

zen1 · 14/03/2023 06:38

I bought my boys Eastpak ones which were on offer at Amazon when they were in year 7. They lasted all through secondary through very rough treatment.

BurbageBrook · 14/03/2023 11:25

I'd avoid spending a fortune and get something she likes now rather than thinking it needs to last years, as she's bound to be nagging for a new one for Year 8 depending on what's become 'cool'!

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