Backpacks for Kids

School backpacks for kids

Backpacks for younger kids are smaller and proportionally sized for their narrow shoulders and small frames. Most start at around 850 cubic inches -- about half the size of an adult backpack.

Reviews indicate that L.L.Bean makes some of the best backpacks for kids, and reviewers say their simple backpack designs are durable and attractive to young children. For kindergarteners, the L.L.Bean Junior Original Book Pack (*Est. $25) gets the best reviews. Designed for kids ages 4 and up, the L.L.Bean Junior Original has a total capacity of 950 cubic inches, and it sports one main compartment and two smaller pockets, including one with an organizer for pens and other school supplies. The backpack comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and you can add an optional monogram or sports figure (*Est. $6). The L.L.Bean Junior Original backpack is one of the top performers in a Slate.com test from 2007, where it receives excellent scores for design and durability. Slate's kid testers play tug-of-war with the backpack and dump grape juice and dirt on it, and the Junior Original backpack holds up without a tear or stain.

The Lands' End Classic Classmate Junior backpack (*Est. $25) also performs well in Slate's test of kids' backpacks. This simple backpack is designed for kids between the ages of 4 and 7, and it offers two large compartments and reflective trim for visibility. Unlike the L.L.Bean Junior Original, the Lands' End Classmate Junior backpack has a small pocket for an MP3 player, complete with a cord port. The Lands' End backpack is slightly larger than the L.L.Bean backpack, with a total capacity of 1,100 cubic inches. Lands' End backpacks are also offered with an optional monogram (*Est. $5). In Slate's test, reviewer Jennifer Howard wonders how many 4-year-olds have MP3 players, but her panel of kid testers rates the Lands' End Classmate Junior highly for comfort. It's also durable, because neither grape juice nor dirt could stain the exterior.

For slightly older kids in elementary school, the L.L.Bean Critter Pack (*Est. $40) is a top pick. This backpack is designed for kids 7 and up, so it offers more space -- 1,500 cubic inches of total capacity. It includes two zippered side pockets, one of which has a mesh pocket for a water bottle. The shoulder straps are padded and contoured to provide a better fit for smaller bodies. This pack comes with a choice of six embroidered "critters," and like the L.L.Bean Junior Original backpack, a monogram is also an option (*Est. $6). Owners give this school backpack near-perfect ratings, praising it for outstanding durability and convenience. Parents say the Critter backpack shows very little wear and tear after several years of use, but they caution that the lighter colors can look dingy after a few school years. Out of the six color options, only one -- the light pink butterfly design -- looks like it is specifically made for girls; in reviews, some parents wish for more designs that appeal to girls. The Critter also comes in a rolling version, which is discussed elsewhere in this report.

The Lucky Bums Dragonfly 15 backpack (*Est. $50) is another option for kids between the ages of 8 and 12. The Dragonfly backpack has two main compartments, reflective strips and a ventilated back panel. It can do double duty as a backpack for hiking, because it comes with an optional hydration pack (*Est. $8). The Lucky Bums Dragonfly backpack performs well in recent independent tests, where it scores highly for durability and construction quality. This backpack also comes in a smaller version for children ages 4 to 7, the Lucky Bums Dragonfly 10 (*Est. $45).

The North Face, one of the top-ranked backpack brands in reviews, makes a smaller backpack for kids in the 850-cubic-inch Swerve (*Est. $50). The straps are designed for small children, with extra-soft padding, and the front of the pack has reflective patches for safety. There's a big mesh pocket in the front and side pockets for water bottles, plus an organizer inside. This school backpack comes in five colors and is lightweight, but it's considerably more expensive than other top-rated kids backpacks. Most owner-written reviews of the Swerve are positive, but at eBags.com, several parents complain that the backpack is much smaller in person than it appears online. One reviewer has problems fitting all of her child's school supplies, including standard-size folders, into the backpack.

The Kelty Grommet Junior (*Est. $25) is a budget school backpack recommended in a test at Prevention magazine. Designed for 5- to 9-year-olds, the Kelty Grommet Junior has dual mesh pockets for water bottles but just two compartments -- there's no extra pocket on the front. The Kelty Grommet Junior backpack has a capacity of 850 cubic inches. It gets decent marks in independent tests, where it rates highly for durability but only average for convenience. Kid testers for Prevention say the Kelty Grommet Junior backpack is "simple but stylish enough to still be cool."