Backpack Review

Choosing between types of backpacks

This report covers backpacks for school and commuting, including rolling backpacks and kids' backpacks. We also take a look at laptop backpacks, which include a padded compartment for a notebook computer. ConsumerSearch has a separate report on hiking backpacks for camping and hiking trips, but for short hikes, many of the backpacks included in this report could be pressed into duty.

Backpacks come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and prices. Unlike some other consumer products, paying more won't necessarily get you a higher-quality backpack. In fact, many of the top-rated backpacks are classic styles from JanSport or L.L.Bean that are very affordable. These simple backpacks score highly for durability, but they don't feature many of the bells and whistles found on pricier packs. Although you won't necessarily get better quality in an expensive backpack, you will usually get more extras like additional pockets, mesh bottle holders, key fobs, headphone ports, ventilated back pads and laptop sleeves. Keep in mind that all of these extras add weight to the pack, so it pays to consider whether you really need lots of pockets and zippered pouches.

Reviews indicate that it's a good idea to avoid the themed backpacks that pay homage to popular characters like Hannah Montana or the Transformers. In most cases, these backpacks -- which are widely available for less than $20 at major big-box retailers -- suffer from serious durability issues. In recent independent testing, the Disney Hannah Montana Undercover Pop Star backpack (*Est. $15) and the Bakugan Battle Brawlers backpack (*Est. $16) both scored poorly for construction quality and durability. While the kid-friendly designs on these backpacks might attract your child's attention, reviews indicate you're better off with a top-rated kids backpack from a well-known company like L.L.Bean, The North Face or JanSport.

We found the best and most recent comparison tests of backpacks at ConsumerReports.org, where editors test 12 backpacks, rating each one on construction, durability, water resistance, convenience, comfort and safety features. Consumer Reports' testing is well documented and very solid, but there's no analysis to accompany the backpack ratings. Only two backpacks are recommended, and both are for adults. Good Housekeeping also conducts a detailed test of backpacks, putting 29 packs to the test among a panel of kid testers. Each backpack is tested for water resistance, abrasion and comfort. This review is older than the report at Consumer Reports, but Good Housekeeping provides a short analysis for each of the 29 backpacks tested. Five packs are deemed the best for back-to-school kids.

Owner-written reviews are also valuable when evaluating backpacks. Because Consumer Reports offers the only recent backpack test, reviews from parents and owners help fill in the gaps. Some of the best parental and kid reviews come from eBags.com, which has thousands of reviews on a variety of different backpacks. Some backpacks attract hundreds, if not thousands, of individual reviews on this site. Buzzillions.com, which aggregates consumer reviews from around the web, and Amazon.com are also good sources for backpack reviews.