Backpacks: Ratings of Sources
Total of 23 Sources
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
GH Tested: The Five Best Backpacks for Kids
by Amy Roberts
Our Assessment
Editors enlist kids to test 29 daypacks, picking five as the best backpacks for school -- though drawbacks are noted even for four of these. Tests cover water resistance and durability as well as comfort… and organization. The 24 backpacks that didn't make the cut also get brief comments here. The North Face Borealis, the Lands End Cordura Studyhaul, Kelty Riff, The North Face Recon and the L.L.Bean Original Plus are top-rated.
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2008 Gear Guide
by Editors of Backpacker magazine
Our Assessment
Based on extensive field tests in rugged conditions, editors review six backpacks, including the L.L.Bean Bigelow -- a 2003 Editor's Choice and still rated the best value this year. The more expensive… Gregory Z30 backpack gets top ranking as the best all-around. In contrast to the report at Good Housekeeping, this article focuses on daypacks for hiking rather than backpacks for school or commuting.
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Daypacks
by Editors of Outside magazine
Our Assessment
Based on field tests, editors briefly review three hiking daypacks without any ranking. One of the overnight backpacks could also double as a daypack, and the 2007 Summer Buyers Guide issue reviews another six packs, identifying the Deuter Ergon BA1 as a "killer value." These are all meant for hiking, not school or commuting.
Best High-tech backpacks
by Jane Bianchi
Our Assessment
This review covers 14 high-tech backpacks, testing them to see if their extra features are worth the money. Tests are done by 24 kids ages 12 to 18. Both of the top picks provide iPod controls on a front strap, but one proves more durable and water-resistant than the other. No details are provided about the other 12 backpacks that didn't make the cut.
5. Vegetarian Times
Sept. 2007
Good Baggage
by Rianne Heffel
Our Assessment
This article details how to wear a backpack for the best ergonomics. Three specific backpacks are recommended, including one endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Associatio (the BackTpack), a wheeled backpack (the Jansport Driver 8), and a basic backpack that does double duty between hiking and school (the Osprey Talon 22).
New Badge of Cool: High-tech, High-fashion Backpacks
by Bruce Horovitz
Our Assessment
This detailed article doesn't include any comparison tests of backpacks, but gives a useful overview of the range of backpacks currently available for school use. The author interviews students as well as industry executives, and notes specific backpacks with outstanding or unusual features. Highlighted are The North Face Isabella, Nike Edge Elite, JanSport SuperBreak and The North Face Surge.
We Test It: Kids' Backpacks
by Denise Foley and Tanya Beers
Our Assessment
Prevention magazine loads 30 backpacks with five to eight pounds, then asks a dozen children (ages 6 to 15) to test them on a mile-long walk. A chart shows the features that testers and editors find make… each pack comfortable for kids' backs, plus extra features that help organize contents. Only three of the nine top-ranked backpacks are still current models: the Lands End Ergo Junior for young kids, the Kelty Grommet Kids for older kids and The North Face Bandwidth for pre-teens.
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Daypacks
by Editors and contributors to eBags.com
Our Assessment
This huge retail site claims to be the biggest retailer of bags of all kinds, and owner-ratings of some daypacks number in the thousands. Each pack is rated for appearance, organization and value, and the site also tells how many owners say they'd buy it again. Among top-rated backpacks are the High Sierra Access, The North Face Surge, the JanSport Big Student Pack and two other JanSport models.
Daypacks
by Contributors to REI.com
Our Assessment
This retail site sells over a hundred different daypacks, most with ratings and reviews from owners -- though none of the kids' daypacks have accumulated enough reviews to carry much weight. The list of… hiking daypacks is easy to browse here, since it shows not only the average rating, but the number of reviews on which it's based. Clicking on a pack leads you to a summary of the pros and cons identified by owners. School packs are listed separately.
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Daypacks
by Contributors to Moosejaw.com
Our Assessment
This retail site sells hundreds of daypacks, showing the average rating on the list but not the number of reviews on which it's based. Several daypacks by The North Face stand out here -- a few reviewed by a hundred or so owners.
Backpacks for Kids
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Our Assessment
We'd rank this brief article higher if it included any ratings, but it's basically a short buyers' guide to kids' backpacks for school, without recommending any specific packs. A few of the eight rolling backpacks tested in 2001 are still current, however.
Family Supplement: They've Got Your Back
by Joiee Thorpe
Our Assessment
We'd rank this review higher if recommendations were for specific backpacks rather than brands, but the top picks are left ambiguous. Also, there's no testing of backpack durability. Real Simple staff… enlist the help of several kids to test over a hundred backpacks, picking the best backpacks for nine different ages or uses. This is one of the few reviews to recommend a backpack for toddlers and to make gender-specific picks for teens.
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Daypacks
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment
This retail site makes it harder to find the top-rated daypacks, though searching for more precise terms like "book bag" or "computer daypack" helps. Of the hundreds of packs sold here, three designed for laptop computers stand out, as do a few bookbags. As at other sites, rolling daypacks get mostly lower ratings from owners.
Best Rated Book Packs
by Editors and Contributors to LLBean.com
Our Assessment
On the L.L.Bean website, owners can leave ratings for backpacks. Obviously, only L.L.Bean packs are sold here, but some of the comments for individual backpacks are interesting.
Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs
by Contributors to BackpackGearTest.org
Our Assessment
The single-product backpack reviews at this site are well structured and detailed, often written by testers who've been screened for their hiking experience. Backpacks aren't rated or ranked, but it's a good place to check once you've narrowed your choice.
Alleviate backpack-induced back pain
by Mike Adams
Our Assessment
This detailed single-product review describes the ergonomic benefits of the innovative BackTpack, which uses dual bags at the sides. The only drawback is that the straps can get twisted around when the backpack's not being worn, making it hard to put on.
Top Travel Packs
by M. S.
Our Assessment
This brief article recommends three travel knapsacks, including the Osprey Kestrel 32 that includes a rain cover. We'd rank this review higher if it documented any testing.
Expert Gear Picks: Daypacks
by Contributors to Altrec.com
Our Assessment
Altrec staff recommend five daypacks as "expert gear picks" but only the Osprey Stratos has also been reviewed by owners. Quite a few other daypacks have accumulated ample reviews, however, and you can filter the larger list to show only laptop daypacks or school daypacks.
Daypacks
by Contributors to Backcountry.com
Our Assessment
This retailer sells over a hundred daypacks, but not all have been reviewed. Several daypacks by The North Face get top ratings here. School packs and kids' packs are listed separately, but reviews are sparse.
Daypacks
by Contributors to Zappos.com
Our Assessment
Owner-written reviews are detailed and helpful here, but the site is tedious to browse since even the average rating isn't shown till you click on a pack. Most backpacks get very high ratings, so you really have to read the detailed comments to get much help in choosing.
Backpacks
by Contributors to LuggageOnline.com
Our Assessment
This retail site makes it easy to filter the daypacks for the type you want -- rolling, computer, kids', hiking, etc. Not many daypacks have accumulated enough reviews from owners, however, to make the average ratings mean much.
Daypacks, Rucksacks
by Contributors to Trailspace.com
Our Assessment
This is aimed at hikers, but most of the daypacks rated and reviewed here are also suitable as book bags. Few packs have accumulated more than one or two reviews, however.
Backpacks
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Our Assessment
Owners have rated and reviewed quite a few of the backpacks sold here. Most are inexpensive school book bags from Eastsport, but you can also find a few specialty packs for computers or hiking by searching for "backpack."
