Am I the only one? New Backpacks for school

[kaw1218]

My oldest DD is now going into 6th grade. For a few years, we would get a brand new backpack in August.

A couple of years, we had to get a new one mid year.

Well, when she was starting 4th grade and my youngest was going into 1st, I spent $$$ and got them each a good backpack.

So now I just wash the backpack and have them continue to use it.

I didn't do this for the budget, I did this because I got tired of searching Walmart at 11pm on a Wednesday night for a new one.

So, Am I the only 'MEAN MOM' that won't let their kids get a new backpack each year?

 

[Cindy B]

Nope-- I refuse to buy them as well every year.


My DS got a LL Bean last year and he is reusing it. My DD wanted a new one but I said no she had two from previous years that she was welcome to use. She had a birthday party a few weeks ago and got a cute messenger bag as a gift from one of her friends so she is using that.

 

[crossfamily]

We buy our kids all new every year it helps get them excited to go back. Its something I got new every year and so will my kids. We havent' had problems with back packs in the past that i have had to replace them. Sorry about your problems.. Oh and I like to shop at walmart at 11pm its fun..

 

[Nancy]

I voted other because depending on their ages I probably did all of the choices. When they were little they got a new one every year, mainly because they bought the character ones and by the next year they wanted a different one. Middle school age the backpacks got abused a lot and usually didn't last year to year. Highschool, backpacks last until they fall apart.

 

[Sherri]

My oldest DD is now going into 6th grade. For a few years, we would get a brand new backpack in August.

A couple of years, we had to get a new one mid year.

Well, when she was starting 4th grade and my youngest was going into 1st, I spent $$$ and got them each a good backpack.

So now I just wash the backpack and have them continue to use it.

I didn't do this for the budget, I did this because I got tired of searchig Walmart at 11pm on a Wednesday night for a new one.

So, Am I the only 'MEAN MOM' that won't let thier kids get a new backpack each year?

We also used to get the kids new backpacks each year. Two years ago the kids each got a columbia backpack which were great sizes. Last year dd got a new messenger type bag, but ds kept his columbia one. This year I was get each of them a new backpack but they couldn't find any as much as they liked their columbia one (Dd ditched the messenger back to go back to her Columbia backpack). I tried to remember where we got it from, dd thought Kohls but I didn't see any there. They love these so much and the size since everything lately we looked at seems so small. With both kids in highschool
they need the bigger backpacks.
I say if you have something functional that works and they like it, then why not keep it. I'm only sorry it took me so many years to realize that.

 

[kaw1218]

Glad to see I'm not the only having them reuse them.

And Teresa, shopping at Walmart at 11pm IS fun...if I CHOOSE to do it

 

[rer1972]

We buy our kids all new every year it helps get them excited to go back. Its something I got new every year and so will my kids. We havent' had problems with back packs in the past that i have had to replace them. Sorry about your problems.. Oh and I like to shop at walmart at 11pm its fun..

 

[Rachie0507]

I've been buying LL Bean bags for my kids and plan to use them til they can't use them anymore. DD needed a new one in first grade after using the old one for three years through preschool and kindergarten. She only got a new one because the old one was too small. The new one will probably last her now until 4th or 5th grade. DS might need a new one this year for kindergarten--between his lunch box, folders, and agenda book there is no extra room. He has already had two years use out of it. I'm going to wait a couple weeks before I buy a new one though--he is a little guy for his age and I'd rather not buy him a bigger pack quite yet.

 

[kaw1218]

We also used to get the kids new backpacks each year. Two years ago the kids each got a columbia backpack which were great sizes. Last year dd got a new messenger type bag, but ds kept his columbia one. This year I was get each of them a new backpack but they couldn't find any as much as they liked their columbia one (Dd ditched the messenger back to go back to her Columbia backpack). I tried to remember where we got it from, dd thought Kohls but I didn't see any there. They love these so much and the size since everything lately we looked at seems so small. With both kids in highschool
they need the bigger backpacks.
I say if you have something functional that works and they like it, then why not keep it. I'm only sorry it took me so many years to realize that.

I actually did 2 years of replacing backpacks before I remember the one I had in High School.

That one lasted me all 4 years plus 2 of college!!!

If only I would have remember THAT a few years earlier

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I voted other. We usually buy new ones each year, but also have lots of reasons to use backpacks--cartrips, sports etc.

The new one is used for school, and the older ones for everything else.

 

[Northstar]

I voted for "till it falls off..." but realistically, that is often just about in 2 years so I could have voted for that. Thank goodness for duct tape or we might be replacing backpacks every two months or so!

New backpack doesn't seem to thrill DD near as much as new jeans and school supplies anyway. I suppose I would spring for a new backpack if she really wanted a new look.

 

[diznygirl]

I'd like to reuse them, but they keep falling apart. I've got high hopes for the one I bought this year. We'll see.

 

[87Heel]

We've been going with Lands End or LL Bean. DD9 just got a new Lands End backpack for 4th grade. Her previous backpack lasted from K-3rd (and the fabric still looks good; the zipper was abused too much). DD13 had an LL Bean one that went from K-3, then a second one that went from 4th-8th. For HS, she spent her babysitting money on a Vera Bradley tote to use instead of a backpack. DS4 will get a new one when he starts K; he has an old Blues Clues and an old LL Bean small pack that he uses for preschool.

New school supplies, new outfit for the first day... new backpack only if it's needed!

 

[Becky2005]

Last year we bought really good backpacks because I was so sick & tired of buying backpacks that would fall apart (i.e. cheap ones). I would end up having to get one in the middle of the year, etc... By the time I was done buying 2 - 3 backpacks per kid each year, I decided I would pay more for a good quality one.

I believe it was LL Bean (either that or Land's End -- I forget). I had heard good reviews on them and I was so sick & tired of getting ones where the straps would break.

For my DD -- we got her the biggest one and it was a customized one, so she picked the colors for each part & it even has a lighted area she can turn on (due to it getting really dark here on occassion when she's gotten home after sports). I fully intend for her to use that backpack through the rest of her school career!

The boys also got backpacks -- not quite as fancy as hers but theirs are animal ones. I *might* get DS a new one next year since he's going to Middle School & will get him the full fledged fancy one that he will then be expected to use all the way through High School.

My 7 year old will be using his definitely until the end of grade school.

That is providing none of these fall apart but they shouldn't & so far have held up really well. With as much stuff as DD has crammed into hers last year and it survived, it should be good to go.

 

[crossfamily]

 

[::Snow_White::]

I'm the one asking my mother if I can reuse my backpacks.
Better than buying a new one...if they old one is perfectly fine.

But of course last time I asked her was about a year ago and she said no, or "Why, you don't want a new one?"
But if I asked her again she wouldn't care since it's my backpack.

Sooo, no you are not.

 

[kaw1218]

Last year we bought really good backpacks because I was so sick & tired of buying backpacks that would fall apart (i.e. cheap ones). I would end up having to get one in the middle of the year, etc... By the time I was done buying 2 - 3 backpacks per kid each year, I decided I would pay more for a good quality one.

I believe it was LL Bean (either that or Land's End -- I forget). I had heard good reviews on them and I was so sick & tired of getting ones where the straps would break.

For my DD -- we got her the biggest one and it was a customized one, so she picked the colors for each part & it even has a lighted area she can turn on (due to it getting really dark here on occassion when she's gotten home after sports). I fully intend for her to use that backpack through the rest of her school career!

The boys also got backpacks -- not quite as fancy as hers but theirs are animal ones. I *might* get DS a new one next year since he's going to Middle School & will get him the full fledged fancy one that he will then be expected to use all the way through High School.

My 7 year old will be using his definitely until the end of grade school.

That is providing none of these fall apart but they shouldn't & so far have held up really well. With as much stuff as DD has crammed into hers last year and it survived, it should be good to go.

If you remember where you got that, please let me know. By next year, I'm sure my kids will be needing bigger ones, so I may get them a new one.

It might help if they can customize them.

 

[Becky2005]

If you remember where you got that, please let me know. By next year, I'm sure my kids will be needing bigger ones, so I may get them a new one.

It might help if they can customize them.

It was LLBean-- I just found it again
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...langId=-1&categoryId=43801&sc1=Search&feat=sr

Not sure if that will work, otherwise put "customize backpack" in the search field. It doesn't want to come up if you just put backpack. They have messanger bags you can customize too.

It's not cheap (at least I don't consider it cheap ) -- $65.00 but for DD I figure it translated into about $11/year for our planned use, plus I'm sure she'll be able to continue with it even after college for things.

The boys got the Critter packs.

 

[disneyjunkie]

My son gets a new book bag each year.

Last year(10th grade) he HAD to have an Ipod bag. I told if I spend that much money, I wasn't buying another one for 11 and 12 grade.

Of course he HAD to have another one this year.:rolleyes

He got a new bag, but he paid for himself.

 

[MushyMushy]

Not only do they not have to reuse the ones from last year, they often get a new one during the school year too. I don't buy expensive ones, though.

DD already needs a new one. I bought her a wheeled backpack and it doesn't fit properly in her skinny locker. Tags are off and it's obviously used, so no returning it.