Back to School Backpack & Lunchbag New or Reuse?

[woodkins]

So after seeing all of the threads on school supplies and discounts I'm wondering how many parents purchase their kids a new backpack and or lunchbag every year for BTS? My dd9 is going into 4th grade and I buy a new backpack and lunchbag each year. Her style and interests change & I always thought it made back to school a bit more exciting (and less painful) for her to start the year with cool new gear. After reading on some of the other boards how people's kids have been using the same ones for 3&4 years I'm thinking maybe I am nuts? Growing up I always looked forward to picking my new gear & I guess I just figured that was the way it worked. What do your kids do?

 

[MsPeggySue911]

I buy the kids new ones every year but now we have like a mini collections of backpacks from years past. They are all still like brand new.
I thought about giving them away on Freecycle but our local Freecycle has gotten bad with ppl, Ebay sellers trying to get the free stuff from ppl and reselling it. A lot of them have been banned from the group but there's still more out there.

 

[coliebird]

We do new every year also. They are not much money. My youngest is going into kindgergarten and she wanted a Barbie backpack. It was $15 with a free lunchbox at Toys R Us. I usually don't spend more than that every year, though this year my oldest (going into 4th) wants a messenger bag from Justice. They are $30 with the 40% off coupon. I'm still deciding about that one.

I agree with you that it's fun to pick out backpacks & lunch boxes every year. I remember how much I loved it when I was a kid. I loved new school supplies

 

[Donaldswife]

I used to get my DD9 a new one each year...sometimes two or three per year! Last year I decided to get something more expensive and durable that would last two or more years, so I ordered one from LLBean. Best decision I ever made. I ordered a bag and lunch box that match, they are still in great shape so she will use again this year. Since I knew she would be using it multiple years I even let her get her initial, an "H", monogrammed on each one. Their packs and lunch containers are durable, and held up great to the third grade, she will definitely be using it again this year for fourth grade.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I used to buy new every year but then I got tired of having to buy a new backpack halfway through the year because it broke. Now I buy Llbean backpacks and they are indestructible! Sometimes we buy new lunch bags but this year I'm not. The old ones are in great shape and not nasty inside. Again, I chose to spend money on better quality that will last.

I do like to buy all new school supplies and of couse, new sneakers are a big deal.

 

[bombygriz]

I've used the same backpack since sixth grade. I'm now a junior in high school. I don't see the point in constantly spending money on new things when you have perfectly good stuff from last year, but then again, I'm not popular or 'normal'. xD

LL Bean is a godsend for those things, and since my mom had their credit card at the time, she got free monogramming. Their stuff lasts forever, and I'm pretty sure this backpack will serve some sort of purpose for a long time coming.

 

[SaraJayne]

I buy better quality to begin with so we don't need to buy new every year.

 

[ljcrochet]

My DD are going into 1st grade. They used the same back pack for pre-K and K. My MIL had bought it for them at the gap with the matching clip on lunch boxes. 1/2 way through the school year one of my girls decided she didn't want the backpack, she wanted to cary her messanger bag that she had gotten as a gift. It was a color yoru own disney princess messanger bag she had gotten for her birthday the previous spring.

This year I'm planning on getting them new school bags and lunch bags. I will decide the following year if they need new ones or can just reuse what they have.

 

[NHdisneylover]

DS12 has had the same LLBean backpack since Kindergarten (he will finish 6th grade Wednesday and had to repeat a year when we moved to Germany because they do very different ages than where he started school and would not put him a class so much older). It still looks great.

I do buy new school supplies (folders, markers, etc) and have asked him a couple of times as he has aged if he wants a new backpack--he loves the one he has and will not give it up (and, again, it still looks almost brand new--the quality is amazing because he is NOT careful with it by any stretch ).

DD14 destroyed 3 cheap backpacks in Kindergarten before we got her a Landsend Pack. That one last 6 years. Now she has a bean which we figure is likely to last until college (she will finish 9th grade this week).

 

[rchristiansen]

I'm thinking of getting a lands end backpack for DD this year. She puts so much wear and tear on them and I want to get a quality one.

 

[powellrj]

When the kids were younger I got them new ones every year, but once they got older, I spent more and got good ones that lasted longer. DD wants a Vera Bradley one for christmas and if she gets it, she will be taking it to college with her!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I used to get a new backpack every year and I can't remember about lunch bags before HS, when I was in HS I bought lunch everyday.

Now in college I use the same one but it was also more. I think it cost something like $130, it's a North Face bag that's made to carry my laptop too. The ones I'd get every year while younger were the $20-40 Jansport backpacks.

Part of the new year was seeing everyone's new backpacks. I remember I had the coolest pink one sophomore year.

 

[SC Minnie]

I used to by every year but a couple of years ago I bought DD17 a more expensive and durable backpack. It has lasted 2 years and all it needs is a run through the washing machine to get another year.

 

[kacaju]

llbean!! I buy them one for K and it lasts until 4th grade. Buy a new one for 5th and that goes until 7-8th grade then in HS they but their own

 

[kinntj]

I buy the better quality backpacks and they last years. Last year my DD6 wanted iCarly on her backpack, so I bought her one. I was actually surprised it lasted until January when the zipper broke on both sides at the seam. We went to the college bookstore and bought a new one (Dakine). It's not her colors (pink and brown), but she made it work and she'll use it again this year for 2nd grade. I really like this brand and will probably buy another one.

 

[cybrkitn]

Well, it depends. For DS9 his backpacks never lasted for him to re-use, so we always had to buy him a new one. However, this past school year, he used a NY Yankees backpack that's still in great shape. I haven't told him yet, but he's going to be using that again. I'm sure he won't mind since it's his and his father's favorite team.

There is one thing I've noticed over the years and that's the quality of the backpacks. The material is so cheap that the zippers break with just one use. We had that problem prior to DS getting the Yankees pack. DH and I would have to buy him 2 packs to last him through the year .

 

[HelenePA]

I am not buying them new ones this year because I just bought them new ones at the end of last year... they are a month old in school age... i see no point in buying something again when they already have one that is just fine.. they have also been using the same lunch bags for 3 years now.. i got really nice ones at big lots (name brand ones) and they are fine for at least another year..

 

[golfgal]

When the kids were little-kindergarten to maybe 2nd grade they got new backpacks each year because they wanted character packs. After that we got good quality packs that lasted until high school and for DS19 college. DS16's backpack from 4th grade just ripped out (the zippers) so he got a new one this year-a Jansport from Notre Dame.

 

[3boymthr]

I kind of needed an other category. I don't get new one's for each child but each year I end up buying at least one child a new backpack. This year oldest and middle are re-using their backpacks (Wenger - new in Sept . & Jansport - new in Nov) but I got a new LL Bean backpack for youngest DS this year - last year's model was on clearance so I saved 50% - $30 instead of $60

 

[PaulaSue]

My girls will be re-using. Thankfully I learned on these boards and bought them a GOOD backpack on sale and and a GOOD lunch box so this will be year 3 of lunch boxes and year 2 of the backpacks. I am not sure how long they will be able to reuse and right now they all need a run in the washer but they look darn good and will be continued to be used until otherwise.