Backpack Recommendations for Middle School?

[bethy]

Hi All,

I have a fashion-conscious daughter entering Middle School. Any suggestions for attractive backpacks that will also hold a ton of stuff? What's the "in" brand at the moment? Does Lululemon make backpacks, lol?

 

[descovy]

When it comes to Jr High trends, its all regional I'm sure.

My dd13 has a Lands End backpack that she's used to 2 years and will continue to use. This gets her gear to-from school. They aren't allowed to wear backpacks to class... kids need to keep them in the locker.

For between classes she (and many other girls) use drawstring sacks to carry supplies. She's not picky about the big backpack... but was picky at the drawstring sack. Adidas, Nike, etc... they all run in the $20 range so I let her get whatever she wanted. Hers is an Adidas that is mainly black with some neon piping.

Other girls will carry canvas purses/backpacks. Frayed to look distressed.

Around here it's very important to "look like you don't care about appearance" even if you very much took a lot of effort to put your look together.

In my opinion it isn't the backpack that is going to matter... its the smaller bag/purse that they will carry in the halls.

As a caution, my friend/neighbor got her dd matching EVERYTHING in a pink Vera Bradley pattern before her daughter started 6th grade Jr High. Must have spent a small fortune. Matching backpack, lunch kit, lanyard, ID case, etc., It was mostly discarded soon after school started. My dd (a year older than her) confided that she looked like she was "trying too hard" that 1st day of school.

 

[Poohforyou]

Hi All,

I have a fashion-conscious daughter entering Middle School. Any suggestions for attractive backpacks that will also hold a ton of stuff? What's the "in" brand at the moment? Does Lululemon make backpacks, lol?

My DD just finished middle school and most of the kids didn't use backpacks. messenger bags are popular as are Vera Bradley totes. My DD used a messenger bag.

At our middle school kids are given copies of Science, Social Studies and Math books to bring home and use during the year so no books are going back and forth. It's just subject binders that have to be brought home each night and usually not each one needs to come home. Also, all our homework is online so that really cuts down on what needs to come home.

 

[Janepod]

I see a lot of messenger bags (don't know the brand but they are similar to Manhattan Portage) and the jumbo Longchamp Le Pliage totes. The latter is more with the older kids.

 

[bethy]

This is all incredibly helpful - thanks, everyone! Somehow I knew there was more for us to consider than just grabbing a backpack at the store. Most of her homework will be online, too. Plus we are getting her a set of books for home. And of course she'd much rather carry a cute tote or messenger bag than a boring backpack.

We'll ask around here, too - to get a sense of things. But this thread is at least going to help us ask the right questions!

And I totally get what is meant by trying hard not to look like we've tried too hard, lol!

 

[Southernmiss]

Mesh is required here for middle through high school 7th to 12th

 

[clh2]

My DD got a Jansport when she was in middle school (and they do have some nice patterns).

And then DD decided she "needed" to get a new one when she headed off to college. The nerve...

My point - they do hold up well! First one lasted 6 or 7 years. And, DD packed it full almost every night.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Vera Bradley and the messenger bags would have never worked for me when I was in middle school. You just cannot carry very many books and notebooks in those, and I usually had my backpack stuffed to the gills with books.

I would recommend Jansport for practicality purposes.

 

[Poohforyou]

Vera Bradley and the messenger bags would have never worked for me when I was in middle school. You just cannot carry very many books and notebooks in those, and I usually had my backpack stuffed to the gills with books.

I would recommend Jansport for practicality purposes.

Now many schools give kids a set of books for home and/or have text books available online so there isn't the need to carry books back and forth. Our middle school requires a 1" binder for each subject but even those don't need to come home every night in order to do homework. All homework and necessary attachments are online in our district.

 

[mjkacmom]

Pink.

 

[low-key]

back in my day (million years ago) the correct answer would be dont wear a back pact unless you want beat up , But all kids have back packs now, what decade did this change happen in

 

[mmackeymouse]

Now many schools give kids a set of books for home and/or have text books available online so there isn't the need to carry books back and forth. Our middle school requires a 1" binder for each subject but even those don't need to come home every night in order to do homework. All homework and necessary attachments are online in our district.

Ahhhhh.....so that explains why I see all these kids walking home with no backpacks, and half the time, not a single book in their hand...probably not.

 

[DisDance]

Now many schools give kids a set of books for home and/or have text books available online so there isn't the need to carry books back and forth. Our middle school requires a 1" binder for each subject but even those don't need to come home every night in order to do homework. All homework and necessary attachments are online in our district.

More and more districts are moving towards online homework assignments. My high school aged cousins had to buy iPads and download certain apps to required by their schools,all live in very nice areas, but my question is what about those few kids who might not be able to afford one?

 

[pooh4evr]

My Dd isnt allowed a typical back pack / bookbag to take to classes. They can use one from the bus to their locker, and then have school issued drawstring bags. So anyway she has a messenger bag but never used it after the first couple of weeks, instead used the other bag and carried her binder and lunch.

 

[mamacatnv]

I second Jansport. My DD has one she has had full of books back and forth for the past 3 years. She starts high school this fall and has requested a new one. She doesn't need one, she wants one, hers has held up that well. DS used a Jansport all through high school and then another for 5 years of college. We are big Jansport fans here in our house

 

[Poohforyou]

More and more districts are moving towards online homework assignments. My high school aged cousins had to buy iPads and download certain apps to required by their schools,all live in very nice areas, but my question is what about those few kids who might not be able to afford one?

Our district has iPads that can be loaned to kids who don't have a smart phone or tablet. They don't require iPads specifically but some teachers do use devices for certain things. DD now has an iPhone but before that she'd take my Kindle Fire to school. I wouldn't be happy about having to specifically buy an iPad for my child.

 

[kirstenb1]

North FAce around here.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Vera Bradley for the girls
Under Armor for the boys

 

[Neesy228]

Vera Bradley for the girls
Under Armor for the boys

This was what I was going to say too, but I think we may both be from the same geographical area like a PP poster mentioned (Pennsylvania) so I would ask your friends who have older children to try to determine what's popular and useful in your area.

 

[cybrkitn]

We bought DS11 a backpack from Samonsite last year that went on sale at one of their outlet stores. It's held up so well and still looks like we just bought it. We were very impressed with how it faired against DS's textbooks. There were times where I could barely pick up his backpack and yet, the threads held very well. No sign of fraying or stress I highly recommend it.

He's now going into middle school in September and he will be using this one again. This is the first time that he his able to use a backpack again for another school year!