Backpack time

[brennicksmom]

We got our son's backpacks at Sports Authority. You can get an extended warrenty for $5-10 and if something goes wrong (tear/zipper problems) take it back and exchange it. My oldest's lasted 2 years, my youngest is starting his 3rd year with it. They both picked Addidas brand.

 

[rszdtrvl]

Check out Costco. They are selling heavy duty backpacks for just 17.99!! I got two for my college age boys. They are padded, lots of storage and have a special slot for computers. They have girl and guy colors. They are selling quickly by me.

My son has a Jansport - this one actually -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037CF7S8/ref=wms_ohs_product
and it has lasted since Jan 2011.

I am going to take a peek at the Costco ones today while I am there though, as I would hate to have to purchase a backpack in the middle of December again. He does not use his locker, so being in high school his backpack has a lot of weight to it. If I can purchase one now for him to eventually use, I will be one step ahead.

 

[ksloane]

Both of my daughter's have LL Bean backpacks (actually I have one for traveling as well). My oldest daughter got hers 6 years ago and it's still going strong. My youngest daughter wore hers out in 2 years (how I don't know), but that's to their lifetime warranty, we returned it and she got a new one last year. It still looks brand new after a year.

 

[doris1976]

I go to WalMart or Target. Good selection if you don't need a super brand name on it.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

My twins had Landsend backpacks since K, and they are still in great shape, just too small. I also thought the new patterns were a too young for 6th grade. We went to Staples and found a Jansport
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037CF7S8/ref=wms_ohs_product
and a Extreme
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-PA145...d=1342673172&sr=1-1&keywords=extreme+backpack
With sale Staples was having they cost about the same as two from Landsend.

 

[EKW]

Last year I got both boys hiking backpacks. This year the younger one needs a bigger backpack to accommodate his clarinet for band. I got him a FUL backpack from Target today. The one I chose has 2 tone gray curvy stripes. It has clips on the front so he can hook his lunchbox to it for the bike ride to school. It was spendy...more expensive than last year's hiking packs, so I'm hoping it will wear well. They had the same pack in red, blue, and black and similar packs in army green and black.

 

[magsmum]

My Jansport got me through 6 years of college and grad school, and is still my go to Disney park bag and camera bag. It has developed one hole in it, but that was very recently, after years of, quite frankly, abuse. For the $30 I paid for it 7 years ago, I can't complain. And the hole isn't in a location that renders it useless.

My Jansport is going on 39 years! I got it for college, ran over it accidentally in grad school (it has a few holes) and it is my kids' favorite backpack to take to sleepover at friends. It is still regularly used in my household when we travel!

 

[Dizisfun]

I have a granddaughter going into Middle School this year and she wants a Nike String Bag. I think she carried a String bag last year also....My boys started carrying the Nike String Bags in middle school as well.

 

[lync]

My oldest had a LL Bean bookbag for first grade then she wanted one from Garnet Hill for 2nd and 3rd grade. It was great for 2nd grade but it only lasted about half of 3rd grade (she got a new one for 3rd grade). She had to bring text books home last year so I guess it wasn't strong enough to hold a text book AND a binder!!! Anyway, we got her 1st grade LL Bean book bag out and finished out the year with it.

I still have my LL Bean from college (used it for 6 years and I had to carry a LOT more than 1 textbook!!!

SOOOO, this year we will go with LL Bean!

 

[pigletto]

Lands End did have a few here that weren't too babyish, just solid colours or a few colours with no patterns. We're in Canada though so maybe we have a different selection.
Ds is going into grade 3 so he's still fine with some of the patterns but when I get a nice backpack I want it to last at least 2 school years so it's a consideration that it might be a bit babyish down the road.
Last year I got one from Pottery Barn. It was expensive (to me). I think with the matching lunchbag and thermos it was just over 100.00. However that thing is comfortable, fits everything he needs and has taken a beating and still looks brand new so I am happy with it. I won't need one this year for sure.

You would have to pay me to take another one from Walmart. With the amount they get dragged on the ground and the zippers breaking all the time I was replacing them sometimes two or three times in a year which in the end saved me nothing.

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

Jansports are guaranteed for life...check out Sports Authority. You might find a coupon in the Sunday paper's ad.

 

[pugtails66]

If you have a tween, check out the backpacks at potterybarnteen.com They are currently 20%off and they are good quality. In the past, my kids have always had LLBEAN or LandsEnd backpacks, but last year my daughter wanted something different. We tried the PBT bag and it held up wonderfully.

 

[mymeme]

I know this is about backpacks and I have learned a lot from reading everyones post. Can I ask here about lunch boxes? Anyone used the Packit they advertise all the time on tv? Or is just a regular lunch box and ice pac better? Thanks for any info. It will be for a 4 year old.

meme

 

[Swimnoid]

I still use DD25's kindergarten back pack from Lands End!

I have an LLBean computer back pack that I have used for 5 laptops and it is still going strong.

But the best back pack story I have is an endorsement for LLBean. We got DD a new LLBean back pack when she went into 6th grade. Sometime during 8th grade she broke the zipper and she wanted a new color so I just threw it in the closet and got her a new LL Bean. Last year I found the broken one and other than the zipper it was in great shape so I emailed LLBean and asked if they could fix it. I explained the back pack was about 10 years old. I really didnt expect anything from them but they emailed me right back and said send us the broken one and pick out a NEW one! So I got a brand new one in the same color as the luggage I have AND it was on sale so they sent me a check for the difference! They have my allegience for life!

 

[pugtails66]

I know this is about backpacks and I have learned a lot from reading everyones post. Can I ask here about lunch boxes? Anyone used the Packit they advertise all the time on tv? Or is just a regular lunch box and ice pac better? Thanks for any info. It will be for a 4 year old.

meme

We have not used a Packit but saw one in a store last year. In my opinion, it was nothing more than an insulated bag. We always use a lunchbox and ice pack thing. We love the lunch boxes from Lands End and LL BEan. My kids prefer a lunch box with a mesh pouch on the inside of the lid to hold the ice pack in place, instead of letting it roam free in the lunchbox.