Regular Backpack/Rolling Backpack

[nicolet]

I'm looking at getting my son a new backpack for school. We have an LLbean that has held up for 5 years.(I got my moneys worth).

This year my son carries around a big binder and we are now shoving everything in. We need a bigger backpack. I was looking at the rolling backpacks. Do you find your kids like them? Do you like them? Are they dragging them around instead of rolling?

They are about 4 pounds heavier then a regular backpack. So that would add to the weight if he was to carry it on his back on the bus.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mommee]

check with the school first. They're banned around here. The kids trip on them and they don't fit in the lockers.

 

[princess barbara]

In our town, they are told to not buy them from middle school on up as they don't fit into lockers. Some kids swing them in the air in the elementary school so not sure how old your child is but beware.

 

[marius97]

Besides schools allowing them...make sure they are cool enough for the kids to use. You know how kids can be.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Once you make sure they are allowed in your schools (they aren't at ours due to staircases), remember he'll have to be carrying it onto the bus every day. Those things can get really heavy.

Plus they could scrape along the ground so the bottom may get damaged or wear out quicker than expected.

 

[kirstenb1]

Dd had to have one in fourth grade. By fifth grade:

1. they weren't cool anymore
2. because dd had used hers as a rolling backpack, it totally shredded the straps that hung down, so we had to buy a new one anyway.

 

[wiigirl]

Besides schools allowing them...make sure they are cool enough for the kids to use. You know how kids can be.

Exactly what I was going to suggest...

 

[3boymthr]

Ditto on the school not allowing them for all the reasons listed.

In addition, they are much heavier than a standard backpack and they are not as comfortable said one of my DS.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I got my DD10 a rolling backpack (at her request) at the beginning of this school year and after two months she started using her old regular backpack again and hasn't used the rolling one since for a couple reasons: she discovered she really didn't like rolling her backpack around on a regular basis, she found it to be rather awkward to carry on her back when she wasn't rolling it because of how the bottom of the backpack is designed with the wheels and wider base, and she said she couldn't fit as much stuff in it as she thought she would be able to - pretty much only room for one textbook, her homework folder, and her pencil box. She is at the age where she brings home two textbooks most days and she is usually a lunch packer too. I would stick to the Jansport or LL Bean type backpacks once they are beyond the third grade IMO, seems like those are the tried and true backpacks.

 

[clh2]

Generally speaking - rolling backpacks are "not cool".

Another consideration - if you are in an area where there is ice/snow - they will get really, really icky if they go through too much snow. How icky - really depends on how muich snow has not been shoveled.