School Backpack - middle school - Boy

[lisaross]

Any recommendations? Good value for the $

For elementary school he used the LLBean Back pack and i love it -- thinking of getting the next size up, but the ones on sale are not great colors -

any others your middle school son uses likes? cool? reasonably priced?

thanks

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would bite the bullet and just buy a color he can live with or pay regular price. These bag are sooo worth it. DS has had his for like 4 or 5 years and it is going to college in the fall.

 

[momof1princess]

my daughter's middle school requires clear backpacks, which i HATE, because the only ones you can find are so cheaply made, they don't last a month. many of the kids gave up carrying them about a year ago, but my DD13 is VERY disorganized, and needs something to carry her books in, or she'd forget most of her homework.

 

[ilovejack02]

We only use Jansport in this house . I just threw my jansport from college away last year, it was over 20 years old . Only reason I ditched it is because something spilled on it and it was hideous smelling. I think the boys took it out on the boat , maybe fish guts . I didnt even want to take it in the house lol.

My oldest is 22 , his jansport he has had since 7 or 8th, still toting it around.

My baby is 8 , has had his since pre k. Don't anticipate we will need a new one until maybe middle school. It is a normal size one, so unless he has to bring all of his books home every day we maybe able to get away with it , size wise.

I would look for one that holds the ipod and ear buds in a good place if that is important to him. I know the jansports have something like tht.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I also like the Jansport. Both kids have used theirs for years. I have seen them on sale in August at Kohls.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I say go with LL Bean. It's all my kids have ever used. We've only replaced to get a bigger one (they both started out with the real small ones) or because dd was tired of the one she used for most of grade school and through middle school. It was a little too girly or ds would have had to use it.

They are a little pricey, but to me, the quality is worth it.

 

[luvmy3]

My ds has used his LLBean packpack for the last 2 years and he will probably use it for at least the next 2. I did get it on sale, but I would pay full price for it if I had to.

 

[MinnieGi]

Check out Land's End too. My kids have used theirs for years and are still in great condition!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

3 ds = 3 Jansport backpacks. 2 of the ds are in college and still using their high school Jansports.

I am lucky because I live by a VF factory outlet and they sell Jansports sometimes so I can get a good deal if they ever need another one.

 

[azdizzymom]

We have had Under Armour backpacks we got at Dick's Sporting Goods...just completed 3rd school year on them....looking forward to year #4 in the fall. My one son has Navy Blue and the other the Rusty Orange (looks like Texas longhorn color). They both look as good as the first day. My oldest will be a junior in high school and my youngest a freshman so they get thrown around.

At this point in his schooling I'd pay more for whatever brand thinks looks best even if it is more. They will last longer than the elementary days. I'd buy now too before they get picked over. I have heard great things about LL Bean too...we also love Land's End!

 

[elliemae1192]

LL Bean bookbags last FOREVER! Unfortunately my DD just finished her first year of high school and the in thing there was Northface. She begged for one even though her two year old LL Bean was fine. We held out until Christmas but we finally gave in.

Also have tried the Jansport as well as Nike, Adidas, etc...NONE of them lasted a whole year. The Northface seems to be holding up well so far. DD had her LL Bean for two years and it looks great. DS is going on his fourth year with his. Love them!

 

[tinkerdoodle]

Under Armour is our way to go....
These are the only backpacks we've bought that have lasted for several years too. I refuse to buy any other brand now because we've had such good luck with them.

 

[DCbride]

LL Bean user here. DS had one K- grade 4, one grade 5-8 (the zipper ripped in grade 8) took it back and got a new one as a replacement and he used that one for high school. Three backpacks (technically paid for 2) from k-12, not too bad. DD had 4 from K- college, she wanted a tie dye one around grade 6.

My DD4 now uses DD20 first backpack for preschool. I keep saying that I need to get her one with her own initials, but I have a perfectly good one in purple that she loves.

I would spend the extra $$ and buy the color he likes since it will last.

 

[cannmom]

My ds got a Lands End at the beginning of this past school year and it has held up wonderfully. This is the first year we haven't tossed the backpack at the end of the year. I also like that you can do returns at Sears for Lands End just in case there is a problem.

 

[sparklynails23]

My son has Under Armour- because it's cool. The other chose a Sharper Image because it was cheap. They're equal in quality.

 

[lila]

LL Bean, in an acceptable, durable color for sure. I got mine over 15 years ago when I was in high school. I had it replaced by LL Bean for free once, and it is still kicking and I use it all the time. Totally worth it.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My son has an Under Armor. This is the 1st year for it, but its held up great and looks brand new. I found it at TJ Maxx.

 

[3boymthr]

My oldest has a Wenger Swiss Army backpack. LL Bean just didn't make a big enough pack for all his stuff. Plus LL Bean was just way way too uncool at his school. The Wenger was way more money than the LL Bean but I was able to get it from Staples when they had the "free" backpack promotion last year. I got the full amount back in a staples GC and used it to buy our school supplies. My other two have Nike bags. We've had them for two years. I paid less than $10 each for them at TJ Maxx, so I'm not upset at all that I have to replace youngest DS' this summer. I'm going to check for an LL Bean bag on sale.

 

[jennilynn510]

another vote for jansport here...got my son's at the outlet for $15 summer before middle school & is still going strong 2 yrs later !!!

 

[jodifla]

Land's End. Just finished two years with it and it still looks fabulous! He'll use it until middle school.