Back to school shopping, ugh. As I walk through Target and see the many character-themed backpacks trying into leap in my shopping cart, I remember why I must make this journey alone. Back-to-school shopping is no place for kids. Alluring as my sons might find these school bags, they will never come home with us.
I insist on purchasing high quality backpacks only. REI, Lands’ End, Eastpak, Jansport, I’m looking at you.
Buying a sturdy back pack means two important things.
- It will last longer. Duh.
- But if it doesn’t, it will be repaired or replaced for the lifetime of the backpack. As in, never buy another backpack again!!
So the $30 to $50 you spend on a good strong pack will more than make up for the annual purchase of a $20 crappy-zipper, break-before-the-year-is-out school bag. Though my cheap gene shudders at paying nearly $50 for a kid’s backpack, I know it will withstand many years worth of aggressive treatment.
That’s it. That’s all I wanted to tell you.
Sounds too boring? If your child still wants to personalize, there are many ways to make a plain pack seem more childish childlike: glowing zipper jewelry, mini-me felt patches, labels and stickers, dogtags, printable star wars tags (free from Amy Locurto), or all of the above.
Here are a few examples of high-quality backpacks (that I hope do not fall victim to the blogging curse of breaking because I said nice things about them).
REI Backpacks. Holden used this Tarn pack all last year with great success; it easily fit his folder and lunchbox. The only problem was that the whistle fell off (I suspect user error), and this is where I reaffirmed my very strong opinions. REI attempted to repair this backpack free of charge. When they couldn’t, they offered to return or exchange it. That’s what I’m talking about. Thank you!!
The Tarn backpack is about $40
In order to mix things up, Holden switched to this big school backpack for 2nd grade and beyond because he liked all the extra pouches.
The big school backpack is $45
Lands’ End Backpacks. I bought Milo the Featherlight (because it sounded like it wouldn’t be too heavy). He has been wearing it around the house since it arrived yesterday and, though it seems a bit big for his small nearly-kindergartner frame, he loves it.
Featherlight pack is $45
After purchasing one Lands’ End pack I received this comic strip classmate pack free by trading something else to a friend at BlogHer. I like it for me or them.
Comic pack is $39
JanSport packs available on Amazon in different sizes and a gajillion colors. Truly, I lost count.
The half pint size is $20
This bigger size ranges from about $20 to $50 depending on which color combo you choose.
Classic SuperBreak, prices vary
If you have a top notch bag with a broken zipper floating around your house from childhood, you should see if the good folks will fix it for you. My now-husband had his old high school backpack shipped off to “camp” for zipper repair and now it’s good as new.
+++
Note: This post was not sponsored, I just thought you ought to know my very strong feelings before you lay out your own hard-earned money. You’re welcome.
As a rookie mom and a veteran primary teacher, I whole-heartedly agree! Characters and fads drive me nuts! Also, I’ve had an LLBean backpack since high school and that was a while ago! Seriously, I think the backpack is 15-20 years old and it’s been used for everything from school use to weekend trips to being used as a diaper bag on a recent trip. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I agree. I hate the backpacks that break after a few months.
I’m 30 years old and I still have a Jansport & 2 LL Bean backpacks I’ve had since high school, now used to haul around gym clothes and Roller Derby gear.
mec.ca is another (canadian) retailer that sells high-quality backpacks with a similar repair/replace policy.
I can’t agree with you more about shopping without kids. I was out picking up items for my friend’s kid(mine is only 2) and ran into someone I knew shopping for supplies with their grandkids(8-13). I couldn’t believe she allowed them to choose “cute” poor quality pens, binders, etc.
I agree with a high quality back pack but I have problems with people who abuse the LL Bean’s policies. Yes they will replace a back pack fo a broken zipper, rips, etc. But seriously if you have had a back pack for 10 years and kick it around on the ground as kids do or stuff it to the rim till the seams burst then that isn’t exactly poor quality, it is wear and tear abuse and the backpack should not be sent back. Yes LL Bean will still take it back but I think it is morally wrong to do so. I may be in the minority as I know people who have done this with not only backpacks but with dog beds that their misbehaved dogs chewed through. Don’t take advantage of companies like that!
As a safety note… you should not monogram your child’s name on a backpack or lunchbox. A monogram is fine, but you don’t want strangers to have the ability to call a child by name. FYI.
What about LL BEAN>?
My son got his Dad’s (never used) LL Bean backpack last year and it is still going strong and will be used for the next few years till it gets too small for his stuff. I attached all different types of Lego Star Wars key chains to the zipper pulls and though a few of them have had piece or two broken off, they are still going strong. I was going to take it to an embroidery place to have something embroidered onto it but decided against is as when he outgrows it his sister can add her own zipper pulls to personalize it when she gets it. So many of his friends had 2 or 3 of those character backpacks just over the year of kindergarten I was so glad we stuck with the LL Bean one. It doesn’t even look used!
I agree I think I still have 2 or 3 backpacks from 8th grade which are now about 15 years old that I’ve washed, dryed, carried about 6 million pounds of books in on a daily basis all through school, turned into gym bags, diaper bag, my exhusband’s work bag, and a vast amount of other things and it is now a back pack again 15 years later… L. L. Bean and I are good friends because of it
I completely agree with this post. A friend emailed me the link because she knew I’ve been looking! I’ve narrowed it down to Lands End and LL Bean..
My 3 year old had a LL Bean backpack last year for school and it still looks brand new. Bonus, I paid $30 for it, with personalization. I would much rather spend a little more than buy a bag that falls apart.
I love these comments. It sounds like if I ever need to buy another backpack, it ought to be from LL Bean.
Via http://www.babycheapskate.com: Want 25% off your purchase at LandsEnd.com? Use coupon code RAINBOW and Pin 5580.
Thanks for this post! Totally agree. Do you have similarly strong opinions/ thorough analysis on lunch bags & boxes? I have tried a number of brands of lunch bags and still have yet to find one that really impressed (performance or design wise). This year we’re trying 2 new brands and hoping for success.
Totally agree. Like many of the posters, I had great experiences with LL Bean and Jansport. I carried the same LL Bean bag from 3rd grade through 12th grade. Now I have one from Eastern Mountain Sports that has held up amazingly for around 15 years. Definitely the right decision. You can buy your son character themed folders and notebooks that wouldnt last more than one year anyhow!
Hear you on paying a bit more for quality. A good backpack will also provide padding and back support for little ones, compared to the flimsy “fly by night” backpacks. This is becoming increasingly important given all the books, materials, projects, etc. kids have to carry back and forth these days.
I love Lands End and REI. They have great quality products.
I totally agree with the fact that a sturdy bag which lasts the whole year is much more valuable. Plus adding some accessories adds to the personality.
My kids are very rough on their stuff.
@Jen I wish I had a good lead on lunchboxes that would hold up. I’ve been using the Laptop Lunchbox system for years but I keep having to replace it because the zipper gives out so I don’t think I can recommend them very strongly.
@Jen and @Heather: I love love love the Built NY lunchboxes: http://www.builtny.com/lunch-kitchen-cat.html
I actually love all their products. The issue is they are kind of pricey ($20-$30). Washable, durable, adorable, and perfect for me. Not sure I’d get one for kiddos because their lunchboxes tend to get lost or left places. While I agree with durable, long-lasting backpacks, I would let the kids get what they want with a cheap lunchbox – but that’s just me!
@Jennifer, oh yes, my kids LOSE their stuff a lot. I’m a huge fan of labels and always trying to figure out which stuff should be purchased in bulk and which should be built to last…
Disposable: sweatshirts, other clothes
Durable: shoes, backpack, lunchbox
Oh Heather I love that you posted this! I’m backpack shopping for my soon-to-be kindergartner. I love the featherlight from lands end. Did you get the small or the medium? I can’t decide which! I might order both and return the one I don’t like. You said yours seems a big big on him, so that’s why I was asking the size…
I never knew that Jansport fixed/replaced backpacks! I have had a few over the years that ripped and I just figured that came with the territory. Years ago I found a good one with a leather bottom which solved the tearing problem, but sadly an ex-boyfriend got it during the split (small price to pay…). I do have a cute Sesame Street Jansport backpack that I snapped up when the Sesame Street store went out of business years ago. My 2 year old loves it already, so hopefully when she’s older I can convince her it’s cool to use for school!
My sister and I both had LL Bean backpacks in high school in the 90′s. The bags were stored at our parents house (unused) until a few years ago when I finally found them. All the seams and zippers were fine, but the waterproof coating on the inside was completely flaking off. I called them up and they happily replaced them. We both continue to use our (new) backpacks many years later.
REI has great return policies. My husband had a fleece jacket from about 10 yrs ago that looked brand new but the zipper was busted. Because we are members, they had all the purchase info attached to our account and replaced it and gave a $4 refund because the price of the jacket had gone down by that much.
I know that Lands End is supposed to have good return policy for defective items, but I have been less than satisfied with it when trying to return things (like a down jacket with multiple busted seams after 1 season of wearing). So I am sticking with LL Bean and REI for backpacks and anything else that they sell!
Heather, I went with laptop lunchboxes this past year partly based on a blog post I remember from you years ago. I feel like I spent years trying to find a lunch system that was well-put-together and wouldn’t get stinky like so many of the soft-sided lunch boxes do when stuff spills out into them, no matter how much you clean. Mark was aghast at the expense for 2 full sets and was sure the kids would lose parts, but I found they lasted all the way through the school year really well and I loved not having to hunt and peck all over our cabinets for stuff to put their food in. We just washed everything out overnight and started fresh (or washed in the dishwasher, top rack). I feel like we saved 100s of plastic baggies from ending up in the landfill too . . . so all in all we were really pleased with the bento boxes from Laptop Lunch. BUT, by the end of the year we had the same problem with the outer carrying cases. They weren’t even stinky (the bento boxes contain stuff so well!), but the zippers broke. So disappointing. I am buying new cases this year because the bento part is still like new, but I’ll be so bummed if they break again a second time. Wish they would fix/replace like LL Bean. Agree wholeheartedly about the backpacks. The cheapie Target one we bought Molly for Kindergarten didn’t even make it halfway through the school year. Often you can find the high quality brands (Jansport, etc.) at Ross or Marshall’s for much less than typical retail.
@Alissa, I’m so sad about the state of Laptop Lunchboxes. Here’s what’s so funny (ha!). My original (from when Holden was TWO) is still going strong but many of the cases we’ve had since have only lasted for a year. Zippers break, mesh frays, other weird damage occurs. Especially because I’ve been such a vocal fan, I feel especially disappointed that the carrying bags are falling apart.
When I call and complain to them within a year of purchase, they happily replace. After that, not so much.
My friend, and lunchbox expert, Wendy is trying to find from her avid community what high quality outer bag to use with the LL system. Stand by.
[...] I have very strong opinions about backpacks. [...]
@Erin G, I don’t know which size I bought. That’s terrible, right?