This story contains affiliate links.
Choosing the right backpack for your child can be an exciting, back-to-school experience or a dreaded one (broken straps, zippers, and torn undersides all loom in the distance). Some backpacks are meant to be stylish and get through one season, while others are made to last year after year if you have a child who is ready to commit. Brands range in size, durability, and function, so we asked our readers to share their favorite backpacks so we could all check them out this school year. Here are the answers, along with some Editor’s Picks:

Parents Favorite Backpacks
The Children’s Place
Stores in Gurnee and Vernon Hills
For my daughter, easier on her bag, The Children’s [is] place. Great sales and coupons.
-Jamie

Deuter
Recommended for durability, find at local camping stores or online.

Land’s End
Store in Kildeer. Available on Amazon or Land’s End website
Lands End. Super durable. The ones they got two years ago ended up with broken clips so I returned them and got new ones this year. They gave me what I paid for them toward the new ones. I have been getting them new ones every 2-3 years, but their old ones still have lots of life left in them and get used for sleepovers and such.
-Amy

L.L. Bean
Stores in Skokie and South Barrington
Check out Melissa’s review of L.L. Bean Backpacks, she has bags still in use going on 15 years!
LL BEAN. My junior in high school is using the same one he got in 5th grade. And if anything breaks, they replace for free
-Krista

Pottery Barn Kids
Store in Deer Park
Pottery Barn Kids, as they have exterior pockets for water bottles. [I am] surprised so many other nice bags don’t have them.
-Kate

ZipIt Grilz Backpack
The large version of this backpack is simply designed and makes it easy for kids to keep track of all of their stuff behind the cool grillz exterior. Read Jennifer’s full review.
Did we miss your favorite? Do you agree with our readers? Tell us in the comments!
Shop all our Favorite Back-to-School supplies in our Amazon Shop.
Find everything you need to get ready for school, from parent recs to adjusting to school, in our Back-to-School Guide.

Leave a Reply