I'm looking for something that is light, water resistant, durable, external drink holder, suits small kids, and has enough space for a lunch bag, some small books and a spare change of clothes. We don't need to worry about storing an ipad yet. Thanks.
Please recommend a school back pack for small kids
sunshinenz on 02/11/2021 - 15:09
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Thanks. I've seen a lot of Smiggle bags around too. Do you know how much your Year 0 child's bag weigh on its own?
On the other end of the spectrum; we have just grabbed some of the cheap $5-$10 bags from KMart - https://www.kmart.co.nz/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchDisp…
They are large enough to store what is needed ( as kiwical mentioned, its amazing how much stuff they need to stuff in the bag) and when they get trashed the investment is minimal so you dust yourself off, rinse and repeat. Only downside is they are plain (navy blue in our case).Thanks. It's amazing they can make bags so cheap! Some of the patterns look so cool (e.g. dinosaurs). I'll check them out next time I go into a Kmart store (something that I do about once or twice a year, as they are located quite a bit out of my way).
Both my kids had Kathmandu bags from Year 1, and they are still going at Year 7, they seem to last forever and look like new.
Thanks. Great to hear they last so long. I have a Kathmandu backpack that still looks like new despite being about 12 years old, but I only use it for the occasional trips. Do your kids also use the Cotinga Kids’ Pack as @al rm's comment below?
I can’t see the backpacks my kids use on the website anymore. They have a drawstring at the top and then buckles and a flap, drink bottle holders on each side and a hidden pocket at the top.
+1 for Kathmandu, especially if you can wait for a sale. My son has this one, in what must be an old clour scheme. It ticks all the boxes. https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/kids/accessories/outdoor-gear/co…
Thanks. I've been eyeing for it, but have been hesitant because it doesn't look water resistant. I've never gone into a store to see it though, LOL. The lowest price I've seen is $50, is that a good price?
We've had expensive school bags and cheap ones across three kids (youngest right in the frozen / dinosaurs / unicorns stage).
The expensive ones tend to last around three years (you'll find outliers that lasted a year, and some that lasted five or more years, but they will be exceptions of course).
The cheap ones probably a school year (again, some outliers will last six months and some might go two or more years, but also exceptions).
For me, it is better to buy the cheap ones, since what the kids want on the bag changes a lot over the space of a year or two (hah! more like two months), and there is always the risk of it getting 'lost'.
If you bought a new $6 bag (like the ones that AleBeerenhoff references above) every six months, you'd have spent $48 over four years which is probably slightly longer than you might reasonably expect a $50 bag to have lasted, but does your ten year old want the dinosaurs that your six year old was desperate for?
If you bought a new $6 one every year, you'd be well ahead - $48 over eight years!
If you are after the best value its a no-brainer.
Alan.
And if you are after sustainability then choose a $50 Kathmandu bag, and don’t give your kid the choice of a new bag each year :)
I think you are on the wrong site :-)
I find that cheaper backpacks tend to be heavier, or too thin, or not well stitched and not comfortable to wear. My son is probably very excited about the idea of getting a new patterned backpack every year, while I'd prefer long lasting stuff. I haven't made up my mind yet though. Will need to come into stores to try out I guess. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I use $5 xiaomi backpacks for daycare they are nylon and last for years
Could be a winner - they're probably the ones that Kathmandu sell for $50 !
Yep and come in so many colours. We have pink and Xiaomi duck yellow
Hands down Macpac Litealp bag. Mine is still going after 11 years and same with many others that I went to school with.
Great suggestion, thanks!
Most of the kids, including ours, in the year 0 class have a smiggle. Seems to do the job. The insulated compartment is good for the lunchbox in summer. Assuming this is for school don't discount the size. It soons fills up with hats, swimming gear and other stuff. Personally I prefer something like jansport for better quality, but that's not on the list for kids. They want unicorns, dinos, whatever the latest trend is plastered all over their bag.