Since 2015, when we originally published this guide, we’ve conducted eight rounds of testing. We’ve invested many hours of research to determine what makes the ideal school backpack for a kid. And we’ve spent years observing how our top picks have performed in the wild as our own kids have taken them to school—as well as to summer camps, vacations, and sleepovers.

Sonjia Hyon, Dan Frakes, and Michael Berk wrote previous versions of this guide. I’ve been its author since 2020. I’m the parent of three kids—ages 8, 14, and 15—who have been testing our contenders and have made their opinions known. I also wrote the Wirecutter guides to the best diaper bags and kids water bottles.

This guide focuses on backpacks for kids from preschool through middle school, though some of our picks may appeal to older teens and to adults as well. We concentrate on backpacks that are designed for use during a typical school day, with space and organization for school supplies, books, lunch, a water bottle, and other light gear, including, in some cases, a laptop, a smartphone, or other tech.

For older kids or those ready for bigger, more grown-up styles, check out our guides to laptop backpacks and backpacks for college and high school students. If you’re looking for kids backpacks that are specifically suited for hiking, camping, and outdoor travel, we also have a guide to camping and hiking backpacks for kids.

Who it’s for: The larger Original Book Pack fits kids ages 6 and up; the Junior Original Book Pack should fit kids ages 4 and up.

Why it’s great: L.L.Bean’s 24-liter Original Book Pack and 17-liter Junior Original Book Pack rank among the highest-quality kids backpacks we’ve tested, and they’ve been our top pick for nine years running. L.L.Bean introduced its now-classic Book Pack in 1982. Virtually unchanged today, the Book Pack has a nostalgic appeal—and it has even been said to have a devoted following. In particular, the backpack has been known to stay in great condition for years.

Unlike many other kids backpacks, these have durable water-bottle pockets. Both the Original and Junior packs have external water-bottle pockets that are made with the same durable nylon as the bag. In our years of testing, we’ve found that this type of water-bottle pocket fares far better over time than pockets made of mesh, since those often rip or get snagged. And the thick strip of elastic at the top of the L.L.Bean pocket securely holds a child’s water bottle in place.

They offer plenty of pockets for organization. Both L.L.Bean backpack models have a roomy main compartment, a midsize zippered compartment, and one external water-bottle pocket. The midsize zippered compartment, which also has a zippered pocket sewn onto the front, is large enough to hold a pencil case or a hardcover book.

Both sizes have reliable zippers and reflective strips. The backpacks come with sturdy zipper pulls, a storm flap to protect the main zipper, and a thick, 3M Scotchlite reflective strip on the front and straps, a safety plus for kids who walk, bike, or scoot to school.

They offer excellent value. The L.L.Bean packs are among the least expensive of the kids backpacks we’ve tested over the years, yet they’re also the most durable. “This was the first year we didn’t need to trash our backpacks at school-year end,” Wirecutter editorial director Lauren Sullivan said. They come with a generous, one-year satisfaction guarantee. After the first year, return requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but in our experience the company has honored its warranties quickly and easily, with few or no questions asked.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The L.L.Bean packs lack a sternum strap. Sternum straps, which are worn across the chest, help keep shoulder straps from sliding back and off the shoulders.

The back does not have a mesh panel. Each L.L.Bean pack is padded on the back for comfort. But some of our other picks have mesh to provide ventilation and prevent your child’s back from getting too sweaty (though its effectiveness is debatable).

The packs do not include a laptop sleeve. If your child totes a laptop or tablet to school, you may want to purchase a separate laptop sleeve.

Key specs

• Materials: weatherproof 600-denier nylon
• Water-bottle holder: one
• Laptop sleeve: none
• Warranty: one-year satisfaction guarantee
• Colors and patterns: seven colors and 10 prints for the Original; six colors and six prints for the Junior Original
• Monogramming available: yes, for $8 (up to 10 characters)

Who it’s for: The mini pack option is sized for preschoolers (or kids 36 inches to 42 inches tall); the small backpack fits kids ages 4 to 6 (or 43 inches to 49 inches tall); and the large, XL, and rolling versions fit kids ages 6 to 12 (or more than 48 inches tall). Pottery Barn also makes an adaptive backpack designed for kids with disabilities.

Why it’s great: For kids who want to pick out the perfect pattern for their backpack or who covet a particular character or franchise (think Disney princesses, Hello Kitty, or Paw Patrol), backpacks in the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie line are the best option. The well-made packs come in dozens of designs, including glow-in-the-dark dinosaur bones, a shimmery rainbow ombre, and camouflage.

The packs are roomy and durable, and they have sternum straps. These packs come with some welcome bells and whistles, such as a height-adjustable sternum strap, a slot for a laptop or tablet (the extra large version is the only one with a padded sleeve), a padded back with mesh lining, contoured shoulder straps, a strap to attach a lunch box, and a daisy chain for displaying a keychain or knickknacks (a feature that many kids request).

They have multiple pockets for organization. Most of the Mackenzie packs have a midsize zippered compartment on the front that includes an organizer panel with open pouches (some have dedicated pencil slots) and a lanyard with a clip for keys or tchotchkes.

They also have comfortable handles. One parent in our testing pool noted that on poor-quality backpacks, the top handle is often the first thing to break. In contrast, the handle on the Mackenzie packs is notably reinforced with double stitching, and it’s the only handle—along with that of the Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up Backpack—among our picks that’s padded, making the bag more comfortable to lift and carry.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Mackenzie packs don’t last as long as L.L.Bean’s Original Book Packs. Wirecutter parents have reported that these packs typically last their kids at least two school years. And your child may outgrow the design as their interests evolve; my own kids outgrew their chosen designs before the backpacks showed much wear and tear.

Some Pottery Barn backpacks have weak water-bottle pockets. Depending on the exact style of the pack, the two external bottle pockets are made of some combination of polyester, mesh, and elastic. Mesh is vulnerable to catching on something and snagging or tearing.

The internal sleeve is unpadded and flimsy. The extra large version is the only pack in the Mackenzie line that has a padded laptop sleeve. If your child needs to carry a laptop, you’ll likely want additional protection for it.

Some styles have fewer pockets or features than others. Some of the newer designs, such as the Mackenzie Minecraft Enderman Critter backpack, lack an internal sleeve in the main compartment and have fewer or no internal pockets or no keychain clip in the front zippered compartment.

Key specs

• Materials: water-resistant 600-denier polyester
• Water-bottle holder: two
• Laptop sleeve: none in the mini, unpadded in all other sizes; fits up to a 13-inch laptop in the small pack and a 15-inch laptop in the large, extra large, and rolling packs
• Warranty: none
• Colors and patterns: more than 70 prints and designs
• Monogramming available: yes, for $15 (up to nine characters)

Who it’s for: This pack is for kids around age 9 and up.

Why it’s great: The Pottery Barn Teen Gear-Up Backpack has many of the same features as Pottery Barn Kids’s younger-skewing Mackenzie, but this model is scaled up to hold more stuff than some of the smaller Mackenzie models and comes in a range of tween- and teen-friendly colors and patterns.

It’s available in multiple sizes and options. The Gear-Up Backpack comes in several versions to help more-mature students pack, carry, and organize their gear: 15 liters (small), 28 liters (adaptive, large, sports, and rolling models), and 30 liters (extra large). The sports model has a separate zippered pocket at the bottom for shoes.

It offers plenty of pockets to hold and organize a teen’s belongings. With three cascading tiers of pockets, the 28-liter backpack provided plenty of space for our then-6th-grade tester’s lunch, three notebooks, and a school-issued 11.6-inch Chromebook.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The water-bottle pockets in some styles are made with a vulnerable wide-loop mesh. Although the pockets are reinforced at the bottom, the mesh can catch on something and rip—or simply tear from the sheer weight of the bottle.

Some styles have fewer features than others. Some of the size and design options (such as the Rifle Paper Co. Brambles Fields Cream Backpack) lack a bungee cord.

There is no sternum strap. Unlike the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie backpacks, the Gear-Up packs do not have a sternum strap, which can help balance the backpack’s weight; this omission seems counterintuitive since older kids are likely to be carrying a heavier load.

Key specs

• Materials: water-resistant 600-denier polyester
• Water-bottle holder: two
• Laptop sleeve: padded; small fits up to a 14-inch laptop, rolling fits up to a 15-inch laptop, and large, extra large, adaptive, and sport fit up to a 17-inch laptop
• Warranty: none
• Colors and patterns: more than 50 prints
• Monogramming available: yes, for $15 (up to nine characters)

Who it’s for: The 9.2-liter Kane Mini Backpack fits kids ages 2 to 4, the 14.69-liter Kane Backpack fits kids ages 4 to 8, and the 23.6-liter Kane Double Pocket Backpack fits kids ages 7 and up. The 29-liter Kane Double Pocket Large Backpack fits kids ages 9 and up.

Why it’s great: From a pink metallic showstopper with oversize sequins to a simple yet distinctive strawberry-and-checkered print, State Bags’s Kane Backpacks feel more sophisticated and fashion-forward than typical kiddie offerings. They also come in unusual shades (like blue-black ombre) and textures (hello, fuzzy lightning bolt).

They have daisy chains and laptop sleeves. Most designs feature daisy chains on the padded shoulder straps to attach decorative charms or trinkets. The larger Kane Backpacks also include reinforced stitching along the top of the padded laptop sleeve, unlike the flimsy sleeve in the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie.

The double water-bottle pockets are sturdy. Like the water-bottle pockets in our picks from L.L.Bean, most of the external water-bottle pockets in these State Bags models are made from the same durable material as the rest of the backpack, rather than from mesh, which is susceptible to rips and tears. And the newer Kane Backpacks also have an elastic strip at the top to hold the bottle in securely.

Multiple internal pockets help with organization. The organizer panel is more elaborate than those on the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie and L.L.Bean packs, with a combination of open sleeves for loose pieces of paper, a zippered pocket, a mesh pocket to collect small items, four pencil/pen slots, and a lanyard with a clip for keys. On top of that, the Double Pocket and Double Pocket Large versions have two main compartments: The first compartment has a padded laptop sleeve and enough space for one or two notebooks, and the second compartment can hold a student’s lunch and the bulk of their binders and books.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Kane Backpacks don’t include a sternum strap to help balance the load and prevent shoulder straps from slipping off. But the company does sell chest straps separately ($18 at this writing) in several cute colors.

They may not be durable enough for older students with a lot of gear. Our Kane Backpack has lasted for two years for our elementary-school tester, but after my then-13-year-old used it for middle school in 2023, the interior pocket tore. State Bags said that this was due to a manufacturing defect that has been fixed.

Key specs

• Materials: coated cotton, nylon, water-repellent 600-denier polyester
• Water-bottle holder: two
• Laptop sleeve: unpadded in the Mini and standard Kane Backpack, padded in the Double Pocket and Double Pocket Large; the Mini fits up to a 13-inch laptop, the standard Kane Backpack fits up to a 14-inch laptop, the Double Pocket fits up to a 15-inch laptop, and the Double Pocket Large fits up to a 16-inch laptop
• Warranty: one-year warranty for manufacturing defects
• Colors and patterns: 18 styles for the 9.2-liter Kane Mini Backpack, 45 styles for the 14.69-liter Kane Backpack, 33 styles for the 23.6-liter Kane Double Pocket Backpack, 25 styles for the 29-liter Kane Double Pocket Large Backpack
• Monogramming available: yes, for $20 (up to six characters; embroidered symbols available for $15 to $25)

Backpack needs can be as individual as the kids wearing them. If our picks don’t suit your child’s needs, here are some other options that performed well in our testing.

For preschool- and elementary-age students

If you want an attractive backpack with a zipper that won’t catch, and you don’t mind a lack of interior compartments: Crate & Kids offers kids backpacks in three sizes: a small backpack for preschoolers, a medium backpack for early elementary school kids, and a large backpack for older elementary school kids. This line features more than a dozen colorful designs—including astronauts, a cheetah print, dinosaurs, and sharks—that should appeal to younger kids. The zippers on the Crate & Kids packs also have wider metal teeth than those on any of the other backpacks we tested, and therefore they’re potentially less likely to get caught on, say, a child’s sweater. Unlike our picks, however, the Crate & Kids backpacks don’t offer much in the way of internal organization: The main compartment has only a padded laptop sleeve (our 13.3-inch laptop could easily fit into both the medium and large backpacks) and two open pockets, and the bag’s front zippered pocket lacks any dedicated panel for school supplies or other special pockets. Monogramming is available for $12 (up to 10 letters).

If you’re looking for a roomy but affordable pack with a sternum strap: We previously recommended the Lands’ End Kids ClassMate Small Backpack and the Lands’ End Kids ClassMate Medium Backpack because they have plenty of space for essentials, an adjustable sternum strap, and daisy chains for attaching trinkets. And the Medium version has an (unpadded, non-elastic) interior sleeve that fits a 14-inch laptop. But compared with our picks, these Lands’ End packs aren’t quite as padded on their back panels, their interior organization is not as usable, and their material feels flimsier. And we’ve found that their all-mesh water-bottle pockets are likely to tear within the first year of use. Monogramming is available for $8 (up to seven letters; you can also have a symbol embroidered).

If you’re looking for a rugged backpack that’s suitable for hikes or walks to school: The 18-liter REI Co-op Tarn 18 is our top pick in our guide to the best hiking and camping backpacks for kids. Durable and lightweight, it has both a sternum strap and a waist belt, as well as padded shoulder straps for comfort. It also comes with plenty of pockets and storage, including a small zippered pouch in the waist belt.

If you’re seeking a school pack that can do double-duty on outdoor adventures: We tested the 18-liter Deuter Junior for our guide to the best hiking and camping backpacks for kids. Although we didn’t think the Deuter Junior was the most functional hiking pack, senior editor Kalee Thompson’s older son used this pack for three school years, as well as for stints at summer camp, and it held up well to daily abuse. With its nicely padded shoulder straps, ergonomically padded back, and adjustable sternum strap, it was comfortable to wear for daily half-mile walks to his after-school program. She later purchased the exact same pack for her younger son, who also used it for multiple school years. One drawback is that the main compartment has a buckle-down top covering a drawstring opening rather than the zipper typically found on a school bag, so it’s not ideal for quickly accessing items throughout the day.

For middle-school students

If you like the L.L.Bean Original Book Pack but need something larger: The L.L.Bean Comfort Carry Laptop Pack is a durable, 28-liter backpack that works well for tweens and up. The no-nonsense pack’s padded back with mesh lining, contoured padded straps, adjustable sternum strap, and tuck-away waist belt all help to make it comfortable to carry. The roomy main pocket includes a padded sleeve that can fit a 14-inch laptop; the water-bottle pockets on each side of the pack are made with the same 420-denier nylon as the body of the backpack and cinched with elastic. The design of the front pocket, however, is a bit frustrating: Though it includes an organizational panel, the pocket is deep but zips open only partway, so accessing it can be annoying. The Comfort Carry Laptop Pack comes in five solid colors and three fairly subdued prints; it’s definitely a departure from the more kiddie aesthetic of the L.L.Bean Original Book Pack.

If you want a sturdy, outdoors backpack that can handle heavy middle school loads: The 28-liter Fjällräven Skule 28 could be a good choice. We’ve found backpacks for the outdoors to be among our favorites for school use, since they’re designed for carrying heavy loads as comfortably as possible. The Fjällräven Skule 28 has padded shoulder straps, an adjustable chest strap, and a detachable hip belt. The roomy backpack also comes with a padded laptop sleeve suitable for up a 15-inch laptop, as well as several pockets for organization. We do have some small quibbles—for instance, we wish the keychain clip were located in the front, rather than the back pocket of the backpack, for easier access.

We’ve determined that a good kids backpack should have the following features and attributes:

• Durable and low-maintenance: The material should be water-resistant, able to withstand the rigors of daily use, and easy to wipe clean. At minimum, the picks in this guide should stand up to the rigors of a full school year of daily wear and tear.
• Comfortable to wear and carry: Padded shoulder straps and padded backs can help ease heavy loads. Adjustable shoulder straps are also important to ensure that the backpack doesn’t fall more than 4 inches below the waistline, which can increase the strain on a child’s neck. A sternum clip keeps straps from slipping, but it isn’t necessary if the backpack fits well or the load is fairly light. For older kids, a sternum strap or hip belt can help balance or offset the weight of a larger pack. You can also purchase a sternum strap separately, usually for less than $15.
• Sized correctly for kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that a backpack “shouldn’t weigh more than 15% of your child’s body weight.” A backpack that’s too large simply won’t fit a younger child well; we generally don’t recommend getting a larger backpack for a younger kid to “grow into.” We’ve found that 15 liters is about the right size for second-graders and younger, and that 20 to 25 liters is a good size for older kids. Older tweens, especially once they reach middle school, may need a larger backpack to hold a lot more notebooks and folders, as well as a laptop or tablet. Some tweens and teens may be close to the same size as adults and therefore require a larger pack.
• Roomy enough to hold all their belongings: Backpacks for elementary school students need to hold, at minimum, a standard two-pocket folder, a book, a child’s lunch, and a sweatshirt. Older elementary and middle school students are likely to also need to pack a binder, notebooks, and, increasingly, a laptop or tablet.
• Well organized: A kids backpack should provide useful internal pockets—including a laptop sleeve for older students—to keep things sorted and organized, as well as to help them keep track of their belongings.
• Available in colors and patterns that kids are excited about: We look for backpacks that come in a variety of appealing colors and prints—preferably with stylish details and finishes—since backpacks offer a way for kids to express their personal sense of style.
• Made by a reliable brand or protected by a warranty: We prioritize companies that have a track record for high-quality construction and good customer support or are willing to back up their product with a guarantee.

Over the past eight years, I’ve tested more than 30 backpacks for kids, in many cases for multiple school years, to see how they hold up over time. More than a dozen other Wirecutter parents have also sent their kids to school with the packs we recommend in this guide, later sharing their feedback on durability and features.

We plan to retest the 28-liter Jansport Right Pack for middle school students, as well as to check out State Bags’s 33-liter Reed Backpack, plus updated backpacks from Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen.

For this guide, we prioritize finding durable kids backpacks that last, so that they don’t have to be replaced frequently. Ideally, a pack can even pass from one child to the next once the first kid has outgrown it. When choosing a pack, try to steer your child toward a classic pattern or color that they can grow with—and that other kids may like too.

Polyester, made from plastic, is a material commonly used for backpacks (it’s found in all but one of our picks) because it’s durable and easy to clean. And in recent years, an increasing number of brands, including Crate & Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, and State Bags, have begun using recycled polyester (commonly referenced as derived from plastic water bottles) to make some of the materials for their backpacks. For instance, Pottery Barn Teen says that its Gear-Up Backpacks are made with Repreve, a recycled-plastic fiber also found in merchandise from Lands’ End, Patagonia, and other manufacturers. (While any move toward improved sustainability is commendable, people have also raised questions as to whether some fashion retailers are attempting to leverage consumers’ concerns about the environment by engaging in greenwashing.)

In some cases, backpacks can be resold—or you can purchase a secondhand one for your kid that’s still in good condition. State Bags provides an online marketplace for the authorized reselling of its bags. The North Face Renewed is an online store that features refurbished North Face gear and clothing; you can buy and sell preowned North Face backpacks in various sizes. REI also collects and resells gear. Or, as we explain in a blog post on how to responsibly get rid of old clothes, you can tap into your neighborhood Buy Nothing group, go to a local consignment store, or try an online marketplace like Poshmark to either buy or sell a used kids backpack.

Some of the backpacks we’ve tested are no longer sold. Following are the models that are still available.

Preschool and early elementary

The 8-liter Deuter Kikki is cute and well made. It has contoured shoulder straps and two sturdy, mesh-free water-bottle pockets. But it’s suitable only for preschoolers, and it fits their lunch at most.

The Fjällräven Kånken Mini is durable and beautiful. But at 7 liters, it’s too small for anything beyond preschool use, and it’s too expensive for most shoppers to consider, given its impracticality.

Jansport backpacks come with a lifetime warranty, but the well-made 10.2-liter Jansport Half Pint is too small for school-age kids and is best suited for preschoolers.

The 12-liter Wildkin Early Elementary Backpacks for kindergartners to second-graders come in more than a few dozen popular patterns. But in our tests, the mesh water-bottle pocket ripped within the first few months of use, and Wildkin offers only a 90-day warranty.

Elementary

We dismissed the original 16-liter Fjällräven Kånken before testing because the shoulder straps are made from unpadded webbing material and are unsupportive.

The Herschel Heritage Backpack XL Youth is a popular backpack for its brand appeal and attractive designs. It includes a laptop sleeve capable of holding a 13-inch laptop, and it has a removable sternum strap. But we’ve heard from parents that the backpack has not held up over time.

Middle school

The Fjällräven Räven 28 is a sturdy 28-liter backpack that lasted through a year of middle school with little sign of wear and tear. We appreciated the front pocket’s organizational panel, which includes a combination of open and mesh zippered pockets. But while the external side pockets were made with the same durable cotton-polyester material as the backpack, they had no give, so we struggled to fit a standard water bottle inside. This model also does not include a chest strap.

The 26-liter Jansport Superbreak is lightweight and appropriately sized for older students. But it does not provide as much padding and comfort as our picks, nor does it have a sternum clip, a laptop sleeve, or much in the way of organization.

The L.L.Bean Mountain Classic School Backpack is a roomy and padded 24-liter backpack. Although this model, made with 420-denier material, is a sturdy, reliable option for a middle schooler, we didn’t find the six color options exciting. In addition, the laptop sleeve (which is capable of holding a 15-inch laptop) is not padded, the water-bottle pockets are mesh, and the panel organizer is not as nice as the one in the company’s Original Book Pack, as it has no keychain clip, for instance. And the bag offers neither a sternum clip nor a hip belt to help distribute the weight.

The L.L.Bean Super Deluxe Book Pack is a sturdy, heavy-duty 41-liter backpack designed for teens, with a padded laptop sleeve (for a 17-inch laptop), a padded back, and plenty of organizational pockets. But when this bag is filled, its three cascading pockets expand outward, making it bulky and unbalanced. And it has no chest clip or hip belt to help distribute the weight.

We used to recommend the 28-liter The North Face Borealis Backpack as a durable and ergonomic backpack for adult-sized middle schoolers. (The North Face also sells the 27-liter Women’s Borealis Backpack.) But its starting weight of about 2 pounds made it seem hefty. We also heard complaints from teens that the bungee cords snapped.

This article was edited by Alison Rochford and Kalee Thompson.