The Best Kids’ Backpacks for the New School Year (Starting at $25!)

Back-to-school season is officially here, bringing to mind that classic 1996 Staples commercial celebrating “the most wonderful time of the year” (ah, memories). As you gather the usual school supplies, finding the perfect backpack to hold everything is a top priority. To help you choose, we’re sharing the styles and brands that stand out to the Cubby team, so you can invest in a bag that truly delivers.

Our list features top-tested choices for everyone from toddlers to older students, including a Pottery Barn option that comes in hundreds of patterns and a tech-friendly State bag designed with a pocket for an Apple AirTag. With prices starting at just $25, these are the best kid backpacks to get your child pumped for the first day of class.

When you’re shopping for a school backpack, your criteria will depend on your child’s needs. Of course you’ll want something that’s durable and easy to clean, but you’ll also want to consider:

• Age and Grade: For children as young as 3, the bag should accommodate essentials like a school folder, lunchbox, change of clothes, naptime essentials, and a water bottle. Older students, however, require additional space for notebooks, laptops, textbooks, or binders, and their overall gear tends to be heavier. To assist with sizing decisions, handy comparison charts are available from State Bags and Pottery Barn, both of which are featured in the reviews below.
• Comfort: According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you’ll want a backpack with wide shoulder straps, padding on the lower part of your child’s back, and a style that’s lightweight, but sturdy.
• Style: My sons are super picky, and if one of their backpacks is the wrong color or features their second-favorite superhero, they just won’t wear it. So look for the pattern that will make them excited to carry their backpack every day.

Important note: Experts say it’s not safe to personalize backpacks, lunch boxes, or other publicly visible items, as doing so can be a way for strangers with bad intentions to pretend they know your child’s name. Read more here.

Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that a child’s backpack should weigh a maximum of 15 percent of their total body weight. For instance, a child weighing 100 pounds shouldn’t carry more than 15 pounds in their pack. If you notice your child having difficulty, you can alter the strap length, remove extra items, and shift the contents so the heaviest pieces are positioned closest to the center of their back at the base.

Since both of my sons love their Simple Modern water bottles, the brand was my top choice when looking for my 3-year-old’s very first backpack. (It happens to be Amazon’s number one bestseller in the category, too.) We’ve been using the large size for three months now, and it has worked out great for him at day camp, though the medium size likely would have been fine as well (he only carries a folder, snack, water bottle, and change of clothes at the moment). Thanks to the front buckle and adjustable straps, it fits him perfectly. He even genuinely enjoys wearing it to camp, so we will see if that enthusiasm continues once pre-K3 begins (fingers crossed).

The backpack is available in two sizes and features 25 fun print choices, including themes like Star Wars, Batman, Bluey, and Toy Story (you can also find coordinating, adorable lunch boxes). Space-wise, it includes a padded tablet sleeve, a pair of expandable water bottle pockets, and two front compartments — one of which features handy built-in organization. It is incredibly easy to clean and has proven to be highly durable so far. I expect this bag to last for quite a few years and have already been recommending it to other moms with young kids.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 16.3 x 11.8 x 6.7 inches, 18-liter capacity 
• Materials: Polyester
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Care Instructions: Spot-clean only
• Extra Features: Laptop sleeve, padded back, multiple stash pockets, adjustable front buckle

The Lands’ End ClassMate backpack is my son’s personal favorite and the bag I have the most history with, successfully carrying my 6-year-old through a year of kindergarten and two full summers. Sizes range from small to extra large, and accommodate children from their toddler years through their teens. I selected the medium size, which has proven to be a highly durable daily essential.

With over a dozen patterns available, you can choose from striking metallic finishes (which I secretly wish were offered in adult sizes) alongside traditional solid colors. My son picked out a dinosaur and lightning design, though that particular style is (sadly) no longer available. Built to be both rugged and lightweight, the pack features a moisture-repellent exterior, plus reflective trim on both the front and the back. There are even small loops on the front for clipping on charms, keychains, or a lunch box (almost every backpack has a matching lunch box), and two mesh side pockets for water bottles. 

For comfort, there’s an adjustable chest clip, cushioned straps, and a padded back panel, which have held up to regular daily use (my son hasn’t complained yet!). Best of all, the ClassMate backpack is currently 50% off with promo code BUTTONDOWN.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 17 x 12 x 7 inches 
• Materials: 100% polyester
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Care Instructions: Machine-washable
• Extra Features: Padded laptop pocket, reflective trim, front loops for attaching charms or keychains, padded and adjustable straps

I’ve seen several kids at my son’s day camp carrying this this budget-friendly backpack. While I have not personally tested it, I asked the parents why they chose it, and they praised the affordable price and matching accessories. Available in 10 prints, from bows to dinosaurs, the set includes a backpack (recommended for kids from 3 to 13), insulated lunch bag with a carrying strap, and pencil case. The bag is made of waterproof polyester that’s easy to spot clean, and features a main compartment, zippered front pocket, and two side pockets for water bottles. 

The padded straps are adjustable, but there are no front buckles. It remains a lightweight, sturdy, and tear-resistant choice that is fully ready for the upcoming school year.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 18 inches; 34-liter capacity 
• Materials: Polyester
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Care Instructions: Spot-clean only
• Extra Features: Includes a matching lunch box and pencil case, adjustable straps

Executive Director Brand Partnerships Kelsey Arnold fondly remembers using the LL Bean Book Pack herself as a child: “[I] remember loving it so much, it lasted me for years and I felt cool […] I can’t wait to get one for each of my daughters.” I also recall wanting this backpack very much and being very jealous of the kids who had this backpack.

The Book Pack has been an L.L.Bean staple for nearly three decades and comes in 10 colorways, including four patterns. It is offered in four distinct sizes, with the Deluxe version highlighted here being ideal for kids 10 years old and up. Celebrated by the brand as “practically indestructible,” this backpack is constructed from weatherproof nylon and features a reinforced base, highly durable stitching, and safety-focused reflective trim. The interior is equipped with a dedicated, fleece-lined compartment that accommodates most laptops up to 15 inches.

For carrying comfort, it also provides padded shoulder straps, a supportive waist belt, a pair of deep pockets for water bottles, and two additional front compartments complete with built-in organization for essential school supplies. This exceptionally durable bag is built to withstand years of use, much like the one Kelsey owned.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 9.5 inches; 37-liter capacity 
• Materials: 100% recycled polyester, synthetic leather trim
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Care Instructions: Spot-clean
• Extra Features: Lots of organizing pockets, tech pocket with built-in cord port, waist belt, padded and adjustable straps, reinforced bottom, reflective trim

A long-standing favorite for more than a decade, the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie backpack continues to impress, and for good reason. Both my niece and my 6-year-old son own the small size of this pack, and despite a summer spent getting tossed in the dirt, they remain in pristine condition. However, the true standout feature of the Mackenzie is its incredible variety (over 400 styles and five sizes!). Navigating these options is simple: Just use the “filters” button located in the top left corner of the Pottery Barn Kids site to narrow down options by color, print, pattern, age group, specific interests, glitter, or even glow-in-the-dark features.

In terms of storage, the small size features a main compartment, a front zippered pocket, and dual side mesh pockets that are ideal for a favorite stuffed animal or a water bottle. It is crafted from heavy-duty, water-repellent recycled polyester outfitted with a protective PU coating (which is also easy to spot clean). Plus, it features contoured, adjustable shoulder straps paired with an adjustable front buckle for comfort.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 11.5 x 5.5 x 15.25 inches
• Materials: 100% recycled polyester
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Care Instructions: Spot-clean only
• Extra Features: Made of recycled water bottles, padded and adjustable straps, water-repellent

The State Kane backpack comes highly recommended by Jamie Birdwell, our SEO Strategist, who praises its blend of comfort, durability, and style (even though her daughter’s specific design choice isn’t available at the moment). According to Jamie’s review, this bag easily holds a child-sized water bottle alongside weekly school folders and a textbook or 2-inch binder. It also doubles as a great travel companion, featuring a hidden internal pocket for an AirTag (ideal for tracking misplaced bags) and a convenient luggage slip sleeve.

It’s a pricier option than others on this list, but Jamie puts it this way: “I do think the quality of the materials (a huge portion of which are recycled) and the overall comfort of the backpack make it worth the investment. I highly anticipate this backpack will last us all of elementary school. (And if you think about it cost-wise, a new $40 backpack every year would be a total of $280 through 6th grade.)”

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 7.5  inches; 23.6-liter capacity 
• Materials: Coated cotton, 100% recycled polyester
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Care Instructions: Spot-clean only
• Extra Features: Luggage slip sleeve, padded shoulder straps, interior pockets, padded laptop compartment, hidden pocket for Apple AirTag