My Kindergartener Tried a State Backpack — Here Are Our Honest Thoughts
Is there anything sweeter than seeing kindergarteners with their backpacks in tow? Although kindergarteners aren’t using their bags to store laptops or piles of books, it’s crucial that their first foray into backpacks is comfortable and that it helps them express their adorable and kooky personalities. So when State offered to send me a backpack to test, the answer was an obvious “yes” after hearing so many great things about the brand.
The skeptic, however, was my 6-year-old, who had her heart set on something like a giant Lilo & Stitch backpack or a disco unicorn backpack (is that even a thing?). My daughter Ramona is notoriously picky. If I even mention picking out her clothes, it’s an immediate “Noooo mom!” She likes everything colorful, grandiose, and over-the-top — just like her. However, after looking through State’s list of beautifully designed and sparkly bags, she was excited to choose the Kane backpack in metallic sequin wave, and asked me every single day if it had arrived yet.
A Quick Look at the Kane Backpack by State
- The Kane Backpack by State features an adorable rainbow sequin wave design that immediately caught my kindergartener’s eye.
- The bag weighs just a little more than 1.5 pounds, is 15.35 inches tall, and is recommended for ages 4 to 8. (A larger model, the Kane Double Pocket Backpack, is a bit larger at 16 inches tall and is recommended for older kids — ages 7 and up — who carry more books or even a laptop.)
- Capacity-wise, it can fit those weekly school folders as well as a 2-inch binder or textbook comfortably.
- It has a water bottle holder on the side that easily fits a kid-size version.
- Most notably, the bag has a hidden interior pocket for an AirTag to help nervous parents — and forgetful kids.
Design Features That Stand Out
A State backpack is definitely more of an investment than a bag you would grab in August at your local big-box store or on Amazon, but 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.)
My favorite part about the backpack is that the sequins and glitter are inside of a plastic encasement, and not exposed to the elements like the ones on many other bags you’ll find in big-box stores. I could definitely see my kindergartener ripping off the little sequins one by one, but there’s no chance of that here. The hidden pocket for the AirTag also gives us a sense of security — especially when she loses her backpack inside the house.
How the State Backpack Has Performed
We are two months into starting kindergarten, and I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed at how well the State backpack is holding up. Although kindergarten doesn’t involve a heavy amount of books that would weigh the bag down, my daughter has a tendency to throw it in the car and then on the floor when she gets home from school. Remarkably, it still looks brand-new.
My daughter attends a Montessori school, so she needs to have a change of clothing on hand in her bag at all times in case the class decides to wade into the mud or explore a creek, and the backpack is able to fit that as well as her school folder very comfortably. On weekends, we’ll take the bag into restaurants and are able to fit about 10 Barbies and a purse full of markers easily.
Comfort-wise, it’s an A+. My daughter (like most 6-year-olds) has a habit of complaining about shoes that are too tight, outfits that are too scratchy, and shirts that don’t fit. I’ve not heard one thing about the State backpack’s straps or comfort level — and that tells me everything I need to know.
What we love
- The hidden AirTag pocket gives me a great sense of relief in case of an emergency. My daughter also has no idea it’s there, so she can’t pull it out and play with it easily.
- The backpack is incredibly durable. She’s done cartwheels with it on, thrown it, and stuffed it full of Barbies — and two months in, it still looks brand-new.
- It’s pretty dang adorable. She was instantly drawn to its bright colors, sequins, and the overall elementary-age wonderfulness in the design.
Good to know
- There’s no way around it: This is a heftier investment for a backpack. But, I do believe it’s high-quality enough to justify the cost (especially when you think about having to replace a backpack for every new school year).
Should You Buy a State Backpack?
After two months of testing the State backpack, I would definitely recommend this bag to my fellow parents (and actually have told my parent friends that this is a good one to buy). It’s designed with kids in mind, so it’s durable enough to withstand the movement and joy of a child — and I don’t foresee it fraying or looking tattered by the end of the year.
But don’t take my word for it — take Ramona’s. “It’s sparkly and pretty and there’s so much space and it really does have enough room to put all my stuff in.”
Buy: Kane Metallic in Metallic Sequin Wave by State, $94