Packin’ it In
By GlindaThis year, the Munchkin requires a backpack for school. So of course, I go to Target to check out the selection. I have a shameful addiction to Target that I don’t like to talk about, but I will admit going there to look at backpacks. And uh, maybe ten or fifteen other things. It’s a disease, I’m telling you.
Anyhoo, I was singularly unimpressed. I didn’t like the quality of any of them, and the garish graphics of The Hulk and Spiderman and whatnot didn’t win me over either. I have this really big problem with buying something like a backpack, which will be used the entire year (and possibly beyond) and then having a character on it that is suddenly “uncool” or that he doesn’t like anymore.
I decided to go online, just to see what there was, out there in backpack land. And then I found this:
The Solid Classmate Backpack from Land’s End. For about nine bucks more than what they charge at Target, this is as its name suggests, solid. The construction is fabulous, the shoulder pads cushy. There are lots of fun compartments, even a secret velcro one. It comes in a lot of colors, and also happens to come in sizes for kids ages 4-7, which was very important to me. Nothing worse than a backpack almost as big as the kid carrying it. Oh, and Real Simple Magazine (which I also lurve) rated it “Best Backpack” for ages 4-7.
I highly recommend this backpack, and if you hurry, you can use code INSIDER and PIN 534534534 to get free shipping.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Lands End is okay. If you really want durability, however, go with Jansport. I’ve got a Jansport backpack which is around 15 years old and is still as sturdy as ever. I still use it as a carry-on on flights, each time carrying a ton of stuff.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:11 am
We did go with a Target backpack last year for kindergarten. I am totally with you on the character thing, and we found a cute, but non-character, bag that my daughter liked. But, big surprise, it was falling apart before the final school bell rang. This year I picked up a Jansport at Costco.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I did not find any Jansport that was made specifically for ages 4-7. They had a small one, but the Land’s End was rated “best backpack for ages 4-7” by Real Simple Magazine. That sold me right there.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Actually, my favorite kids’ backpacks are the ones that come with a lunch box and a way to attach the lunchbox. I always got them from the Gap, but now Children’s Place has great backpacks with pouches for the lunchbox, and at very reasonable prices. After all, who wants to eat a lunch that has been squished from being inside the backpack with all your books?
July 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
@Kiri8- I’ve not seen those, but this year my son will only be in kinder, and won’t have lunch. But I know that our school has portable shelving that the kids put their lunch bags on when they get there, so squashing is not a factor for us.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Yup, I’ve never seen a Target backpack wans’t in shreds by March.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Another good backpack place is LL Bean. I got my 7 year old one there last year and it survived first grade and a trip to Italy.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I’ll second The Children’s Place. I found a great backpack for junior that he’s still using 1 1/2 years later.