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Original Book Pack®

Dimensions: Varying dimensions based on size | Material: Weatherproof 420-denier nylon (some print options are weatherproof polyester) | Care: Spot clean | Water bottle holder: One to two | Colors: 40+

Few backpacks have stood the test of time (both trend-wise and in terms of durability) quite like the L.L. Bean Book Pack, which is why it’s a natural pick as the best of the best. I used an L.L. Bean backpack throughout my middle and high school career, and nowadays it is still one of the most recommended backpacks by other editors with school-aged kids.

The Book Pack comes in four different sizes, — , , , and — each one suitable for a different age group. The Junior backpack is 17 L and the Original is 24 L, but both feature a nearly identical structure in terms of number of compartments and a single water bottle holder. The Deluxe and Super Deluxe are quite a bit bigger, coming in at 37 L and 41 L, respectively. They also include two main compartments instead of one, a laptop sleeve, and an additional water bottle holder. The Super Deluxe edition also has an extra zippered front pocket.

Kids will love the 40+ color and pattern options the Book Pack comes in (note: you’ll find the patterned options on separate product pages for the , , and , as well as the option to have any size personalized with their full name, single letter or initials. Even the personalization options come in a variety of font styles and tons of color choices.

Of course, as important as the looks is the durability of this backpack. While L.L. Bean provides a one-year satisfaction-guarantee on the Book Pack, we can almost guarantee that this backpack will last much longer than that. In my experience, it’s more likely that your student will outgrow their backpack’s size before it starts to fall apart.

I do have one caveat when it comes to the Book Pack, though. While I have personally machine washed the Book Pack and had great success getting dirt and stains out, L.L. Bean recommends spot cleaning only. For a product that spends most of the day on a dirty school floor, not being machine-washable is a big downside. All this to say, wash at your own discretion.

Riley Backpack

Dimensions: 11"w x 4.5"d x 14"h | Material: Signature coated cotton | Care: Machine washable | Water bottle holder: Two | Colors: Five

Little ones seem to carry a mess around wherever they go, which is why I appreciate that TRVL makes completely washable backpacks that come in super cute patterns (while Mark and Graham’s website lists this backpack as spot clean only, it is listed as machine-washable on and holds up well in the wash per our testing). My child uses a TRVL lunchbox and backpack for her daycare and both have plenty of room for all of her essentials. The backpack is spacious enough to fit a regular-sized folder, the occasional piece of artwork, and any extra clothes, diapers, and wipes we may need to send with her for the day.

I also love that the TRVL backpack has two water bottle holders, perfect for sending a couple of sippy cups and water bottles. Additionally, the front-zippered pocket is perfect for tucking away her lovey, money for special activities or anything else we want to keep secure.

Besides being easy to clean, my favorite feature of these backpacks is the adorable patterns and the ability to monogram them. There are a few kids in my daughter’s class who have the same backpack, so it’s nice to have the monogram to make sure we don’t mix them up. And I love being able to mix and match different patterns for her lunchbox and backpack — but a matching set would be just as cute!

While the size of the TRVL backpack is ideal for daycare and preschool, I wouldn't recommend it for grade school kids. The backpack doesn’t have the interior space to store too many notebooks or folders.

Kane Double Pocket Backpack

Dimensions: 15.13"h x 11.6"w x 5.1"d (Original), 16"h x 12"w x 7.5"d (Double Pocket) | Material: Coated cotton exterior, recycled polyester shell | Care: Spot clean | Water bottle holder: Two | Colors: 45+

Welcome to the years of your kiddo wanting to express his or her creativity in every way possible, which naturally includes the backpack. Fortunately, STATE’s backpacks come in the coolest color and pattern mixes, so your child definitely gets an A+ in style this year.

While so many other brands make their backpacks geared towards elementary-aged children super basic or with childish designs, STATE has become so popular because of their super unique and trendy prints that kids absolutely adore. Even calling the designs “prints” does the backpack an injustice, since so many of the designs feature appliqué-style embellishments or metallic fabric. Certain backpacks even feature one-of-a-kind zippers or logo badges.

There is a personalization option on the STATE backpack, but, to be honest, it’s not my favorite. There’s only a space allowance for up to six characters, and on some backpacks you can only place it on the side of the bag. It feels weird and a bit of a waste of money for how small it is. However, the patches are a game changer in comparison to traditional embroidery. Kids can choose different patches, with options that include letters (including ones with googly eyes) and motifs like hearts or lightning bolts.

Of course, once you start adding those patches on, the already pricey backpack can get downright expensive pretty quickly. Fortunately, though, these backpacks are made for the wear and tear of an elementary-aged child, including the coated cotton outside and recycled polyester shell.

STATE recommends the Kane backpack for ages 4-8 and the Kane Double Pocket for 7 and up, but the Double Pocket does run pretty large. Depending on your child’s size and the amount of space they need, you might decide to hold on to the original Kane backpack for a little longer, or you may upgrade your kiddo to the Double Pocket early. In most cases, though, I’d suggest sizing up to the Double Pocket for longer use, as most of the additional size is in the capacity of the backpack and not the width or height, so it shouldn’t be too cumbersome for little ones.

While the STATE Kane backpack is spot-clean only, it’s less of a concern thanks to the coated cotton material. Similar to the TRVL bag, it resists stains better than almost any other backpack on this list, so spot cleaning should be a rarity.

SuperBreak One Backpack

Dimensions: 16.5"h x 12.5"w x 5.5"d | Material: 100% recycled 600-denier polyester | Care: Not listed | Water bottle holder: One | Colors: 21

Your middle-school student probably has a bit more gear to haul back and forth to school every day than they did in elementary school, so an upgraded backpack is a must, and you can't go wrong with a classic JanSport.

This SuperBreak backpack is truly the Goldilocks of all book-bags. It has an upgraded size in comparison to most backpacks designed for younger kids, but it’s not so big that it’ll overwhelm a smaller middle-school student. The padded back panel prevents back pain due to a large load, a great feature for students with smaller frames.

It has a large 26 L capacity (one of the biggest on this list), but is compartmentalized in a way that’s accessible to younger students. It has one main compartment to store binders, notebooks, and other large essentials, and a front pocket that’s perfect for pens, pencils, or a wallet. The main compartment includes a laptop sleeve and the front pocket has a utility organizer with mesh pockets.

While younger middle-school student may still be tempted to get a super colorful and creative backpack, we love that the JanSport comes in more basic patterns and colors. Kids this age quickly outgrow their childhood style (if they haven’t already), and the simplicity of the JanSport backpack allows for them to express their ever-changing interests in ways that are more easily removed, like , buttons, or

The 100% 600-denier polyester isn’t as waterproof and easy to clean as some other backpacks on this list, but there’s a good chance your student doesn’t need as durable a backpack as they did in their younger days. After all, when was the last time your child drew all over their backpack with a marker? General wear and tear cleans up pretty easily, and while JanSport didn’t list care instructions, I’ve had luck tossing this backpack in the washing machine and letting it air dry. If you’re looking for a little more protection against average wear and tear, though, then consider their that includes a suede bottom.

Excel 6 Backpack

Dimensions: 12.75"h x 10.25"w x 19"d | Material: Polyester | Care: Not listed | Water bottle holder: Two | Colors: 16

If you haven’t checked out Adidas’s backpack selection, then you’re missing out. These sturdy bags were made to stand up to the busiest teens, able to go from breakfast with buddies to a day full of classes to after-school practice with ease.

The recycled material the backpack is made out of is incredibly durable, rarely showing any wear and tear. Unfortunately, this backpack isn’t machine washable, but I doubt you’d ever need to wash this backpack that thoroughly. After two years of use by one of our editor’s teenage son, just a quick wipe down every now and then has always done the job.

The Excel 6 bag also has well-designed compartments that make it easy for teens to stay organized. There are three different-sized zippered pockets, including a main compartment and a smaller middle compartment with a spot for your student’s AirPods.

While I love the durability and functionality of the Excel 6 backpack, it does come in a fairly limited color range, and the design is fairly basic. Plenty of high schoolers would consider this simplicity a huge plus, but if you’ve got a more creative teen, then read on for our pick for them.

Note: Adidas does have a newer version of the Excel backpack out, but we have only tested the Excel 6. This review is only based on the Excel 6.

Garden Party Gear-Up Recycled Backpack

Dimensions: 17"h x 12"w x 7.5"d (Large), 17.5"h x 12.5"w x 8.5"d (Extra Large) | Material: 100% recycled 600-denier polyester | Care: Spot clean | Water bottle holder: Two | Colors: 60+

If you’ve got a fashion-focused teenage girl on your hands, then odds are she’ll find it hard to resist the adorable backpacks from Pottery Barn. Collaborations with iconic brands like Rifle Paper Co., Lilly Pulitzer, and LoveShackFancy have led to truly covetable book bags that mom might be tempted to steal.

The Gear-Up backpack comes in two different sizes, with the Large’s capacity coming in at 28 L and the Extra Large at 30 L. Even the Large size is one of the biggest backpacks on this list, so you can’t go wrong with either. Both sizes have a spacious main compartment with a laptop sleeve, a sleek middle compartment, and a front pocket with organizers. Additionally, the Gear-Up backpack has metal D-rings on the front and one of the straps of the backpack, so your student can easily attach her lunchbox or wallet and go totally hands-free.

While I’ve highlighted the adorable LoveShackFancy collection here, Pottery Barn has an extensive range of colors and prints in their . In fact, they offer the most options out of all the brands on this list, including tons of collaborations with brands your teen most likely loves.

Pottery Barn’s backpacks have mixed reviews more recently when it comes to durability, which is why I hesitate to recommend them for most boys. After all, teenage boys aren’t exactly known for being the cleanest. Most backpacks in Pottery Barn’s collection feature a padded base that protects against general wear and tear, but I wouldn’t recommend this backpack for the messier teens in your life.