The Best Backpack for Kindergarten for 2023
Having the best school backpack for elementary schoolers is vital to keeping your child comfortable, organized, and happy.
Whether your kid is in kindergarten or middle school, there will be a lot of things to carry around. Children are growing up fast and the last thing you want is for them to be fidgeting all lesson with an uncomfortable bag.
Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a fancy designer backpack for elementary school kids — there are lots of great options in all sorts of styles and colors that will do the job at a fraction of the cost. And, your child is likely to look forward to school days if they love their backpack.
However, different students have different tastes and will love backpacks of different colors and designs. Therefore, when choosing a backpack, consider your child’s preference to give them a sense of ownership. Below, we have provided all the information that you need to get the best backpack for your child.
Everything We Recommend
1. Best Product
Bluefairy Kids School Backpack
2. Runner Up
SUABO School Backpack
3. Cost Effective
Cusangel Kids Backpack
4. Almost Made the Cut
Simple Modern Kids Backpack
1. Best Product
1. Best Product
Bluefairy Kids School Backpack
Inspired by military-style aesthetics, this roomy bag prioritizes comfort and functionality.
Specifications
- Weight
- 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions
- 6 x 17 x 12.5 inches
Pros
Multiple Pockets- Sufficient Padding
- Matching Lunch Bag Available
- Lightweight
Cons
Fades Quickly If Frequently Washed
Previous Customer Experience
| Sturdiness |   | 4.5 |
| Durability | | 4.4 |
| Value for money | | 4.4 |
Who It’s For
The Bluefeet backpack is designed for elementary school students. You can, however, get it if you fancy fun-looking bags to carry your essentials. The bag is available in different designs and colors, making it perfect for both boys and girls. However, since it has small, swallowable accessories, it is not for kids under three years old.
Why It's Great
Polyester and nylon materials make this backpack sturdy. They are also waterproof to keep your essentials safe from water and spills. The materials are also machine washable, denying you all reasons to keep your child’s bag dirty.
Consequently, you get to clean the bag fast and with no hassle. To keep the bag looking as good as new, wash it by hand rather than using a machine on a regular basis.
Potential Flaws
You have a ton of options when it comes to the deep colors available for this backpack. After washing the bag for a while, some previous owners did, however, complain that the colors faded. However, unless it is extremely dirty, you can avoid this by giving it a quick wipe-down. The colors are more likely to fade quickly with frequent, thorough washings.
Other Features
The zipper closure secures the backpack’s contents, preventing them from falling off the bag. This zipper is easy to open and close and will not give your child any trouble securing or accessing their items.
Multiple compartments accommodate all the items that your child needs to carry to school. They include three front pockets, two side pockets, one internal pocket, and one inner laptop pocket. These compartments are spacious and will hold your items without bending, folding, or ruining them.
A lightweight structure makes this bag ideal for all elementary students, even the smallest. It only weighs 1.1 pounds and will therefore not weigh your child down. With wide shoulder straps, the weight of the bag is distributed evenly, protecting your child against fatigue and discomfort.
These straps are well-padded for extra comfort and rip resistance. The bag is also firm and durable, thanks to the cross stitches that reinforce the parts and keep them together.
Product Specifications
Color: Blue Camo, Galaxy, green Camo, Gray Camo, Mermaid, Rainbow-Pink, Red Camo
Item Dimensions: 17 X 12 X 6
Item Weight: 0.5kgs
Material: Polyester And Nylon
Age Recommendation: Above 3 Years
2. Runner Up
2. Runner Up
SUABO School Backpack
This fun backpack with rainbow-themed designs is tough enough to withstand the entire school year.
Specifications
- Weight
- 1.04 pounds
- Dimensions
- 11.4 x 5.5 x 16 Inches
- Material
- Twill weave fabric, braid belt, and net pocket
Pros
- Quality Construction
- Lightweight
- Enough Pockets
Cons
- Mesh Pockets Are Likely To Fray
- Smaller Than Expected
Previous Customer Experience
| Sturdiness | | 4.6 |
| Durability | | 4.6 |
Who It’s For
The SUABO backpack is available in fun designs that make it ideal for elementary school students. It is light and perfect even for small kids starting their education journey. The themes and colors are ideal for both boys and girls.
Why It's Great
This backpack comes in multiple colors and themes that accommodate the tastes of different students. You can therefore get the same bag with different themes for your children of different genders and with different tastes.
It has a nylon lining that prevents water and spills from penetrating and damaging your contents. The prime quality twill weave fabric, braid, and net materials are easy to clean and fast drying. Therefore, you do not have to spare too much time to clean the bag or wait for it to dry.
Potential Flaws
Previous users acknowledged the durability and elegance of this backpack. However, they complained about its size. Although it is perfect for preschoolers, it is too small to handle all the items that an older student needs for school.
Other Features
This backpack is suitable for elementary students with different body sizes and heights. It has adjustable shoulder straps to comfortably fit on the backs of students of different ages and sizes.
This multipurpose backpack can be used for different purposes besides school. You can use it as a travel bag, or laptop bag, among other uses. Your child will also learn how to organize their stuff once you get them this bag. It has multiple large compartments that will fit different items while allowing them to classify them based on size and purpose.
Since it is lightweight, your child can carry it around for long trips with no fatigue.
Product Specifications
Color: Fire Rainbow Dragon, Fireworks Phoenix, Lovely Penguin, Multicolored, Penguins, Phoenix
Item Dimensions: 11.5 x 8 x 16 Inches
Item Weight: 473 Grams
Material: Twill Weave, Braid, Net
3. Cost Effective
3. Cost Effective
Cusangel Kids Backpack
This option guarantees to make your child over the moon with anticipation for every new school day.
Specifications
- Weight
- 1.87 pounds
- Dimensions
- 16 x 11 x 6.5 inches
- Recommended Age
- 5 - 10 years old
Pros
- Multiple Design Choices
- Durable Construction
- Quite Spacious
Cons
- Hand Wash Only
Previous Customer Experience
| Comfort | | 4.8 |
| Sturdiness | | 4.8 |
| Value for money | | 4.7 |
| Durability | | 4.7 |
Who It’s For
This backpack is ideal for elementary schoolers aged between five and ten years old. It is also unisex, allowing you to get it for your boys or girls.
Why It's Great
The Cusangel Backpack is made of tough polyester and nylon materials for longevity. The materials are easy to wash, so you can ensure that your child always goes to school with a clean bag.
After cleaning, the materials do not crease or wrinkle, and thus the bag maintains its attractive state. They are also waterproof and do not, therefore, allow water to penetrate and ruin your essentials.
Consequently, your child can walk comfortably with the bag in the rain and snow.
Potential Flaws
Despite its impressive quality and features, previous customers complained about the material. It can only be washed by hand and not using a washing machine. It thus requires more time and energy to clean than other machine-washable backpacks.
Other Features
This backpack measures 16 x 11 x 6.5 inches. It is thus large enough to fit all your kids' school stuff. It weighs only 1.87 pounds and is therefore not too heavy for your child to carry around.
The multiple compartments allow you to organize your different items neatly. They also provide ample space to fit all your supplies. Your child’s spine is safe from damage and discomfort with this backpack. It has an S-shaped strap design that provides the ultimate spine protection.
The shoulder straps are well padded to protect your child from discomfort. It also features non-slip chest buckles that share the pressure of the bag’s weight on your back and shoulders for extra comfort.
Reflective tape on the shoulder straps increases your child’s visibility in the dark and fog. Consequently, it reduces the chances of your kids getting run over by oncoming motorists.
Product Specifications
Color: Black, Blue, Indigo, Navy
Item Dimensions: 16 x 11 x 6.5 Inches
Item Weight: 1.87 Pounds
Material: Nylon and Polyester
Age Recommendation: 5-10 Years Old
4. Almost Made the Cut
4. Almost Made the Cut
Simple Modern Kids Backpack
This bag allows your child to express their unique style and is available in various vibrant colors and fun patterns.
Specifications
- Weight
- 1.1 Pounds
- Dimensions
- 15.25 x 12.5 x 5.25 Inches
- Capacity
- 12 Liters
- Material
- Polyester
Pros
- Dual Bottle Sleeves
- Kid Approved Patterns
- Adjustable Straps and Chest Clip
Cons
- Varying Quality of Fabric
- Flimsy Plastic Zipper
- Not Very Durable
Previous Customer Experience
| Giftable | | 5 |
| Water resistance | | 4.7 |
| Sturdiness | | 4.5 |
| For traveling | | 4.5 |
| Durability | | 4.4 |
| Value for money | | 4.3 |
Who It’s For
Our assessment of the Simple Modern Disney Kids backpack proves that this bag deserves to be on this list. Ideal for kids aged two and above, this cool and hip backpack could also be a quality addition for high schoolers who need to haul their stuff to and from school. Available in several playful patterns and various sizes, from 7L to 18L, this bag will be the perfect way for kids to show off their style. This Disney backpack is crafted from water-resistant polyester to keep gear dry in rain or light snow. It holds its shape over time, and the reinforced stitching ensures durability.
Why It's Great
During our testing, we found that the Simple Modern Disney backpack boasts a generous main compartment and a padded sleeve that comfortably accommodates tablets and papers. Moreover, this pick has a name tag holder sewn inside, making it easy to identify the owner in case of loss. The front zip-up compartment is perfect for organizing school essentials, and the small stash pocket proved handy for storing small items. We also appreciated the adjustable strap with a side-release buckle that lets you attach a lunch bag or jacket effortlessly to the front of the backpack. Furthermore, this option features elastic webbed sleeves on the sides that securely hold water bottles.
Potential Flaws
This officially licensed Disney backpack isn't all sunshine and rainbows like in their movies. We discovered a few discrepancies. Firstly, this bag fell short of the expected durability. It is inclined to tear and wear out faster, coupled with inconsistencies with the fabric quality. The plastic zippers on select bags also did not meet our expectations.
Other Features
The Simple Modern Disney backpack for kids is a practical companion built to stand your child's day-to-day needs. The top has a comfortable, easy-to-grab handle, and the back has two broad adjustable straps. Padded shoulder straps ensure comfort, while an adjustable chest strap guarantees a perfect fit for your child. Each strap also has a fabric loop to hold eyewear or attach trinkets. We believe it to be versatile for school, travel, and extracurriculars.
Who This Is For
The backpacks listed here are designed for elementary school students. They are ideal for carrying school items such as exercise books and textbooks and other stationery.
How big does an elementary backpack need to be?
An elementary backpack should be comfortable and safe to avoid hurting your child’s back. Ideally, it should be of the same length or shorter than your child’s back. The idea is to have the hip muscle comfortably support the weight of the bag.
Different styles of elementary school backpacks
Elementary school backpacks come in different styles that you choose depending on the size, gender preference, and needs of your child. Some of the most common styles include;
Cartoon-themed backpacks
This type of backpack has different cartoons engraved on the outer surface of the bag. The cartoons are also often gender-inclined and while others are best suited for boys, others are perfect for girls. They are also often age-classified with some themed with cartoons for younger children and others with cartoons meant for older kids. You should, therefore, choose one with your child’s favorite cartoon to give them a sense of ownership.
Gender-oriented backpacks
Some backpacks on the market are designed for elementary school students of different genders. Some will have a bright, conspicuous color with some attachments/stickers such as ribbons and teddies, making them look girly.
Others will have a blander color and attachments/stickers such as rugby balls and offroad vehicles making them look more masculine than feminine. Therefore, when choosing a bag for your child, read and understand the details to determine its suitability.
Task-based backpacks
Elementary school students perform different assignments at school depending on their education level. They will also be engaged in different sports and movements at school. As such, you will find backpacks on the market that incline on some tasks.
Some task-based backpacks have a laptop compartment, a whistle, and a ball compartment, among others.
Why You Should Trust Us
We provide truthful information and unbiased reviews. Our goal is to provide our audience with reliable and credible information to help them select the best products on the market.
How We Picked
We use different criteria to find our best picks. We go through the reviews by previous users and scrutinize products’ effectiveness and quality. Consequently, we have picked backpacks of different sizes to accommodate students of different ages and heights. They all have different capacities to cater to the needs of different students at different education levels.
To ensure that your child has enough space to carry all their items, we have picked backpacks with multiple pockets. They also have different weights to suit students of different ages and body strength to carry the bags around.
With strong straps, all our backpacks hold all your child’s items without breaking. Your child’s items will be safe, no matter which backpack you choose from our list. They all have easy-to-use zips and pocket shutters that secure the contents of the backpack.
Additionally, we considered that students are young and could be rough. Most of them may, therefore, not have the knowledge or will to handle their backpacks with the needed care. For this reason, we picked backpacks with sturdy materials that will withstand day-to-day, long-term, and rough handling.
All our picks are also designed to allow your child to carry them for long hours with no discomfort. They have well-padded shoulder straps that will not cut through your child’s skin. The straps are also wide to distribute the weight of the backpack evenly and protect your child from fatigue.
Since these backpacks are meant for kids, we have considered the feeling and confidence they will have when carrying them to school. Therefore, all our picks are stylish and come in different designs and colors to suit your child’s preference. They are all made of waterproof materials and linings that protect the contents from water and other spills.
You will also not need to trade your arm and leg to get your child any backpack from our list. Despite their high quality, they are all reasonably priced and affordable
How We Picked
Size/Capacity/Weight
The size of the backpack should be determined by the number and size of items that your child needs to carry to school. The weight, on the other hand, should not be too much to weigh your child down.
Material - Comfort and Durable
School bags undergo a lot of use and abuse. As such, you’ll need a durable bag that can last at least one semester. While durability is key, so is comfort. The best material for a backpack should be soft and comfortable for your child’s soft hands to handle.
Style/Design
Children fancy attractive items and will feel more comfortable with a stylish backpack. However, backpacks come in different designs. The ideal backpack should have a design that matches your child’s sense of style.
Cost-Effectiveness
When choosing a backpack, examine its material and the firmness of stitches to determine its durability. Consequently, only buy a backpack whose quality matches the price. The pricier the backpack the better its quality should be.
Care and Maintenance
A good backpack will see your child through elementary school without breaking, tearing, or falling out of shape. However, you have to take proper care of it to serve you this long. First, determine the materials used to make your backpack.
Consequently, use the proper methods to clean it, depending on the specific material. You do not have to clean a backpack every day unless your child engages in activities that make it too dirty. Only clean it when it is dirty to protect the fiber from weakening.
If the backpack has stains, dip a piece of cloth in a stain remover and dab only the stained area. Avoid exposing the entire bag to bleaches and strong detergents to avoid ruining its fiber and color.
In cases when your child carries an item that leaves an unnatural odor in the backpack, add a little distilled vinegar or organic lemon juice to the cleaning water. These solutions will get rid of all the odor and leave it smelling good.
After using your backpack for a while, the material may weaken and start tearing and ripping. In such cases, use a sewing machine to sew the material together. Remember, the rip can grow larger and larger if ignored and eventually get out of hand.
When zips break, replace them immediately to secure your child’s items.
Additionally, do not overfill your child’s backpack to avoid stretching the material too much and ripping it. Overfilling it can also make the backpack too heavy for your child to carry around, causing fatigue and discomfort.
Always ensure that you adjust the straps to a comfortable length depending on your child’s height. Adjusting them to the right length distributes weight evenly and places the weight on your child’s hip muscles for proper support.
Further Reading and Similar Topics
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National School Backpack Awareness Day
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Elementary school teachers leave a lasting impression on us with their warmth and kindness.
August 15, 2024
National Back To School Prep Day
Do you have all the supplies that you need? Is the homework station set up?
