Back To School Backpacks Worth The Money

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I remember when I was obsessed with getting cheap backpacks. 1 dollar, 5 dollars, if the backpack was cheap, I was buying it for my kids. Then, mid-year, I’d end up buying them again and again. What a waste. There are so many back to school backpacks worth the money, and can last for years. 

Why We Buy Cheap Back To School Backpacks

As parents, we get so tired of our kids growing out of things. Shoes, shirts, even their beds are all things they grow out of eventually.

Backpacks aren’t on that list, yet we always get the cheapest ones every year. Weirdly enough, this is one way we can save a lot of money during back to school season by not buying cheap versions. What if we bought backpacks that are worth the money?

There’s a good list of backpacks for back to school that are worth the investment, and here’s the tea: a good amount of them go on sale and/or even have warranties.

Best Back To School Book Bags

JanSport

JanSport is my favorite backpack because I still have mine from childhood(pictured above). My mother invested in a JanSport for me before I started middle school, and I used it all the way to college and throughout my military career of 18 years. 

I had no clue JanSport offers a warranty, until someone mentioned it in a Facebook Group. What? That’s so cool!

Pro Tip: If your kids go to a school with a dress code or uniform, grab the JanSport mesh version. It falls within the usual dress code rules.

LL Bean

LL Bean has a following that really loves their back to school backpacks. After doing some research, I learned that the newer backpacks aren’t as great of a quality as the older ones, but you’ll be able to find older versions on eBay and even Facebook Marketplace.

Interestingly enough, this seems like the cool backpack for girls. Lots of girls really love their LL Bean book bag. Maybe the backpack straps are a little more comfortable? This little fact intrigued me.

Just like JanSport, you can also ask LL Bean to fix or replace broken or worn down backpacks.

Land’s End

This is another brand that has a loyal following, and we’ve always been fans of Land’s End bathing suits and winter items. It just makes sense that Land’s End would make a backpack worth the money. Also, they have some great sales around back-to-school time, and I’ve even seen some good backpack deals on Amazon.

The North Face

This 80s baby loves that The North Face provides backpacks that last. I remember my North Face jacket I had in high school, and it was one of the best parts of my wardrobe because it was durable. A North Face backpack will hang on for years.

Pro Tip: If you wash your North Face backpack, the reflective strip may get scratched or start to fade. Keep that in mind, if that’s important to you.

{Related: 3 Frugal Must-Do’s For Back To School}

Herschel Supply Co

I’d never heard of this company before, but after doing research for this post, I found out that their backpacks are of an amazing quality. If you have a trendy kid, or a stylish kid that wants a nice backpack for back to school, this might be the option for them.

The mid-volume size of the Herschel backpacks looks like it will be the one to last our kids from age 6 to 16. I’m curious to try them out for my kids, since all 3 of them have differing style preferences.

Pottery Barn Kids

I’m adding this towards the bottom of the list, because the reviews for the Pottery Barn Kids backpacks seem to be down the middle. Some have experienced fraying mid-way through the year, and others have had their backpacks for many years. 

If you happen to find a good deal on a Pottery Barn Kids backpack, it may make sense to give them a go. If you do, we’d love for you to share your review in the comments below!

What brand of back to school backpacks are worth the money to you? Did we miss a really good brand? Let us know, and we’ll add it to the list.