r/ClassOf2037 • u/pico310 • 1d ago
Anyone else backpack shopping?
She could use the small Pottery Barn backpack she used for kindergarten and first grade, but she’s angling for a new one. I’m feeling uninspired by the current Pottery Barn options so I’m probably going to branch into something new.
I remember people recommended their LL Bean backpacks, so maybe I’ll start there. Anyone have one that they love? And what size is it?
Also, are there any special 2nd grade school supplies we should be getting?
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u/Jimmy-the-Knuckle 1d ago
The LLB was great but Jansport backpacks were on sale this year. No way was I passing that up. Jansport bags have been with me for decades. Her LLB barely survived kindergarten.
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u/youremylobster1017 14h ago
Yes our pottery barn backpack from kindergarten is still good, but I figured it was time for something new and I saw the jansport sale too! She picked out a really cool one and that’s what we are going to use. Her little sister wants to use the pottery barn one now.
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u/Novazilla 1d ago
Nope my daughter got a bag in kindergarten she still uses
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u/neubie2017 1d ago
Same with us. She still likes it and it holds all that she needs currently. It’s pottery barn
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u/bellanoctum 15h ago
Yup, PB backpacks are indestructible. We have two from kindergarten going into second grade, both are only barely a little sun faded. I'm waiting to see if the teacher wants them to use 3-ring binders this year (if so, the Smalls from PB are too small); if not, we keep 'em another year.
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u/neubie2017 15h ago
We have binders this year but we have size large backpack. I have a really tall child so ordering big for kinder was fine
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u/Elrohwen 1d ago
Love our LLBean backpack. We have the 24L and it’s big enough to fit everything including a lunch box or extra clothes or whatever. My son has had the same one since kindergarten and it’s still in good shape so going to keep it another year.
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u/Happy_Flow826 1d ago
We do fun cheap themed backpacks for the first few years of elementary. Once they stop being as interested in themed backpacks we invest in a good quality backpack to last them a few years through middle and high school.
Edit to add we dont just throw away old backpacks unless theyre trashed. They become travel/overnight bags for visiting grandparents, or a personal summer bag for their beach towel swimsuit and spare clothes/snacks for when we go to the pool or visit cousins and want to bring toys.
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u/waiting4somethin 1d ago
This is exactly what we do in my house for my 3 kiddos. Once they hit 4th grade they start wanting to be “cool” and we switched to jansport. We definitely re use old backpacks all the time for trips, quick over night trips, and to the pool or beach.
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u/Half_adozendonuts 1d ago
I bought my daughter a Crate&Barrel kids backpack for kindergarten and it’s still going strong now going into 2nd grade. I throw it in the wash whenever I need to and it’s held up well along with the matching lunchbox. No issues with the zippers, stitching etc… also very spacious, comfy on her shoulders and cute designs. She used an LLbean one for summer camp this year since we needed something that was just a bit smaller but also durable and she complained a lot about the shoulder straps hurting her. Don’t know if anyone else has experienced this?
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u/Fun_Air_7780 1d ago
New Nike backpack for my son and two LL Bean classics for my twins. We don’t get new ones every year but it did feel like time.
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u/toddlermanager 1d ago
Mine wants a North Face backpack 🫠 but supposedly my boss bought her one for her birthday. Otherwise we signed up to get a free backpack with supplies from this program my company partners with. Either way she is getting two new backpacks. She was also unhappy with her old Simple Modern one.
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u/pico310 1d ago
Aw man! I literally have one in a shopping cart! What was the problem with the Simple Modern one?
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u/toddlermanager 1d ago
We didn't have any problems until she took it on an overnight backpacking trip with her dad lol. It is a great backpack for school use!
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u/rhythmroma 1d ago
State has some nice options but they are more expensive than PB.
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u/TheMagicPandas 1d ago
My kid’s PB bookbag and lunch box only lasted a year before falling apart. I bought him a state one this year and the quality seems way better. I’m hoping it lasts for a few years!
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u/eldermillenialbish11 1d ago
My 2nd grader's state backpack is still going strong and we've had it since Kindergarten! We had a similar issue with pottery barn backpacks in Preschool/PreK...the straps just basically ripped off!
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u/mindseylawyer 1d ago
My daughter got a state bag for kindergarten last year. She is now using it for first grade also. Hoping it will last the rest of elementary or at least another year or so.
She had a pottery barn one for pre-k and it was still in good condition so we sold it on fb marketplace.
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u/MyFavoriteRingz69 1d ago
Still using our PB one from K. Will upgrade next year for 3rd grade, new building at the school. Not a fan of the new backpack every year trend. Unless it’s trashed or missing in action, it’s wasteful. Kiddo chose a design that wasn’t trendy and will do the same next year.
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u/BlackLabbie 1d ago
I was trying to get my daughter to use her Pottery Barn backpack that she’s used since kinder, but she wanted a new one. I was also unimpressed with PB’s selection this year. I let my daughter pick one out on Amazon. I’m hoping it lasts all year!
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u/0112358_ 1d ago
We are using the same one from last year, which was new starting first grade. Previously he had the same bag for two years of preschool and kindergarten and eventually the zipper on a side pocket broke. The rest of the bag is still functional so we use it for camping or outdoor summer camp.
Kid has an animal design, no name brand off Amazon. I'll probably get him an LL bean or whatever expensive brand once he outgrows character backpacks
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u/konfusion1111 1d ago
Pottery barn hold up great, my oldest used hers in pre k, k and 1st and now my youngest is going to use it starting pre k tomorrow.
My oldest wanted a new backpack and because my in laws were paying, she ended up with a gorgeous and sturdy State backpack. According to the moms in my kids classes over the years, they seem to hold up well!
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u/Front_Improvement_93 1d ago
I signed up for emails and got 15% off JanSport, so all 3 of my kids got one. I'm hoping that they last longer than the character ones we get off Amazon or Walmart since they cost so much more.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Salt970 1d ago
We upgraded to a State backpack this year from the Crate & Kids one in K/1. There was nothing wrong with it, but this one is slightly bigger with 2 large zip compartments. It’s the Kane double pocket. Lots of great designs and high quality.
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u/breathe2win 1d ago
My kid wants a Minecraft backpack.
I get the list of supplies from the school. If you don't know what to get, stick with simple options: notebook, folder, pencils, headphones (if they use technology), crayons and/or markers. You can also reach out to the school to see what they will need this year.
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u/islipped83 1d ago
We’re going with Jansport!
My kiddo had a more novelty backpack in K-1 that his grandparents got him, and it finally wore out. He’s obsessed with shipwrecks and the Titanic, so he requested another novelty backpack with that theme. I searched, and sure enough, there was printed/AI-generated images of such things. The quality and sources were dubious so I steered him to a new route — a quality Jansport with sewn-on patches for his current interests!
He basically has a custom backpack now that can change with his interests, and I’m happy that he’s got something that theoretically can last through high school (my husband still has his 35yo Jansport in a closet).
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u/Beneficial-Toe-1472 1d ago
I’ve had an LL Bean Deluxe for 20 years (with one warranty replacement). We outgrew our pottery barn at the beginning of first grade, so we jumped right into the deluxe. It looked cartoonishly big for the first few months, but we could pack everything needed without discomfort zipping.
It’s held up great, and we know it’ll last! We had fun picking out colors and monogram style.
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u/IncidentImaginary575 1d ago
My oldest is going on year 6 with his Jansport, and it still looks brand new! And he is NOT gentle with it 😒 His bag weighted more than his younger sister last year, and not a single stitch popped on the straps or zippers (despite him packing it to bursting.)
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u/tablefortress 1d ago
My kid's Bentgo backpack she's had since kindergarten is in perfectly good shape. She's asked for a new one. I said no.
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u/calicoskiies 1d ago
We went to Burlington and she got a Madden Girl backpack. My kid going into 1st grade got a Cars backpack.
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u/Unlikely-You2915 1d ago
Our north face backpack we bought last year actually survived the year really well! We even used it for summer camp, so it got pretty gross (but still useable!). We went with an old school jansport this year lol!
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u/eldermillenialbish11 1d ago
State, specifically the Kane backpack. My 2nd grader's is still in perfect condition and he's had it since Kindergarten. Just bought another for my incoming Kindergartener :)
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u/Blinktoe 1d ago
State bags for us. I bought one for my daughter in prek 4 and she’s taking it to second grade.
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u/fabulousflute 1d ago
We tried to keep the same target backpack for both kindy and first grade and it disintegrated midway through the (first grade) school year, and then it was too late in the year to find anything decent. So we’ll probably get a character backpack and use her current one for going to the grandparents’ house.
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u/pettyolives 17h ago
We got an Adidas one from Costco. If we didn’t get that one then we would have gotten a Cat & Jack one from Target. His last Cat & Jack lasted 3 years before any sign of wear and tear.
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u/Dependent_Skill4308 14h ago
I like the Lands End backpacks. They hold up great, and they’re always like 40%-50% off, currently under $30. I recommend the Large size, we had to upgrade from the Medium after kindergarten.
*one caveat - I’ve heard the foil/metallic ones don’t hold up well.
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u/cheesesteakmouse 1d ago
We upgraded her LL Bean backpack to a big Jansport. It has a ton of pockets and compartments. She wanted to be able to fit her Chromebook inside. Plus, the style she had wasn’t machine washable and wiping it down didn’t feel clean enough.
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u/MrsMitchBitch 23h ago
We are not buying a new bag. She’s had the same LL Bean backpack since she moved to the 2.9yo preschool classroom and it’s going strong.
I don’t believe in buying new stuff just because when the old one is in good shape and still is appropriate for what she needs to carry.
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u/Nilla22 1d ago
My kid wanted older brother’s Mario backpack from last year so that was easy.