The Best Backpacks for School—Nike, Herschel, Nike, and More for Every Style, Every Budget
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The Best Backpacks for School—Nike, Herschel, Northface, and More for Every Style, Every Budget

ByStephanie

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Backpack shopping sneaks up on parents every single year. One week the kids are still in summer mode and the next you are looking at a sea of options trying to figure out what is in style, what will actually last through the year, and what will arrive in time.

After 17 years in commerce and a decade of hauling gear bags to fields, dugouts, and school pickup lines, I have a pretty good radar for what is built to last and what falls apart by Halloween. These are the best backpacks for school this year, organized by what you are actually shopping for, whether that is a splurge brand name, something cute for a kindergartner, or a clear backpack because the school is requiring one.

A few of these are backpacks my own family has actually used for years. I have marked those ‘Tested and Approved’ below so you know exactly which ones come with real mileage behind them.

Our Top Picks

The North Face Jester

BEST OVERALL

The North Face Jester Everyday Laptop Backpack

A durable everyday pick with a padded laptop sleeve and enough room for a full binder stack. Holds up through a whole school year. We stand by this backpack and have owned it for 5 years with no rips!

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_Herschel Little America

BEST SPLURGE

Herschel Little America Backpack, 30L

The backpack that still looks good in June. Roomy main compartment with a classic silhouette that works from elementary through college.

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Under Armour Hustle Sport 6.0 Backpack

BEST VALUE

UA Hustle Sport 6.0 Backpack

Tough, water resistant, and priced right for a backpack that is going to get thrown around a locker room all year.

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If you want a backpack that is going to survive the whole year without falling apart, these are the brands I trust. Every one of these has the stitching and zipper quality to make it to June, broken out by brand so you can jump straight to the one you’re shopping for.

North Face Backpacks for School

The North Face is the brand I reach for first when durability matters most. Padded laptop sleeves and weather resistant fabric across the board. We have a pink version of the North Face Jester, which has been through four years of high school and too many day trips to count.

Herschel Backpacks for School

Herschel is the pick when you want a backpack that still looks put together in June, not just September. Classic silhouettes that work from elementary through college.

Under Armour Backpacks for School

Under Armour is the athletic pick, built to survive being tossed in a locker or the back of a car after practice. Water resistant and genuinely tough.

Nike Backpacks for School

Nike backpacks are the ones that get requested by name, especially once kids are old enough to have brand opinions. While I don’t always stand by Nike’s clothing quality, the brand’s bookbags stand up to the test. My son needed a larger backpack for his school gear and sports accessories. His Nike Elite backpack is plenty big enough and has held up great over years of use.

Girls Backpacks for School

These are built with a little more room for growth, since a backpack bought in September has to last through a growth spurt or two.

Cute Backpacks for School

If your kid is picking the backpack this year based purely on vibes, this is the section for that. Aesthetic, preppy, and just plain cute picks that still function as a real backpack.

Boys Backpacks for School

From tactical camo styles to character backpacks that actually get requested by name, these hold up to a full year of being dropped, kicked, and dragged.

Rolling Backpacks for School

For heavy binder years or a school with stairs and long hallways, a rolling backpack saves a lot of shoulder pain.

Canvas Backpacks for School

A little more grown up, these lean toward middle school through college and hold up well as an everyday bag beyond just the school year.

Clear Backpacks for School (When They’re Required)

More schools are requiring clear backpacks every year. These are the sturdy options, not the flimsy versions that split at the seams by October.

Hero Mom Extras

A few things I always check before buying a backpack, no matter which style we land on:

  • A padded bottom panel matters more than people think. It is the first place a backpack wears through.
  • Check the strap width if your kid is younger. Thin straps dig in fast on a small frame.
  • If the school requires clear, order it two weeks early. Clear backpacks in popular sizes sell out first.
  • One structured backpack lasts longer than two cheap ones. I would rather buy one solid bag in August than replace a flimsy one in November.

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