9 best kids’ backpacks for school and days out, tried and tested

Our seven-year-old tester loved this bag, which brought a smile to our faces, too. A durable zip on the main compartment opens halfway down the bag, for easy access, and there’s plenty of space inside – we were able to fit in water bottles, an A4 folder and a packed lunch. There’s a small elasticated laptop pocket at the back, but this isn’t padded. The straps and back are padded, however, and we’re told they’re comfortable, thanks to the ergonomic shape of the straps. There is also a hook, so kids can easily hang this bag on their school peg. We were pleased to note it’s machine washable at 40C, too.

Our superhero fans loved testing this backpack, which became one of the most coveted items in the house. There are the three main characters from Spidey and His Amazing Friends on the front of both bags, and the eyes light up when the backpack version is tapped. Mind blown.

A large zipped front section and an even larger back section offer plenty of space for young people’s kit. There’s also an elasticated inner pocket and a mesh water bottle side pocket on the outside. The straps and back are padded, and our mini tester was happy to carry it for several miles on a walk. We were impressed with these details and it made an excellent preschool backpack, with space for clean clothes, hats, suncream, a packed lunch and even swim stuff. However, we loved that it came with a draw-string swim bag, too – there’s even a hook on it, so you don’t have to hang it up by the drawstrings. We think this is incredible value for money, and our mini testers absolutely love it, too.

Our 10-year-old tester fell in love with this bag immediately. Apparently Hype is a big deal to tweens – we were just happy it fulfilled their very specific design ideals. The padded straps and back meant there was not whining about carrying their bag back and forth. A good-sized front pocket was handy for storing things they readily needed – bus pass, snack funds, and pens, for example. Although we loved the fluffy little pom-pom charm, we’re not convinced how clean it’s going to look in a few weeks.

Inside, there’s a padded laptop pocket big enough for a 15in device. Meanwhile, the main pocket can accommodate homework folders, a water bottle and a packed lunch with ease. If your kids are anything like ours, you’ll appreciate the wipe-clean interior. How do their packed lunches always explode? If this colourway isn’t your child’s vibe, the bag comes in a dizzying amount of prints and colours on Hype’s website.

Gymshark has ticked the style and practical boxes with this backpack. Label-conscious teens coveted this on-trend bag in a big way (as did adult gym bunnies in our household). Inside the main section is an elasticated pocket with Velcro fastening – it’s large enough for a tech device but it’s not padded. There’s also a mesh pocket, which is ideal for PE kit; a large front pocket, and two mesh side pockets – so, there’s plenty of space. Meanwhile, a little hidden zip-up pocket in the back panel is useful for storing a phone and bus pass. The padded straps and back meant our teen tester didn’t mind it when they were carrying their heavier loads, but it’s not as padded as some others in our line-up. We had reservations about the cream colour, but there is a reinforced wipe-clean bottom, to save it from the worst of the classroom floor. It comes in darker colourways, too.

Popular with kids and hipsters alike, Fjallraven’s latest iteration of the kanken backpack is going to please most of the brand’s loyal following. The bag is practical yet stylish, and boy is it built to last. The shoulder straps are padded, as is the back – our tester appreciated this, or at least didn’t moan about carrying their own bag. The air mesh back panel meant they didn’t get too sweaty, either. Our trendy tester didn’t love the chest strap and never used it, but if they had heavier loads, they might’ve been grateful for it.

Inside, the spacious main compartment includes a section with a seat pad that also doubles as a laptop section – but this isn’t padded, so you’ll need a laptop sleeve. There’s also a little hidden zip pocket for valuables. Outside, the two side pockets are elasticated and great for water bottles. The best part of this bag, though, may be the bottom zip-up section, where our tester stored their PE kit, so they could bring it home to wash. This durable bag comes in a decent range of colours, too. It may be pricey but it’s going to last for years – your teens will probably still be toting it at uni.

If a big capacity is something you’re after, this Kipling bag is ideal. There’s a voluminous main section, with a padded pocket for a 15in laptop and a spot to write child’s name. There’s also another main section that has a filing system integrated into it – incredibly useful if your kid is disorganised. Even the oft-overlooked front pockets offers further compartments inside for pens and other stationery bits and bobs. Comprehensive padding on pressure points across the back help with comfort, as do padded straps. To add to the practicality, this bag is water-repellent for when they inexplicably leave their bag outside. This bag is expensive, but it’s incredibly practical and huge. It comes in a great array of prints, too.

Glitzy and shiny, this bag calls to Harry Potter fans like a siren. The main pocket is generous and features a padded pocket to fit a 15in laptop, plus there’s a label, so your child can add their name easily. There’s also a very large zip front pocket and a smaller zip pocket in front of that. Our tester was delighted by this bag’s little details – the subtle Potter print on the main bag, the glitter, and the lightning bolt zip-pull all got big ticks. There’s also one mesh side pocket and one other elasticated side pocket to round out a very practical bag. The back and straps are also padded. The PU outer makes it practical and durable, although it may be a touch on the sweaty side on hot days.

OK, we admit it – we wanted to steal this bag. It’s incredibly cute and the colourway is gorgeous. There’s huge volume inside, too — we were able to fit several water bottles and kits in it during testing. We liked that there’s an elasticated loop inside, so we could keep our bottle upright – why don’t all bags have this? The two carry handles were more of a design feature than hugely practical, though.

Our young tester liked how far you can unzip the bag to see inside, while a light, contrasting lining made it easy to find items. There is also a laptop sleeve inside, however, the front pocket is just a popper fastening, so it’s not suitable for valuables. The straps aren’t padded but we are told the bag was still comfortable to carry.

We loved the design of this bag. It’s perfect for kids who don’t like busy patterns, and it’s made from recycled waste, so it gets a nod for being eco-conscious. The capacity isn’t huge, but it’s great for younger kids who don’t have heavy loads to carry. The chest straps and padded shoulder straps help spread the weight, too.

Inside, there’s a sleeve with a seat pad in it – this is perfect if your kid likes to take a bag out with them at the weekend. During testing, we took ours to a festival, and our tester was thrilled to have their own little seat tucked in the bag. Two side pockets for water bottles and a front zip pocket made this bag all the more appealing and practical. We liked the contrast detail on the drawstring and buckles – although, this was all tricky for our younger tester to fasten independently. More practicality points were awarded thanks to the bag being machine washable and 100 per cent waterproof – it’d make the perfect swim bag.