How to find a backpack for a kid
These days, the market seems to be overflowing with some of the best kids backpacks, which is why you might feel a bit baffled as to which model you should spend your cents on. Some come with various features and extras, most of which increase ease of use. However, not all products are created equal, which is why some of these extra accessories or gadgets might not necessarily speak to the needs of the child.
It goes without saying that the design of the item should also be taken into account, especially as we’re addressing a product primarily designed for children. They surely want to make an impression at kindergarten or school or just want to feel proud that they have a new eye-catching backpack that they can wear as often as possible.
A good backpack for a kid is that which makes them comfortable. Try to explain to the child that they aren’t supposed to carry all of their belongings in the backpack. On the one hand, this practice will make the item less durable in the long run. On the other, it will take a toll on the kid’s posture and even cause back and shoulder aches.
How we chose the coolest kids’ backpacks
In the market for the best backpacks for kids? If you have no idea how you should go about things, we suggest taking several minutes to read the following buyer’s guide.
Keep in mind that you’re not searching for teenage backpacks, and that mention has to be made right from the beginning as these youngsters have a partially developed bone and muscle system that enables them to carry heavier items. For more information on how to select the perfect option, keep on reading.
The size matters quite a bit
Mani kids backpacks reviews recommend looking at the size of the product before anything else. You certainly don’t want to get a too large item for a tiny child. However, this situation wouldn’t be a disaster given that the kid will grow. Nonetheless, they might grow out of loving a particular Disney or Marvel character, and then you’re left with a virtually useless backpack.
For occasional use, we recommend small models as they are convenient, versatile, and easy to carry around. If they are made of a light material, they won’t hang heavy on the kid’s shoulders, therefore allowing them to feel at ease.
Durability
On the one hand, you want the new student backpack to be lightweight; yet, on the other, you need to see whether it will withstand the test of time. As we have mentioned above, the chances of the kid wanting to use the same backpack ten years from now are rather slim.
Nevertheless, you need to make sure that the item you’re spending your precious pennies on is at least capable of withstanding a decent amount of time, like a year or two. Look at the fabric that it is made of, but also the seams and their reliability.
Design
Looks might not be everything, but that’s something that most adults are aware of. When you’re a kid, you’re typically interested in being the coolest one on the block or in the kindergarten yard. Nowadays, there are movies with all sorts of superheroes boasting superpowers, but also others intended for little girls.
The point that we are trying to make is that, while a simply designed backpack is a great choice for adults, it might not be so for children. Many kids like colorful things that they can have fun with, so we suggest opting for a funny design or one that comes with one of their favorite characters.
Straps, compartments, and materials
From the myriad of products available for sale, you need to select the one that’s truly comfortable for the child it is intended. What this means is that the backpack itself shouldn’t weigh too much so as to avoid adding to the weight of the items that need to be carried. The thickness and padding of the straps is another aspect you ought to consider since if they’re particularly thin or rough, they can hurt the child’s skin.
As with any other bag or backpack you may want to purchase, you also have to give some thought to the number of compartments. Usually, the more, the merrier, but this rule doesn’t necessarily apply to this case. Just how many things is the child supposed to carry to and from school?
Try to correlate the kid’s requirements, personal tastes, and curriculum to how you want the backpack to be. There’s virtually no point of getting a product that comes with dozens of compartments, as would be the case with hunting backpacks for adults, for instance. These alternatives are way too big and hefty in the first place, so they make poor choices.
As for the materials that the unit is made of, the sky’s the limit nowadays. Most manufacturing brands use combinations of fabrics or just synthetic ones. The latter ensures durability, but do come with a series of drawbacks, as well. For example, synthetic fabrics are considerably less breathable compared to their natural counterparts, which is why we recommend going for a product made from cotton and any other artificial fabric.
While cotton does a poor job when it comes to ensuring durability, it is breathable and won’t make the backpack stick to the kid’s back when it’s worn on a scorching summer day.
Does the brand matter?
In the end, you ought to ask yourself whether getting a high-quality backpack from a renowned brand makes sense. Don’t forget that kids tend to grow up awfully fast, and so it would be counterproductive to go for an option that won’t be used two years from now.
Two brands we like are JanSport and L.L.Bean, but many other famous names make backpacks for children, such as Everest, Disney, and many others.