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

In the UK, most schools require children to wear a uniform, with rules around the clothes and shoes kids can and can’t wear. When it comes to school bags, however, the rules often aren’t as strict. With that in mind, we’ve been busy rounding up the best kids’ backpacks to suit different tastes and interests.

Style is always going to be kids’ key concern, whatever their age. Whether they like superheroes or the latest trends, kids will be vocal about their tastes. On a practical level, though, you want to make sure your kids’ school bag fits everything it needs to. Homework files, water bottle, pencil case, and random stuff they pick up in the playground (why do they need so many stones?).

We searched for durable designs capable of surviving journeys on school buses; being used as goalposts, and generally being tossed around.

Of course, comfort is key, too. Padded, adjustable straps are going to make it more bearable for kids to lug their belongings back and forth to school – especially if they’re old enough to make their own way there.

Pockets are also worth factoring in. Older kids might find a padded laptop section handy for their tech, while smaller pockets for snacks (or snack funds) are helpful, too.

Keep scrolling to find out which kids’ backpacks are top of the class.

How we tested

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A group of school-aged children helped us test myriad backpacks. The kids were mostly concerned with visuals, as is their way, while, as parents, we looked at durability, value for money and practical elements such as size, number of pockets and whether they were comfortable to carry (all the “boring” stuff). Keep reading to find out which ones bagged top ratings.

The best kids’ backpacks for 2024 are: