School backpacks have always been an essential tool for children, and there is a lot to be considered when you want to choose the right school bag for your little one. With the many new styles for kids’ backpacks these days, we can’t just look at them as a standard carrier for your stuff.
School backpacks can come with various looks from cartoon paintings to luxurious designs suitable for the arts and graphic design lovers. In addition to that, you surely don’t want the backpack to be a burden on your little one’s shoulders. Your kid’s gear needs to be comfortable to wear even in long hours, and of course, it should be handy.
This article will introduce some school backpacks with their benefits and drawbacks and guide you on where and how to buy them.
How we chose our top picks
When choosing our list of the best school bags for kids, we compared 66 different products from 14 leading brands. Our experts looked at the many features that may come in handy when buying a backpack. We also viewed more than 50 reviews of children’s bags in Australia on Productreview.com.au to make sure you can get the best experience out of them.
Top 8 children’s backpacks to buy in Australia
Backpacks for little kids
Bags specially designed for little kids and their school accessories.
Backpacks for older kids and teens
These bags can handle more than just school-related tasks.
Wildkin Heroes Olive Kids 12 Inch Backpack — Best daycare backpack
Pros
- Spacious
- Insulated front pocket
- Water-resistant material and design
Cons
- Not machine-washable
- Weak top handle
Price (RRP): $49.08
Wildkin Heroes Olive Kids 12 Inch Backpack is the high-quality kids’ mini backpack every parent needs for their little one. This spacious daycare backpack can handle the loads of clothes, books, accessories, etc. that you always worry about moving around. Its insulated front pocket interior is a safe place to carry lunch boxes and snacks. Plus you can keep your kid’s drink bottle in the sewed-on mesh pocket. All these features and many more can guarantee that you are buying one of the best daycare backpacks found in Australia.
Specs
- Dimension: 31.75 x 19.05 x 26.67 cm; 299.37 Grams
- Materials: 600 Denier Polyester, PE foam insulation
Customer Reviews
Customers have enjoyed the durability of the backpack’s material and design. The bright colours and refreshing patterns seem to attract both kids and their parents.
Spring Country Children Casual Backpack —Safest design
Pros
- Lightweight
- Night light-reflective panels
- Personalised name-card
Cons
- Not machine-washable
Price (RRP): $36.97
Spring Country has put all their years of experience into making a professionally designed kids’ small backpack. Padded rear exterior and “S” shaped shoulder straps help kids carry the bag without hurting their back. A night light-reflective panel is also sewed on the bag’s front and back to secure children’s safety. If you put your kid’s safety first in buying a backpack, Spring Country Children Casual Backpack is the one for you.
Specs
- Dimension: 40 x 28 x 17 cm; 590 Grams
- Materials: water-resistant polyester, Oxford cloth
Customer Reviews
Many have reviewed that this backpack exceeds their expectations. Reviewers sounded very satisfied with how children could easily carry their bags around.
Disney Mickey Mouse Backpack — Easiest to clean
Pros
- Machine washable
- Padded shoulder straps
- Water-resistant interior
Cons
- No padded back layers
- Weak top handle
Some children almost always end up with dirty clothes, shoes, and bags when school is finished. With a washable fabric and minimum use of hardware, you can safely wash this Disney backpack in the washing machine. This cute Disney Mickey Mouse Backpack is the best choice for your kid if you are worried about keeping bags clean.
Specs
- Dimension: 42 x 27 x 16 cm; 500 Grams
- Materials: Cotton canvas
Customer Reviews
According to customer reviews, this Mickey Mouse school backpack is a comfortable, high-quality product. There was, however, one complaint about the zippers not working smoothly sometimes.
Perpetual Parenting 17 Inch Backpack — Best accessories
Pros
- Large inner pockets
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Great value for money
Cons
- No front pockets
Price (RRP): $39.98
Perpetual Parenting has designed a whole school bag set for your little boy or girl. The insulated lunch box with a carry handle and a shoulder strap can be used separately or stored inside the backpack. A matching pencil case with the same print is also a part of this set. Additionally, there are large pockets inside the bag that can help your kid find their compartmented stuff easier. It is safe to say that Perpetual Parenting 17 Inch Backpack comes with built-in features and accessories like no other.
Specs
- Dimension: 43 x 13 x 28 cm; 600 Grams
- Materials: Polyester
Customer Reviews
Reviews show that this set is a hit with kids, especially in the preschool and primary school years. Buyers are also happy with the quality of the product.
Hopscotch Leopard Everyday Backpack — Most cost-effective
Pros
- Lightweight
- Cost-effective
- Large front pocket
Cons
- No padded back panel
Hopscotch Leopard Everyday Backpack is large enough to keep your books and laptop, and it can be used outside of the school as well. The colourful leopard printed exterior is not something you see every day. A roomy front pocket and two meshed side pockets are also worth mentioning. You can hardly ever find a backpack with such a unique design for a price so reasonable.
Specs
- Dimension: 40 x 12 x 300 cm; 300 Grams
- Materials: Polyester
Customer Reviews
Reviewers were happily surprised by the quality of this backpack. They have reported Hopscotch Leopard Everyday Backpack to be a perfect choice for those on a budget, looking for a beautiful and functional product.
F FENRICI Galaxy Backpack — Multiple compartments
Pros
- Adjustable sternum strap
- Reinforced top handle
- Sturdier material
- Laptop sleeve
Cons
- Not machine-washable
Price (RRP): $37.17
If you are a fan of pockets, F FENRICI Galaxy Backpack will become your favourite. There are more than five roomy compartments in this school backpack. A special pocket designed for pencils and a padded laptop sleeve is hidden inside the pack. Its elastic side pockets are perfect for holding bottles and umbrellas. F FENRICI Galaxy Backpack can keep your stuff protected and separated in its many bags.
Specs
- Dimension: 19 x 31.75 x 45.7 cm; 566.99 Grams
- Materials: 900 Denier Polyester
Customer Reviews
The reviews for this backpack mostly show a high level of satisfaction with its quality and design. Although one customer has reported, the interior fabric is coming away from the seams.
Herschel Heritage Youth X-large — Best minimalist look
Pros
- Key clip
- Removable sternum strap
- Laptop sleeve
Cons
- No padded back panel
Price (RRP): $90.40
Herschel Heritage Youth X-large offers a children’s backpack designed for the smaller humans while preserving the authentic Herschel look for its older fans. The added feature of a key clip inside the front pocket will come in handy during the first years of your child’s independence. With all these new and improved features, the Herschel Youth Backpack collection still keeps a minimalist and sophisticated look.
Specs
- Dimension: 14 x 30.5 x 43 cm
- Materials: Polyester
Customer Reviews
Most of the people who purchased this product confirmed Herschel’s claim that their bags are guaranteed for life. Customers were satisfied with paying a little bit extra for the quality and comfort this backpack brought them.
Kids Camouflage Backpack — Most comfortable
Pros
- Padded top handle
- Two front pockets
- Sternum strap
- Laptop sleeve
Cons
- Not machine-washable
This school backpack comes with a removable sternum strap. The combination of adjustable shoulder straps and sternum straps can be a huge help when carrying heavy loads on your back. The padded shoulder straps and back panel also reduce excessive pressure on your shoulders.Target’s Kids Camouflage Backpack is one of the most comfortable school backpacks found in Australian markets.
Specs
- Dimension: 14×30.5 x 43 cm
- Materials: Polyester
Customer Reviews
Overall, the customers were satisfied with this backpack. They have claimed the bag to be spacious and comfortable.
What to consider before buying a backpack?
- Quality: You would want to use a pack for at least the duration of the school year. The materials used,
- Size: Depending on your everyday needs, you should be careful not to buy a small backpack that cannot take in all your stuff nor one that is too big and heavy.
- Comfort: children’s posture can be affected by something that they carry around most of the day. The backpack needs to have adjustable and soft shoulder straps to keep your child comfortable.
- Easy to clean: Washing or cleaning a bag can be troublesome. You might want to consider the material used and whether it is machine washable before buying a school backpack.
Compare the best bags to buy in Australia
| Name | Price (RRP) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Wildkin Heroes Olive Kids 12 Inch Backpack | $49.08 |
|
| Spring Country Children Casual Backpack | $36.97 |
|
| Disney Mickey Mouse Backpack | $39.95 |
|
| Perpetual Parenting 17 Inch Backpack | $39.98 |
|
| Hopscotch Leopard Everyday Backpack | $07.50 |
|
| F FENRICI Galaxy Backpack | $37.17 |
|
| Herschel Heritage Youth X-large | $90.40 |
|
| Kids Camouflage Backpack | $26.00 |
|
Source: Amazon, Target, Big W, Travel Universe January 2021
Our methodology
25 brands examined
101 products compared
8 products chosen
- Our team researched a variety of backpack brands available in Australia that produce the best kids backpacks.
- We poured over thousands of online reviews (as of January 2021) to see which products gave customers the best results.
- Our editorial team selects the products on this list based on their benefits and features. Items are not chosen because of any commercial relationships we may hold.
Brands Compared
To determine the best backpacks, we examined these brands:
- Adidas (1)
- DC (1)
- Disney (1)
- Disney Frozen (1)
- Flo Dancewear (1)
- F Fenrici (1)
- Harry Potter (5)
- Hopscotch (10)
- Jack & Milly (4)
- Mickey Mouse (1)
- Milkshake (10)
- Minnie Mouse (1)
- Oi Oi (1)
- Paperchase (1)
- Penny Scallan (16)
- Pink Poppy (2)
- Quiksilver (6)
- Roxy (9)
- Seed Heritage (19)
- Spring Country (2)
- Sunnylife (2)
- The Nappy Society (3)
- Tilii (1)
- Wildkin (1)
- Wishes (1)
We then carefully read hundreds of online reviews given by customers who have bought and tried these products. We looked at the features of each bottle to see how they performed.
We then chose the eight best backpacks for kids regarding their quality, comfort levels, and price based on our research.
Conclusion
Considering features such as size, comfort, and material quality is essential when deciding to buy a backpack. Wildkin Heroes Olive Kids 12 Inch Backpack has the perfect size and material for a daycare backpack. F FENRICI Galaxy Backpack and Target’s Kids Camouflage Backpack are two of the most comfortable children’s bags out there.
You might have a relatively tight budget around this time of the year. If you don’t want to pay too much money, you can go for Hopscotch Leopard Everyday Backpack, an inexpensive, high-quality school bag. However, it’s always a good idea to compare your options to find the right gear for your little one.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Where can I buy kids’ backpacks?
There are plenty of options for you when it comes to how and where to buy a pack. If you are someone who likes to see the item in person before buying it, you can simply find your selected brands’ branches nearby just by taking a quick look on their website. Don’t forget to call them and check whether they’re open amid the Covid-19 restrictions.Which online store sells the best backpacks for kids?
Surely you’re already familiar with top e-commerce websites like Amazon, eBay, Big W, or Catch, which provide various products, including kids’ backpacks. You can also check out different brands’ websites that are specifically designed for selling packs.Which children’s backpack is most comfortable?
Children’s backpacks need to have adjustable straps, as kids grow fast and you want the bag to fit their body. To reduce the weight and pressure of backpacks on their shoulders, bags with padded back panels are a big help. Some kids may prefer to use sternum straps as well.Can you wash school bags in the washing machine?
Deciding how to clean a backpack mostly depends on its material. Also, the hardware such as clips, zippers, and latches attached to a bag might limit the safe methods of washing it. That being said, the answer is yes; many backpacks are machine washable.How much do school backpacks cost?
Most backpack prices range from 30 to 50 dollars in Australia. However, you can always find cheaper packs at specific websites or during off-seasons. Some backpacks with unique features and materials may be sold at a higher price.
