Extra large backpack, rolling backpack or maybe just get a dolly

September 17, 2014 2:20 PM

I'm looking for the right backpack situation for my child who has to carry a huge binder, books, lunch, a jacket and a trumpet to school. What is the best backpack solution for her?

This year my child was required to get a zip-up binder for school which was fine until we tried stuffing it in her backpack with lunch. The binder is massive at 13 x 13 x 4. It barely fits in her backpack, but she's been stuffing it in and we've attached some carabiners to clip her lunch to the backpack. She hates the way this looks and I can tell this is not going to be a great long term solution as soon she'll be stuffing a jacket in there and also needs to bring her trumpet with her twice a week (which is in another large backpack). She's not terribly organized and has trouble assembling the binder, books, lunchbag, carabiner situation at the end of the day.

In general, I'm against buying yet another backpack but she needs something she can handle herself. A rolling backpack is an option but a) they're expensive b) she has to lug it up two staircases and c) she can't take it to school next year as they are not allowed at the next school. Is it worth it anyway? Or an extra large backpack that fits a binder, lunch and jacket? If so, who makes them? I'm open to either option. If possible, either one needs to be under $60 if possible. Any specific brand recommendations or websites, advice? Thanks!

posted by biscuits to Shopping (11 answers total)

Best answer: When I was in middle school, the solution of choice was a giant backpack (a la this) with several compartments. A brown paper bag or other minimal lunch bag helped with that issue. Most people carried their instruments in dedicated cases, if they played something small enough to lug back and forth from school (as a cello player, this was not an option for me).
posted by MadamM at 2:40 PM on September 17, 2014

Ugh, poor little one, I wish schools would have some consideration for the amount of stuff that the kids have to schlepp around.

I can highly recommend Mountain Equipment Co-op's backpacks. They have a kid's section for book bags but I'd go to the smaller adult model. I bought mine in 2005 and it's been to college and across Canada a few times and still looks new. It has a reflector strip and an internal laptop sleeve in case she needs one in a few years and lots of internal and external pockets. I just love mine.

They ship to the USA.
posted by SpecialSpaghettiBowl at 2:40 PM on September 17, 2014

Have you considered a rolling suitcase? A quick perusal of Target's website showed options less than $60. Your local thrift shop would probably have them for even less. They come in a wide variety of styles to suit any fashion conscious (or unconscious) student.
posted by sacrifix at 2:41 PM on September 17, 2014

I'm an erstwhile trumpet player and I'd switch her to a fabric gig bag for sure, unless she is a total klutz. Those hard cases can be really heavy and unwieldy.
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:56 PM on September 17, 2014

Strap for the zip binder. Wear like a messenger bag.
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 3:36 PM on September 17, 2014 [1 favorite]

A bit over budget, but the LLBean Turbo Transit Pack is HUGE. It's also the last back pack you will need to buy due to LLBean's unconditional guarantee. She puts either her textbooks or her jacket on the "bottom level" and lunch + remaining school stuff on the "top level." (Note: this backpack is often comically huge on middle schoolers).

Backpacks designed for swimming and/or hiking are often on the larger size as well.

While her future school may forbid rolling backpacks, it may not mandate the massive binder.

From personal experience, I suggest that if you are learning towards a rolling backpack, double check that she would actually use it first.

I'm assuming that the lunchbag your daughter has is smallest size possible and not super bulky. (More this shape than that shape).

In addition, your daughter will have more flexibility if she uses a trumpet case that is a shoulder bag instead of a backpack.
posted by oceano at 4:28 PM on September 17, 2014

Have you considered a shopping trolley? Rolsers are great. And if your daughter doesn't like it, hey you now have a shopping trolley. They are very useful.
posted by crazycanuck at 6:22 PM on September 17, 2014

Sorry I missed your price restriction. They have knock-off Rolsers for much less at ethnic malls.
posted by crazycanuck at 6:26 PM on September 17, 2014

Also, this year I was mindful to buy backpacks with external cording for jacket capture. Could you add simething like this to her bag to stuff her jacket & spent lunch bag in?
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 9:28 PM on September 17, 2014

Response by poster: Thanks everyone--the trumpet case can't be changed and she's tried the shoulder strap on the binder case but she still carries a separate backpack with books, lunch and jacket--too much. After looking at the options, she likes the giant Jansport backpack that MadameM suggested. The rolling backpacks are probably too bulky and heavy for her to lug up two flights of stairs. I think the giant backpack is the winner!
posted by biscuits at 10:02 PM on September 17, 2014

One good thing about the Jansport super big is that if it's too big it won't be in a few years. Until I got the backpacks for this year we made do with some already-owned locker bags and boot bags (gym bags with adult straps). They were too big and weighed the kids down. Once we switched to appropriately-sized tween-sized bags, life was a lot easier.
posted by Buttons Bellbottom at 6:08 AM on September 18, 2014