Best back-to-school backpacks 2026: The ultimate kids' school bag guide

A good school backpack has to survive a year of packed lunches, PE kits, wet coats and being dragged along the pavement day in and day out. After the school uniform, the backpack is often the second biggest back-to-school purchase - and it’s important to get it right.

From comfortable adjustable straps to water-resistant fabrics, there’s a lot to consider when shopping for a school backpack in 2026. Not forgetting, of course, that your child needs to love it enough to actually want to carry it every day.

We’ve scoured the internet to find the best back-to-school backpacks, with styles to suit every age and budget. From their first day at nursery to the secondary school years, here are our top picks.

What to Look for in a Kids' School Backpack

Here are a few features we think are worth prioritising regardless of age or style:

• Padded, adjustable straps - ideally with a chest strap for extra support

• A supportive back panel - look for mesh materials for airflow

• Water resistance or waterproof - a must-have for the British weather

• Smart features - a padded laptop sleeve, water bottle holder or internal organiser can come in handy

Whichever backpack you choose, make sure to label it. Iron-on or stick-on name labels for the bag itself, along with the lunchbox and water bottle inside it, are a small investment that will save you a trip to lost property!

Best Backpacks for Nursery and Reception

For the littlest ones, a lightweight backpack with a chest strap can make the biggest difference and help keep them well balanced as they run off into nursery or Reception. Look for a bag under 500g when empty, with simple, large zip pulls that little hands can manage independently. Let them choose their own design, whether that’s a favourite character, animal or colour, to help make the transition to nursery or Reception feel exciting rather than daunting. Bonus points for bags that can be personalised like our picks from My 1st Years.

Shop now: My 1st Years Personalised Green Dinosaur Medium Backpack, £35

Shop now: My 1st Years Personalised Pink Bunny Classic Mini Backpack with Ears, £28

Best Premium and Design-Led Backpacks

For families who want something that will outlast several school years and beyond, Finisterre, Passenger and Patagonia backpacks are worth the higher price point. These tend to be more durable and reliable, and will see them through the school years and beyond thanks to the grown-up, design-led styles.

Shop now: Patagonia Kids' Refugito Daypack, £60

Shop now: Finisterre Nautilus 23L Backpack, £120

Best Backpacks for Primary School

By Key Stage 1 and 2, children are carrying more: a reading folder, a water bottle, a PE kit and often an extra layer or coat in tow. A mid-sized backpack of around 10–15 litres with a padded back panel and a dedicated water bottle pocket is a great choice. For a popular and reliable option that will grow with them through the primary school years, you can’t go wrong with Fjällräven's Kånken’s Backpack - it’s a pricer choice but a longstanding favourite for its durability and simple structure. There’s also plenty of budget-friendly options on the high street that will hold up well over a full school year, from Marks & Spencer’s water-resistant styles to JoJo Maman Bébé’s colourful character designs.

Shop now: Fjällräven's Kånken Mini, £80

Shop now: M&S Kids' Stormwear™ Minnie Mouse™ School Backpack, £20

Best Backpacks for Secondary School

Secondary school backpacks need to work harder. At this stage, kids are carrying heavier textbooks, sports kit, and some may even have laptops or tablets to take to school. If that’s the case, a 20–30 litre bag with a padded laptop sleeve, reinforced base and comfortable, wider straps is worth the investment here, since it is likely to be used daily for several years. The Herschel Heritage Backpack is a classic for a reason, with a padded laptop sleeve, water bottle pocket. The Jansport Superbreak Plus is another neat choice. With plenty of colours to choose from in both styles, even the fussiest of teens will find a backpack they love.

Shop now: Herschel Heritage Backpack, £50

Shop now: Jansport Superbreak Plus, £38

Best Value Backpacks

If your child is likely to lose, outgrow or simply tire of a backpack within a school year, it is worth not over-investing. There’s plenty of budget-friendly backpacks from supermarkets in character designs that now come with padded straps and foam backs even at low price points. They’re a practical choice for the nursery and early primary years, and you can pick one up while doing the weekly shop.

Shop now: Tesco Frozen II Anna And Elsa Backpack, £19

Shop now: George at Asda Blue Safari Backpack, £11