Inside: Choose from one of these Mom approved most durable backpacks for your student. Buy once and save year after year! These bags hold up to the toughest kids.
(Not all links here are affiliate links. I wanted to give you good shopping options without limiting this list to only affiliate links.)
When my oldest was going into kindergarten, the explosion of internet ideas for doubling coupons and getting free stuff all the time was in its heyday. We had just switched houses and were still adjusting to losing my income (I became a stay at home mom when the third child was born). So when I saw ads for free backpacks, I jumped at them!
You could get a free backpack by spending $10 or $20 at the store you were buying them from. That was no trouble, because I needed groceries anyway.
Sometimes these backpacks even had my 5 year old’s favorite characters on them! That made me even more excited for such a fantastic deal.
But by Christmas break, that backpack was nearly ruined. The cheap material wouldn’t stitch back together. (Not that I’m much in the seamstress department to begin with.)
Disappointed, I decided that next time I would get a couple of free backpacks so we could switch them out midyear when the first one failed.
I’m not a quick learner.
After talking to friends, I discovered that there were durable backpacks out there that really would last for years and years. They even held up to roughhousing boys. Curious, I decided to give it a try. My then 2nd grader got his first durable backpack, and from that experience I have never looked back.
Don’t make the mistakes I made! Cheaper is not better. The days of the free backpack seem to be gone, and even if they weren’t…do you really want all that hassle? The frugal answer is to make a one time purchase that costs a bit more (but you’ll be surprised at how affordable these backpacks are!) but will last for years and years.
Let’s look at some of…
The Most Durable Backpacks for Kids Who Are Hard On Stuff
Our family favorites are listed here alongside recommendations I got from some fellow frugal moms.
Even busy moms like to comparison shop, so I have added links to the direct companies (when I can) as well as Target and Amazon. (Walmart only offers these bags through third party sellers.) Many companies offer free shipping, so you may be surprised at where you’ll find the best price!
It’s important to keep in mind that some of the bags you find at places like Amazon are not backed with the full company guarantee. Also, sometimes the quality of the bag you find at mega stores isn’t as high (thus the cheaper price). Buyer beware! Probably better to buy direct if you can swing it.
Jansport
Let’s begin with my favorite company, Jansport. I bought a Jansport with my own money back in high school. Then I carried it all throughout college. Once college was over, we used the bag for various things. It was even my diaper bag for a while. (Way easier than trying to balance one more thing on my shoulder!)
When our daughter was in kindergarten, I looked around for my old Jansport. But wouldn’t you know it, the zipper had busted. It would have to be ripped out and replaced. We contacted the company to see if they would repair it for us. They asked us to ship it in to them. (Luckily the bag didn’t weigh too much.)
I assumed they’d repair it and send it back. But much to my surprise, they shipped a brand new backpack! So now my daughter is carrying a nice new Jansport that should last her for most of her school years. And that’s why Jansport is my personal favorite backpack. (You gotta love a company that stands behind their products!)
You can’t beat a lifetime guarantee!
Buy direct from Jansport: Shop Best Selling JanSport Backpack! Free Shipping in All Orders!
Shop Jansport at Amazon. Shop Jansport at Target.
LL Bean
A close second favorite of mine is LL Bean. When I asked around, more Moms recommended LL Bean backpacks than any other brand. We have 2 of these bags ourselves, and I have been more than impressed by their quality!
My oldest got his bag when he was in 2nd grade. So did my second oldest. They’ve had the bags for 6 and 5 years now, and they show no signs of wearing out soon. My second born is that boy who throws his bag and kicks it down the road, so when I say this is a quality product, I mean it!
One side note… consider carefully if you want to embroider their name on the bag. It’s cute when they’re little, but they might be less inclined to carry a bag with their name on it when they’re in middle school.
LL Bean also has a lifetime guarantee on their products!
Shop LL Bean on Ebay. (These bags aren’t available in most stores.)
Dakine
I hadn’t heard of Dakine before, but a couple Mom friends raved about their quality. Amy called this bag “rock solid”. Another friend, Jessica, uses her Dakine bag to take to work. She loves that it has a built in cooler and even matches her scrubs!
Buy Dakine direct.
Shop Dakine on Amazon.
Shop Dakine at Backcountry (They have a “give your friends $10” deal going, ask a friend to work this deal with you!) Free 2-Day Shipping on Orders Over $50
Looking for durable backpack options? These backpacks last for YEARS and are mom approved! #backtoschoolClick To TweetLands’ End
Some other Moms were very happy with their Lands’ End backpacks.
Here’s what Susan has to say about them: “I love Land’s End backpacks. Most have color coordinated cooler bags for lunches, and can be personalized with many embroidery options. The only reason I’ve ever purchased a “replacement” bag for a kid is because he or she has outgrown the old one. They wash well and hold up to the beatings given to them by schoolkids over the years and have an excellent guarantee if something does wear out.”
Under Armour
We know Under Armour for their good quality products. In fact, Amber said “It’s been the ONLY [backpack] we’ve purchased that made it through the entire school year! It’s still in new condition and he will use again.”
Shop Under Armour Backpacks at Kohls Plus, earn $10 Kohl’s cash for every $50 spent.
Shop Under Armour at Amazon.
Nike
Nike is another brand with a fantastic reputation for quality. Chrissy says, “Nike has never failed us. My daughters on her second year with it and still looks and has held up like new.” Litany agrees. Her boys have used their Nike bags for a couple of years already.
Shop Nike direct: Up To 40% on Select Styles at Nike.com! Enjoy Free Shipping and Returns with Nike+ Membership! No Code Required!
Shop Nike at Amazon.
Samsonite
I haven’t tried Samsonite myself, but Mom friend Elia calls them “super durable”. I thought Samsonite would be out of my price range, but sales make these bags super affordable.
Buy direct from Samsonite: Buy 1 Save 25%, Buy 2 or More Save 30% Off Select Items! Use Code: TRAVEL! Plus, Free Standard Shipping on Orders Over $99!
Shop Samsonite at Amazon.
Kavu
If you like durability with a side of fashion, Kavu might be your bag of choice. They’ve got tons of design options, so you’re sure to find something your student will love!
Shop Kavu at REI.
Shop Kavu at Amazon.
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One of these durable backpacks will be perfect for your student.
You’ll thank yourself for the next couple of years (or decades) when you can cross backpack off your back to school shopping list!
Next up, get my top tips for saving big cash on back to school shopping.
Which of these durable backpacks do you recommend? Which would you like to try?
My family is clawing out of debt, one un-bought fast food bag at a time. When I'm not sharing frugal tips, you’ll find me indulging a sweet tooth, juggling our 5 kids’ activities, or playing Rescue Bots (though the preschooler always insists I'm doing it wrong). Hope you'll join the fun and chaos at Medium Sized Family! 
It’s so funny you did this post now because I have been thinking about doing a positive blog post about Jansport. We bought a backpack to use as a diaper bag with child #3 or 4 because the first diaper bag had worn out. We used it and used it for close to 10 years when the fabric near the zipper started to give. We contacted them, shipped it back, and they replaced with with a brand new one (which I am loving right now).
I had an Eastpak backpack (which is now owned by Jansport) in college. The fabric was fraying. We just sent it in last week, so we are waiting to see what they do with it.
Thanks for the post because it gave me an opportunity to throw my support in for a company that stands by their product. I love companies like that.
I totally agree with you! It’s getting harder to find companies that stand behind their work, so when I find one I want to shout it from the rooftops. 🙂
North Face. Jon shipped them his 30 year old bag. They sent it back with a repaired zipper.
And the LL Bean backpack we bought our daughter last summer is still going strong, so we added an LP Bean lunchbox to the mix for our new school year (July 10!)
I would also advise caution when putting a little person’s name on a backpack. We were told for security reasons not to put our kids names in visible places on what they wear or carry with them. A would be trouble causing person suddenly knows their name, making the less of a stranger and your child an easier target. We label the underside of the shoulder straps or high on the back of the bag – where it will sit against the child’s back. Even when we travel, we put information in places that the child knows but that aren’t readily visible for the same reason.
We are on the hunt for durable backpacks partly due to the lack of space in the other options. Our older kids need good strong bags to get those books back and forth! Thanks for this post!
Yes, my 8th grader told me he’d like a bigger bag. Yet another reason not to get a name added to the bag. I’d like to hand it down to our youngest. Glad you found the post helpful! 🙂
I have bought all of our kids pottery barn kids backpacks which I have always bought on sale from the website. They have had them around 3 years now and still look almost new. They are strong and rugged. Did I mention I have all boys? These bags will hold up to boys and as you say kicking them down the road. One of them was even passed down it’s got to be about 5 years old and has been used by three boys so far. These bags are the best.
I agree with you on the name issue. I don’t put their names on their backpacks either. I read one time that it was a safety issue. You don’t strangers to be able to read a kids name right off their backpack.
Awesome! Thanks for adding another bag to the list. Boys certainly like to test the quality of things, don’t they? haha
My boys had Jansport backpacks. When one had a problem, we shipped it to them and when they sent it back, they put a note in that they had repaired another thing that they thought was about to go. The boys had them through college and we have had them repaired more than once.