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Choose one of these Mom approved most durable backpacks for your student. Buy once and save year after year! 

When my oldest was going into kindergarten, I took him to the store to choose a brand new backpack.

He was so excited to find one with his favorite super hero!  And off to school he proudly went.

But by Christmas break, that backpack was ripped and ruined.  The cheap material wouldn’t stitch back together. (Not that I’m much in the seamstress department to begin with.)

Disappointed, I decided to ask some more experienced moms for tips on finding a good, durable backpack.

Boy was that conversation worth some money!

durable backpacks

I discovered that there were durable backpacks out there that would last for years and years.  They even held up to roughhousing boys.

We gave it a try.  And boy was it worth it!

Don’t make the mistakes I made!  Cheaper is not better.

The frugal way to buy a backpack (and most other things) is to get a deal on a good, quality brand that will stand the test of time.

Let’s look at some of…

The Most Durable Backpacks for Kids Who Are Hard On Stuff

If you're shopping for back to school supplies, don't forget a good sturdy backpack. These durable bookbags will last for years, even if you have boys. Backpacks for boys, bookbags for kids, backpacks for tough kids

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 offers many of these bags through third party sellers.  It’s not usually a good idea to buy from a third party, because it’s hard to spot a fake online.

Many companies offer free shipping, so you may be surprised by 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 backpack 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!)

Only the best bookbags for highschool, bookbags for high schoolers, backpacks for high school, bookbags for school, bookbags for college 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!)

Recently I checked out their guarantee, and they do remind you that these backpacks don’t last forever.  The lifetime of a bag isn’t forever.

BUT, if you have kids that tend to break zippers, it’s a great feeling to know that you can send it off and let the company deal with it instead of spending days trying to fix it yourself. Or worse, going back to shopping again.

You can buy direct from Jansport, and you’ll get free shipping!  Plus you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you bought from an authorized dealer…and your warranty is definitely valid!

Shop Jansport at Amazon.    Shop Jansport at Target.

durable backpacks

LL Bean

A close second favorite of mine is LL Bean.  Based on my unscientific survey, more Moms recommended LL Bean backpacks than any other brand.

We have 3 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 had the bags for 7 or 8 years, and they show no signs of wearing out soon.

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I will say that when they hit high school, we did buy them a new backpack so they’d have one big enough to hold all those high school sized books.

(We bought another LL Bean.)

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.

Sadly, LL Bean discontinued their lifetime warranty.  But we have never needed it!  So I still plan to buy these bags in the future.

Buy direct from LL Bean here.

(These bags aren’t available in most stores.  Buyer beware…we bought an LL Bean bag from Ebay that didn’t hold up well.)

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.

The best backpacks for school

Lands’ End

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.”

Buy direct from Lands’ End(Use this link to get 55% off your backpack purchase!)

Buy Lands End from Amazon.

Buy Lands End from Ebay.under armour durable backpack

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.”

Buy Under Armour direct.

Shop Under Armour at Amazon.

Buy Under Armour from Ebay.

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.

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.

Shop Samsonite at Amazon.

The best backpacks for school

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 find36 something your student will love!

Shop Kavu direct.

Shop Kavu at Amazon.

Buy Kavu from Ebay.

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The best backpacks for school that hold up to the toughest of kids!

One of these durable backpacks will be perfect for your student.

Take this solid mom advice…any if these bookbags are worth the purchase!  You’ll thank yourself for the next couple of years (or decades) when you can cross backpack off your back to school shopping list again and again!

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?

These backpacks that last are perfect for kids who are tough on stuff. When you're back to school shopping for bookbags, remember these brands to get the most for your money. You won't have to shop for backpacks for years if you choose the right bag!

These are the Mom approved best school backpacks out there! They last for *years*!

You won't believe how long these backpacks will last! Get the right bookbag now and they can carry it all the way through high school. Don't buy anything before you learn which bags these Moms swear by.