School is just around the corner, which always means new backpacks in this house. This year I am looking for the best kindergarten backpack for my sweet daughter, but am also rounding up options I love for my 2nd grader and preschooler.
This post was originally published in July 2018 and has been updated in July 2020
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Best Kindergarten Backpacks
So what constitutes the best? I am a mom of 4 and my daughter is going to be my second kindergartener – so although I am not a pro by any means, I have been doing backpacks for about 6 years, and to me they are something I put a lot of thought into (probably too much).
Honestly – how they look and how they function matter a ton to me. They hang in my laundry room and are on my kids every day – so finding something that is cute matters to me both for them and for me. But also they are something you will be filling up and using on the daily so there are certain functional aspects that are so important.
Biggest Things to Pay Attention To
As moms we all have different wants and needs. We all handle school differently – IE – do you send cold lunch, or do your kids eat hot lunch?
That said – for me the biggest things I look at in terms of backpacks are: High quality – I don’t need zippers breaking on a kindergarten backpack after a week because they can’t handle the little hands.
Water Bottle slots – I tend to gravitate towards backpacks with the water bottle slots on the side that are elastic but no matter what I think them existing is really important.
Large enough for a folder – If a folder can’t fit then it is likely not big enough for kindergarten and above.
Cute – I tend to go simple, but I do like to let me kids help pick.
Lunch Box Clips – This isn’t a deal breaker but there are several brands that have methods do attach their lunch boxes on the outside so that they don’t take up space inside their bags, and I LOVE THAT.
Below I rounded up the best Kindergarten backpacks I could find this year – I will break them down as to why I love them and if I have owned the brand, so be sure to check out the descriptions.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20
Best Kindergarten Backpacks
- Wanderwild Lunchbox – These have added clips on the outside to clip to their backpacks which is a huge win for me – good classic colors that will grow with your child.
- Football lunchbox – I have owned a couple of backpacks for my kids in this brand and love them, so hopefully this lunchbox is just as great in quality
- Heart lunch box – this has typically been my go to brand and this one is so cute for a little girl. A lot of the time I like to let my daughter be more free in her choice for lunch box.
- FREEZABLE lunchbox – this one comes in several prints and is freezable which is so great!
- Space backpack – okay this one is a bit out there, but such a fun option for school.
- Wanderwild floral backpack – this one goes with the Wanderwild lunchboxes – we personally own this backpack and I am so impressed with the quality and function! It checks all the boxes I look for when it comes to backpacks.
- Wanderwild Adventurer backpack – We got this one for my older son so if you have someone in elementary school this one is bigger than some of the others on this post which is nice, but it isn’t huge where it will weigh them down!
- Simple Colorblock backpack
- Glow in the dark superhero backpack – We have this one for my boys and it is so cute. This brand is a go to for a reason – they are great backpacks.
- Princess backpack – this is the same as the one above. These backpacks check all the must have boxes.
- Gold backpack – my daughter has had this one for almost 3 years and we LOVE it.
- Rainbow backpack – this is fun and simple
- Blue Camo backpack – we owned this one in a different color way and they are so well made!
- Rainbow and cloud – this is DARLING!
- Hunter backpack – this is really simple and does lack the water bottle pockets but is darling with great reviews.
- Shark backpack – LOVE this one
- NASA Backpack
- Tie dye – strongly considering this one for Avé this year – its the same brand as her gold one.
- Rainbow backpack – this bag comes in so many different options and is really popular.
- Navy backpack – this is a really unique backpack option for kids
Other Posts You’ll Love
Hopefully now you have a great idea for a backpack, but if not – I also have another backpack post linked below that has more great options for kids! So be sure you check that out too. I am also linking to some other posts that might help get you school ready this year!
More Backpacks | Tips on organizing your week
Pin the Photo Below for Later
If you have any trouble finding the best kindergarten backpack always feel free to DM via Instagram (@arinsolange) or comment below, and best of luck to you parents and your children as they start a new year of school!
31 Comments
Kendra miller
July 16, 2020 at 3:18 pmI’d definitely pick the floral backpack from wander wild or the rainbow one bc it is just too cute!
Arin
July 16, 2020 at 3:22 pmisn’t that one so cute? My daughter loves the floral!
Lindsay Fleming
July 17, 2020 at 3:39 pmI’m a sucker for rose gold but my daughter would pick something with shimmer or Floral.
Probably camo for my son or mustard yellow. Tooo cute!
Jennifer Klingler
July 16, 2020 at 3:29 pmAdorable! The rose gold or the pink with the confetti heart ❤️
Cara
July 16, 2020 at 10:36 pmI love the tie dye one! So cute!
Rachel
July 16, 2020 at 3:47 pmThe floral backpack is adorable but I feel like my boys would go with the blue one.
Lauren
July 16, 2020 at 4:02 pmThe Wanderwild floral backpack is so cute!!
Chelsea
July 16, 2020 at 4:27 pmI would love the dark blue backpack for my soon to be Kindergartener. These look durable enough to be manhandled by my big guy
Stephanie
July 16, 2020 at 5:30 pmI love the floral one and the mustard yellow one is so classic. However, knowing my girls they would love the gold metallic or tie dye.
Gabrielle Brown
July 16, 2020 at 8:19 pmI would definitely pick the dark blue for my son 🙂
Rikki
July 16, 2020 at 9:08 pmI think my almost 4 year old would pick gold, she’s a girly girl..the tie dye is so cute though!
farren
July 16, 2020 at 10:01 pmThe rainbow one is so cute! I would let my daughter pick anyone she wanted as she is not looking forward to school (prek) so anything to make her excited!
Lynlee Coppock
July 16, 2020 at 10:51 pmI’m loving the simple colorblock or the floral!
Miren
July 17, 2020 at 12:33 amMy daughter loves anything with flowers!!
Lindsey Salisbury
July 17, 2020 at 1:56 amI love that you are still staying strong with a norm (new backpacks for BTS) even though things are very different this year. It’s great for the kiddos to feel excited, and also to stay in somewhat of a routine. I love all theses the floral navy is gorgeous, but I love 11, 12, and 18 too. All Classic with a unique twist to match many personalities and styles. Thx for sharing hun!
Cindy Feraro
July 17, 2020 at 2:16 amI would definitely pick the #7 Adventurer backpack! It would be perfect for my 8 year old!
Veronica Ortega
July 17, 2020 at 6:19 amI will pick the wanderwall floral backpack for my daughter that is going to kindergarten too! But also loved the dark blue for my son
Andrea Graham
July 17, 2020 at 7:53 amI would pick the floral pattern. It’s adorable!!
Habibah
July 17, 2020 at 7:57 amHow about Disney backpacks? I would always pick the pottery barn backpacks. Just ordered my son the paw patrol one.
Arin
July 17, 2020 at 7:24 pmyes!! we love those. My youngest has the toy story one, and my 5 year old has the rolling version of the princess one for her suitcase. We also have several versions of the superhero ones haha
Whitney Hilton
July 17, 2020 at 7:59 amMy daughter would love the floral one (or anything girly) and she’s such a girly girl!
Amanda
July 17, 2020 at 11:43 amThe shark one looks fantastic!
Alissa
July 17, 2020 at 12:37 pmLove all the backpacks! My oldest loves blue so any of the blue ones would be our pick. But the rocket ship and NASA pack are super cute, too!
Jessa
July 17, 2020 at 2:24 pmThe blue from wander wild!!!
Casey
July 17, 2020 at 2:28 pmLove the Wanderwild floral backpack!
Krista
July 17, 2020 at 2:32 pmI like the simplicity of the blue “Wanderer” backpack, but my son would definitely rather have the Dino one!
Kristen
July 17, 2020 at 3:13 pmLoving the wildflower one! Thank you for giving such great suggestions and doing all the leg work!
Val
July 17, 2020 at 6:40 pmJulia loves the gold!! THREE years?!?! That’s awesome!!
Ama Caldera
July 18, 2020 at 1:37 amMy Noah would love the Dino!
Caroline A
July 18, 2020 at 7:48 amWould have to go with the raspberry stripe or the wildflower! My girl would love these! She’s the accessory queen 🤣
Mary
July 18, 2020 at 12:01 pmI love the floral one too but sometimes a good solid is good too when kids favorites change so much!