School bags
Girls school bags: what actually matters when choosing one
The best school bag for a girl is the same as for any child: about 10 litres so A4 sits flat, light enough to carry alone, padded straps with a chest strap, and waterproof enough to keep a reading book dry on the walk in.
Updated
Most girls school bags are sold on colour and character. Those wear off long before the bag does, and they tell you nothing about whether the reading folder will bend or the PE kit will get soaked.
Let her choose the colour. Use the checks below for everything else.
plop in short
- 10L waterproof roll-top backpack for children aged 3 to 10.
- 32 cm high, 25 cm wide, 13 cm deep and about 450 g, so A4 books sit flat.
- Soft matte TPU fabric with welded seams, a reinforced base and a hidden magnetic roll-top closure.
- Padded adjustable shoulder straps and a chest strap a three-year-old can clip alone.
- £39 with free UK shipping, 30-day returns and a 2-year guarantee. Made by plopkids LTD.
Size: about 10 litres, at least 31 cm tall
A4 is 29.7 cm tall, so the inside of the bag needs at least about 31 cm. Many bags sold for younger girls are 25 to 29 cm and bend every folder that goes in.
Around 32 by 25 by 13 cm is roughly 10 litres, which fits reception right through to year 6.
Weight and straps
A packed school bag should be no more than about a tenth of her body weight, so the empty bag should be light. Under half a kilo is good.
Look for padded, adjustable straps and a chest strap, which stops narrow shoulders letting the straps slip off.
Colour she chooses, a bag that lasts
Children carry a bag they chose. A strong, plain colour tends to outlast a printed character she will have outgrown by year 2.
plop comes in Pig (pink), Bee (yellow) and Sea (blue), all chosen to be easy to spot in a cloakroom.
Waterproof, not just water resistant
Water resistant bags keep out a shower. Waterproof bags need waterproof fabric, welded or taped seams and an opening with no gap, which in practice means a roll top.
Common questions
- What size school bag for a girl starting reception?
- About 10 litres, roughly 32 cm high and 25 cm wide, so an A4 reading folder fits flat without the bag hanging below her waist.
- Are pink school bags waterproof?
- Colour has nothing to do with it. Check the fabric, the seams and the closure: waterproof fabric, welded seams and a roll top keep water out.
- How long should a school bag last?
- A well-made bag should last several years of primary school. plop carries a 2-year guarantee against manufacturing faults.