School bags
Kids school bags for girls and boys: what actually matters
The best school bag for a girl or a boy is the same bag: about 10 litres so A4 sits flat, a reinforced base and wipe-clean waterproof surface, padded straps with a chest strap, and a colour the child chose themselves.
Updated
Most school bags are sold as girls' or boys' bags on the strength of a colour or a character. Neither tells you whether the reading folder will bend, whether the PE kit gets soaked, or whether the base splits by February.
Let your child choose the colour. Use the checks below for everything else.
Let them choose the colour
Children carry a bag they picked. A strong, plain colour tends to outlast a printed character they will have outgrown by year 2, and it is easier to spot on a row of cloakroom pegs.
plop comes in Pig (pink), Bee (yellow) and Sea (blue). Any child can choose any of them.
A base that survives being dropped
School bags get thrown, kicked under benches, used as goalposts and left in puddles. The base wears out first, so look for a reinforced base and a material that does not soak up water when the bag sits on wet ground.
Wipe-clean beats machine-wash
Mud, paint and squashed fruit are certain. A smooth waterproof fabric wipes clean in a minute with warm water; a woven bag needs washing and often comes out misshapen.
Straps that stay on when running
A chest strap links the shoulder straps so the bag stays put when running or climbing, and stops narrow shoulders letting the straps slip off. Padded adjustable straps keep it comfortable as they grow.
Common questions
- Is there a difference between girls and boys school bags?
- Only the colour and print they are marketed with. Size, weight, straps and waterproofing matter the same for every child.
- What is the toughest type of school bag?
- One with a reinforced base, welded rather than stitched seams, and a smooth waterproof fabric that wipes clean, since stitching and woven fabric usually fail first.
- 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.