Rolling Backpacks

Samsonite outlet stores are the best! We love the warranty that comes with it on every part but the handle. They will exchange it without questions if a zipper breaks, etc. There is only no guarantee for the handle that pulls out.

Personally, I wouldn't invest in one and just go to Target or Walmart. Because in a year or two they will be completely UNCOOL and he won't want to use it!

Target. For $20-30. I also want to add that perhaps you should check with the school or teacher about that sort of backpack. It may be different in your city, but when we lived in KC the teachers didn't like for the kids to have those things.

Our elementary school banned them.
The kids are too short and the bags just trail behind them tripping up everyone.
In middle school they are ok to be used, but by then the kids are much taller and a bit more coordinated.

Rolling backpacks are dangerous on buses; there have been countless cases of children being struck in the face with them as they follow a child onto a bus. They also don't fit in lockers, scratch furnishings and floors. Districts around here don't allow them. Lands End and LL Bean are excellent, reasonably-priced durable bags that will last several years and are ergonomic. They also typically have snap on lunch bags.

Still, once they are carrying lots of books, I hunt down a used copy of the textbooks online to keep at home for the most frequently sent home (1 or 2 books, ie. math). Worth saving your child from a lifetime of back problems. More and more, publishers are putting books online and districts buy this. Check w the teacher.

I second Target. Check with your school first. Some schools do not allow them. I know ours doesn't.

Check with your school to see if they are allowed. The rolling backpacks cause problems when you have large amounts of students rushing toward the door, bus, whatever. You have most students just "walking" but a couple of kiddos pulling something behind them and that can trip people. Of course, every once in a while the backpack will catch on something a flip over and that can trip a whole crowd. We had a rolling backpack once, several years ago. By October one of the wheels had fallen off, I used my Mom strength to remove the rollers and handle so we could still use the backpack.

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Love Lands' End & LL Bean backpacks.

Are you really sure about this? These backpacks are a royal pain! They seem cool, but they are harder to negotiate than the kids think they will be and if there are stairs in the school, they are a nightmare!

But... to answer your question... I would go the "opposite" direction and buy a cheaper version at Target or Walmart. That way when he decides that it's not worth the hassle, you can buy another without any "buyer's remorse"!

I was going to mention that some schools don't allow them but seems you've got that covered!! lol!!

But, my suggestion would be to try out a cheap one first - maybe even get one from a second-hand shop or something to make sure he would like it. The reason I say this is because my daughter wanted one so badly; I got her one (thank heavens it was a cheap one) and after using it a little while, she hated it!! Didn't always roll correctly, didn't fit in the locker/cubby, etc.

THEN, I would definitely invest some money in a good one. My son has one made by Swiss Army and it was about $100 but it's held up for many years! I just looked at it to make sure of the brand and it still looks almost brand new! And he's had it for at least six years, if not more!!! And he's a typical boy throwing it around, etc.!!

Same with my daughter - I also got her a Swiss Army brand and she's had it for several years.

Seems like a lot up front, but in the long run it's a great deal! I was buying my kids a new one every year which added up was way more than $100!!! I would suggest if you are going to invest in one, don't do the "character" thing. Stick with a solid color; that way you won't be hearing him complain about the character being childish, etc.

Good luck!!!

We bought ours at Target. Our kids hated them and we switched after a month or two. Big waste of money. I sold them in a consignment sale and they looked brand new!

Personally, I would not get one. My daughter had one when she was small, and it was quite cumbersome. More so than any regular backpack. Not just bulk, but weight too. Remember, however sturdy the handle and wheels are, is just added weight when they are trying to get it into the car, or wear it (you can't ALWAYS roll it).

I found that the wheeled backpack seemed to almost double the weight of whatever she needed to carry (which included her lunchbox).

ETA: But whatever you end up purchasing (wheeled or not), I highly recommend both Land's End and L.L.Bean. Good quality with great return policies. Basically, at least with LLBean, you can return it no matter what, whenever, and they will replace it. My kids have used their backpacks/lunchboxes from them for YEARS and they are STILL in practically pristine condition. And my kids liked to THROW their stuff when they were smaller.

Target, Ross, TJ Max and look for the kind that it can also be used just as the back pack in case he gets tired of dragging it.

Rolling backpacks look cool but they are difficult for most little kids to manage, and they are hard to get on and off the bus. I see no reason to spend $150. The kids get tired of the look, or they want a new superhero or cartoon character, blah blah. I agree they should have the straps to wear on their back, and I think there's no point in getting a very large one since the kids don't have a whole lot of stuff to pack in there. When I was teaching, a lot of kids had these rolling backpacks, and all we teachers ever heard was the banging of packs & wheels going up & down the steps. Kids who got dropped off by parents put their wheely bags on the ground, saw them flip around when they tried to pull them up on the curb or over the threshold, and so on. Then then were walking into each other because they were too busy watching the bag. And kids behind them would trip over the bag.

A whole lot of nuisance and a big price tag.

You might be better off getting a standard backpack with a lunch box made to fit in it. I know your child will complain but....

Otherwise, get an inexpensive one until you know for sure that he will stick with it, use it properly and be able to manage it. If you spend $25 and it lasts 3 months, that's still better than $150 and he gets sick of it in 4!

Add on: it doesn't apply to you in San Diego, but for other moms reading this, please note that rolling backpacks are terrible in snow and slush!

My kids get new ones every year because they pretty much just last one school year and they get excited to get a new one for the new school year. We only spend about $15 to $20 for one so it's not that expensive and ours usually make it to June. I get them anywhere from Target, Walmart, Toys R Us or Amazon. No need to spend $150!

Lands End is the way to go!

I was going to suggest Target as well.

Also, you may want to check with the school to make sure they allow rolling backpacks. My daughter's school does not because the most of the rolling backpacks don't fit in the kids' cubby-shelves where they store their backpacks & such.

I see your covered with the Lands End and LL Bean. If those don't work out, I always bought my kid's back packs at Sports Authority. They have great coupons a lot of time and it ends up to be getting a good quality sports backpack at a inexpensive price.

I was going to say what B said. At such a young age, the bags are trailing everywhere behind them and tripping other little kids. It is so funny watching a young one trying to control the bag and hurry in a crowded hall. Not mean funny, cute and clumsy funny ;)

They don't fit in the lockers and a lot of schools won't let them have them. Plus I have heard some kids make fun of kids with them. They really should not need them at this level of school. If they do then this teacher is seriously giving too much homework. I won't allow the kids to have more than 15-30 minutes of homework and it is usually a paper or two covering what they are doing in school.

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Try Staples or Amazon.com