Question, I just looked online at the LE backpacks and the medium one looked so big, and it says it's 18".
DD is starting kindergarten, she wears a size 5 and she's about 44" tall. What size LE backpack do I want?
Also are they machine washable? They all seem so light colored, I don't want it to look grungy and dirty...?
18" is fine. It will seem a little on the big side, but they grow into them fast, and they need to be able to carry crap.
DD's LE backpack from kinder made it through first grade just fine and will be going to 2nd grade. It's light pink and dark pink. It shows some dirt but nothing too horrible. However the matching lunch kit is a bitch to keep clean - much more important for dark colors on lunch kits!! I've washed them inside a pillowcase before, but I do more spot cleaning than anything and machine wash mabye 2x a year.
I don't know; for middle school and high school I can see getting a sturdier one, but in early elementary, they're just bringing papers home. That doesn't put a lot of wear on a backpack.
Um, my parents bought my sister and I LLBean backpacks when I was in 7th and she was in 9th grade. I still have mine and it works great and I've been out of high school 20 years (Eek!)
I don't know; for middle school and high school I can see getting a sturdier one, but in early elementary, they're just bringing papers home. That doesn't put a lot of wear on a backpack.
Not my son. Kids are hard on the zippers and just shove shit in there. He usually has a folder of papers, library books, and his lunchbox. The seams were busted in no time on the cheap one. His LLBean has been great. In the end it's cheaper to buy an expensive one that'll last 3-4 years than buy a cheap character one twice a year.
I don't know; for middle school and high school I can see getting a sturdier one, but in early elementary, they're just bringing papers home. That doesn't put a lot of wear on a backpack.
I don't know what type of school your kids go to but my kids were bringing home hard cover textbooks starting in 1st grade. I am definitely a fan of either LL Bean and Lands' End backpacks. They're guaranteed and they definitely last multiple school years.
I don't know; for middle school and high school I can see getting a sturdier one, but in early elementary, they're just bringing papers home. That doesn't put a lot of wear on a backpack.
I don't know what type of school your kids go to but my kids were bringing home hard cover textbooks starting in 1st grade. I am definitely a fan of either LL Bean and Lands' End backpacks. They're guaranteed and they definitely last multiple school years.
It could be because of the school. They do lots of worksheets.
DD is 17. I bought her a LL bean backpack when she was in 3rd grade. She still uses it all the time and it is in fantastic shape. Well worth the $$. DH did the same eye roll at me when I bought it, but it has lasted almost 10 years now and still looks great!
I don't know; for middle school and high school I can see getting a sturdier one, but in early elementary, they're just bringing papers home. That doesn't put a lot of wear on a backpack.
I think early elementary is hardest on back packs. They just shove everything in there and cram it closed. This is especially true if in an area that has snow, and they must bring shoes and extra gloves, etc. Once in middle school/high school they may have more books but they also aren't bringing all of that extra stuff, generally have electronics as well, and just tend to be more gentle with things.
If you go to Target or Walmart, be prepared to be either duct taping it by the end of the year, or going back to get a second one. I finally smartened up and purchased quality back packs a couple of years ago and haven't bought a new one since.
I still have my LL Bean bag from high school. It survived 8 years of lugging school books around (high school and college), day trips and long vacations since then and it's still kicking. They are worth every penny.
I don't know; for middle school and high school I can see getting a sturdier one, but in early elementary, they're just bringing papers home. That doesn't put a lot of wear on a backpack.
I think early elementary is hardest on back packs. They just shove everything in there and cram it closed. This is especially true if in an area that has snow, and they must bring shoes and extra gloves, etc. Once in middle school/high school they may have more books but they also aren't bringing all of that extra stuff, generally have electronics as well, and just tend to be more gentle with things.
If you go to Target or Walmart, be prepared to be either duct taping it by the end of the year, or going back to get a second one. I finally smartened up and purchased quality back packs a couple of years ago and haven't bought a new one since.
I guess we've gotten lucky, then, because she got a princess backpack last year from Toys R Us and it still looks great.