Best Kids' Backpacks Under $50

What separates the best kids backpacks under 50?

Five packs made the cut, and the scores run from 8.9 down to 7.4. The L.L.Bean Original Book Pack sits on top at 8.9 for $39.95: no wear on the base after the abrasion test, zips that ran smoothly after 500 cycles, and paper that stayed dry through the shower. Both children rated its strap padding highest. It has no chest strap, and it's sold direct rather than on Amazon.

Two packs tie at 8.5. The Lands' End ClassMate ($49.95) comes in three sizes, with an organiser pocket, laptop sleeve, two bottle pockets and reflective trim, though its zips felt gritty after 500 cycles. The Osprey Daylite Jr ($50) was the best-fitting pack on the 7-year-old thanks to its chest strap and mesh back, but 10 L holds a folder and lunch box, not binders, and there's no reflective trim.

The JanSport SuperBreak ($40) is the lightest at 12 oz and the biggest at 25 L, enough for middle-school binders, with a lifetime warranty that repaired a test zip in three weeks. Its straps are thin, and the 11-year-old noticed the 8 lb load. The Herschel Heritage Youth ($50) scores 7.4: a padded sleeve fits a 13" laptop, but it had the worst shower-test result here and no chest strap.

What should you check before buying?

The scoring puts durability at 30 and comfort and fit at 25, so those two decide most of the ranking. Organisation is 15, warranty 10 and value 20.

• Fit: a chest strap and mesh back made the difference on the 7-year-old; the L.L.Bean and Herschel packs lack one.
• Load: thin straps showed up once the 11-year-old carried 8 lb.
• Weather: the shower test separated packs that kept paper dry from the one with a wet interior.
• Size: 10 L and 25 L suit different jobs; check the child's actual load.
• Warranty: L.L.Bean's one-year guarantee, Lands' End's unconditional guarantee, Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee and JanSport's and Herschel's lifetime warranties all differ in what they cover.

Which one for whom?

For a child who needs one pack to last several school years, the L.L.Bean Original Book Pack is the pick. If you want a pack sized to your child with a laptop sleeve, the Lands' End ClassMate comes in three sizes. For ages 4–8 who walk or hike, the Osprey Daylite Jr fits best. Middle-schoolers carrying binders get the most room from the JanSport SuperBreak. If the look matters most and the load is light, the Herschel Heritage Youth fits a 13" laptop.

For everyday school use and the longest track record, the L.L.Bean Original Book Pack at 8.9 is the one to beat. Choose the Lands' End ClassMate if you want three sizes and a laptop sleeve, or the Osprey Daylite Jr for ages 4–8 who need the best fit. The JanSport SuperBreak suits middle-schoolers with binders, and the Herschel Heritage Youth is for light loads and a 13" laptop.