Kids' Backpacks With a Lifetime Warranty

What separates the top kids backpacks with a lifetime warranty?

Two packs sit at the top of this page. The Lands' End ClassMate and the Osprey Daylite Jr both score 8.5, and they get there in different ways. The ClassMate is the school pack: three sizes, an organiser pocket, a laptop sleeve on the Large, two bottle pockets and reflective trim, all backed by Lands' End's unconditional guarantee. The Daylite Jr is the fit pack: a mesh back panel and chest strap that made it the best-fitting pack on the 7-year-old, plus Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee.

Below them, the JanSport SuperBreak scores 8.3 at $40. It is the lightest here at 12 oz, holds 25 L of middle-school binders, and JanSport repaired a test zip in three weeks under its lifetime warranty. The Herschel Heritage Youth scores 7.4 at $50. It looks like the adult pack and its padded sleeve fits a 13" laptop or tablet, but it had the worst shower-test result here and has no chest strap.

What should I check before buying a kids backpack with a lifetime warranty?

Start with the warranty wording. Lands' End and Osprey back their packs with unconditional or All Mighty guarantees; JanSport's lifetime warranty covered a real repair; Herschel's is a limited lifetime warranty. Then weigh the scoring criteria: durability 30, comfort and fit 25, organisation 15, warranty 10, value 20.

• Fit: the Osprey's chest strap and mesh back won on the 7-year-old; the JanSport's thin straps were noticed by the 11-year-old carrying 8 lb.
• Capacity: the Osprey's 10 L takes a folder and lunch box, not binders. The JanSport's 25 L takes binders.
• Organisation: the ClassMate has an organiser pocket, laptop sleeve and two bottle pockets. The JanSport has one main compartment and a front pocket.
• Weather: the Herschel's interior was wet after the shower test.

Lands' End ClassMate

For a child who needs a school pack with room to organise, in a size that fits them, and a guarantee with no conditions attached.

Osprey Daylite Jr

For ages 4–8 who will carry it on walks and short trips, where fit and a mesh back matter more than binder space.

JanSport SuperBreak

For a middle-schooler hauling binders who wants a light 25 L pack at $40 and a warranty that gets used.

Herschel Heritage Youth

For ages 5–10 who want the adult Herschel look and a padded sleeve for a 13" laptop or tablet, and who keep the pack out of the rain.

For school organisation and an unconditional guarantee, the Lands' End ClassMate is the pick. For ages 4–8 who need the best fit, the Osprey Daylite Jr wins. The JanSport SuperBreak suits a middle-schooler with binders at $40, and the Herschel Heritage Youth is for the child who wants the grown-up look and a padded laptop sleeve.