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Well it’s that time of year again. Kids returning back to school! If your child is like mine, chances are they are in need of a new backpack and of course not any old backpack will do. It has to also look cool. With so many to choose from, where do you start on your quest for the perfect backpack?

Plus, if your kids are like mine, they tend to bring everything they own from school (all their books, stationary, well seem to they empty out their lockers on a daily basis!) The backpack, in fact has turned into a portable locker. If this is the case, then they need to get a good, large and sturdy backpack that a) looks cool (a MUST with most kids!) and b) won’t break their backs while they are in transit.

Where to shop for your back pack is up to you. For a normal backpack you can expect to pay anywhere from $10-$40 dollars for one at business supply stores or big box stores, but there are certain things that you definitely need to look at when purchasing one.

Quality
Obviously you don’t want to have to purchase two or even three backpacks during the school year, so you will want to check the seams and if they are reinforced. The character backpacks are always cute and since younger children in lesser grades tend not to have too much to carry, these should be alright for them. Check and see if they have an intended weight amount, meaning how much weight they are able to carry. If your child tends to bring their locker home with them every night, or has several heavy textbooks, you might want to consider a bag on wheels (although it may not be a practical solution all year long, depending on where you live and your weather conditions. I can’t imagine wheeling one of those through the snow in the middle of January.)

Be sure to check the zipper! I find that zippers are usually the first to go on a backpack. Some have wide, sturdy zippers and some are equipped with thin zippers, so it’s best to test them out before you purchase the pack.

Straps
Make sure that your child’s pack has two straps. The one strap type of book bag (messenger bags) or satchel causes the one shoulder to carry the load while a typical backpack with two straps evens out the weight and distributes it evenly. Check out how far apart the straps are as well. This too helps in distributing the weight evenly on the back, because if they are too close together, the back can easily get injured. It is also smart to make sure the straps are wide and contain extra padding as not to injure the child’s back and shoulders. Some backpacks also have padded the back portion that is against your child’s back. These are great if your child ends up carrying home a lot of homework and books. A waist strap is also a good tool as it secures the pack to the child’s back without shifting and moving that could cause the child injury.

Depending on the grade of the child, you might want to spend the few extra dollars and go to a sports store and get a backpack that is actually used by hikers that spend several nights away from home. These seem to be the sturdiest and well made. But be prepared for a bit of sticker shock. These can cost upwards of $60- but can last for several years.

You might want to look for a backpack with pockets, but too many pockets can also shift the weight of the pack on the child. One or two pockets are ok, for say their water bottle, transit pass and maybe their MP3 player, but make sure not to over stuff the pockets either.

Another idea is to take the supplies and books that you carried last year to the store to see if they will fit in your new backpack. This is a good idea because you can tell how the pack will sit on your back and if it will be comfortable enough for you.

The most important feature to look at when buying a backpack however, is the size of the child compared to the size of the backpack. I am sure we have all seen backpacks that are almost as big as the child! For the Kindergartner, it is best to buy a mini backpack or a smaller version of the normal sized pack. For the upper grade students, it is best to consider what they will be carrying as well as the size of the student.

A personal piece of advice is to make sure they clean it out every so often once school starts; there is nothing nastier as a mom, than finding either a tired, old sandwich or rotten fruit on the bottom of the pack. Happy back to school, kids and moms too!