Are the PBK backpacks worth it? (so hard to tell without seeing one in person!)
Any other recommendations?
I’m in New Zealand but have family travelling over soon so looking for something a bit different!
Will have a 5yo and 7-8yo - only carry a book bag, lunchbox, drink bottle.. (looking for something that will last a few years at least - they’re both still using bags that they got when they started daycare!)
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I got a PBK back pack + lunch box during a sale over the summer so I didn't spend more on it than I would have at like Target or elsewhere. I got the small for kindergarten and it fits a folder just fine; my girl is on the smaller side so I think this will be fine through at least 1st or 2nd grade even before upgrading to a bigger bag! A lot of people where I live seem to go a size bigger but I really think small is working perfectly. Everyone says these lasts forever and I believe them! I love everything about it so far, though we've only used it for a week!
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@MuzzyBee: yes I think they are worth it! I had the same dilemma and found a good deal and decided to try it. Got the set (backpack, lunchbox and water bottle) for my kiddo for kinder. We are now in 2nd grade and everything is holding up well! I got her the small and it works well. Planning to upstage her to the next size for 3rd grade next year but mostly because little brother will need a kinder backpack at that time.
She of course picked out pink straps so you can see some dirt but the actual bag is in great shape!
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We have one from there - been using it for 3k and 4K and now 5k. Somewhere in the 4K year one of the straps in the front broke. It doesn’t really matter since we never used it so we have continued using the backpack, however I did expect more from them. So if you can get a good deal go for it but my son is using a jansport lol
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I’ve seen several at my kid’s school and they are super cute. We didn’t go with one mostly bc they are suppppper common where I am. We got a backpack and lunch bag from LL Bean and it’s perfect for my soon to be four year old. And we got to monogram it!
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The LL Bean ones last forever. But we have a cheap one from Aldi going strong on its third year of daily use. I think we will need a new one next year.
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We got one from LL Bean mostly because they had a big sale and free shipping and they had a space themed one that my 5yo loved. We have been really happy with it, but with the sale I didn’t spend any more on it than I would have to get a kids backpack at target. I skipped monogramming.
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DD has an LL Bean bag that she used last year for preschool and is using again this year. We will get her another LL Bean bag next year in a bigger size. They hold up so well. I still have one of mine from middle school that we use occasionally, it's in great shape just a horrible color.
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My 5 & 7 year old daughters have size small PBK backpacks they got 2 years ago at 3 & 5 - the size was perfect then, and would still be perfect now (they're small for their ages) if they hadn't convinced me to buy them new packs this year.
Other than getting dingy on the corners, the packs have held up great and I love them - they have just the right number and shape of pockets for the things kids of that age need to store. That said, if you're looking to please your kids, particularly if you've got girls, they might be more keen on some flippy-sequin initial-monogrammed atrocity from Justice....that's what my 7 and 3(!!!) year old daughters wanted this year - I convinced my 5 year old to hold onto the princess kittycat PBK bag one more year
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My LO used hers from beginning of kinder until end of 2nd grade. Get it in a dark color! Super durable and not too many pockets but just enough.
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My older son who just started first was gifted a PBK back pack a few years ago that held up really well aside from some piping around the edges that the finish wore away. I got him a new one with the matching lunchbox that was on clearance this year. I'm really liking the lunch box and plan on ordering one for my younger son who just started prek. I got the cold version and love the separate compartment for their thermos but it also comes out if you have a larger bento box or container.
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We are on year 2 of LL Bean and love them. I have a friend at work who swears by Land's End though because of durability and their bags have the chest clip which apparently her kids prefer (but they are starting middle school so heavier packs).
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Our daughter has a Lands End backpack that’s in its third year of use, and it’s going strong. I’ve also heard great things about LLBean ones like some people have mentioned. I don’t have experience with the Pottery Barn ones, although we just got one of their lunch boxes and it seems sturdy.
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We have a PBK. Our school said to buy the biggest even for kinder and I’m glad we did. They have to pack lunch and separate snack...adding in a jacket makes it quite full. He’s now in 1st and still loves it (dogs all over). I think it still looks new but I agree definitely a darker color. Ours is a medium green.
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I held out as long as I could because they’re just so common where we are. They are super cute for sure. But I felt like I saw so many, so I tried not to.
Well he just turned 5. We moved to the suburbs this summer but before that we were in the city and lived a block away from a PBK. And they always have them in the front window. So he saw a Batman one and fell in love. So I caved.
To be fair he needed a new one anyway, but I was hoping to get something else.That being said, it does seem like really great quality. We had a wildkin one from amazon last year and it was cute but much smaller and way less features. And it did start to wear out after one school year. This one seems like it’ll last but who knows, PBK isn’t always as high quality as they seem, I feel.
I also got the matching lunchbox. But the bigger one so that I can finally fit a bento box comfortably. -
I’m disappointed with the quality of the PBK backpack we were gifted. There is pretty significant wear around the piping and a small tear after just one year, and the zipper pulls on a few of the zippers have come off. I’ll definitely be getting LL Bean or Jansport the next time around. I still have a Jansport backpack I got in 5th grade and used all through college (minus a year in HS when messenger bags were cool), and still use it now!
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I think they're worth it.... I buy them early in the summer when they're on sale. I'm going on year 3 with one and its still in great shape!
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I got my daughter a size small pbk backpack this summer for starting kindergarten. So far I’m happy with the quality, but it’s only been a couple weeks, but to the size- I wish I had gotten the large. She has a folder and her lunch box in it and it’s pretty full. I couldn’t fit a winter coat in there or many more books (though there is a way to clip the lunch to thenoitaide maybe?). So for 5 and up I would say get the large size, not small. But the prints are super cute and the sales can be really good if you time it right.
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We’re also on year 3 of ours! My oldest is a pretty careful kid which helps but even the pastel pattern she has still looks good. I did get my son a darker one when it came up on sale - saving for kinder. Also you can machine wash them (I oxiclean sprayed any dirt I saw) and they come out like new! Definitely need the sale price though. We have the large and it did look huge in kinder but it works well.
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