What bag is best for school?
A good school bag makes all the difference to the school day. The best ones are spacious, sturdy, and comfortable to carry, with enough room for everything from stationery to study notes. It helps, too, if it's a design they actually love. Since they'll be using it all year round, picking the right school bag is worth getting right. As well as being strong enough to carry the weight of their school essentials, it should also get your young academic excited for the school day ahead.
Why do school bags have wide straps?
Comfort is key when it comes to school bags, which is why wide straps matter. Official guidance recommends children carry no more than 10% of their body weight in a backpack, and wider straps help spread that weight evenly to reduce strain on the shoulders. School pump bags, also known as drawstring bags or cinch-up backpacks, are the exception to this rule. These are typically used to carry PE kits, spare uniform, and other extras that won't fit in the main backpack.
What are school bags made of?
Durable, lightweight materials are best for school bags. Polyester is a great choice, with the added benefit of being moisture, stain, and tear resistant. Nylon and PVC are also worth looking out for. Packed with bulky textbooks and often knocked about on the school bus, a school bag needs to stand up to daily wear and tear. And if it's also covered in their favourite characters or colours, that's a bonus too.
What goes in a school bag?
School bag essentials vary by year group. Primary school pupils will likely need space for exercise books, a maths set, and a pencil case full of coloured pencils, while secondary school students might need room for folders, textbooks, and equipment like calculators, headphones, or even a laptop. From primary school right through to sixth form and college, our backpacks at Matalan are roomy enough for whatever they need to carry. And they're far from just functional, our fun styles include Disney, Marvel and Sonic the Hedgehog prints, alongside pretty designs for girls.
