Come April and I start hunting again. Hang on! Before you let your imagination take you on a wild ride, I promise you, its nothing glamorous or scandalous, but something terribly basic and when you have kids, gets categorized as a need. Bag shopping. Or to be even more specific, School Bag shopping. Back packs and lunch bags are the staples that most parents stock up on annually, along with of course the bag fillers – aka stationary for school bags and napkins or hand towels for lunch bags.
I usually start the ‘search’ around the start of the final exams, which land in India around March. On rare occasions, I have started the hunt around Christmas owing to the enormous discounts offered this time of year. This happens in the years, when the purchases made during April haven’t lived up to the promise and lasted the entire academic year. So, honestly, I end up also ‘reviewing’ bags and brands and promises as a hobby. I haven’t received any gifts or payments for recommending one brand over the other, just a lot of personal experience and amazing rough use that the kids put the bags through.
Pre-covid, the bag search was only for school bags, which do NOT have the laptop pouch. However, post-covid, the bags have to have a laptop sleeve, the bigger and more support they provide the better. AND a whole hoard of pockets with zips, fasteners, pencil loops, coin pouches, key fobs to name a few. Over the years, I have made an extensive list that is by no means exhaustive of my requirements that have to be met, for the bag to be shortlisted. I never purchase a bag, right off the cart, it usually sits in my cart for a few days. I mull over every pocket, I think of everything I usually see put in the bag and try to accommodate it all with some extras as well, because ‘you know who’ ends up actually putting their hands into those dark cavernous interiors during the start of the vacations to clean the bags. Here are some things I consider when I am looking at bags for kids.
1. Sturdy: Unlike my bags, which I place gently and lift carefully, bags used by kids will be thrown around; kicked around, and left in the open exposed to the elements. They will be battered from the outside as well as from the inside. The bag seams have to be able to withstand this and contain the load with all the battering.
The size of the bag also ensures that it lasts long and remains sturdy. For students of grades 6 and above, that would be middle school and higher, I would recommend bags that have a capacity of 28+ ltrs. This size ensures that the children can carry the long ledgers and practical books along with the smaller note books in their bag. For instance, a 10 Ltr bag is just about enough for an hour of extracurricular class, it can easily store a face towel, a water bottle and maybe a change of shoes or clothes.
2. Waterproof: Like there is no foolproof way to predict rains in the desert, I can never predict when and how the school bags will get wet. Sometimes it may sit in a puddle of another’s making or sometimes it can be the source or sometimes it may just land in one. During all these instances, the bag should be able to contain and protect. if the leak is outside, it should be waterproof enough not to let the books inside get wet. if the leak is inside, then it should not allow the water to come out and contain it like a plastic bag. And if accidentally it lands in a puddle, then it should be able to prevent the stuff inside from getting wet.
3. Malleable: Bags should be able to be folded into a smaller size when not in use. SO, the shoulder paddings and back-support should not be plastic or hardboard backed and should instead allow for the bag to be compressed s it can be carted around easily.
4. Multi-Pocketed: Any organizer will tell you the advantage of having multiple compartments in your bag. Having the sharp objects like your pen nibs or even the compass and dividers away from your tablet or mobile screen is a big plus. Being able to section your lunch in a different compartment and having the space to carry your ID and water or any liquid container on the outside of your bag automatically makes it more functional. Support and cushioning for the device combined with a lighter and thinner space for your books is also preferred. Specialized key ring holder, pen or pencil holders, space for coins, or other small objects (USBs, Cables, Headphones) makes the bag indispensable.
5. Color and Design Aesthetics: Ask any parent and they will tell you, kids love bags that speak their language. so its important to be able to identify the trends as far as design and art is concerned. If you are not too confident, then stick to creating or identifying bags with solid colors and keep them neutral. Kids don’t like to be in the spotlight, they want to be cool but fly under the radar. So, keep this in mind, while you select colors. Glow in the dark, unicorns, marvel characters, Captain America, Space, Solar System are merely themes that will change with your child’s growing taste and preference.
For the longest time, I lived a street in front of the school, and for those years, I always selected colors that were bright bordering on neon much to my delight and their disgust. I was able to spot them from a distance, but this also meant that everyone was able to spot them from a distance. Of course, now, I let the kids pick the colors that they like because they are older and more aware of what they will and will not be seen with.
These are the top 5 reasons on the “how” of shortlisting a bag for my kids. Please note, this is merely listing my requirements for a school bag. I do not and will not recommend a wheelie bag, unless your child is taking a flight somewhere, and even there I would advice against it. Wheels on bags, just add to the weight and make the bags all that more bulkier. While they may look ‘cool’ they really put a load on the back. Hence bags, on wheels will never make the top 5 of my list. I am listing out my requirements for the lunch bags and that will follow soon. Until then, happy shopping.
Just a little more 