More than size and material differentiates a good backpack. You'll also want durability.
"We know that kids use and abuse backpacks by pulling them and pushing them off the school bus, dragging them on the sidewalk and stuffing them into their lockers," said Kathleen Huddy of Good Housekeeping.
The testers at Good Housekeeping looked at storage capacity and compartments for cell phones, pens, pencils, even water bottles. The magazine evaluated 32 backpacks from 17 different manufacturers.
"While many of the bags performed well, the best value for the younger children was the Lands End Light Weight 200 and for the older children it was the High Sierra Fat Boy," said Huddy.
Here's one other tip before making your purchase. Consider your child's needs.
The backpack you choose should fit properly by resting on the child's lower back and not up on the child's shoulders.
