Some kids' backpacks look fine on day one, then become a black hole by week three. The lunch scraps end up in the bottom, the water bottle falls out, and homework vanishes along with school notes and party invites.
Some backpacks look fine in the shop, then fall apart by Term 2. Zips snag, seam split, and everything ends up in one big pile.
A good all-round kids backpack does three things well. It carries the daily load without digging into shoulders, keeps gear easy to find, and handles the mess that comes with school and holidays.
What to look for in a quality all-round kids backpack
Comfort that suits daily carrying
It can be challenging to keep a backpack light everyday, so fit and weight distribution is really important for kids.
Padding helps, but strap shape matters too. Wide shoulder straps sit better, and a padded back panel makes loads feel more comfortable.
For a backpack to sit well follow these tips:
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Use both shoulder straps.
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Tighten straps so the bag sits mid-back, not down on the hips.
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Pack heavier items close to the back panel.
The right size, with room to grow
A backpack should fit your child now, without swallowing them. Too big and it swings around, which can affect posture. Too small and you’ll be shopping again in Term 2.
A simple rule is to match the bag to how they use it on most weekdays. Not the biggest day of the year. It’s got to fit all the daily essentials: lunch box, water bottle, hat, school books, tablet or laptop.
On those busier days, they may need sports kit, swimmers, library books, jumper or raincoat; so a backpack needs to offer extra space that’s easy to pack, unpack and find things quickly.
Pockets that make sense to a kid
Organisation only works if kids can repeat it. Colour-coded sections help because they don’t need to remember confusing descriptions like “it’s the small zip in the middle”, but simply “it’s in the blue pocket”.
Look for a main compartment that opens wide, plus smaller pockets where the “small and important” stuff lives. Think pencil case, sunscreen, hat, and medical items like an inhaler or EpiPen.
Visibility when the light drops early
In winter, school pick-up and sport can run into dusk. Reflective details make your child easier to spot near roads, crossings, carparks and getting off the bus. They also help you keep eyes on your kid in a crowd while travelling.
Fabric that shrugs off weather and rough use
School bags get dragged, dropped, and exposed to the elements. A tougher, water-resistant fabric buys you durability and time between replacements.
Easy to open and easy to clean
This one matters more than it sounds. If the main compartment opens wide, kids can pack it themselves, and you can wipe out a crushed banana without turning the bag inside out.
Two good times to upgrade
Back-to-school
A new year brings new routines, and it’s a good time to reset habits. Packing the night before is easier when everything has a place, and mornings run smoother when kids can find what they need.
Before holidays and travel
If your school backpack can double up as a reliable travel backpack it’s a winner. A bag with the right compartments makes airports, road trips, and day outings calmer. You can guarantee that your child will want to pack ALL their special belongings on a trip away.
The question is, what backpack can do all of these things?
The Bright Pack: designed for school, travel, and the messy middle
Wavetree’s Bright Pack comes in two sizes. Both use the same core build and layout, then scale up depending on what your child carries.
Across both sizes, key features include:
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Water-resistant 900D polyester fabric
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Padded shoulder straps and a padded back panel
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Deep bottle pockets designed to stop bottles falling out
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Reflective panel for low-light visibility
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Colour-coded storage to make packing easier
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R and L embroidery on shoulder straps to help kids learn right and left
Bright Pack 15L: for kindy to primary, and everyday outings
The 15L is a good fit for day-to-day school use and weekend adventures. Wavetree lists it as suitable for roughly ages 5+, but fit and load matter more than age.
It’s a practical choice if your child’s daily carry is fairly consistent. Lunch, a drink bottle, hat, a light layer, and a couple of books fits comfortably. So does a change of clothes for kindy or daycare.
A few details that help in real life:
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The main compartment opens to about 180 degrees, so it’s easy to find anything (and easy for parents to clean).
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There’s a laptop sleeve and netted pockets for smaller valuables.
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The shoulder straps are padded, and the back panel is cushioned.
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“R” and “L” are embroidered on the straps to help kids learn right and left.
- Dimensions: 40 cm (h) x 26 cm (w) x 17 cm (d)
Bright Pack 25L: for bigger loads, older kids, travel and adventure
The 25L makes sense when the week involves more gear. Think sport days, library books, jumpers, or a packed day out. Wavetree suggests it for kids aged 8+, and it can also work as a travel daypack for older kids.
The key difference is an extra middle compartment, which changes how the bag carries and how it stays organised. You can separate school work from sport kit, or clean layers from snacks, or keep flight essentials easy to grab on the go.
The 25L also opens wide for packing and cleaning, and includes the same core features (also shared with the 15L size):
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Colour-coded compartments
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Reflective panel for low-light visibility
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Deep bottle pockets
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Padded straps and padded back panel
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Hook and loop zones for patches, plus webbing attachments for tags and accessories
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Dimensions: 43 cm (h) x 28 cm (w) x 23 cm (d)
The Activity Patch Kit: a simple way to build organisation and reduce “I forgot”
School can be a lot for young kids, and remembering what to pack changes day to day. Many parents end up doing most of the packing, especially in the first weeks of term, so the Activity Patch Kit is a smart and simple system that helps kids be responsible for their own organisation.
Swimming on Tuesday. Library on Thursday. Sport on Friday. That’s a lot to hold in your head when you’re seven.
The Activity Patch Kit gives kids a visual prompt on the front loop panel of the Bright Pack (blue section). You set the day and activity patches to match the schedule, and it’s the last thing they see before leaving home on the way to school.
What’s included (15 patches):
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Days: MON, TUE, WED, THUR, FRI
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Activities: Swimming, Sports, Music, Library, Homework
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5 clock patches to represent after-school care (OOSH/OSHC) or clubs
A simple routine helps it stick:
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Set the patches based on the weekly timetable.
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Each evening or morning, your child checks the patch and packs the matching item.
How to choose the right size
Choose 15L if most days look like this
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Lunch and bottle
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Hat and light layer
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One or two books and schoolwork
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Sports kit or swimmers
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Laptop or Tablet
This size is also easier for younger kids to handle without overpacking.
Choose 25L if your child often carries more
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Multiple sporting activities
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Bigger books and folders
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Extra layers
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Items for after-school activities
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Travel items for holidays and weekend trips
If you’re on the fence, base the decision on the next 12 months. Loads usually increase as kids move up year levels.
Back-to-school packing tips that help all term
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Do a pack test a week before term starts. Pack what they’ll carry on a normal day, not the biggest day.
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Pick the colourful pockets for important items. Pencil case, sunscreen, bus pass, and medical items like an inhaler or EpiPen.
Holiday and travel setup ideas
A school backpack becomes a travel backpack when it holds the must-have items:
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Snacks and a drink bottle
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Jumper or raincoat
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Book, cards, or activity pack
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Headphones
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Devices and chargers
If your child can find their own things, you get fewer mid-trip interruptions. That’s the real win.
Quick FAQ
What’s the best all-round backpack for kids?
One that fits your child’s body, sits mid-back, and has compartments they’ll use. For a school-and-holidays option, the Bright Pack range covers both smaller and bigger loads.
Is a 15L backpack big enough for school?
For many primary kids, yes. It depends on what the school requires and how often they carry sport gear or extra folders.
When should we upgrade a school backpack?
Back-to-school is the easiest reset. Travel is the other good window. If straps are twisting, zips snag, seams opening or the bottle pocket can’t hold a bottle, upgrade sooner.
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