One of my favourite things about being a kid was heading to the shops to choose a new school bag. It seems I still love a good rucksack and once we stopped using the changing bag we moved on to little rucksacks for the girls to use.
They are ideal for nursery days or trips out. Ok, so the girls very rarely carry them themselves for more than 5 minutes but that makes it all the more important to have an ace one that I don’t mind sporting on my shoulder!
I can honestly say that rucksacks have come on leaps and bounds in terms of designs. There are SO many that I would want the girls to have. Plus in mini sizes they look super cute.
Animal Inspired
We have long been big fans of Skip Hop. Purely for the amazingly fun animal designs they produce like this giraffe and monkey. There is everything from plates to playmats and over the years we have always gone back to the brand for the girls. Their rucksacks are our favourite with the cute animal faces in bright colours. Molly had the owl when she started nursery and Alice now has the polar bear. They are roomy enough to chuck in everything from spare clothes and nappies to a few toys. They also wear incredibly well. Molly is still using hers four years later although I am tempted to upgrade to this amazing Unicorn design. Yep, a unicorn backpack is a definite winner in my books.
It seems animal shaped backpacks are a big trend for kids! The Little Life mini backpacks contain a parent safety strap (a bit like reins) so you can keep hold and avoid the inevitable attempts to run off at every given opportunity! They have a whole host of designs from Tigers to ladybirds. The bags are quite small so ideal for a few essentials but it does mean they are easy enough for even the smallest toddler to carry.
Trunki are well known for their quality fun cases for kids but they also have a great range of backpacks for the littles. Another animal shaped offering but these one’s are waterproof making them ideal for wet swimwear or day trips out. After all, we know it is likely to rain when you head out for that visit to the zoo! I love the octopus or fish design.
Next has some great priced rucksacks like this little elephant or bunny designs.
I will pre-warn you that this bag is super spendy but I just had to include it. The traditional styling coupled with the rust colour and fun giraffe print make this a winner.
Bright
This M&S buckle rucksack is such a fun design. Covered in bright badges with super smart detailing and your usual M&S quality make this a great choice.
Ideal for trips to the swimming pool or beach these duffle string bags from Zara come in a host of bright colours. Plus they are only £10.99 which makes them a bargain in my eyes.
Monsoon have got a great collection of pretty printed rucksacks. This hummingbird design is so bright and fun or this Sophia rucksack is really lovely and only £12.
Denim
This amazingly fabulous denim Billy Bandit bag is currently reduced in House of Fraser and I am incredibly tempted to make a purchase. It is such a good choice.
These beautiful Scandinavian inspired rucksacks from AnnaLiv are super cute. Mini enough that the little’s can carry them around as they are so lightweight but still roomy enough for all the the things children deem necessary for a day out.
Grey
Mi Pac are a favourite in the RMLtd team for their great laptop cases and it seems the rucksacks are just as great. There is an unbelievable choice of colours and patterns and they make a great pre-school or school bag. Personally I am admiring this soft grey version or the black and white elephant print. Promise they aren’t for me!
Fun
Joules always has really good quality backpacks and this season they have some seriously fun designs. The horse and floral print is super pretty but can we just talk about this rocket? It even has flames coming out the bottom. AMAZING!
In truth your little one would probably love a Peppa Pig or Frozen backpack if you let them choose. Sometimes you just have to let the little’s have their fun don’t you!
Have you spied any great rucksacks out there that I should know about?
This is a great list, we had the little tikes dinosaur backpack when our little one was smaller, he then graduated to a Cath Kidston planes print oilcloth rucksack, which I would also recommend. We’ve also just upgraded him to a fjallraven mini rucksack, which is a kids version of his daddy’s rucksack and oh so cute. It’s a Swedish brand, that is starting to gain popularity in the UK. We bought ours in New York, but I think John Lewis are now stocking them.
Sophie
http://www.fromchootogoo.blogspot.co.uk
I love the Fjallraven bags. I didn’t know you could get them in mini. So cute x
Yes! They are a little pricey (£65 at John Lewis I think), but they are so so cute and come in so many different colours. We’ve had so many compliments on ours.
Tiba + Marl of the amazing changing bags have now brought out mini versions for kids! Bit spendy but too cute! I currently have the adult rucksack packed as my hospital bag by the front door ready and waiting!!
Oh no, must check these out immediately! Ooooh, exciting times on the hospital bag. Good luck! x
Ours is last seasons Joules – similar to the one above but without the flower print on the pocket. She wears it with this horse hat (https://www.webury.com/products/joules-junior-amie-hat) and then makes clip cloppy noises as she walks. We are a walking advertisement for Joules right now. The old ladies love it.
Molly has that hat. It’s the best! Gotta love Joules x
I sent out a plea before getting things ready for Holly to start ‘big school’ (like, really big secondary school) for bag advice last summer. I didn’t want her to send her in with the embarrassing ‘wrong bag’ and there was unamamous love for the mi pac. We got her one almost the same as this but stonewash denim with grey. One thing to mention is that one mum said the ones with the brown trim can sometimes run in the rain, which I was worried about happening often on her 40 minute walk to school in British weather. But no such problems with the lovely grey one.
The ladybug little life rucksack has probably been our most essential item EVER as I’m not sure I would know where no 3 had run off to without it. We bought it just as reins but trying to pretend it was for her ‘important things’ She’s really happy to wear it and it means I het to keep her!
Bless you not wanting to send in the embarrassing bag! I think I will be the same and the mi pac seems a great choice for the bigger kids. I never bothered with reins with Alice but probably should. She once made a dash out of the supermarket whilst I was busy unloading the trolley. I had to vault a barrier and chase after her! When I got back the lovely old couple behind me had started packing all my shopping for me. Anyway, I digress from the bag conversation! xx
Elliott starts secondary school this September too Amanda, and I’m filled with dread for the school uniform, bag, shoes, and all the other paraphernalia shop. I don’t want to get it wrong!
I was totally going to recommend the no. 21 mini Fjallraven kids bag too http://www.fjallraven.co.uk/rucksack-no-21-mini I have the adult version in Plum and my husband has the same in blue. Even though my little baba is still in situ inside me right now, I’m thinking of using mine as a baby changing / general baby paraphernalia bag once he/she comes, it’s so comfy to wear, lasts so well in all weather and looks classic and totally cool. I know they’re expensive but I’ve got to say the quality is worth the investment! x
I now need one for the girls and one for me I think! x
We have a Fjallraven Mini too, in pink. So cute! I’m thinking of getting a mummy version for myself now, but can’t decide between grey or navy…
Loving those AnnaLiv knapsacks too! 🙂
I think I need to be purchasing one of these Fjallraven mini’s. They are getting a lot of love! x
Totally get a mummy version! I love my fjallraven no.21 bag I have it in plum and get loads of people asking where it’s from. I’m lucky my husband works for an outdoor specialist brand so he can order lots of fjallraven goodies, because otherwise I never would have heard of the brand.
Little life was great for my son when he was around 18 months old and liked to toddle off! I liked how I could easily detach the strap when we were in an enclosed space. It also has a sort of hood inside which looks hilarious when it’s on. At 3.5 we’ve graduated to a Spiderman backpack. He will wear virtually anything if it has a superhero on it!
I think I need one of these Little Life bags for Elle, we took her to the feed the ducks the other day and I had heart palpitations every she ran in the wrong direction (which was constantly). I kept having to use her hood to pull her back – definitely not something to do longer term…!
Your ‘enclosed space’ comment made me giggle Kathryn! x
Skip hop are just amazing full stop. They have this incredible changing mat that clips and folds to be super compact but has compartments for all the necessities. Plus it’s padded for baby’s head. It saved my skin as I hated the whole big changing bag deal- we actually have a super cute dog print rucksack and I’m so happy with it.
Skip Hop is my absolute favourite. My obsession started when we got the playmat for Molly and have since purchased loads more items. The plates and bowls are brilliant and the little lunch bags are the best for pre school and picnics. Love it all! x