WTB Backpack for Kindergarten? Help please!

[Heather30ish]

My son started Kindergarten this week and he needs a new backpack. He had a nice-sized Thomas one for preschool, but it went AWOL last week and I can't find it anywhere. The poor boy is lugging this huge unwieldy canvas bag on the bus!
My problem is that I can't seem to find him a new one. Where do they sell nice, small backpacks that are good for 5- year olds? I'd like something plain. I've seen a couple with Spiderman and the like, but that's really not for us. However, I'm getting desparate!
I don't do Wal-Mart, but I've checked Target and Marshalls. Where else do they sell backpacks?
Thanks mamas!

[kazmir]

I got DDs at a sporting good store. Its a Jansport so is was a little more than a spiderman plastic one. It is cordoray so I can wash it easily. She had to get a bigger one to fit her homework folder in but they had some nice smaller ones too.

The store was Outdoor World but I think they are local. Try Big 5 or REI in your area if you have them...

Robin

[hrutledge]

My dd1 has two Kelty packs one for school and one for dance. They are the best little backpacks. They range in price from 13-20$. Very rugged and the perfect size for little ones

[SunRise]

Mountain Equipment Coop sells the cutest small sized, sturdy, all functional back pack. This is the one my almost 4 year old has. (there are more if you go up a level)

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1157654736329

We also had the small Jansport one. Functional and sturdy.

[Heather30ish]

Sporting goods store!
Of course!
Gee, can you tell that I never go in those?
Thanks mamas!

[anarchamama]

My son also has the moutain equipment coop one and its held up really well and is a great size for him.

[Tine]

We found a groovy, sturdy, small canvas backpack for DS at Pottery Barn Kids. He's 3.5 and it fits him perfectly.

[robugmum]

The best kids back packs I've found are made by Obusforme. You can find them at The Bay in Canada, I imagine the bigger department stores in the States would sell them.

[Hayes]

The Children's Place
Gap
Old Navy
Gymboree

[Heather30ish]

Well I scoured all the places at my local mega-mall tonight and ended up with a pretty nice blue one from The Children's Place. It was one of the only ones I saw that was sized for smaller children (they had bigger ones in the big kids section) and it was only $15. Dicks had nothing for little kids, and Old Navy just had boring black packs that looked like they would fall apart after a month. Sears and Burlington Coat Factory had a good assortment of Spider-man, Dora, and Spongebob backpacks, but little else. I think I'll just keep an eye on the nicer ones online and try to pick up another one on clearance.
Thanks again for the suggestions!

[callmeluci]

Originally Posted by Heather30ish

I think I'll just keep an eye on the nicer ones online and try to pick up another one on clearance.
Thanks again for the suggestions!

Office supply stores are also a great place to get back packs. We found Jansport backpacks on clearance for less than $20. This was 2 years ago & they are holding up great. Check Office Max & Office Depot. They should start marking down the back-to-school stuff soon.

[Itlbokay]

I really like the Lands' End backpack for little kids. They're not cheap, but they are really well-made.

I bought one for my oldest many years ago, my youngest uses it now. It has held up fantastically and looks great.

Here's a link to another little kids backpack they have.

[Flor]

Ds has the LL Bean pack back, it's little and well made and only 20 bucks.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...tCategory=6692

[MomToKandE]

I bought my dd a land's end backpack. They have one that's a "junior" size but still big enough for a folder. It was about $30 for a pattern one, I think the solid colors are a little less.

My sister says her 2 kids have Children's place backpacks. They used them all last year and the bags are still in good shape so they're using them again this year. She says they also have a matching lunch box that fits in the front compartment. The backpacks were about $15, I don't know how much the lunchbox was.

If I'd talked to my sister before I bought the LE backpack I might have gone that route... By the time I'd talked to her about it I'd already shown dd the LE bag (purple with pink flowers!) so I couldn't switch.