Lifestyle

These packs have your back

Posted August 26, 2015 1:00 am

By Andrea Guthmann

Go back to basics with a Columbia backpack. An expandable exterior pocket is perfect for days when you need to bring along after-school gear (it's also great for storing dirty or wet clothes). A padded compartment holds up to a 17-inch laptop and multiple interior pockets keep things organized. The pack has reflective trim for nighttime use and is made of tough water-resistant material. $55 Manifest Daypack available at columbia.com or at Columbia Sportswear's Michigan Avenue store in Chicago.

Summer's flown by, and it's time to get organized. First assignment? A place to put those school supplies that's both fun and functional. Go to the head of the class in these stylish packs that include some favorite characters, new trends and old-school classics.

Wild things

Got a kid who digs dinosaurs? Your pint-size paleontologist will go wild for this backpack. L.L. Bean's Discovery line of animal backpacks will make any kid feel brave, whether they're into sharks, bears, butterflies or dolphins. Parents and kids alike will love the backpack's glow-in-the-dark graphics. Monogram service available for $8 at stores and online. $40, available at L.L. Bean stores and llbean.com.

Talking points

Got a kid who's mad about Minions? You might find them despicable, but kids finds them lovable. If you can stand the chatter, this backpack actually says a few phrases and lights up. Don't worry, the 3 AAA batteries will run out soon enough! $30, available at Claires stores and at claires.com.

Express yourself

Feel free to think different and be different. Empowering kids to express themselves, that's the idea behind Chooze, best known for its line of mismatched Mary Janes, sold at high-end shoe retailers, like Nordstrom. It also makes an ingenious reversible backpack, with a different design on each side. You can't let your child choose everything in life, but this choice is all up to them!

Small packs ($40) are for pre-K kids, larger packs ($44) for first grade and up; available at choozeshoes.com and Nordstrom.

Face bookbag

Today's digitally dazed kids give this one a like. For many teens and tweens, emojis are the fav way to communicate. So put on a happy face … or share any one of these other emotions with an emoticon backpack. It's LOL! $30 Emoji backpack available at Claire's and claires.com.

Team spirit

Score points for style and school spirit as you cheer on your favorite college or professional team in one of these sporty backpacks, available in a kaleidoscope of school colors. Game on! $35, available at Campus Colors, campuscolors.com, and at Campus Colors stores in Hinsdale and Kildeer.

Checks, please!

L.L. Bean knows even squares can have a ball. That's why they've taken classic preppy plaid and added neon green to the color scheme. The result? It's hip to be square! Extra points for L.L. Bean's unbeatable lifetime warranty. $50 Deluxe Plus Book Pack available at L.L. Bean or llbean.com.

Flower girls

Got a flower child? Let her personality blossom with this perennial favorite, a classic Vera Bradley backpack. She'll likely say, “Cest magnifique!” when she sees this gorgeous Parisian Paisley pattern. Ooh, la, la! $109 Campus Backpack in Parisian Paisley, available at Vera Bradley stores and verabradley.com.

Keep it simple

Maybe your kid doesn't want to be the center of attention? Go back to basics with a blue or black version of this basic pack that holds everything. An expandable exterior pocket is perfect for days when you need to bring along after-school gear (it's also great for storing dirty or wet clothes). A padded compartment holds up to a 17-inch laptop and multiple interior pockets keep things organized. The pack has reflective trim for nighttime use and is made of tough water-resistant material. $55 Manifest Daypack available at columbia.com or at Columbia Sportswear's Michigan Avenue store in Chicago.

Flower girls will go wild for this gorgeous Parisian Paisley pattern by Vera Bradley. $109 Campus Backpack in Parisian Paisley, available at Vera Bradley stores and verabradley.com.

L.L. Bean's Discovery line of animal backpacks will make any kid feel brave. Parents and kids alike will love the backpack's glow-in-the-dark graphics. Monogram service available for $8 at stores and online. $40, available at L.L. Bean stores and llbean.com.

Communicate instantly with the Emoji backpack from Claire's. Today's digitally dazed kids give this one a like. For many teens and tweens, emojis are the fav way to communicate. So put on a happy face … or share any one of these other emotions with an emoticon backpack. It's LOL! $30 Emoji backpack available at Claire's and claires.com.

L.L. Bean's classic preppy plaid goes modern with the addition of neon green. L.L. Bean knows even squares can have a ball. That's why they've taken classic preppy plaid and added neon green to the color scheme. The result? It's hip to be square! Extra points for L.L. Bean's unbeatable lifetime warranty. $50 Deluxe Plus Book Pack available at L.L. Bean or llbean.com.

Kids who are mad about Minions will flip for this talking backpack from Claires. If you can stand the chatter, this backpack actually says a few phrases and lights up. Don't worry, the 3 AAA batteries will run out soon enough! $30, available at Claires stores and at claires.com.

Kids can express their individuality with these brightly colored backpacks from Chooze. Empowering kids to express themselves, that's the idea behind Chooze, best known for its line of mismatched Mary Janes, sold at high-end shoe retailers, like Nordstrom. It also makes an ingenious reversible backpack, with a different design on each side. You can't let your child choose everything in life, but this choice is all up to them! Small packs ($40) are for pre-K kids, larger packs ($44) for first grade and up; available at choozeshoes.com and Nordstrom.

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