Skip navigation
sponsored by 

Heavy load? Best backpacks for kids (of all ages)

< Prev | 1 | 2
Great gift ideas
13 gifts for college students
Check out these thoughtful presents guaranteed to please those headed back to school.
Slideshow
  Back-to-school funnies
Forget those first-day jitters and tickle your funny bone with these hilarious back-to-school cartoons.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Superbad
  Pens, paper ... and popcorn!
From 'Animal House' to 'Superbad,' these movies show there's more to school than reading, writing and arithmetic. Vote for your favorite school movie.
  • Grade school: The REI ‘Satellite’ pack for little kids is perfect for a lot of reasons — it’s inexpensive; it’s small enough so kids can’t overpack, it has nicely padded straps (and a sternum strap for little chests) and multiple compartments. Plus, it makes them feel like the big kids without overloading them. ($24.50; www.rei.com)

  • Grade school and high school: The Kelty Redtail pack is made by the same camping company that made the Kelty Cloud, which got to the top of Everest. Assuming you’re not planning this kind of trip, the Redtail is perfect for just about everything else. It has tons of dividers and compartments, a generous interior for bigger bags, a sternum and waist strap and extensive padding throughout. ($59; www.amazon.com)

  • High school, college or grad school: Ortlieb Velocity: This waterproof backpack is great for students in rainy climates or who generally mess up their bags a lot. Ortlieb, a German brand made famous by New York City messengers, makes the Velocity out of rubber-coated canvas, which is totally impervious and tough as nails. It’s a bare-bones interior, so if you’re not good at organizing yourself, this may not be for you. ($110; www.ortliebusa.com)

  • College or grad school: Burton iPod Amp pack: Granted, this one is expensive, but it does some amazing things for the college or grad student who can’t live without her music. Ergonomic, ultra-comfortable padded straps, padded back and multiple compartments aside, the Amp pack connects you wirelessly to your iPod through buttons … mounted in the straps. ($159; www.burton.com)

Last but not least — remember, if you’re on a tight budget, surf the Web at places like overstock.com and cabelas.com (look in Cabelas’ amazing “bargain cave”) for camping and hiking brands you recognize, like The North Face, JanSport and Camelbak. You don’t have to spend a bundle to bundle it up right.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Paul Hochman is the gear and technology editor for the TODAY Show and a Fast Company magazine contributor. He covered the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Athens and Torino, Italy, for TODAY. He was also a three-year letter winner on the Dartmouth ski team and has a black belt in karate. Paul’s blog can be found at: Paulhochman.blogspot.com

© 2009 MSNBC Interactive.  Reprints

< Prev | 1 | 2

  MORE FROM TODAY GOES BACK TO SCHOOL  
  
TODAY Goes Back to School Section Front
 
Add TODAY Goes Back to School headlines to your news reader:
 

Sponsored links

Resource guide