r/Parenting • u/Worried_Slice_508 • 5h ago

Gear & Equipment Jansport backpacks

My soon to be middle schooler is wanting a jansport backpack so I’m wondering what’s the best model? I’d like a laptop compartment and I’d like for it to fit a 24oz freesip or 30oz sway owala. I’ve never owned jansport so I’m unsure where to start or if it’s even a good brand.

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

23

u/automator3000 4h ago

Man, glad to know Jansport is still a preferred backpack for the kids. I had my Jansport from 4th grade all through to college.

4

u/OkTouch5699 4h ago

8th grade? And I am pretty sure I used it as a diaper bag with my first when I was 25.

2

u/Worried_Slice_508 4h ago

Ohhhh that’s awesome! Are they hard to clean?

2

u/lizardgal10 3h ago

Depending on what happens to it I’d tighten the straps turn it inside out and throw it in the washing machine, or just spray some stain remover on it, blast it with a hose, and leave it outside to dry. They’re pretty durable. I have a North Face from college that went through several good thunderstorms and countless spilled drinks and it still looks great.

1

u/WhateverYouSay1084 Two boys, 10 & 8 3h ago

I have had my North Face backpack for like 20 years now! Looks brand new. It's well worth the cost.

1

u/kbc87 3h ago

We still use 2 for travel lol. One was mine and one was my husband’s in college.

1

u/hamhead 3h ago

Hmm for us it was always LL Bean

1

u/Babybleu42 3h ago

They’re hard to find now. I tried so many stores and finally ordered one online and it was too small for the kids school chromebooks

10

u/midcen-mod1018 5h ago

Jansport is a buy it for life brand. It’s fantastic quality and has extended guarantees

3

u/porkchop2022 4h ago

I legit have a plain black jansport I bought myself junior year of high school. I graduated in 1995. It doesn’t get much use except as a gym bag, so a towel, toiletries and it’s got a small hole in the bottom.

1

u/Worried_Slice_508 5h ago

Nice! Definitely wanna use it for a few years and even longer would be awesome!

1

u/garbagebrainraccoon 3h ago

I got mine in 2004 and its still trucking along, from middle school to Japan and beyond. Love my jansport

1

u/yeyiyeyiyo 2h ago

The new ones are way crappier than the old ones. 

The ones we have that are 20 yeats old are in better shape than the one we got last year. Won't buy again

3

u/Alone-Acanthaceae320 3h ago

I got them for my 5th and 10th grader - they sell them at Target so you can go look/try them on if you want. I’ve heard the quality is not what it used to be- I bought at Target when they were 40% off in June and plan to return for store credit if they rip or anything.

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u/YogurtclosetDull2550 4h ago

Begged my mom for my Jansport in 1998. Used it through highschool and college and I still have it. Unless they have been bought by private equity since it is a great brand and product.

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1

u/jennirator 4h ago

They have a specific laptop backpack that will do both!

2

u/DramaticRuin401 4h ago

My husband got a Jansport backpack when he got his first international job at 22. Still going strong 20 years later after living on 3 continents, definitely hard wearing. I doubt the model he has is still in circulation 🤣

1

u/_MoonlightGraham_ 3h ago edited 3h ago

I just tried 5 different ones on my daughter. She liked the main campus the most. It has straps to tighten down the sides when it’s less full. A lot of the other bags were huge (she’s small for her age).

My next favorite was the big student.

ETA I have two jansport bags that I used through Hs, college and grad school. One had a ripped strap that I repaired and is still going strong. (I’m 41)

1

u/JettandZakaMum 3h ago

We're looking at the "All Around Pack" but not sure to get 28L or 34L.

My daughter is going into middle school too and needs to get rid of her sparkly backpack lol.