The Best Backpacks for Boys on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

The most common phrases used to describe this Swiss Gear backpack were “well-made,” “high-quality,” and “plenty of room.” Reviewers appreciated that the design offers dedicated sections for different items. As one reviewer explains, “The overall design is well thought out. The interior has plenty of space for multiple larger books while still being able to use both side mesh pockets (water bottle in one side, reusable coffee mug in the other). Excellent protection for a laptop and tablet. The front pocket has enough space to fit multiple things making everything easy to get to.” Another reviewer called it “the epitome of perfection,” saying, “Being a high schooler, I unfortunately have to carry 3-inch thick (yes, I measured the thickness of my books) textbooks around with me all day. I also carry my lunch, gym clothes, 4 binders, and 13-inch laptop. My old backpack was reduced to trash. But this backpack treats the challenge like it’s nothing.” Another reviewer was “surprised by how much stuff this backpack can pack. It fits my 15.6-inch laptop, but it could fit, like, up to three laptops, two iPads, one phone. My shoulders or back don’t feel sore at all.” They add, “I love that you can thread your earphones through a little hole and listen to music on your phone while carrying it in the dedicated phone pocket.”

Reviewers love this bag’s sleek look, durability, convenience, and relatively low price. “For the price, this thing is AMAZING and is absolutely worth the money. It even has a USB port on the side,” one reviewer raves, adding, “I plugged in one of my portable battery packs and now I’ve got a hot USB port right on the side of the bag!” A reviewer who previously carried a bulky Swiss Gear backpack or a smaller Vans bag says that this is the best of both worlds: “I loved how the Vans was small, and loved how the Swiss had pockets, but this backpack is perfect. … It’s a perfect size to hold things, but not so huge that its obnoxious to tote around.” And a happy mother who reviewed the Mancro backpack says, “My son purchased this backpack for use during high school. He loved it so much that he sold me on purchasing one for work and another for his brother. This has been a very comfortable backpack to use when carrying my laptop, several files and associated cords and earphones during travel.”

This backpack is a hit with toddlers who love dinosaurs, and the reviews are full of photos of happy kids on their way to school. Of the 800 plus reviews, just over parents 100 reported that this backpack is the “perfect size” for their sons and nephews. One reviewer says, “My 2-year-old nephew is obsessed with dinosaurs and loved this. I bought this and filled it up with smaller gifts for his birthday. It is a neoprene material and the perfect size for a toddler.” Another mother calls this the “Cutest little backpack and very easy to clean! My son got chocolate pudding on it in a few places. I didn’t realize he had pudding on his hands. But when I grabbed a towel and started to clean it off and it came RIGHT off without leaving any evidence it was ever dirty. SCORE!” And a happy grandparent says, “It’s beyond belief how darling this backpack is. My 2-year-old grandson hasn’t taken it off since receiving it. He takes it to bed and my daughter-in-law has to sing a song to it. Hysterical.”

In addition to commenting on the comfort, durability, and spaciousness of this backpack, parents and kids in the comments report loving its unique and cute design. “My son started kindergarten this year and has been using this backpack for a month now. So far, this backpack has survived several drink spills and being dragged daily along the sidewalk and splashed down in mud,” one reviewer attests, adding, “He’s into monsters of all sorts right now so this bag fit the bill.” Another parent reviewer says, “My kindergarten son had this the entire school year and it didn’t so much as fray. This served all his needs and even fit all the winter wear perfectly along with his lunch box and daily school stuff. He got many compliments on the style of this backpack also.” And this satisfied reviewer says, “My son loves this book bag. The quality is really great,” noting, “To me it has a Anime feel, with a playful don’t mess with me vibe.”

Common phrases used to describe this backpack were “super cute” and “good quality.” One reviewer writes, “My 8-year-old loves the Lego-like design. He liked finding the ‘secret’ zippered pocket on the inside. It is big enough to carry his three-ring binder and lunch box inside the main compartment. His snack fits in the outside zipper pouch.” Another reviewer says, “I wanted something different so that it stands out. Got this, it’s terrific! Looks so nice and since my son loves Legos, it’s perfect. Have gotten a lot of compliments for it. Looks sturdy and well made.” And another happy customer says, “My son loves the design, however, we love the construction. It’s nice sturdy material and built to last the full school year and then some. We’ve even thrown it in the delicate cycle and it comes out looking brand new.”

Parents of middle school boys who reviewed this backpack liked it because of its quality materials and because well, their kids like it. One reviewer said “I bought this for my Middle school son who is in 6th grade and he loves it. It is very roomy and has lots of zippers and compartments to put things in. It has padding on the back and even a place to put a laptop or iPad inside. The zippers are very durable and so is the fabric.” Another reviewer wrote “Ok, so I waited until after the school year was over to write this. The backpack held up great! We live in the PNW and it rains hard, a lot. Never did we have any issues with leakage. It still looks new and will be used again next year. I am buying 2 more, for my younger sons. Worth every penny.” And a third happy customer said “My son loves it. He is a fairly big boy and going to middle school next year. This is smaller than his current backpack but adequate enough for what he will be carrying. It’s good quality and of course and red and black which are his favorite colors. The straps seem very comfortable just in case he has to carry heavy books. For the price, this will be worth it and expected to last a long time.”

Reviewers called this backpack “awesome” and “heavy-duty,” and many noted that their sons loved the camo print. “My son is very hard on things and this bag has been going strong,” one parent writes, explaining, “He’s had this now for a few months and it still looks brand-new, which is hard to believe coming from something my 8-year-old boy uses almost daily.” Another reviewer whose stepson loves print wrote ”I bought this backpack for my step son because, he loves the camo. It’s a perfect size, and I love all the pockets and style it has. Very happy with this purchase.” A third reviewer calls it a “Great pack! Pockets are roomy and easy to access. Working well for my son and all his school needs. Plus, he loves the blue camo print.”

Of the more than 1,000 positive reviewers a large percentage said they appreciated this backpack’s durability and long lifespan. Plus, many parent reviewers mentioned having owned a similar JanSport backpack as young adults. “I got this for my teenage son for high school. It’s really well-made and it’s pretty light but sturdy. It has padded straps, a big main compartment and a front small compartment that has a couple little organizer pockets,” one reviewer writes, adding, “I got this brand because I used it when I was in school so I know it will hold up for the year.” Another reviewer speaks to the durability, explaining, “I bought this for my freshman year of high school and still use it in my sophomore year in college. I use it for travel, school, or the gym. I’ve carried my computer, gaming console, electronics, and everything else for a lot of years and it still looks good as new.” And this reviewer, who has used his for 12 years, calls this JanSport “hands-down the best and only choice for a backpack. It is a classic design that is very well made with high-quality materials. It is truly made to last. I have had this bag since 7th grade, which was 12 years ago — literally HALF of my life! It has been with me through middle school, high school, college, bus rides, train rides, car rides, airports, road trips, unfathomable amounts of beach days and camping trips, and even a trip to Japan.”

Herschel backpacks came up as the number one favorite in our recent teen survey so we’re not that surprised by the nearly 1,000 5-star reviews for this backpack, many of which are from parents of teens. “My teen son loves this bag,” writes one reviewer. “He gets lots of compliments on it. It has lasted all school year and no issues so far. It doesn’t show any signs of wear yet. I’m kinda jealous, this bag is that nice. Even the inside is beautifully crafted.” Another happy parent writes that this is a “Very good product I bought for my son he a senior in high school and they are constantly carrying heavy books so far so good and if it last he will be using it for college this coming June but he love it.” But adults like this backpack, too. “I bought it for my husband, he travels a lot and prefers to be comfortable so he finds that a back pack is much easier than a messenger type computer bag,” one reviewer writes, continuing, “This bag is nice to look at, very roomy, has a large compartment for his 17-inch laptop and still enough room for overnight stay. My high school son kept ‘borrowing’ it, so we got him his own.”