Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

Frugi uses organic products and eco-friendly processes to create its items and this backpack is no exception; the quality is evident from the moment you have it in your hands. We love how lightweight this is and yet is strong and roomy. You can fit so much into this – big lunchbox, full water bottle, a hardback book, a pair or trainers, a raincoat and a large pencil case – and there’s still room left over. The straps are thick and well padded making it easy for little ones to carry. Our four-year-old tester managed this easily – the zip was light and loose which is really important for smaller children.

Best: Personalised bag

Rating: 8/10

Sophie Allport’s designs are beautiful and fun – as evidenced by this backpack! Our five-year-old tester was immediately drawn to it, finding it easy to pack, zip up and put on his back all by himself. There’s plenty of room in this backpack while the joins and zips are carefully placed and feel strong and substantial. Best of all, this can be personalised in which case there is no danger of it getting lost.

Best: For sporty teens

Rating: 8/10

Ideal for older kids, this backpack manages to answer the trend for sports logos on everything while being roomy and comfortable (thanks to padded shoulder straps). You can fit a laptop in as well as a small lunchbox, a banana, and a big water bottle. Our 15-year-old tester was delighted with this and said he’ll even use it in the holidays, which is very high praise indeed.

Best: For comfort

Rating: 9/10

Not only is this easy on the eye, but it also gets our vote where comfort is concerned too, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and a chest strap, which help to evenly distribute weight and hold the backpack in place. Our four-year-old tester loved this extra strap – not least for the process of doing it up which, she says, made her feel grown-up. It’s a really decent size too – it can fit a lunchbox, fruit, reading book and water bottle inside with room to spare. Ideal for younger children in their first years of primary school.

Best: For older children

Rating: 9/10

The kanken has been around for over 40 years, having launched in Sweden in 1978 as a way of ensuring children didn’t develop back problems: the design is all about comfort and support. Since then it’s become extraordinarily popular with adults and children alike. The kanken, recognisable for its simple cuboid shape, thin straps and rounded logo, is everywhere.

This cult status anchored in health is why it could possibly be the best school backpack in the world. The tree version is brand new – the main difference is that the front pocket is hidden. At first, we worried about the thin, unpadded straps – but such is the positioning you don’t feel any strain no matter how much is in the bag. There is a main compartment which can hold a laptop, a pair of trainers, a sandwich, a pencil case, an A5 hardback notebook and a make-up bag. There is also an internal pocket that holds a thick pad which prevents the contents of the bag from digging into the wearer’s back. The tree comes in four shades – we liked the grey or blue for school and our 15-year-old tester who walks 20 minutes to school each day was delighted to see that this was both water-resistant and quick drying.

Best: Investment piece

Rating: 9/10

School bags as investment pieces? Don’t roll your eyes yet – hear us out. The portrait is made using beautiful leather and perfect craftsmanship which means it will last way beyond the academic year – this is quite literally a bag for life. The leather will soften over time and, we’d wager, look better with age.

This will conform to any uniform policy without looking frumpy and can fit laptops and A4 pads easily inside. There are buckles, not zips, which gives it a delightfully retro feel. The portrait arrives in a dust bag and can be engraved which makes it a really special, sophisticated backpack – perfect for older students who like to make a good impression.

Best: For machine washing

Rating: 7/10

Calling parents of all Minecraft fans! This backpack is what you’ve been waiting for. Aside from the design which is pretty awesome, it’s huge, fitting A4 pads and files, as well as a lunchbox and pencil case in the main compartment. and boasts other pockets and pouches too. Our 8-year-old tester couldn’t wait to fill this up with his stuff – it’s one of those items we think will soften the blow for any children who don’t love the prospect of returning to the classroom.

There’s a water-resistant finish on the exterior which is great for rainy days, but best of all the whole thing is machine washable, which is music to any parent’s ears.

Best: Eco choice

Rating: 8/10

This backpack is a brilliant eco pick, as it’s made from organic cotton processed without pesticides. It is light, with wide straps which makes it a breeze to carry – and we were mad about its simple aesthetic of block colour and clean lines.

The bag has a water-repellent coating – hurray! – and there is a smaller option available for pre-schoolers. It’s currently out of stock but we hope it’ll be back soon.

Best: For small children

Rating: 8/10

What a bargain! This little backpack is bright, jolly, light, well made and comes in a larger size for older children. Our three-year-old pre-schooler looked unspeakably cute toting this about – she felt so grown up with her own bag. The shoulder straps are adjustable to there’s plenty of room for movement and growth and we were pleased to see they were padded too so can be worn comfortably with only a T-shirt on underneath.