Call your school if you are not sure what type of backpacks are allowed.

For material, you should check the fabric that the backpack is made of. Synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are good because they are fairly water-resistant. Hemp is a good choice if you want a natural material. If you choose a traditional backpack, check it for padding. It should have foam padding. Pinch the padding to see if it rebounds. It should not pop or crinkle.

Bring a few supplies you think you will use when testing out a backpack to see if everything will fit. Make sure to not get the new backpack dirty if you haven’t purchased it. The zippered compartments are good for items like IDs, pencils, and phones. The padded compartments are good for protecting computers.

Lands’ End, Eastpak, L. L. Bean, JanSport, and REI are a few high quality brands.

You should have a folder for every subject and at least two notebooks.

If you are in high school, you may not need all of your textbooks every day. If not, put in the textbooks you will need for the first day of school.

Place contact info into this folder. This can be an index card with your name, phone number, and address written on it in pen or marker. For children, it is helpful to have a folder just for paperwork. Label this folder to make remembering and locating it easier.

Put in larger items first to avoid crushing smaller items.

A cellphone is good to have for emergencies, but make sure it is turned off for the duration of the school day. Remember to pack a charger if needed. [11] X Expert Source Ashley Pritchard, MAAcademic & School Counselor Expert Interview. 4 November 2019.

You may need to send a letter or medication to the school nurse if you have any medical problems.

Avoid juice in boxes or bottles that may leak and stain supplies.

You might want to pack lunch as well, but lunch boxes or bags may not fit in an already full backpack.

Do not bring more than you know you will make use of. Some items like hand sanitizer, deodorant, and feminine items are important to have, but it is probably not necessary to bring all of your makeup.

Younger children often have cubbies, and it may be comforting to pack a toy to keep in to keep inside of it.

Put it in a safe and easy-to-find spot to grab for school.