Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

7 tween backpacks that are practical yet stylish

What happened to the good old days when back-to-school shopping meant getting every crayon color known to humankind and trying to find a “My Little Pony” or a “Spider Man” backpack? Well, time passes quickly. The next thing you know, your little person is wrapping up the final year of elementary school or your tween is now going into middle school. This means that they will want a little more say-so in the backpack selection. No worries. We have found some cool teen backpacks that both you and your student will love. Not only are they stylish, they’re also perfect for organizing and hauling books, devices, supplies, and other necessities.

blue backpack with school supplies
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Backpacks for teens and tweens

J World 19.5″ Atom Multi-Compartment Laptop Backpack

What do you get when combine a quality design that tweens gravitate towards with enough compartments to hold… well, everything? The J World Backpack is sturdy and lightweight with three compartments that have zipper closures. The front compartment is compact enough to carry a cell phone and has smaller pockets for other supplies and compartments specifically designed to hold writing utensils. The two larger pockets can hold notebooks, binders, and even a laptop safely. The middle compartment also has a tablet sleeve. Plus, the shoulder straps are padded and adjustable. A sternum strap is also included. Among the many practical and stylish backpacks for teens and tweens, the J World has its own perks.

Recommended Videos

BAGSMART College Backpack

How many kids do you know carry around their own charging station? If you opt for the BAGSMART backpack, your tween will be one of them. One aspect that you’ll expect to find in the latest backpacks for teens and tweens is a modern take on convenience. This backpack has a USB charging port on the side. Also, your front pockets serve multiple purposes from holding pencils and other small items to clipping and hiding a house key. The spacious middle pocket holds books and compact devices. Additionally, the back pocket can hold a laptop and a tablet, and you’ll find another USB cord for charging. With a side pocket for a water bottle and anti-theft zippers, your tween will be all set for a busy day of learning.

Gear-up Ombre Multi Cool Recycled Backpack

Whether your tween chooses the Lite option or the Rolling, this backpack is sure to please with its unique ombre color scheme. Most importantly, each roomy pocket allows you to carry everything you need including your lunch and water bottle (if you choose the large). The padded back panels and adjustable straps provide comfort while evenly distributing the weight of the contents. Another perk about this backpack involves its construction from recycled materials.

COTS Backpack for Teens

The COTS backpack is lightweight, sturdy, and water-resistant. At the same time, if your tween prefers the classic, simple design, this backpack is the one. And what if your child prefers to carry the pack frontwards rather than on his or her back? The padded straps allow for that as well. In the main pocket, your tween can fit books, gym clothes, and a small laptop or tablet, and the two-way zipper secures it all. Likewise, the front pocket holds more items than you might think

Under Armour Kids’ Hustle Sport Backpack

For one of the sportiest looks in our selection of cool teen backpacks, your child would go for the Under Armour Hustle Sport Backpack. Made from highly water and moisture resistant material, students never have to worry about their books and laptop getting wet. Moreover, the front zipper pocket has adjustable bungee cords if your student needs to tuck in a jacket or gym shoes. The middle pocket holds a wealth of supplies—complete with a lined laptop pocket. The unique curve of the upper part of the straps provides comfort by giving more padding to the shoulder area. Basically, comfort, space, and resistance to moisture contribute to the popularity of this backpack.

JanSport Big Student, Tropical Teal Backpack

The time-honored JanSport brand with its iconic style has given us many cool and practical backpacks for teens and tweens. Aside from the Tropical Teal, you get a choice of 4 other neat designs that are sure to please any young scholar. The front zipper pocket has numerous compartments for pens and pencils, calculator, and notepads. Then, you have the laptop sleeve followed by two large pockets that are ideal for holding books and binders. Of course, there’s a side mesh pocket for holding a water bottle. Finally, the S-curve straps allow for comfortable toting without putting stress on the upper back.

Nike Elemental

First off, you must love the fact this classic backpack comes with a detachable pencil case. Your tween, on the other hand, will love the camo design and those super comfortable shoulder straps. The Nike Elemental also provides ample storage space in the main middle pocket while the front zipper pocket offers plenty of room for your smaller essentials. Your tween will be thrilled to carry around a backpack that also matches the kicks.

Now that you have our picks for the cool teen backpacks, you’ll have a head start on picking out one they’ll love. And you can be assured that he or she will be better able to stay organized with any of these stylish and practical carriers.

Leslie Anderson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leslie Anderson is a freelance writer/writing coach from Roswell, N.M. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and helping students…
Empty nest syndrome: Your complete guide
Here's how to handle empty nest syndrome when it's your turn
Parent and teen talking while sitting on the couch.

Everyone always tells you to relish in the years your child is little and needs you every second of every day. Everyone tells you you'll miss it all one day. Now, that day is here. You've raised your little humans. They are grown up and leaving to move to their first place or go off to college, and you're all alone. Before (or maybe after) you grab some ice cream and put on their favorite childhood movie to have a good cry, here's what you need to know about empty nest syndrome.
What is empty nest syndrome?

You did it! The whole purpose of having children is to raise them to be smart, independent, fully functioning members of society. If that means they move out of the house, you will find yourself an empty nester. What it means in the most basic sense is the children you have raised have left the home, and the process has left the primary caretaker with feelings of sadness, loneliness, and grief.

Read more
What exactly is an almond mom? A “new” parenting style to know about
How to avoid being an almond mom
Measuring tape around a fork

TikTok has become the go-to for lots of things, from dances to recipes to parenting styles. Popular parenting styles making the rounds on TikTok are gentle, crunchy, silky, and scrunchy. There are likely more, of course, but seasoned parents understand that parenting for most is a blend of several different styles. One particular parenting style most mothers want to steer clear of is becoming an almond mom.

If you've never heard of an almond mom, you're probably not alone. Almond mom is a term that went viral on TikTok because of 10-year-old clips from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The offending shorts show real housewife Yolanda Hadid giving eating advice to her then teen, Gigi Hadid. Gigi is now an international supermodel. Back then, her mom's response to Gigi telling her she was "feeling really weak" after only eating half of an almond was to eat two more. Now, she did add to be sure to "chew them really well." From this somewhat misguided motherly advice formed the term almond mom. Yolanda Hadid has since defended herself in an interview with People, saying her eating advice "was taken out of context." The term has stuck though, but what is an almond mom?
Almond mom meaning

Read more
What to do when your child is obese
How these healthy habits can help with childhood obesity
Standing on a weight scale

Parents only want what's best for their kids, and that means facing health challenges head-on. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity is a major issue in the U.S. with around 13.7 million young children and adolescents falling into the obese category. A child is considered obese if his or her Body Mass Index (BMI) or body fat measurement is over the 95th percentile. Most BMIs for kids and teens are in the fifth and 85th percentile range. A child above the 85th percentile is considered overweight for their age.

The concern with obesity in children and teens is the impact on overall physical and emotional health. Obese children and teens face an increased risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, joint problems, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Future health problems include a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer. An overweight child is more likely to be obese as an adult, as well.
The concerns with childhood obesity

Read more