The Ultimate Backpack Guide
How to Choose the Best School Backpack for Every Age
The Ultimate Backpack Guide
Choosing the right school backpack is essential for your child’s comfort, posture, and everyday school experience. From kindy through to high school, the right fit helps support growing spines, reduce strain and make busy school days easier.
At Harlequin Kids, we’ve been protecting growing spines since 1996, designing ergonomic school backpacks trusted by Australian families for decades. This guide breaks down our top backpack recommendations by age, so you can confidently choose the best school bag for your child.
Choosing the right school backpack helps support your child’s comfort, posture and confidence. Our age-based backpack guide makes it easy to find the perfect fit—from kindy to high school.
✔️ Designed for growing spines
✔️ Trusted by Australian families since 1996
✔️ Ergonomic, lightweight & built to last
✔️ Backed by a Lifetime Manufacturer's Warranty
Shop Kindy Backpacks (Ages 3–5)
Shop Primary School Backpacks (Ages 5–12)
Shop High School Backpacks (Ages 12–18)
Kindy & Preschool Backpacks
For preschoolers and kindy kids, a backpack should be lightweight, comfortable and easy to manage without overwhelming little shoulders.
- Kindy Backpack (Recommended)
- Designed especially for young children, our Kindy Backpack is perfectly sized for early learning and — complete with a handy parent strap for easy, hands-free carrying.
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- Key Features:
- • Lightweight design ideal for small frames
- • Anatomical back system to support developing posture
- • 1 large main compartment for lunch boxes and spare clothes
- • 2 side pockets for drink bottles
- • Easy-to-use ergonomic zips for little hands
- • Detachable parent strap for added control
Explore more recommended pre-school favs: Mighty Junior Backpack
Primary School Backpacks
Primary school students carry more books, devices and supplies so their backpack needs to be durable, supportive and practical for everyday use.
- Mighty Backpack (Recommended ⭐ Bestseller)
- A top choice for Australian primary school students, the Mighty Backpack balances comfort, space and durability.
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Key Features:
- • Lightweight construction for daily comfort
- • Anatomical back system for posture support
- • Large main compartment for books and folders
- • 2 side storage pockets
- • Padded laptop pocket for school devices
- • Smooth, ergonomic zips
- Ergo Backpack (Recommended)
- The Ergo Backpack offers extra structure and organisation, making it ideal for busy school days.
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Key Features:
- • Lightweight and supportive design
- • Anatomical back system
- • 2 main compartments for better organisation
- • 2 side storage pockets
- • Padded laptop pocket
- • Easy-to-use ergonomic zips
- More popular primary school backpacks:
- • Posture Backpack
- • Genius Backpack
- • Anatomic Backpack
- • Osteo Backpack
High School Backpacks
High school students need backpacks that can handle heavier loads, laptops and long days, while providing advanced back support.
- Anatomic Backpack (Recommended)
- Designed for teenagers, this backpack offers durability, organisation and comfort with it's spinal support rod that follows the natural 'S' curve of the spine.
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Key Features:
- • Lightweight yet robust design
- • Anatomical back system
- • Spinal support rod for improved posture
- • 3 compartments for books and supplies
- • Padded laptop pocket
- • Ergonomic zips
- Osteo Backpack (Recommended ⭐ Maximum Support)
- Our most supportive backpack with an internal spinal rod to support the natural curvature of the spine. Ideal for students carrying heavier school loads.
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Key Features:
- • Anatomical back system
- • Spinal support rod
- • 3 spacious compartments
- • Moulded EVA base for extra durability
- • Sternum and waist straps for weight distribution
- • FREE hi-vis safety rain cover
- More senior school options:
- • Posture Backpack
- • Genius Backpack
- • Study Backpack
- • Quantum Daypack
Choosing the Right School Backpack
The best school backpack is one that matches your child’s age, size and daily needs. Ergonomic design, lightweight materials and smart storage all play a role in supporting comfort and posture throughout the school year.
Whether you’re shopping for kindy, primary or high school, choosing an age-appropriate backpack makes all the difference.
What size backpack is best for my child?
The best backpack size depends on your child’s age, height, and daily school needs. Younger children need lightweight, smaller bags, while older students need backpacks with extra compartments and spinal support.
We recommend exploring our range by age and checking the dimensions and weight of each style to help you choose the best fit. A backpack should sit comfortably between the shoulders and rest at the top of the child’s lower back—it should not be oversized or hang too low.
Explore Backpacks for 3-5 year olds
Explore Backpacks for 5-12 year olds
Explore Backpacks for 12-18 year olds
Are ergonomic backpacks important for kids?
Yes. Ergonomic backpacks help support posture, distribute weight evenly, and reduce strain on growing spines—especially important for school-aged children.
Read what the experts say
How heavy should a school backpack be?
A backpack should ideally weigh no more than 10–15% of your child’s body weight when fully packed. Choosing a lightweight backpack with proper support helps manage heavier loads.
Do primary school kids need a laptop pocket?
Many Australian schools use devices from an early age. A padded laptop pocket helps protect devices and keeps weight evenly distributed.
What’s the best backpack for high school students?
High school students benefit from backpacks with multiple compartments, padded laptop pockets, and advanced spinal support such as sternum straps or support rods.
Our most popular style for High School Students is the Anatomic, we also highly recommend the Osteo backpack it's extra ergonomic features.
Explore Backpacks for 12-18 year olds
