Jennifer Ganz, Buyer for Lester's in Rye, on Her Five Favorite Backpacks

Lester’s children’s accessories buyer on her top five recommended backpacks

Jennifer Ganz has spent the past decade purchasing kids’ accessories for Lester’s, a clothing chain with a location in Rye. Here, she recommends her top five favorite backpack choices for preschoolers through high-schoolers.

1) Flap Drawstring Sequin Backpack (Confetti New York) $18 “One new hot trend is sequins,” says Ganz, “so this is a great backpack for the fashion-forward young girly girl, ages four to six, who wants to go to school in style.”
2) Super FX Series (JanSport) $50 This alternative from JanSport successfully marries function and fashion, says Ganz, by offering tween girls special application graphics and embroideries along with the requisite padded shoulder straps and front utility pocket.
3) Argyle Backpack (Flow Society) $59 Ganz calls this pack, which is made of durable, lightweight nylon, “a super choice for boys ages seven to fourteen.” Not only does it have front storage, zippered side pockets, an easy-carry top handle, and padded mesh straps, it comes in a testosterone-trending argyle pattern.
4) Jester (The North Face) $65 This versatile, 27-liter pack has something for every student, ages 10 to 18, says Ganz. Made of polyester and a special nylon fabric resistant to tearing, it’s designed with two large zip compartments, a front accessory zip pocket, mesh water-bottle side pockets, and a crisscross of bungee cords in which to stash a jacket or a baseball glove.
5) Voyager Backpack (LeSportsac) $120 Made of nylon with canvas trim and accents, the Voyager Backpack is, says Ganz, a perfect, all-around pack for tween through high-school-aged girls. Featuring a cool top-flap with buckle closure and dual adjustable shoulder straps, it has plenty of storage room with exterior and interior pockets.