school satchel

Contents

1. Top Brands
2. What is the difference between a School Satchel and a School Backpack?
3. Advantages of School Satchels over School Backpacks
4. School satchel set
5. Packing a School Satchel
6. Should kids carry their School Satchel throughout their entire primary school years?
7. Size in liters
8. School satchel weight
9. School satchel shape according to DIN 58124

1. Top Brands

The pride of primary school kids and the excitement for school are often sparked by the first School Satchel. At Kofferworld, you will find a huge selection from the absolute top brands, such as Ergobag, Step by Step, SCHOOL-MOOD, McNeill and many more. If you are unsure about choosing the right School Satchel, we are always happy to advise you.

2. What is the difference between a School Satchel and a School Backpack?

The main difference between a School Satchel and a School Backpack is that the satchel (or school knapsack) has a rather rigid box shape, while the School Backpack features a flexible form. Ergonomically, both options are now very well optimized, but we especially recommend the School Satchel for primary school kids. Why? You will find out in the next section.

3. Advantages of School Satchels over School Backpacks

The advantages of School Satchels over backpacks for primary school kids are numerous:
 

• Protection: The rigid construction of School Satchels better protects the contents when playtime on the schoolyard gets a bit rough. They are also designed for more intensive use during the first school years.
   
• Organisation: The satchel has fewer compartments and is easier to organize. Especially when starting school life, it is much easier for inexperienced kids to pack the bag and always have all school essentials within reach.
   
• Ergonomics: School satchels are designed for smaller body sizes, and the carrying systems adapt to the rapid growth of younger primary school kids. We recommend School Backpacks more for growing teenagers. So, satchels are particularly suitable for the first years as primary school kids. We recommend switching to a School Backpack when starting secondary school.

4. School satchel set

It's best to consider buying a School Backpack set when your loved ones don't yet have a gym bag, lunchbox, or pencil case. Thanks to the complete package, you get all the necessary gear and sometimes a little extra for the start of school. Often, grandparents or aunts and uncles give the additional materials for the school start. So be sure to coordinate well.

5. Packing the School Backpack

The School Backpack should contain:

• Books
• Notebooks and folders
• Homework planner
• Name labels
• Filled pencil case (or pen pouch)
• Ruler
• Lunchbox
• Water bottle
• Class schedule
   

For sports gear, we recommend an additional gym bag so you don't overload the School Backpack. Pack the School Backpack as follows:
 

1. Place books and all rather heavy items as close to the back as possible in the rear compartment.
    
2. Put notebooks and folders in the front compartment of the backpack.
    
3. If possible, do not place food near the books to prevent possible damage, for example to the lunchbox.
    
4. Many satchels also have a side pocket for the water bottle. Be sure to involve your child when packing the School Backpack. This way, they learn to organize it themselves right away. Unlike later years, they can easily keep track of the smaller contents at the start and get comfortable with the task.

6. Should kids carry their School Backpack throughout the entire elementary school period?

Changing the School Backpack depends on body size. Generally, we recommend switching to a school rucksack starting in fifth grade. Depending on growth, some kids are ready for the rucksack as early as fourth grade.

7. Size in liters

During elementary school, the need for supplies is fortunately still smaller, so school rucksacks with a volume between 18 and 24 liters are completely sufficient. Depending on the child's height, we recommend a maximum of 20 liters volume up to 105 centimeters and up to 24 liters volume from 115 centimeters. Thanks to the continuous ergonomic development of School Backpacks in recent years, they already help prevent posture problems from the start. Therefore, you should only consider the liter numbers as guidelines and always check individually whether the size fits the child and is not overwhelming. Since the empty weight is the focus with volumes, don't forget to also focus on the total weight.

8. School backpack weight

The empty weight (or net weight) of a School Backpack usually does not exceed 1.3 kilograms. However, in very few cases do kids carry it empty. To find out if a School Backpack is too heavy, there is a simple method. Just look from the side to see how far your child leans forward. Up to 15 degrees, meaning a slight forward bend, is completely normal. If the bend goes significantly beyond that, reduce the weight if possible. You will find many specific kilogram indications on the internet. However, when considering these and many other guidelines, always keep in mind that the school routes on which the backpack is carried on the back usually do not exceed 20 to 30 minutes. The guidelines, however, come from a time when kids walked school routes of 45 minutes or longer.

9. School backpack shape according to DIN 58124

You may already be familiar with the DIN 58124 introduced in the early nineties. Among other things, it sets the following requirements for a School Backpack:
 

• Construction in portrait format: Older backpacks were often still made in landscape format. Meanwhile, portrait format has become standard for School Backpacks.
   
• Ergonomics of the back padding: Every School Backpack meets this requirement today as standard. For the most part, ergonomic developments go well beyond this. Unlike School Satchels of earlier times, today's models are very well padded on the back.
   
• Water-repellent materials: Manufacturers have significantly advanced the materials over the past decades, so this feature is usually standard. For safety, some manufacturers also offer rain covers for the School Backpack. 
   
• Width of the shoulder straps: DIN 58124 specifies a width of at least four centimeters. Most models comply with this. However, it is not a "no-go" if the shoulder straps do not meet this, as there are usually additional hip or chest straps. These provide extra support for the weight.
   
• Carrying handle for lifting: We no longer know of any model that does not meet this requirement.
   
• Fluorescent and retroreflective surfaces: These ensure better visibility on the back and side surfaces in the dark or in headlights. The Multicoloured School Backpacks for elementary school now almost exclusively have these surfaces. Many of the requirements according to DIN 58124 are already 30 years old and are now outdated or standard.