My preschooler is so excited to be toting his new robot backpack to school this year! The SoYoung toddler backpack is the perfect size for a preschooler’s needs. We easily fit a change of clothes, snack and his folder into the roomy compartment. An inside, zippered mesh compartment is perfect for storing smaller items, and the two mesh pockets on the exterior work great for holding a water bottle.
The outside of the pack is made of linen coated with PVC and BPA-free plastic. Thanks to the coating, you can easily wipe it off should it fall in mud, or if a crayon is accidentally applied by a younger sibling (both happened within days of receiving this!).
The inside is lined with nylon, which is also easy to clean. To test the backpack before school began, we loaded it up with toys for a road trip to Pittsburgh, PA. My son found the backpack very comfortable to put on and wear, even when full, as the straps are padded just enough. When it got a bit heavy, he was fascinated with the chest clip that helped keep it on and balanced. It also has a top handle, which made it easy to grab and carry when he didn’t want it on his back.
In addition to the functionality, SoYoung has a collection of unique and kid-friendly designs. I was very happy with the overall neutral tone of the bag, with pops of color in the character or animal design. My son quickly chose the grey robot bag, but there are many other options— dinosaurs, rockets, birds, giraffes, horses and sharks, to name a few. The backpack is easy to spot among all the cartoon and superhero branded bags that appear each year. Coordinated lunch bags, which easily attach to the backpack, are available as well.
SoYoung was founded by a “mompreneur” who gave up life in the financial world to pursue her dreams. Baby gear was the logical choice, but she wanted something unique. SoYoung manufactures diaper bags, toddler- and grade-school-size backpacks, lunch bags and cooler bags. All are designed with function in mind, as well as being eco-friendly. Linen is the eco-conscious material for the cooler bags, backpacks and coordinating lunch bags. SoYoung explains that linen is derived from flax, which “requires substantially less pesticides, as well as 20 times less water and energy than other crops to harvest and produce.” Learning this, I felt better about using this backpack than some of the other choices available.
We are very happy with the SoYoung product and are excited to have it for my son’s 4 year-old preschool year!
Pros:
Easy to clean: Though it cannot be thrown in the washing machine (see con below), the plastic coated linen was extremely easy to wipe off, even crayons and ink.
Lots of room: We were able to stuff the bag full of everything my son could possibly need. It also held a ton of toys for a road trip.
Designs: If you are a fan of more muted, clean and classic designs, SoYoung is a great bet.
Cons:
Stiff: The backpack can be a little stiff, but seems to break in with use.
Price: The price is a bit higher than some backpacks, but in range for a higher-end product.
Cleaning: You cannot put this in the washing machine for a quick, simple all over wash.
No branded characters: If your child likes branded characters, they might be disappointed, since only generic objects/animals are available.
Christy Petrak is a systems engineer currently taking a leave of absence to raise her two children, Thomas (4) and Eliza (1). She lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys spending time with her family, swimming and baking/decorating cupcakes.
