I Need a Great and Durable Backpack for Nursing School

Seriously... forget a backpack. Get a medium to small rolling suitcase. REALLY!! I tried to not cave in and get one, thought it was way overboard!! But those books are huge, they add up and during the entire 1-2 years of Nursing school, you will continue to add to them and are still required to bring the original ones!!

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I'm going to add my 2 cents on Lands End or LL Bean. My husband had a Lands End laptop backpack that traveled the world literally, with the laptop in it. Many trips to China, Hong Kong, Japan and India on top of daily use. I washed it several times in a both a regular washing machine (in a stackable apartment machine) and a front loader in cold water, air dried. It lasted forever! He still has it and uses it as a back up, it was an older model that didn't have all the extra pockets for things like cords, mouse etc and he upgraded to a more modern version. My son's preschool backpack is/was also Lands End it's been on vacation and used for various other things on top of two day a week preschool for two years, it still looks brand new and my younger son is now going to use it since we're upgrading to a Kindergarten size this fall for the older one. I went with LL Bean on the new one because there were a lot of complaints about the zipper being hard to access and or getting caught on the fabric on the Lands End version. No matter what you won't spend a fortune (easily under $100) and the investment will be worth it.

1 mom found this helpful

Ll bean. You won't find a better more durable backpack. Mine is 18 years old. It held up through middle school, high school, college, and as a diaper bag for 2 kids and it's still going strong and if it wasn't I could mail it back to them to be fixed or replaced. Last years colors are on sale right now they are worth checking out.

Most adult bags are going to have a laptop sleeve because lots of majors no require them. My little sister just finished and she was required to have her laptop at all of her classes that's how some of her testing was done. You might not need it for nursing but you might need it for other classes but the sleeve really doesn't get in the way or take away from book space.

I think a rolling suitcase is a great idea! You will probably spend as much on a decent backpack.

My husband used a Swiss Army backpack during med school (LOTS of heavy books and 3-ring binders). He has had it and used it since 2001, and we bring it on vacations with us, so I know it is very durable. LOTS of pockets, very cushiony straps, and overall a great pick. Not sure what the price was, but I would think under $100.

I bought each of my boys a FUL brand backpack from Costco last year. There is a laptop pocket but one of my boys doesn't take his laptop to school and still uses the bag. My boys really load those packs with books, jackets, lunch and water bottle. They use them everyday for school and as their carry-on when we travel. After a year, the bags are still in good shape, all fabric and zippers intact. They were about $30-40 each.

L. L. Bean. Just ordered my daughter's rolling deluxe bookpack yesterday. Congratulations on starting nursing school! Best wishes:)

LL Bean (or Land's End). Everything else is a waste of money. Good luck at school!

I got a Northface when I started back to school. There were days I carried 15 hours of books in it at the same time. When I graduated I passed it down to my son. Still looks brand new and he has used it for two years.

Jansport backpacks are the absolute best, nothing compares. That's the only brand we buy!

I got a Jansport backpack about 7 years ago and it STILL is working great. It has a rubber tire bottom to it. I think I paid 50 or so dollars for it. GL

M

Jansport is great. We've had one for about 10 years. And it's just now starting to fade. I think it's time to change it, just because I want something newer.

LL Bean makes rolling backpacks.....

I am in my second semester of Nursing school and one thing I can say, make sure it rolls! There are a lot of heavy books :) I have a Jansport and really like it, although sometimes it actually isn't big enough. It has held up so far though. Many people in my class use the crates on wheels (you can get them at Staples or Office Depot). Those work really well or the rolling luggage. Good luck in school!

I recommend L.L. Bean. I have a fantastic rolling backpack that you can either roll or wear as a backpack that I use for culinary school. My husband also has an L.L. Bean backpack that he used during his Web Design and Development degree program for 4 years and still has it. There are no rips, tears, holes, snags, or zipper problems in either of our backpacks. They will also monogram them. Check out their website.

we use NIKE bags....& have them personalized for school. Typically, these backpacks will last 2+ years...sometimes longer (if adults are using them)!

Look at Lands End. They have great bags. I think my backpack, that I've had for yeras and years is an Easton, not sure if they even still make those.

I have a Jansport that I have had for years. I used it regularly in the last few years of college and now I use it for overseas travel. It's not a laptop bag, but I do carry my laptop in it when I travel. The best thing about it is the soft straps that go over the shoulders - there is some kind of cushy gel in them. The other great thing is that the zippers all still work and the seams are all still seams (not ripping out). This backpack is about 20 years old and it's still going.

Good luck,
L.

Anything made by Lands End or LLBean is wonderful. They both have some good adult backpacks -- and not all are the laptop bags. Plus, both companies have lifetime warranties.