Which rucksack / backpack should I buy?

tyger.eyez

I'm really frustrated as I bought a brand new backpack on ebay a while back and didn't use it for ages. When I eventually did use it, the handle (not the back straps) started to fall off and after a couple more uses, it came off on one side completely. By then it was too late to get my money back from ebay. So I bought another one from Lidl recently. I wouldn't have bought one from there as I was going to go for a better branded one, but after some prompting to try it, it felt so comfortable on my back that I went ahead and purchased it anyway. But as with the other one, after only one use the handle in the middle has all frayed and almost fallen off. It's not like my bag is very heavy, I only had a few bits in it plus 1 small drink. As this is working out an expensive learning curve (I can't find the receipt and don't know when I'll next get over to Lidl), I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good and strong backpack that is good looking enough for every day use. I only need it for things like walking in the wood with my little one, taking a picnic, blanket, sunhat, suncream etc. I like to have plenty of space so I can fit jumpers in in case they're needed so it has to have plenty of room, but I don't want it massive like a proper backpack for travelling. I'd really like something that looks good as well as being functional but I can't seem to find anything I like anywhere and I'm also wary of getting one that will fall apart again. As a single mum, budget is also a concern (hence my trying ebay and Lidl first - massive mistake!). If anyone has any suggestions of where to get a good one cheaply or what brands are best, I'd be very grateful!

TiTheRev

Budget is always a concern, but as you've found out, cheap is not always cheerful!

eBay and Lidl are not the best place to get these things from, so maybe you'll need to go more specialist and try Millets etc? Maybe something like this? It's women specific in design, and is designed 'as a daypack suitable for travel and sightseeing'.

Not sure what your budget would be, but I'd imagine that it would last a good few years.

bigblackdog

i bought one made by karrimoor , it has stood up to a lot of days out ,picnicking, etc , got it from sports direct i think , so i would be happy to recomend it .

irstaroo22

I would recomend makes like roxy and animal, these can be picked up pretty cheap online and they really are great quality! I have had my roxy one for absolutly ages

Enterprise_1701C

Do you tend to carry it by the handle a lot? I don't think those handles are designed to take a lot of use like that, more that they are designed to hang it up by. That said, have you tried replacing the handle itself? You can get the webbing from most sewing shops, stitch it on either end sewing in a square with a cross in the middle, use some as backing inside too to protect the fabric too. Probably be stronger than the original one too!

tyger.eyez

The strange thing is I rarely carry it by the handle, only really when I'm picking it up to put on or lifting it in and out of the car which is why it's so bad that both of them started to break on the very first use. The reason I need a handle is for things like when you want to nip to the loo it's handy to be able to hang them up by that handle on a door hook, especially whilst I'm helping my little one use the toilet (is a pain on your back when the cubicle is tiny and there's 2 of you in there). But what's the point of having the handles if they're not fit for purpose? I could sew them back on like you say (webbing idea is good), but it's very annoying when they're brand new and already they look old and all patched up, not to mention taking time too. I wouldn't mind if they'd been used for at least a year or something.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, I will look into all of them!