Finding a lifetime warranty on back-to-school backpacks at a reasonable price is tough. But I’ve hit the books, done all the searching for you, and put together a list of the 18 best backpack deals that come with protection plans, warranties, and even special discounts of 10% – 15% off if you subscribe to certain email lists.
Of course, exactly how much you’ll pay for each lifetime warranty backpack will depend on where you shop, and the warranties often have certain limits that are specific to each brand (which I’ll fill you in on below). Let’s hit the books!
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1. The North Face “Youth Mini Explorer” backpack is only $39 and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
The North Face has a few children’s back-to-school backpacks that are fairly budget-friendly, like their Youth Mini Explorer Backpack for $39 or the Youth Mini Recon for $49. Both come with a limited lifetime warranty that provides free repairs or even free replacement during the backpack’s lifetime. Just note that they only cover damage resulting from manufacturing defects, though. You can return North Face backpacks within 60 days of purchase.
TIP: Always save your receipt as your proof of purchase in case you need to return the backpack or submit a warranty claim.
2. Buy a $79+ Patagonia backpack to get their Ironclad Guarantee, which covers some repairs.
When you buy a backpack from Patagonia, it comes with their Ironclad Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your backpack for any reason, return it. Any wear and tear issue that isn’t typically covered — they will fix it (for a reasonable price). The Patagonia website even has a bunch of do-it-yourself repair guides for DIYers.
3. Save 15% on a JanSport limited lifetime warranty backpack with a student or teacher discount.
Verify your student or teacher discount eligibility through SheerID, and you’ll receive a one-time use code for 15% off your purchase at JanSport.com. You can re-verify your eligibility every 30 days to get a new code.
The JanSport backpack warranty protects you from any manufacturer defects. According to details on their website, JanSport will fix your backpack or replace it if it’s found to have a defect covered under the limited liability warranty.
4. Pay $38 for the Columbia Lightweight Packable 21L backpack and get a limited lifetime warranty.
Go with a cheaper style of Columbia backpack and you’ll still get the same warranty coverage included with their more expensive styles. The Columbia limited lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects for the life of your backpack.
5. Verify your status with SheerID and get 10% off L.L. Bean back-to-school backpacks with a one-year warranty.
The price for an L.L. Bean backpack can range from $29.95 to $149. If you have a school email address, you can use it on SheerID to get a 10% discount code good for purchases online at LLBean.com or in-store. Every L.L. Bean backpack comes with a one-year warranty covering any defects in manufacturer materials or workmanship.
6. A SheerID student discount can also save you 10% on a Nike backpack with a two-year warranty.
Nike backpacks range in price from $35 up to $100. If you’re 16 or older and a student, you can verify your eligibility with SheerID and get a one-time-use code you can redeem for 10% off at Nike. You can re-verify your status to generate a new code every 30 days. The Nike two-year warranty applies to all their backpacks, too, and the clock starts ticking on the manufacture date you’ll see on the item’s tag.
TIP: Register your backpack as soon as you buy it so that you’re eligible for any warranty coverage.
7. Shop the Eddie Bauer President’s Day sale to save 40% on a backpack with a limited guarantee.
When you shop the Eddie Bauer Summer Sale in July, you can save up to 50% on back-to-school backpacks that range in price from $40 (for the Stowaway Packable 20L Daypack) to $149 (for the Bygone Recycled Backpack).
Their limited guarantee offers replacements or refunds for up to one year. After that, it’s either a replacement or an exchange.
8. Find REI back-to-school backpacks under $50 that come with a lifetime guarantee.
You can totally get a kid’s backpack for under $50 at REI. The only problem is that you’ll have to pay shipping for orders under $50 if you’re not an REI Co-op member. If you don’t have that membership, you can save $5.99 by picking your order up in-store, or join the Co-op to get free shipping with no minimums.
And sadly, there are no REI warranties, just a 100% satisfaction guarantee. REI Co-op members get one year from the date of purchase to return a backpack for a replacement or refund, and non-members get 90 days. Whether you have the membership or not, you can return their backpacks at any time if you notice a manufacturing defect.
9. Verify your student status with UNiDAYS to get 30% off Adidas backpack with a lifetime warranty.
Register with UNiDAYS and get a one-time use code that’s good for 30% off your Adidas backpack. You have to get a new code every time you shop, but you only have to wait an hour to request a new code.
The Adidas lifetime warranty lasts for five years, but their policy doesn’t cover wear and tear.
10. The cheapest Osprey back-to-school backpacks cost $40 — and all repairs are covered under their All Mighty Guarantee.
All Osprey backpacks, including the cheapest $40 Daylite Kid’s backpack (it’s $45 for certain colors), come with the All-Mighty Guarantee — a warranty that’s tough to beat. No matter how old the Osprey backpack is, you’ll get a repair for free, or they’ll replace it.
Be sure to fill out the Osprey warranty registration online so your bag’s covered.
11. Sign up for Camelbak emails and get 15% off a backpack that comes with the Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee.
Camelbak has two daypacks big enough for a laptop plus other essentials — the $140 M.U.L.E. Commute 22 and the $170 H.A.W.G. You can get 15% off when you sign up for their emails, which can save you up to $25.50.
Every Camelbak backpack comes with the Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee. Although the policy doesn’t cover wear and tear, they will fix it for free if your bag has a defect.
TIP: Find the right warranty claim form on the Camelbak website.
12. Join the Dakine mailing list for 15% off a limited lifetime warranty backpack.
The price of a Dakine backpack starts at $40 for their Cosmo 6.5L and 365 Mini 12L styles. Add your email to the Dakine mailing list, and you’ll save $6 on these cheaper designs. Dakine has a 10-year limited lifetime warranty. If your Dakine backpack is defective, they’ll replace it, but not fix it.
13. Subscribe to Herschel emails and get 10% off your backpack with a limited lifetime warranty.
Herschel carries backpacks for adults and children. The cheapest kids’ backpack is the Herschel Heritage for $39.99. Sign up for their email list and save $4. Unfortunately, you have to spend $125 to get free shipping.
Herschel Supply offers an unusually limited lifetime warranty — it’s good for your lifetime, not the lifetime of the backpack. They’ll repair or replace a defective Herschel backpack.
14. Buy a “Jot Kids” Dollar Tree backpack for $1.25 and skip any warranty.
If you have kids and aren’t concerned about how long their backpacks last, you can buy the Dollar Tree Jot Kids Backpack for only $1.25 (in-store only). But be warned: if you have trouble with your backpack, your only option is to ask for an exchange or throw it away and buy another one. There’s no guarantee or warranty, and no refunds are allowed at the Dollar Tree.
15. Sign up for High Sierra emails and get 15% off a limited lifetime warranty backpack.
When you sign up to receive emails from High Sierra, you can save 15% off your first order. If you buy the Outburst High Sierra backpack for $34.99, the email deal can save you $5.25.
High Sierra has a limited lifetime warranty and will repair or replace defective parts or the entire backpack.
16. Join the Famous Footwear rewards program to get free shipping on backpacks, with or without a warranty.
Join the free Famous Footwear Famously You Rewards program to get free shipping on Nike and Adidas back-to-school backpacks with no minimum spend. If you’re not part of the rewards program, you’d have to spend $75 to get free shipping or else pay a flat fee of $7.95. Famous Footwear has a return policy but they don’t offer a warranty on backpacks.
If you buy a Nike backpack from Famous Footwear, a Nike customer service rep told me that they would honor their five-year limited lifetime warranty. Adidas said they had no access to third-party sellers, so I say skip buying Adidas backpacks at Famous Footwear. Instead, buy those packs directly from Adidas since they’re priced the same.
TIP: Sign up for Famous Footwear emails and get a $5 off $25 coupon (emailed) you can use on an Adidas or Nike backpack.
17. Subscribe to SwissGear emails or texts and get 10% off a backpack with a 10-year limited warranty.
Subscribe to SwissGear emails or texts to get 10% off your backpack purchase. Prices of a SwissGear backpack range from $48.99 to over $100. All backpacks purchased online at SwissGear.com come with a 10-year limited warranty that covers repairs or replacement due to any manufacturing defect.
18. Exercise caution when buying Under Armour back-to-school backpacks — they have no warranty.
You can get an Under Armour backpack like the UA Loudon for as little as $35. While you might expect Under Armour to have a decent warranty for their backpacks, they don’t. A customer service rep told me that they handle things on a case-by-case basis.
Tips to help extend the lifetime warranty of your back-to-school backpacks:
- Do not force any zippers
- Do not overstuff your backpack
- Clean your backpack routinely (follow the manufacturer’s directions)
- Keep out of direct sunlight for extended periods (it can degrade the fabric)
- Use zipper lubricant on stuck zippers
FAQs:
What does a limited lifetime warranty mean?
A limited lifetime warranty typically means that the retailer or manufacturer covers manufacturing defects like zipper teeth that separate — but only for a specified period or the product’s lifetime. This warranty doesn’t cover damage due to normal wear, accidents, or misuse.
Can I wash a backpack in a washing machine?
You can wash some backpacks (including Adidas backpacks) in the washing machine, but it’s generally hand wash only or spot cleaning for others. Look for cleaning instructions on the retailer’s website where you purchased your backpack.
What happens if a company won’t honor their warranty?
If you ask for a repair, replacement, or refund of a defective backpack before (or even after) your warranty expires and you don’t get the help you need, reaching out to management or the Better Business Bureau may help resolve the issue.
What’s the best backpack for high schoolers?
Choosing the right back-to-school backpacks for high schoolers depends on many things like torso length and how much stuff they’ll need to carry. Online retailers allow you to filter your search by various features, including size. Some websites also have a “help me find the right backpack” feature.
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