Conor Pope reviews schoolbags

Stone Canyon (from Dunnes Stores), €20

Highs: This bag is amazingly good value. It has five different pouches and a cooler bag to keep lunches fresh. There is also a lunch box and a plastic bottle for drinks. Although it is in the Dunnes back-to-school section, you could probably scale Everest with just this on your back. It also has wheels if it starts to get a little heavy.

Lows: The mauve colour we chose was vile (although it is available in at least two other colours including vibrant pink and powder blue). There may have been too many pouches and the torture of going through every one of them under the baleful glare of a maths teacher doesn't bear thinking about.

Verdict: Exceptionally good value.

Jansport backpack, €39.99

Highs: This is undoubtedly a good quality rucksack and coming as it does with a 30-year warranty, you might reasonably expect your children and your children's children to get some use out of it (presuming fashions stay as they are). It has three good-sized pouches and an "airlift suspension system" which promises to make it easier on tired backs.

Lows: While functional it is a little dull, and there was little space for writing the name of favourite bands on it (do kids still do this?) Of more concern is the price. Bought in the Bag Store in Dublin's Jervis Shopping Centre, it was apparently marked down from 69.99. We considered it dear at its sale price.

Verdict: Functional but pricey.

Star Kid from Benetton, €26.50

Highs: This is very, very cute and just the kind of bag you'd proudly send your little boy off with on his first day of school - there's also a pink option for girls. It is nicely textured with little clouds and T-shirts sewn all over the place. It's sturdy and has a good waterproof base, perfect for plonking down in puddles. The padded straps are easy to adjust and the easy-wipe internal surfaces will be welcomed.

Lows: It is pricey (although not the priciest) and will probably be grown out of very fast. There is just one big compartment in the main bag which might make the finding of lunches and pencils and the like a little tricky for small hands.

Verdict: Very cute.

SpongeBob SquarePants schoolbag, 32.99

Highs: If your child is very fond of SpongeBob then this might be the only bag it is happy with. It has a handy name tag on the back in case it gets lost or confused with another child's bag (although its garish nature probably reduces its chances of getting lost somewhat). The wheels have a certain novelty value to them.

Lows: Be careful though, word has reached PriceWatch that some national schools have banned wheelie bags in recent times. If so it's bad news for this bag as that might be the only thing on its side. The straps are cheap and flimsy looking and it has a very small capacity. It doesn't have a very small price however and at 32.99 it seems inordinately expensive.

Verdict: Steer clear of this

The Simpsons schoolbag, €16.95

Highs: The cheapest of the bags is broken into a number of pouches, has a handy space for pencils - although not many of them - and a number of other mildly natty features including reflective strips along the sides.

Lows: Why is the Bart Simpson on the bag blue? We hoped it might be because he glowed in the dark but were disappointed on that score. It is strange how the Simpsons can be responsible for some of the finest TV ever yet also some of the worst merchandise ever. While this isn't exactly in that category of awfulness, it is a little flimsy. The straps don't look that sturdy and the manufacturers have been a little mean with the back padding.

Verdict: Cheaper than the rest but not better.