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How to choose a backpack for older pupils (grades 4–9)
Quick answer
How do you choose a school backpack for older pupils (grades 4–9)?
How to choose a school backpack for older pupils so that it lasts until ninth grade? Go by the pupil's height and by what they carry: textbooks, a laptop or tablet and often sports kit for training too. Children in grades 4 to 9 usually need a capacity of 26 to 30 litres. Look for a reinforced back, a chest strap and a hip belt. Our BECKMANN Sport, Sport AIR and Urban Midi school backpacks are designed for heights of roughly 128 to 164 cm.
How to choose a backpack for older pupils in 4 steps
Measure their height
Sport, Sport AIR and Urban Midi are for pupils roughly 128 to 164 cm tall. Taller pupils will find a better fit in City (from 140 cm) or Urban (from 160 cm).
Laptop or tablet
Sport and Sport AIR have a padded pocket for a laptop up to 16". Urban Midi and Street BOLD have a pocket for a laptop up to 14".
Training and clubs
You can clip a sports bag onto the Sport backpack. Sport AIR has a net for a ball or helmet, and the Sport Light backpack can be clipped onto it.
Leave the look to your child
You look after the back and the size; let the pupil decide on the colour. A backpack they like is one they'll wear on both shoulders.
When to switch from a satchel to a backpack for older pupils
Usually in grade 4. Our satchels and backpacks for first-graders are designed for grades 1–3 and fit children up to 140 cm, the Classic Max range up to 150 cm. From grade 4, the Sport school range follows on from them. What changes? The Sport backpack has 30 litres instead of 20 to 28 and a padded pocket for a laptop up to 16".
The main thing doesn't change. A school backpack for older pupils should also have an anatomically shaped back with an aluminium stay and a hip belt that transfers part of the load from the shoulders to the pelvis. And what if your child announces that a satchel is embarrassing? That's what our article When a School Satchel Suddenly Becomes “Cringe” is about.
How big a school backpack older pupils need
For a normal school day with textbooks, a snack and a laptop, allow for 26 to 30 litres. Urban Midi has 26 litres, Sport and Sport AIR 30 litres. Anyone who carries less and wants a compact backpack can go for the 20-litre Street BOLD. For training alone there is Sport Light, a light backpack with a capacity of 16 litres, a weight of 560 g and a net for a ball.
Comparison of BECKMANN school backpacks for older pupils (grades 4–9)
Data from the product descriptions
| Range |  SportFor training |  Sport AIRMaximum comfort |  Urban MidiSmaller capacity |  Street BOLDCompact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | ||||
| Who it's for | Grades 4–9, 128–164 cm | Grades 4–9, 128–164 cm | Grades 4–9, 128–164 cm | Grades 4–9 and upper secondary school |
| Capacity | 30 l | 30 l | 26 l | 20 l |
| Weight | 1000 g | 1480 g | 1000 g | 1330 g |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 45 × 31 × 22 cm | 44 × 30 × 23 cm | 44 × 29 × 21 cm | 45 × 30 × 22 cm |
| Back and features | ||||
| Back system | Aluminium stay | Airflow cushion and aluminium stay | Aluminium stay | Aluminium stay |
| Hip belt | Removable | Removable | Yes | Removable |
| Laptop pocket | up to 16" | up to 16" | up to 14" | up to 14" |
| Reflective rain cover | In the base of the backpack | In its own pouch | In the base of the backpack | – |
| Extras | Clip-on attachment for a sports bag from the Sport collection | Net for a ball or helmet | Genuine leather details | All-round zip, power bank pocket |
| Choose Sport | Choose Sport AIR | Choose Urban Midi | Choose Street BOLD | |
Sport
For trainingWho it's forGrades 4–9, 128–164 cm
Capacity30 l
Weight1000 g
Laptopup to 16"
Rain coverIn the base of the backpack
Sport AIR
Maximum comfortWho it's forGrades 4–9, 128–164 cm
Capacity30 l
Weight1480 g
Laptopup to 16"
Rain coverIn its own pouch
Urban Midi
Smaller capacityWho it's forGrades 4–9, 128–164 cm
Capacity26 l
Weight1000 g
Laptopup to 14"
Rain coverIn the base of the backpack
Street BOLD
CompactWho it's forGrades 4–9 and upper secondary school
Capacity20 l
Weight1330 g
Laptopup to 14"
Rain cover–
What if the pupil is taller than 164 cm
Then take a look at the backpacks that students and adults carry too. City, with a capacity of 30 litres, is for people roughly 140 to 195 cm tall; Urban, with the same capacity, is for 160 to 195 cm. Both have an aluminium back stay, a pocket for a laptop up to 16" and an integrated reflective rain cover.
What these school backpacks have in common
Four ranges, one foundation. They differ in capacity, in the back and in their extra features.
Back and carrying
- Anatomically shaped back with an aluminium stay
- Padded shoulder straps and a height-adjustable chest strap
- Hip belt and reflective elements
Material and warranty
- 100% recycled polyester (rPET) with GRS certification
- Textiles certified to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
- 4-year warranty
How big should a school backpack for older pupils be?
Most pupils in grades 4 to 9 need 26 to 30 litres. Urban Midi has 26 l, Sport and Sport AIR 30 l. The smaller Street BOLD has 20 l and suits those who carry less.
Which school backpack for grade 4?
From grade 4, the Sport range follows on from the backpacks for first-graders. Sport, Sport AIR and Urban Midi are all for children roughly 128 to 164 cm tall, so they last right up to grade 9.
Will a laptop fit in a school backpack?
Yes. Sport and Sport AIR have a padded pocket for a laptop up to 16" or a tablet, while Urban Midi and Street BOLD have a pocket for a laptop up to 14".
What is the hip belt on a school backpack for?
When fastened, the hip belt transfers part of the load from the shoulders to the pelvis. On the Sport, Sport AIR and Street BOLD backpacks it is removable, so you can take it off when you don't need it.
How do I clean a school backpack?
The manufacturer recommends washing the backpack by hand with a mild liquid detergent and not drying it in a tumble dryer. You'll find the detailed steps in our guide How to clean a school backpack.
Can I try the backpack on or return it?
Yes. You can try it on at our shop in Ostrava, where we stock the full range, or at our stockists in Prague and Brno, which carry selected products. If you order from the online shop, you can return it within 45 days. Shops and contact →
Choose a school backpack that lasts until ninth grade
You'll find all the ranges for grades 4–9 together in one category.
School backpacks for older pupils Backpack advisor
Updated: November 2026
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