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How to choose a preschool backpack for your child
Quick answer
How do you choose a preschool backpack?
How to choose a preschool backpack that your child can carry and enjoys wearing? Go by your child's height and by what they will carry in it. For a snack, a bottle and spare clothes, a capacity of 10 to 12 litres is enough. The backpack should be light and have padded shoulder straps and a chest strap so that it doesn't slip off the shoulders. Our BECKMANN preschool backpacks for children weigh 350 to 500 g and are designed for children from roughly 92 cm tall.
How to choose a preschool backpack in 4 steps
Measure your child
Height is what counts, not age. Classic Mini, Urban Mini and Gym Bag are for children from roughly 92 cm, Sport Mini from 98 cm.
Work out what they'll carry
A lunch box, a bottle, a change of clothes and a favourite toy fit into 10 to 12 litres. A preschooler doesn't need more.
Check the straps
The chest strap keeps the backpack on the shoulders. Classic Mini, Sport Mini and Gym Bag also have a hip belt.
Think about rain and darkness
Classic Mini, Sport Mini and Urban Mini have an integrated reflective rain cover. All four ranges have reflective elements.
How big a preschool backpack your child needs
Smaller than most parents think. A child doesn't carry textbooks to preschool, just a snack, a drink, spare clothes and a few small things. For that, 10 litres (Urban Mini) or 12 litres (Classic Mini, Sport Mini, Gym Bag) is enough. The Urban Mini backpack measures 34 × 21 × 16 cm and weighs 360 g, Classic Mini 35 × 21 × 19 cm and 500 g.
Does your child go to a forest preschool or often on trips? Then look mainly at the rain cover and at where the snack will go. Sport Mini has a separate water-resistant compartment for a lunch box, so the main compartment stays clean. The main fabric of the Classic Mini, Sport Mini and Urban Mini backpacks is water-repellent, but the backpacks are not fully waterproof. That's why they have an integrated reflective rain cover for wet weather.
Who should choose the preschool backpack
You look after the size, the straps and the weight. Leave the design to your child. A preschooler who has picked their own backpack is happier to wear it and takes better care of it. We explain why this works in our article Choosing a preschool backpack: why your child should pick it, not you.
Comparison of BECKMANN preschool backpacks
Data from the product descriptions
| Range |  Classic MiniWith an extra bag |  Sport MiniSnack pocket | Gym BagLightest |  Urban MiniMinimalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | ||||
| For child's height | 92–122 cm | 98–122 cm | 92–140 cm | 92–122 cm |
| Capacity | 12 l | 12 l | 12 l | 10 l |
| Weight | 500 g | 500 g | 350 g | 360 g |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 35 × 21 × 19 cm | 35 × 16 × 19 cm | 36 × 23 × 15 cm | 34 × 21 × 16 cm |
| Carrying and features | ||||
| Chest strap | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hip belt | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Reflective rain cover | In the lid | In a pocket at the bottom | – | In the base |
| Extras | A bag in the same design for wet or spare clothes | Separate water-resistant compartment for a lunch box | Can be clipped onto the Classic, Classic Max and Active AIR FLX school backpacks | Genuine leather details |
| Choose Classic Mini | Choose Sport Mini | Choose Gym Bag | Choose Urban Mini | |
Classic Mini
With an extra bagChild's height92–122 cm
Capacity12 l
Weight500 g
Hip beltYes
Rain coverIn the lid
Sport Mini
Snack pocketChild's height98–122 cm
Capacity12 l
Weight500 g
Hip beltYes
Rain coverIn a pocket at the bottom
Gym Bag
LightestChild's height92–140 cm
Capacity12 l
Weight350 g
Hip beltYes
Rain cover–
Urban Mini
MinimalistChild's height92–122 cm
Capacity10 l
Weight360 g
Hip belt–
Rain coverIn the base
What BECKMANN preschool backpacks have in common
The Classic Mini, Sport Mini and Urban Mini ranges are based on the same ergonomic principles as BECKMANN school backpacks, only adapted to smaller bodies. This is what all four ranges have:
Comfort for small backs
- Padded shoulder straps
- A chest strap that keeps the backpack in place
- Side pocket or bottle holder
Material and warranty
- Water-repellent recycled polyester (rPET)
- Reflective elements
- 4-year warranty
How big should a preschool backpack be?
For preschool, a backpack with a capacity of 10 to 12 litres is enough. It holds a lunch box, a bottle, a change of clothes and a toy. Our BECKMANN preschool backpacks have 10 l (Urban Mini) or 12 l (Classic Mini, Sport Mini, Gym Bag).
What age are preschool backpacks for?
For children at preschool, so roughly from 3 to 6 years old. Height is a more accurate guide than age, though: Classic Mini and Urban Mini are for children roughly 92 to 122 cm tall, Sport Mini 98 to 122 cm.
Which backpack for a forest preschool?
One that has a rain cover and a separate place for the snack. Classic Mini, Sport Mini and Urban Mini have an integrated reflective rain cover, and Sport Mini has a water-resistant compartment for a lunch box. The fabric is water-repellent, but the backpack is not fully waterproof.
Will my child still use the preschool backpack at school?
Yes, especially Gym Bag. It is for children roughly 92 to 140 cm tall and can be clipped onto the Classic, Classic Max and Active AIR FLX school backpacks for grades 1–3. At school it then serves as a backpack for PE and after-school clubs.
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 preschool backpack by your child's height
You'll find all four ranges in one place, including designs that match the school backpacks for first-graders.
BECKMANN preschool backpacks Backpack advisor
Updated: November 2026
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