Lifestyle All the Back to School Gear Kids Need to Start the Year Off in Style The coolest backpacks, supplies, tech accessories and more! By Mackenzie Schmidt Mackenzie Schmidt Mackenzie Schmidt is the Home and Travel Editor for PEOPLE. She's worked at PEOPLE for over five years as a writer and editor on the Lifestyle team. People Editorial Guidelines and Alex Apatoff Alex Apatoff Alex Apatoff is the Executive Editor of PEOPLE Digital. She has worked at the brand since 2010, first on the style and beauty team and now in a cross-departmental role. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 21, 2023 06:58PM EDT Start the school year off in style with the best backpacks, smartest lunch boxes, and coolest accessories for every age, from kindergarten to college-bound. 01 of 16 Throwback Backpack courtesy herschel Send your elementary schooler off with flower power in this cheerful number made with recycled fabrics that comes with a lifetime warranty. Buy It! Herschel "Paper Flowers" bag, $55; herschel.com 02 of 16 Adorable Germ Fighter courtesy bed & Body Works Ex-squeeze-me? Opt for a sanitizer dispenser so cute they'll be excited to show it off (and possibly remember to use it once in a while). Also: It barks! Buy It! Bath and Body Works PocketBac holder, $12.95; bathandbodyworks.com 03 of 16 Cold One courtesy owala Adults are obsessed with the Owala FreeSip bottle — give your kids the same spill-proof, ding-proof, insulated hydration. Buy it! Owala Kids 16 oz. FreeSip, $22.99; target.com 04 of 16 Eco-Friendly Carryall courtesy everlane Made from 100% recycled polyester, the streamlined style is also loaded with pockets—including one hidden in the flap. Buy it! ReNew Transit Backpack, $95; everlane.com 05 of 16 A Smarter Cable Caddy West Elm This set of four cubes is weighted and magnetic to keep cords on the desk and untangled. Buy it! Cable Blocks, $25; function101.com 06 of 16 Don't Purr-get! courtesy Claire's A cat-shaped light-up board is the purr-fect (sorry we can't help ourselves) place to jot down reminders or encouraging notes. Buy it! Cat shaped light-up dry erase board, $11.99 (orig. $19.99); claires.com 07 of 16 Poppin Pencil Case ZIPIT The classroom organizer is topped with kids' favorite fidget toy in durable silicone. Buy it! Zipit Pop Pencil Box, $12; walmart.com 08 of 16 Sound Off courtesy bandolier Perhaps a bright orange pouch with a clip for a backpack or keychain will encourage your teen not to lose her AirPods within the first two weeks of school? Buy It! Bandolier "Avery" AirPod case, $38; bandolier.com 09 of 16 Stay-Cool Lunch Box Packit Stick it in the freezer, and the gel-filled lining turns the whole bag into a long-lasting ice pack. Buy it! Classic Soft Sided Lunch Box, $24.99; packit.com 10 of 16 Tech Protection Baggu Fit for a 16-in. laptop or tablet, this ripstop nylon sleeve is padded for extra insurance against crammed lockers. Buy it! Puffy Laptop Sleeve, $32; baggu.com 11 of 16 Labels That Last Name Bubbles The customizable styles stay stuck on supplies (and clothes) all year. Plus they're dishwasher-, microwave- and laundry-safe. Buy it! Custom Labels, $39 for 89; namebubbles.com 12 of 16 Bright Ideas courtesy target A rainbow planner will cheer up anyone writing down even the dullest homework assignment — and add extra excitement for the fun plans coming this fall. Buy It! Color Me Courtney for Blue Sky planner, $12.99; target.com 13 of 16 Color Your World courtesy muji Supercharge your doodling with double-ended pens in every color you could want from the Japanese basic brand. Buy it! Water Ink Hex Twin Pen 10-piece set, $14.90; muji.com 14 of 16 Multitasking Bag courtesy calpak It's almost impossible not to stay organized with this thoughtfully-designed laptop backpack, which has a sleeve for your tech, plenty of interior pockets and a suitcase handle sleeve at the back. Buy it! Calpak "Kaya" laptop backpack, $138; calpak.com 15 of 16 Plastic-Free Upgrade Ziploc A single reusable silicone sandwich bag will replace countless disposable ones. They can go in the dishwasher, freezer, oven and microwave! Buy it! Ziploc Endurables Medium Pouch, $13, target.com 16 of 16 Inclusive Art Supplies Target This bundle includes 12 crayons and colored pencils for every skin tone — plus all the usual colors of the rainbow. (The company was founded by an 8-year old girl!) Buy it! Bellen's More Than Peach Creativity Pack, $13; target.com Close