Drop your recommendations for the following

  • Pens (ballpoint, gel, fountain)
  • metal ruler
  • water bottle
  • backpack
  • pe bag (duffel or drawstring)
  • Scissors
  • Keyboard and mouse
  • Laptop
  • lunch box
  • wallet
  • lever arch folders
  • sharpener
  • power bank

Thanks

  • CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    12·
    3 months ago

    I’ve heard good things about Fjallraven bags, but not sure about the school applicability.

    Scissors, I’m a fan of the Fiskars kids scissors. Small and still pretty good performance.

    Avoid the laptop; they’re just no good for learning. But if it’s absolutely required the MacBook Neo has performance for most student applications. No computer is BIFL.

    • skarn@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      11·
      3 months ago

      Indeed, laptops and even more so power banks, strike me as some of the least BIFL products in existence. Only Smartphones and wireless a earbuds might be worse.

      If the child is amenable, a used thinkpad with Linux will keep running smoothly basically forever, take a beating, and be serviceable.

      And get them in all kind of arguments over office formats.

      • erebion@news.erebion.euEnglish
        3·
        3 months ago

        Indeed, laptops and even more so power banks, strike me as some of the least BIFL products in existence

        Not literally “for life”, sure, but high quality powerbanks can last a long time.

        Mine will turn 10 years old in a couple weeks, I see no signs of aging yet.

      • SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        1·
        13 days ago

        I have a 21800mah (edit: it’s 26800) Anker power bank from like 2015 that is by far the most reliable power bank I’ve ever had or seen. I have older and newer banks die, even others from Anker, but not that one. It doesn’t have PD, only quickcharge 2.0 (edit: 3.0) or something, it’s like a green label on that port. It’s enough to sustain my Samsung ultra phone like 3-5x+ completely, still, after all these years. I do try not to leave it in really hot or cold places though, like in the car. It IS like a flat half of an actual brick, though, and the body is actual metal.

        Looked it up, I think it’s this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K6TA748

        I’m blown away that the product even still has a listing on Amazon, even if it might be discontinued (not sure). If you CAN get this battery, I give it (and only it) an absolute 10/10 rating. Just don’t expect to charge anything like a laptop, Switch, or even a Steam Deck at normal speed. Phones, though? Chefs kiss.

        Edit2: looked around a little bit, and it does seem to be discontinued. I wouldn’t buy from ebay or a used one, but I don’t think I’d sell mine. Not even for a thousand dollars. That sounds crazy, but when I need a reliable bank for a road trip or camping, having a really reliable battery pack is worth a FUCKTON of time testing and finding a good product, that I’m just not excited to try again any time soon. Reliability in something like this is worth a lot to me.

    • BurntWits@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      3·
      3 months ago

      I’ve got a smaller Fjallraven backpack. It’s very well made but I find the straps uncomfortable if it’s pretty well packed. If OP is just carrying around a laptop and a couple small things, it’s a great bag, but if they’re bringing all their books and a large water bottle and all that, I think their shoulders will get tired quickly.

        • BurntWits@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          3·
          3 months ago

          They should sell strap pads if they don’t already. I think that would be a good idea and I’d buy a pack for my bag. I’d love to be able to use mine more, but the thin straps with zero padding really isn’t the most comfortable design.

          • dominotheory@midwest.socialEnglish
            2·
            3 months ago

            They do sell strap pads now! I have a 17" for travel and a 15" that did duty as a diaper bag/daypack. Got pads for both and it’s been such an improvement. They used to be uncomfortable to wear for long stretches, but now I can wear them much more comfortable on long travel days/hikes. They are well made, I expect them to last a long time and be patchable. My kiddo is starting kindergarten in a couple months and we’ll start with the mini pack that’s been the daycare/preschool bag - though last I checked the one-size strap pads that were available didn’t fit that size bag.

    • Serinus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      3 months ago

      Not happy about the Neo going up $100. $700 is a lot to spend on a young kid’s school laptop.