Compare Kids Backpacks
Deuter Kikki Kids' Backpack scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Deuter Kikki Kids' Backpack 8.3/10 and the The North Face Youth Recon Squash Backpack 6.3/10 on the same kids backpacks scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The Deuter Kikki Kids' Backpack comes out ahead, led by its safety score (8.2/10 vs 6.1/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Deuter Kikki Kids' Backpack vs The North Face Youth Recon Squash Backpack.
Unlock the full Deuter Kikki Kids' Backpack vs The North Face Youth Recon Squash Backpack breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want the lowest-chemical-exposure daypack for a preschool or early-grade child and value bluesign-verified PVC and phthalate-free construction
You want a featherweight pack, about 308 grams empty, so almost all of the carry budget goes to what your child actually packs
You want full load support sized for a small child: padded adjustable straps, a structured back panel, and a chest strap that keeps the pack from swinging
You want a durable, warranty-backed pack you can hand down rather than replace every school year
You care most about how a pack sits on a growing child's back and want padded straps, a structured back panel, and a real chest strap
You want a buy-once, durable bag backed by a lifetime warranty
You prefer a brand that has moved its kids' packs off forever-chemical water repellents
You like a recycled-fabric body and are comfortable at a mid-range price around sixty-five dollars
The main thing to know
This is the cleanest kids backpack we scored on chemicals, but two of its assurances rest on disclosure rather than an independent lab test on this exact pack. The forever-chemical-free claim comes from Deuter and the bluesign program, not from a lab that tested the Kikki, and the lead in the hardware rests on the federal children's-product limit rather than a published Deuter test result.
How this pack carries is excellent, and the brand has clearly stepped away from the forever-chemical finishes. The catch is transparency: it never states whether any prints or coatings contain PVC or phthalates, and it never publishes the empty weight, so two things a careful parent would want to confirm are simply not disclosed.
Skip this if you...
You will only buy a pack with its own independent forever-chemical lab result; this exact model has not been lab-tested for fluorine
You want a published lead-free test on the zippers and hardware rather than reliance on the federal children's-product limit
You need a full hip or waist belt to carry heavier loads, since this pack stops at a chest strap
You will not buy a children's pack without a published PVC- and phthalate-free declaration
You want the empty weight on paper before you trust it against the carry limit for a smaller child
You only buy bags with an independent, lab-verified clean test rather than a brand-level claim
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Kids Backpacks options at every price pointEvery Kids Backpacks in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Deuter and The North Face across 3 independent criteria: Safety (94%), Efficacy (5%), Usability (1%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Deuter Deuter Kikki Kids' Backpack - it scored 8.3/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Kids Backpacks across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects how we weight those three pillars, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
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