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    Colorful school supplies and backpack in bright classroom setting
    Home/Guides/Kids School & Gear
    R
    By Renee, R3 Founder
    2026 Guide
    12 min read
    Updated Feb 2026

    The Complete Guide to Safer School Supplies

    Research-backed recommendations for backpacks, school essentials, lunchboxes, and kids electronics. Products that are safe, durable, and designed for daily school use.

    See Top PicksShopping Guide

    12+

    Products Tested

    4

    Categories Covered

    24+

    Research Hours

    100%

    Independent

    The Quick Take

    What you need to know

    Looking for the best kids school & gear products? We've done the research so you don't have to. Our 2026 picks focus on what actually matters—safety, performance, and value—backed by real testing and transparent methodology.

    Kids use school supplies every single day for years—backpacks that carry their world, lunchboxes that hold their food, and electronics for learning. These products need to be safe, durable, and practical. We've tested and researched the options that meet all three criteria.

    R

    Testing Notes from Renee

    "We've analyzed 160+ kids school products focusing on material safety, durability testing, and age-appropriate design. Our recommendations avoid products with concerning chemicals while prioritizing real-world performance."

    Kids Backpacks
    School Essentials
    Kids Gear
    Kids Electronics

    Top Kids Backpacks

    Our highest-rated picks based on safety, efficacy, and value

    View All Rankings
    #1 Top Pick
    Daylite Kids Backpack
    8.9

    Osprey

    Daylite Kids Backpack

    9.09.28.5
    $55.00Excellent
    View Full Review
    #2 Runner Up
    Kids Backpack
    8.8

    Deuter

    Kids Backpack

    9.19.38.0
    $55.00Excellent
    View Full Review
    #3 Third Place
    Original Book Pack
    8.8

    L.L. Bean

    Original Book Pack

    9.39.09.2
    $44.95Excellent
    View Full Review
    See All Kids Backpacks Rankings

    Top School Essentials

    Our highest-rated picks based on safety, efficacy, and value

    View All Rankings
    #1 Top Pick
    World Colors Colored EcoPencils 27-Pack
    9.0

    Faber-Castell

    World Colors Colored EcoPencils 27-Pack

    9.49.28.6
    $16.99Exceptional
    View Full Review
    #2 Runner Up
    Envirostiks Pre-Sharpened Pencils 12-Pack
    8.8

    Ticonderoga

    Envirostiks Pre-Sharpened Pencils 12-Pack

    9.29.08.8
    $5.99Excellent
    View Full Review
    #3 Third Place
    Summit Kids 14oz Water Bottle
    8.8

    Simple Modern

    Summit Kids 14oz Water Bottle

    9.09.09.2
    $19.99Excellent
    View Full Review
    See All School Essentials Rankings

    Top Kids Gear

    Our highest-rated picks based on safety, efficacy, and value

    View All Rankings
    #1 Top Pick
    The Good Kiind Explorer Stainless Steel Lunch Box
    8.7

    The Good Kiind

    The Good Kiind Explorer Stainless Steel Lunch Box

    9.99.59.2
    $99.99Excellent
    View Full Review
    #2 Runner Up
    LunchBots Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container
    8.6

    LunchBots

    LunchBots Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    9.88.88.4
    $39.95Excellent
    View Full Review
    #3 Third Place
    PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Lunch Box
    8.6

    PlanetBox

    PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Lunch Box

    9.98.88.5
    $69.95Excellent
    View Full Review
    See All Kids Gear Rankings

    Top Kids Electronics

    Our highest-rated picks based on safety, efficacy, and value

    View All Rankings
    #1 Top Pick
    Amazon Kindle Kids (2024)
    9.1

    Amazon

    Amazon Kindle Kids (2024)

    9.78.910.0
    $129.99Exceptional
    View Full Review
    #2 Runner Up
    Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2023)
    8.5

    Amazon

    Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2023)

    9.08.49.2
    $189.99Excellent
    View Full Review
    #3 Third Place
    Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet Kids ANC Headphones
    8.5

    Puro Sound Labs

    Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet Kids ANC Headphones

    9.59.07.0
    $99.99Excellent
    View Full Review
    See All Kids Electronics Rankings

    Why Kids School & Gear Deserve Your Attention

    School supplies aren't glamorous, but they're among the most-used items in a child's life. A backpack gets loaded, unloaded, dropped, and dragged through 180+ school days per year. Lunchboxes hold food at variable temperatures for hours. Art supplies and writing instruments go from hands to mouths constantly.

    Many conventional school products contain materials of concern—PFAS in water-resistant backpack fabrics, BPA in plastic containers, phthalates in vinyl binders and lunch bags. These aren't hypothetical exposures; they're daily contact.

    The good news: the market has responded. Brands now offer PFAS-free backpacks, stainless steel lunchboxes, and school supplies that pass safety testing. Often these products are also more durable, saving money long-term.

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    Why Kids School & Gear Deserve Your Attention

    School supplies aren't glamorous, but they're among the most-used items in a child's life. A backpack gets loaded, unloaded, dropped, and dragged through 180+ school days per year. Lunchboxes hold food at variable temperatures for hours. Art supplies and writing instruments go from hands to mouths constantly.

    Many conventional school products contain materials of concern—PFAS in water-resistant backpack fabrics, BPA in plastic containers, phthalates in vinyl binders and lunch bags. These aren't hypothetical exposures; they're daily contact.

    The good news: the market has responded. Brands now offer PFAS-free backpacks, stainless steel lunchboxes, and school supplies that pass safety testing. Often these products are also more durable, saving money long-term.

    “Kids interact with school supplies for 6-8 hours daily. The backpack they carry, the lunchbox that holds their food—these products deserve the same scrutiny as anything else in their daily routine.”
    — Renee, R3 Founder

    What to Watch For in School Products

    School supplies have unique concerns based on how kids actually use them.

    1

    PFAS in Water-Resistant Fabrics

    Many backpacks use PFAS-based treatments for water resistance. These "forever chemicals" can rub off on hands and don't break down in the environment.

    What to Look For

    Look for brands explicitly marketing PFAS-free fabrics. Waxed canvas or naturally water-resistant materials are alternatives. Some water resistance can be sacrificed for safety.

    2

    Lunchbox Material Contact

    Food sits in lunchboxes for hours, often at varying temperatures. Plastic containers can leach chemicals, especially with acidic foods or temperature changes.

    What to Look For

    Stainless steel is the gold standard for food contact. If using plastic, ensure BPA-free and phthalate-free claims with certification. Avoid heating food in plastic containers.

    3

    Art Supply Ingredients

    Crayons, markers, and paints often end up on skin and sometimes in mouths. Some contain heavy metals, solvents, or unlisted chemicals.

    What to Look For

    Look for ACMI AP (Approved Product) certification, which indicates the product has been evaluated by a toxicologist. Choose water-based over solvent-based when possible.

    4

    Kids Electronics Screen Time + Safety

    Kids tablets and devices combine material safety concerns (plastic housings) with content and usage considerations (screen time, eye strain).

    What to Look For

    Focus on devices with good parental controls and durable cases. Blue light filters for evening use. Material safety is less concerning than with food-contact items.

    How to Shop This Category

    Prioritize based on exposure level and replacement frequency.

    1. 1

      Invest in a quality backpack—it's used daily for years

      A good backpack lasts multiple school years. Look for PFAS-free fabrics, ergonomic design, and durability. This is worth spending more on.

    2. 2

      Upgrade the lunchbox to stainless steel

      Daily food contact for hours. Stainless steel is more durable than plastic and eliminates leaching concerns. It's a one-time upgrade that lasts through elementary school.

    3. 3

      Choose certified art supplies

      ACMI AP certification covers safety. Beyond that, water-based options reduce solvent exposure. For young kids who still mouth things, this matters more.

    4. 4

      Electronics: focus on durability and controls

      Kids are rough on devices. A good case and screen protector prevent replacements. Parental controls matter more than marginal material differences.

    Quick Wins

    Changes you can make today

    Replace plastic lunch containers with stainless steel. One-time investment, years of safer food storage.

    Check your child's crayons and markers for ACMI AP certification—it should be printed on the package.

    Add a case and screen protector to any kids' tablet immediately. Prevents costly replacements.

    Look at your backpack's fabric tag—avoid anything mentioning "water-resistant treatment" without PFAS-free claims.

    Browse Kids School & Gear

    Explore our research-backed recommendations by category

    Kids Backpacks

    3+ reviewedTop score: 8.9

    Ergonomic, durable backpacks with PFAS-free fabrics and proper weight distribution.

    Why it matters: Carried daily for years. Direct skin contact. Fabric treatments transfer to hands.

    Top PicksBuying Guide

    School Essentials

    3+ reviewedTop score: 9.0

    Pencils, crayons, notebooks, and supplies with safety certifications.

    Why it matters: Constant hand contact. Young kids mouth supplies. Choose certified safe options.

    Top PicksBuying Guide

    Kids Gear

    3+ reviewedTop score: 8.7

    Lunchboxes, water bottles, and daily-use items in safe materials.

    Why it matters: Direct food and drink contact. Temperature exposure increases leaching risk.

    Top PicksBuying Guide

    Kids Electronics

    3+ reviewedTop score: 9.1

    Tablets, e-readers, and educational devices with parental controls.

    Why it matters: Daily use for learning. Focus on durability and appropriate content controls.

    Top PicksBuying Guide

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Expert answers to common questions about kids school & gear

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Questions I get asked most often

    We use a strict, three-pillar scoring methodology for every item in our kids school & gear hub: Safety (40%), Efficacy (30%), and Value (30%). Our process prioritizes verified material purity and structural integrity over brand marketing.

    Yes. We screen products in the kids school & gear category for known endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, PFAS, and harmful phthalates. Only products that meet our baseline Toxicological Standard are eligible for recommendation.

    Never. R3 is completely independently funded. We purchase the products we test or evaluate them through unbiased clinical research. Brands cannot pay to alter their scores or rankings in our kids school & gear guides.

    Unlike traditional review sites that focus mostly on features or user reviews, we lead with toxicology and pediatric science. We translate complex safety data into actionable kids school & gear recommendations for busy parents.

    We continuously monitor the market and update our kids school & gear recommendations whenever material formulations change, new clinical safety research emerges, or regulatory standards (like FDA or EPA guidelines) are updated.

    Our research shows that price is not a reliable indicator of safety. Through our Value scoring (30%), we frequently identify mid-tier kids school & gear products that match or exceed the safety profiles of luxury brands.

    We recommend prioritizing verifiable third-party certifications such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Greenguard Gold, or NSF/ANSI over unregulated marketing terms like "natural" or "organic" when shopping for kids school & gear products.

    We rely heavily on our community to identify new items for testing. You can use our product request form to suggest specific kids school & gear brands, and our research team will prioritize them based on demand.

    Continue Exploring

    Best Kids BackpacksKids Backpacks Buying GuideBest School EssentialsSchool Essentials Buying GuideBest Kids GearKids Gear Buying GuideBest Kids ElectronicsKids Electronics Buying GuideHow We Score Products
    R3

    R3 Editorial Team

    Independent Product Research

    Zero Paid Placements
    Lab-Verified Claims
    Hands-On Testing

    All products in our kids-school guides are scored using R3's weighted methodology: Safety (40%), Efficacy (30%), and Value (30%). We independently research and evaluate products without accepting payment for rankings. Learn about our methodology.

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