# JanSport backpack

11 Hacker News commenters recommended JanSport backpack and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 15 years (5 owners).

**Verdict:** Owners report backpacks lasting over ten years, making them a durable school bag; critics say recent ones use thinner fabric and cheaper hardware.

## Why people recommend it

- Lasts 10 to 20 years (4 comments): "It has minor wear and tear but works great after >10 years." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46950102)) "Still using it almost 30 years after originally buying it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46953419)) "mine has lasted me 15+ years at this point" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48318196))
- Holds up to heavy daily use (2 comments): "$35 for a Jansport for a school kid who will brutalize their pack regardless is probably a much better value" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47782175)) "the one to get if you actually wanted your bag to survive" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47780927))
- Iconic classic school bag (2 comments): "For me the iconic school bag will always be the JanSport." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48314797)) "I had a JanSport bag all through elementary school" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47779334))

## What people warn about

- Quality has declined in recent years (3 comments): "By the mid 2010's, they were in full decline, and that's about when I stopped recommending their stuff." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47781136)) "a JanSport backpack doesn't deliver on quality" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47782166)) "Thinner fabric. Cheaper hardware." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47780993))
- Cheap hardware, zippers break (2 comments): "Thinner fabric. Cheaper hardware." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47780993)) "After a year, its zipper broke." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47781690))
- Seen as budget, mediocre brand (2 comments): "JanSport was always a budget-ish / not great brand from what I remember." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47780117)) "They're all the same mediocre product made by the same PE group." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47780323))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L](https://hackerapproved.com/p/peak-design-backpack.md): 6 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=JanSport+backpack&tag=YOURTAG-20) (affiliate link)
- [Official site](https://www.jansport.com/en-us)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "JanSport backpack", https://hackerapproved.com/p/jansport-backpack/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).