LÄSSIG Children's Hiking Backpack Review: a practical 14L daypack that kids can actually carry

I’ve been using this LÄSSIG 14L children’s hiking backpack with my kid for a few weeks now, mostly for short hikes and trips to the park and forest. I’m not a gear nerd, I just wanted something that my child can carry without moaning after 10 minutes, that doesn’t soak through at the first bit of rain, and that isn’t covered in cartoon characters they’ll hate in six months. On paper, this one ticked a lot of boxes: 14L capacity, chest strap, water‑repellent fabric, and only about 460 g empty.

In practice, I’d say it’s a pretty solid everyday outdoor backpack for kids, with a few quirks you should know about before buying. It’s clearly designed with hiking and forest school in mind: big main compartment, side pockets for bottles, and even a rain cover and seat pad (depending on the variant/kit). The brand markets it as suitable from age 3, but realistically it fits better from about 4–5 years if you want the kid to actually carry it loaded.

We mainly used it for: nursery runs, weekend walks (1–3 hours), and a couple of day trips with snacks, spare clothes, and a small soft toy. I loaded it on purpose to see when my kid starts complaining. With a water bottle, lunch box, light jacket and a book, they were still fine. Once I added heavier stuff (big bottle + extra clothes), the weight was more an issue than the straps themselves.

Overall, it’s not perfect and there are cheaper options, but it does feel more thought‑through than the usual random kids’ backpack off Amazon. If you’re looking for something for proper outdoor use rather than just a school bag, it’s worth considering—but you need to know what you’re paying for and what you’re not getting (like tons of inner organisation or a rigid frame).

Price‑wise, this LÄSSIG backpack usually sits above the bargain‑bin cartoon bags but below premium outdoor brands like Deuter or Osprey kids’ packs. So it’s in that middle zone where you expect something clearly better than supermarket stuff, but you’re not paying top‑tier hiking brand prices either. For what you get—recycled materials, padded straps and back, chest strap, coated base, rain cover, and a decent 14L capacity—I’d say the value is pretty good, but not mind‑blowing.

If you only want a bag to carry a teddy and a snack to grandma’s once a week, this is probably overkill. You could grab a cheap 10–15€ backpack and call it a day. Where this one starts to make sense is if your kid does: forest school, regular hikes, or daily nursery with outdoor time in all weather. In that context, the better comfort, water resistance, and durability actually matter, because otherwise you’ll just end up buying a second cheap backpack when the first one falls apart or your kid refuses to wear it because it hurts.

Compared to a proper kids’ hiking backpack from big outdoor brands, the LÄSSIG is usually cheaper but a bit simpler in features (less internal organisation, no hip belt, fewer adjustment points). For a small child, that’s honestly fine; they don’t need a full technical pack. The Amazon rating of 4.7/5 lines up with my impression: most people are happy with it, with the main comments being about good quality and practical extras like the rain cover and seat pad.

If I had to sum it up: there are cheaper options that will work for light use, and there are more advanced (and pricier) options for serious mountain families. This one sits in a nice middle spot. You pay a bit more than for a random kids’ bag, but you get a backpack that is actually comfortable to carry, built with kids’ outdoor use in mind, and likely to last more than one season. I’d call the value good but not outstanding—worth it if your kid is outside a lot, less compelling if it’s just for occasional use.

Design‑wise, LÄSSIG went for a clean, outdoorsy look instead of plastering characters all over it, which I appreciate. The purple colour is modern and neutral enough that it doesn’t feel babyish. Shape is rectangular and tall rather than wide, which helps it sit better on a small back. The front is pretty plain, with some small design details from the Little Gang collection, but nothing too loud. My kid liked that it “looks like a real hiking backpack like adults have”, which helped convince them to actually wear it.

The main closure is a click/snap buckle rather than a classic zipper top. That has pros and cons. Good side: my kid can open and close it alone with mittens or wet hands, and there’s less risk of a broken zipper at the top. Downside: you don’t get a full wide opening like a school backpack, so smaller items can get lost at the bottom, and if the bag is overstuffed it’s a bit fiddly to close. For a 4–6 year old, though, it’s manageable after a couple of tries.

The side pockets are deep enough to hold a normal kids’ bottle without it falling out every two seconds, which is more than I can say for half the kids’ backpacks we’ve owned. The elastic is not crazy tight, so a very slim bottle might wobble a bit, but standard bottles sit fine. The external loops are handy: we’ve used them to hook on a lightweight jacket with a carabiner and to clip a small torch. That keeps the inside free for snacks and clothes.

If I nitpick, the lack of a small zip pocket (inside or outside) is a bit annoying. There is a zip compartment count listed as 1 in the specs, but in use, organisation still feels basic: no obvious safe place for keys or small treasures kids pick up. A tiny front zip pocket or inner mesh pocket would make the design more practical. Overall, though, the design is functional, looks decent, and doesn’t scream “this will be outgrown in six months”.

Comfort was my main concern, because if the backpack isn’t comfortable, you’ll end up carrying it. The padded shoulder straps are thicker and softer than what you see on basic character backpacks. They’re not as chunky as adult hiking packs, but they do spread the weight nicely. My kid used it loaded with a bottle, lunch box, light fleece, and some random toys for a 2‑hour walk without complaining about the straps digging in.

The chest strap is a big plus. It keeps the shoulder straps from sliding off those narrow little shoulders, especially when they’re wearing a slippery rain jacket. It’s height‑adjustable, so you can move it up or down depending on your child’s size. We started with it a bit too high and it felt awkward, but once lowered it sat comfortably across the chest. My kid could clip and unclip it alone after a couple of tries. There’s no hip belt, which is normal at this size, but that also means you shouldn’t overload it like an adult pack.

The padded back panel is simple but effective. There’s no fancy ventilation system, but it’s definitely more comfortable than a flat unpadded back. On a warm day, my kid’s back did get a bit sweaty, but nothing extreme. The backpack’s height (38 cm) means that on a very small 3‑year‑old it can look a bit tall; I’d say the sweet spot is from around 100–105 cm height upwards. Below that, they can wear it, but it looks a bit long and the bottom may sit on their bum when fully loaded.

In practice, when the bag is kept within a reasonable weight—say: 0.5–1.5 kg of stuff—it’s comfortable and stable for a kid. When I tried to cram in more (big water bottle + spare shoes + heavy book), my kid started complaining after 20 minutes, but that’s more about load than the backpack design. For what it’s meant for—day hikes, forest school, nursery gear—the comfort and fit are perfectly fine, and miles better than generic kids’ bags with thin strings pretending to be straps.

The backpack is made from 100% recycled polyester, with a PFC‑free water‑repellent treatment. In everyday terms: the fabric feels like medium‑weight nylon/poly you see on normal hiking bags, not the thin shiny stuff you get on cheap cartoon backpacks. It’s not stiff, but it has enough structure that the bag stands up reasonably well when there’s something inside. The lining is also polyester and doesn’t feel like it will tear the first time a toy with a rough edge goes in.

Stitching and seams on mine look clean. I checked the usual weak points—where the shoulder straps attach, the top handle, and the bottom corners. No loose threads, and after a few weeks of being thrown on the floor, dragged a bit, and used as an impromptu seat, nothing is fraying. The coated bottom is especially useful: we’ve put it down on damp grass and muddy ground and it wipes clean with a cloth. It’s not magic, but compared to uncoated fabric bottoms that soak up every bit of dirt, this is a clear step up.

Water resistance is decent. We had light rain for about 20–30 minutes without the rain cover, and the inside stayed dry. In heavier rain, I used the neon rain cover and that kept everything protected. I wouldn’t trust the bare fabric alone for a full hour in a downpour, but for normal showers and wet playground equipment, it’s fine. Calling it fully “waterproof” in the specs feels a bit optimistic; I’d stick with water‑repellent plus a good rain cover.

Compared with some cheaper kids’ packs we tried before, this one feels more robust but still light. At 0.46 kg, it doesn’t add a ton of weight before you even pack anything. That matters when the carrier is a 4–6 year old. It’s not bomb‑proof mountaineering gear, but for forest school, hikes, and daily nursery use, the materials feel well chosen. If your kid is very rough with their stuff, I’d still expect scuffs over time, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Kids aren’t gentle with their stuff, and my child is no exception. In a few weeks, this backpack has been: dragged on the ground, used as a pillow, sat on, shoved under benches, and dropped in the mud. So far, no visible damage beyond normal dirt marks. The fabric hasn’t pilled or torn, and the colour hasn’t faded despite some sun exposure. For a soft‑shell polyester pack, that’s reassuring.

The stress points—strap attachments, top grab handle, and side pockets—look intact. I pulled pretty hard on the straps myself to see if anything felt loose; nothing did. The side pockets have been stretched by overstuffed bottles, but the elastic still holds them snug. The coated base has taken most of the abuse: mud, gravel, wet grass. It does get scratched a bit if you drag it over rough stones, but that’s cosmetic and expected. A quick wipe with a damp cloth cleans it up decently; you don’t need to baby it.

Zippers and buckles are always the first to go on cheap bags. On this one, the zips are smooth and haven’t snagged yet. The main click buckle is plastic but feels solid, not the brittle kind that cracks in cold weather. My kid fidgets with it constantly and it still clicks fine. Long term, I could see the water‑repellent coating slowly losing effectiveness after many washes or heavy use, like any DWR, but with the included rain cover you’re not relying on the coating alone anyway.

Obviously I can’t pretend I’ve tested it for years, but compared with other kids’ backpacks we’ve owned, this one feels like it will last at least through one full kid’s early years, possibly more if you don’t completely trash it. It’s not indestructible, but for the price bracket and weight, durability seems good. If you’re planning to use it for forest school five days a week, I’d say it’s up to the task as long as you don’t overload it or expect it to survive knife‑sharp rocks on a daily basis.

In actual use, the backpack does what it’s supposed to: carry a kid’s gear without fuss. For a typical half‑day outing, we pack: a 0.4–0.5 L bottle in a side pocket, lunch box, small snack, lightweight jacket, hat, and a soft toy. All this fits easily with room to spare. The 14L capacity is enough for a full set of spare clothes for nursery or forest school, plus snacks and a small towel. You’re not fitting a big binder or loads of A4 folders in there comfortably, so as a primary school backpack it’s only so‑so, but that’s not really the point of this model.

The main compartment access is okay but not ideal for constant in‑and‑out during a walk. Because it’s a lid with a click buckle, kids tend to just stuff everything on top of everything. If you need something from the bottom, you end up taking half the contents out. For a young child, that’s actually fine—they’re not exactly organising their gear anyway. For parents, it just means you plan what goes where: heavy stuff at the bottom, snacks closer to the top. The lack of extra inner pockets makes it simple but slightly chaotic.

Water resistance and durability in the field have been good. We’ve had the backpack on damp forest floor, in light rain, and rubbing against rough bark and playground equipment. No tears so far, zips and buckles still work smoothly, and the base cleans up well with a quick wipe. The reflective elements are small but visible in headlights or bike lights, and the neon rain cover really stands out on grey days. That’s reassuring if your kid walks near roads in the dark months.

Compared to a cheap supermarket kids’ backpack we used before, the LÄSSIG clearly holds up better outside. The old one sagged horribly when loaded and the straps dug into the shoulders; this one keeps its shape better and rides closer to the back. It’s not some high‑end technical pack, but for normal family hikes and daily nursery or kindergarten use, its performance is solid. The main downside is organisation: if you like lots of pockets and compartments, you might find it a bit too basic.

On the spec sheet, this backpack is a 14‑litre children’s daypack made of recycled polyester, with a chest strap, padded shoulder straps, padded back, water‑repellent finish and a couple of side pockets. Dimensions are 25.5 x 13.5 x 38 cm, and the weight is around 0.46 kg. It’s marketed for kids aged 3+ and targeted at hiking / forest nursery / outdoor activities. The one I have is the purple version, which is more of a muted purple rather than a flashy neon. That’s quite nice if you’re tired of loud cartoon designs.

The layout is simple: one large main compartment with a click/snap closure (not a full wrap‑around zipper like a school bag), two elasticated side pockets for bottles or an umbrella, and some external loops where you can attach a jacket or small gear with a carabiner. There’s also a coated, wipe‑clean base, which in real life just means you don’t freak out when they dump it on wet ground or mud. The product is listed as water‑repellent and even “waterproof” in the specs, but I’d personally treat it as water‑resistant, not a dry bag.

For safety and visibility, there are reflectors on the backpack and a neon rain cover (stashed in the lid) on some versions. That rain cover is honestly one of the most useful extras; we got caught in a shower once and it kept the contents dry. Inside, organisation is minimal—no fancy laptop sleeve or multiple small internal pockets. It’s basically a big bucket with a lid, which is actually easier for younger kids who just throw everything in anyway.

Compared with random supermarket kids’ backpacks we had before, this one clearly targets outdoor use more than school use. It feels more like a mini hiking pack than a cartoon school bag. If you’re after something with pencil holders, homework folders and a flat bottom for textbooks, this is not it. If you want a simple, light bag for spare clothes, snacks and outdoor gear, the overall package makes sense.