by Yolanda Palmer

Created on: August 23, 2009

August has finally come now it's time to start preparing for a new school year. Now that means buying new back-to-school stuff. Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested lunch boxes, backpacks and snacks trying to figure out the best products. They even offered up tips on how to select a good pair of shoes and how to even make those supplies last.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute had 21 backpacks tested out by 25 kids and they chose two. They chose the Borealis by the North Face and Cordura Study Haul by Land's End. The Borealis has the best combination of durability and performance. It has great water resistance and abrasion. There is even extra padding on the bottom of the bag for when the kids place them down on the floor it offers plenty of packing capacity and cushioning, which will make it very comfortable when the kids wear it. This bag retails for $69 so it pays to invest in a good one if you want a bag to last a couple of years.

The Cordura Study Haul bag by Land's End is also great with pack ability. It was able to accommodate 15 pounds easily and it was the only bag able to do so. I would recommend this bag for younger children since it has one big compartment in the middle that makes it easier to open and close. It even has little compartments on the side of the bag that makes it perfect for packing the little things. The only flaw is that it is not water resistant and doesn't offer as much padding as the Borealls.

When you pick a bag make sure the straps are snug on your child's shoulders. Don't just let your child pick a bag that looks nice to them. The backpack should also be centered, and should not e able to go below the waist causing the child back pain. If the backpack has straps that can connect around the waist make sure your child uses them. They should use both shoulders to carry their bag not just one. The bag needs to weigh no more than 15 to 20 percent of your child's body weight.

When you go to buy shoes for your child make sure you don't go for the cheapest. Cheap shoes are usually very stiff for the everyday wear. The best sneakers have flexible leather soles. Go to a shoe store that will be capable of fitting your child to get shoes. The shoes can either have laces or Velcro. The shoe should not be made of all mesh, but it can have some mesh and leather. There should be leather across the toes and the sides of the shoes. Water and stain repellant spray can protect your shoes and backpack and make them last longer.

Good Housekeeping Institute had 26 lunch boxes tested. The lunch box that did the best job at insulating was the L.L. Bean Flip-Top lunch box. Try to find a lunch box that stays cold at 40 degrees or lower for at least a couple of hours. The L.L. Bean Flip-Top lunch box kept food cold for three hours. It has a compartment on the top for a juice box and it has a shoulder strap. The second lunch box they choose was Tortuga from Built. The Tortuga was insulated just as well as the L.L. Bean's, and it was machine washable. They also tested snacks for healthiness and popularity among kids. Snikiddy Chocolate Chippers came in portion- controlled packets and the kids loved them. Then there was the Quaker Simple Harvest Chewy Granola Bars which had whole grain and no corn syrup. The last snack that had high approval rating was Aunt Trudy's Fillo Pocket Sandwiches. These are good for after school snacking. They were even highly approved by the kids.

They will discuss the various options when buying school supplies. They will determine which ones are more beneficial. They will determine what products have the best durability.

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