My daughter starts middle school next year and on the supply list they say a 3 or 4 inch binder. Which works best? anyone know? I would hate to spend extra money on the 4 inch one to find out the 3 inch one is better.. please post advice here thanks
Rebecca

I would go with a 3-in....in my experience (with boys who aren't very neat and organized ), the big ones just accumulate stuff that they don't actually need anymore and besides being messy, they are incredibly heavy to carry and take up too much space in their backpack.

cj/

we bought a 3 last year

We found a very nice and heavy duty plastic 3-incher at Walgreens.

With a pencil bag and subject dividers inside, it was more than enough to hold absolutely everything.

He carried that thing home every day in his backpack and yes, they get very heavy and bulky by May.


Off topic but... Have any of you found any middle school boy backpack deals? Spiderman and Shrek just don't cut it anymore -- durability is a must!!! Thanks!!!

On the older boy backpacks, I've found that it's worth the investment to get a quality one (LLBean, Jansport, etc) that will last a few years. A leather bottom and heavy duty strap/strapp attachment is key. They really don't seem to care about getting a new backpack each year as they get older (sample size of 2 ) although they are somewhat picky about the color being neutral and the compartments being large enough for their stuff. And the other tactic we use, is to let them start the school year with an old one on its last legs and then get a new one when they go to 75% markdown.
HTH,
cj/

I do the same thing with lunch boxes (for an elementary schooler) -- he starts the year with his raggy lunchbox from last year and he gets a new one when they go 75% off a few weeks later.

Sarah..........

My DD got all through HS with 3" binders, 4" get way too fat! Get the best quality you can afford, the others can't take the abuse.

Either one will fall apart far too quickly. I hate that my kids' school insisted on those huge binders, because they're ridiculously expensive and simply don't last. I'd start with the three inch, it will probably last longer.

When I was at Wal-Mart they had some really nice 3 inch binders...they were like 10 bucks, but I have gotten the for myself and for oldest DD and they have held up well.....in the long run they were cheaper then buying the cheaper binders and replacing them.....

When it comes to backpacks I totally agree with the poster who said LL Bean....We were going through backpacks like candy, and I broke down and bought 4 of these, and they have lasted for the past 2 years and will be used again this school year.....(3 boys, 1 girl)

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I would go with the 3 inch, but I would also check with parents in the area who have students who went to the school to find out which is best. I think that a 4 inch one would be two big. Check ebags on line for backpacks. You can get quality bags combined with good deals.

Definitely get the HEAVY Duty ones. Otherwise, you'll be buying again in a few months, or less

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

For backpacks, try LandsEnd or LL Bean. Quality all the way.
The reason for the 3 and 4 inch binders is supposedly to help the students that aren't organized. This way there's not a binder for each subject, the student can't say oh I picked up the wrong binder etc. From what I hear though, it's really not that big of a help to the students that aren't organized. Either you're organized by jr. high or you're not.
BTW, what grades are you talking about for middle school? Here it's 5-6.

Middle school here is 6-8....quite a difference in the incoming 6th graders and 8th graders. Kind of scary for the young ones, at least at first. Because of the big maturity difference between these ages, the 6th graders are mostly isolated in their own "quad" for all classes. 7th and 8th graders share P.E. periods, and share lockers. 6th graders have their own periods for P.E. (JUST 6th graders) and do not have to share lockers.

__________________
"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

One good thing about Jansport/Eastpack is that they offer a lifetime warranty. If it rips or comes apart under normal wear (ie-you didn't run over it with the car) you send it back and they fix it for free or replace it. We've done it a few times.

__________________
This space for rent

Thank you !!! you have all been a great help. Also thanks for the advice on backpacks. I usually get jansport but think I will try ebags for one this year or llbean.

LLBean has a similar lifetime warranty on its products. My husband (ab)uses it - has had things replaced after 15 years! (Personally, at that point, I think he's got his money's worth...)

cj/

So does Lands End. DS's pack had some stitching coming loose and they replaced, sight unseen.

Just checked the Jansport website, they are having a 60% off on their durable backpacks. Here's the link:
JanSport Clearance includes JanSport Air Vital (Clearance), JanSport Air Logic

Best of luck

Here is a tip that I tell my kids who go off to middle school...

Buy the binders with d rings instead of o rings. They last a million times longer. Yes, they are more $$, but most likely you will not have to replace it during the year.

OK, Silly question--- what's a d ring?

Holly

__________________
Forgiveness is love in its most noble form. -Anonymous

Think about the rings in the middle of the notebook. A d ring notebook is flat on one side and attached to the cover differently. The o ring is the usual notebook which is rounded.