The big return to the wild of the schoolyard requires a balance of cool versus practical. Use our handy curated guide to unearth the most durable lunchtime accessories & trending technical apparel to conquer the classroom in style.

Insulated Kid Classic 12 ounce - Klean Kanteen
The INSULATED KID CLASSIC 12 oz bottle from Klean Kanteen keeps hot and cold drinks at the right temperature. Chip resistant paint = stainless steel = no broken bottles, and of course, no plastic! Just tie it to a backpack with the loop on the spill-proof cap.

Pop Quiz Lunch Box - Herschel Supply Co
Always expect design-driven quality bags and accessible prices from Canada’s Herschel Supply Co - even from lunch bags. The Pop Quiz Lunch Box fits your coolest bento box AND inside a bigger backpack (think less stuff lost). Lined plastic inside is a cinch to wipe clean.

The Legendary Food Jar & Spork - Stanley
No microwave? No problem! This food jar keeps last night's leftovers warm all day. It comes with an integrated steel spork and it's dishwasher-safe. 

Fluf Zip Lunch - Fluf

Three things make this bag a smart pick: it's machine washable, it’s roomy, and it's made out of organic cotton. With an ice pack inside, the zipper keeps everything chilled. It’s easy to clean and machine washable (tuna and egg sandwiches!). And the lining is water-resistant.

Tritan Wide Mouth 16 oz Bottle - Nalgene
This water bottle is not like the others: the large opening accommodates ice cubes, fits most water purifiers and filters, and easy to hand-wash. The attached loop-top never gets lost and screws on and off easily. And to top it off, it's stain-resistant, BPA Free, and won't retain odours.

Fluf Zip Snack Sack - Fluf

A reusable sandwich snack bag is not only the first step to a zero-waste lunch, but is far more practical than plastic. Ideal for snacks & sandwiches, cords & chargers, makeup, dog treats, keys, pacifiers, spare change – you name it. Just don’t mix up the dog treats with lunch.

Nano Puff Jacket - Patagonia
The Nano Puff jacket from Patagonia is a great investment. Windproof, water-resistant and warm, it performs as an outer layer in cool weather and as an insulating midlayer when things get really cold. The shell sheds rain, and there are a slew of functional details. Never go anywhere without it.

Lightweight Crew Sweatshirt - Patagonia
A light long sleeve is the perfect top for summer mornings and fall outings. Made of an organic cotton and poly blend, Fair-Trade Certified sewn, this sweatshirt has a fun boxy fit and shorter length. Dropped shoulders don’t chafe under a pack - a top back-to-school feature.

Eastmont Fleece Short - Volcom
While there's a high risk your kid won't want to wear regular pants anymore, these sweat shorts can easily be worn in the streets or during gym class. Comfort and style guaranteed.

Beachy Cap - Headster Kids 

An all-cotton construction - even the brim is cotton - makes for a comfy cap come rain or shine. Headster Kids is a Canadian company and no slouch when it comes to cool headwear. Slouch built and a sewn-in logo looks great too.

Sunsets T-Shirt - Rip Curl
Can't go wrong with a classic t-shirt. The Rip Curl sunset tee is made from 100% premium cotton and a softhand water-based print. It has a 70's surf vintage-not-dated look to it, and makes it a good neutral piece that fits with anything in the closet on those fussy dressing days.

Striped Hike Lite Crew Socks - Smartwool

The Kid’s Crew Socks by Smartwool take Merino comfort to the feet in a cute, functional design built to last. Merino-blended fabric breathes, wicks moisture and combats odour naturally, and keeps feet dry in warm or wet weather. Bonus: the size is marked inside the sock.

PART 1 HOMEWORK:

Ensure you never go short by browsing this collection for essentials to survive anything the new school year throws at you - you can never be too prepared.

Read our BACK TO SCHOOL PART 2 for essential backpacks and shoes.