A snappy and rich-featured backpack is essential to a child at school and everywhere else. With graphics, features and capacity to please a finicky youngster in any setting, Burton’s latest youth backpack is top of the class.

Kid-sized but with grown-up features, the Burton Kids’ Metalhead 18L Backpack has enough storage and organization to make even the surliest roadie happy. A few litres bigger than the Gromlet, the Metalhead boasts a cavernous main compartment for all extra-curricular gear. And it will suit youths old enough to be packing a laptop or tablet, with a padded inner sleeve for that purpose.

In addition, the backpack’s insulated/waterproof external pocket keeps drinks cool—another ace detail among many. And the electronics pocket, ID window, skate straps, and rugged construction add even more dependable functionality. Smaller than Burton’s Lunch-N-Pack but big enough for both essentials and non-essentials, the Metalhead 18L hits the sweet spot. And the material—600D polyester with PU backing—is tougher than most. It will endure years of daily punishment.