Our Secret To Winning Back-To-School Season This Year

There’s a reason this classic Jansport design is still flying off the shelves. It’s littered with pockets inside and out, including a dedicated side pocket for a waterbottle or keys. The laptop sleeve inside is padded to help keep tech protected. If your student is picky about style, no sweat —  this backpack comes in over 20 different colors. ($70, Jansport)

The days of spilling are over thanks to this drawstring lunch bag. It comes with two leak-resistant food containers and a lined, securely cinched bag with two side pockets. Oh, and  reviews say it's cute enough to use as a purse. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you’re looking for a planner that doesn’t scream “planner” but still lets you or your student organize by day, week, and month — this one from Papier belongs in your cart. It has a section for assignment planning, deadlines and writing down goals —  without being a total eyesore on the desk. ($35, Papier)

We’re done gatekeeping: Apple Gift Card is the reason we’re stressing less this year. Opt for an emailed card to start shopping immediately, or send a physical card to someone. You can shop through the App Store — from a never-ending library of educational and lifestyle apps to the best games on Apple Arcade. Or purchase an Apple Music subscription. Did we mention you can use these cards on tech like an iPhone or iPad too? Because you can. (Prices vary, Apple) 

With Check Calendar, you can create individual calendars for each habit or to-do item.. or use it to help manage daily  assignments by creating a calendar for each class. It’s simple and intuitive, so you can spend less time on your phone or tablet and more time checking things off your to-do list. ($3.99, Apple App Store)  

Long drives to school are where core memories are made. Whether they like music or podcasts, they can use their Apple Gift Card to subscribe to podcasts from Wondery+ or SiriusXM through the Apple Podcasts app — or enjoy over 100 million (yes, you read that right) songs with Apple Music. ($5.99+/month, Apple Music) 

Between after-school activities, homework, and social obligations, most students don’t want to lug around a clunky laptop. Our solve? An iPad mini or an Apple Pencil to match their existing iPad. These tools will help them with everything from note-taking and illustrating to research and schedule-building. Plus, it’s small enough to throw in any standard-sized tote. Bonus points if you snag a cute carrying case to pair with it. ($129+, Apple)

Whether you or your student need a book for school or a soothing audiobook (narrated by pros Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks) to help wind down after the day, Apple Books has just the thing. Access popular titles like Emily Henry’s Funny Story, James Clear’s Atomic Habits, and just about anything by Suzanne Collins or Sarah J. Maas. (Prices vary, Apple Books)

There’s nothing worse than constant distractions when trying to focus. Our hack? A pair of really good noise-cancelling headphones. These wireless AirPods Max last up to 20 hours on a single charge. They can also be adjusted to “transparency” mode to stay connected to surrounding sounds (like a school bell) even with music playing. If you’re dealing with limited space (read: an overstuffed backpack), these AirPods 4 are small enough to fit into a pocket and can be upgraded to include active noise cancellation. PS: For other focus tools our editors swear by, read this. ($129+, Apple)