Stylish and Practical Black Praper Backpack from Gaston Luga: Review

{This is a review post, we received this backpack free of charge}

We've had a Gaston Luga backpack before and know that the Swede's really understand how to make a styish and long-lasting bag, and that's why we were happy to work with them again. When I showed Miss M the website there were many designs that caught her eye but I steered her towards a bag that was practical and big enough for everything she needs for school and could also be used for a weekend away.

The Praper backpack normally retails for £115 but I see they have a Valentines special on at the moment, with 10% off everything until 16th February 2021 and this takes the price down to £104. Then Gaston Luga are also giving away a free Plankan design cardholder with each order and as always, you get free delivery and returns. 

Add to that, I also have a great deal at the moment for my readers and you can get another 15% off (yes you can add it on top of the 10% they have already slashed off), you just need to use the code michelletwinmum15 at the checkout. 

Ordering & Delivery with Gaston Luga 

When I've ordered before I order as an influencer so it is a little different but looking at the ordering on the website it is easy, intuitive and quick. I have found both deliveries to be super-efficient and Gaston Luga use DHL, You might be tempted to think that there would be a time lag as the products are coming from Sweden but this isn't so an I have found DHL to be excellent with communication and I've easily been able to track my delivery and amend my delivery preferences,

You'll see from the photo below that all the Gaston Luga bags come in a stylish and hardwearing black box and inside you have a dustbag to keep your actual bag clean and in good condition when it is being stored. 

JJ has his first taste of designer sports brands...

I recall being a young teenager and all I wanted for my fourteenth birthday was a shiny new Puma tracksuit top to go with my Nike and adidas ones. I had the big white Nike trainers with the fluorescent laces, the pale blue dungarees and big leather belt with a 'sexy' buckle. I was not short of confidence back in those days and I certainly knew what I wanted and most of those things included big brand names - names like adidas, Nike, Puma and Sassy. I hung around with a group who liked to roll out their lino and do some break dancing and we would all gather round the boom box. It certainly was a different time but lots of fun.

Nowadays not many people are break dancing anymore and the idea of wearing a shiny tracksuit top is a pretty horrifying one but it still remains that teenagers like their big brands. It is the in thing to wear the right names and the right pieces of clothing or trainers.  I am pleased to say that JJ is not that much into brands yet, I'm sure it will come and when it does I know where I'll be heading to - straight to JD Sports where the prices are so much more reasonable than most other high street sports shops.

We started to shop in JD Sports for JJ a couple of years ago when he needed new jogging bottoms and we found that they often had deals to buy 2 pairs for a special price. We have found their products to be quality and really reasonably priced and in fact we are off there tomorrow for some new tops and hoodies for JJ as he just does not seem to stop growing.

I'd never considered JD Sports as a shop for back to school purchases but actually they have a great stock of sports clothes (of course), bags, coats, trainers, shoes, caps and hoodies. JJ was offered a new school bag and he jumped at the chance to choose something more grown up than the one he had been using.

His first choice was this adidas backpack, which retails for £30.00 and is 100% polyester. It feels like a really sturdy backpack with adjustable straps and padded over the shoulder straps for a comfy fit. Our bag is all black but there are various different colour ways. It measures 17" x 11" x 5.5".

The backback has a really large laptop section which pleased JJ a lot as he loves to take his laptop with him and there is also another large section as well as smaller pockets and a place for a water bottle. There is also a D loop so you can clip things onto the bag and a nice touch is the straps and buckles on the front which will work well for when JJ goes on hikes with the scouts as he can strap his coat on the front when he needs to.

So what was JJ's comment about his new backpack? "It is so cool Mum, I can take it to Caverdale when I start next September as it is like the big kids have. It totally is a bag for secondary school!".

There is a great selection of school bags on the JD Sports website and they start at a reasonable £10 for McKenzie and there are even Nike branded bags from £15, so you can find something for all budgets.

I was pleased to see that you can order from the web for free delivery into your local store or it is free home delivery for orders over £60. The price is £3.99 if you wanted it delivered to home and your order value is less than £60 and I was super pleased to see that all returns are free whether you post them or take them into store. This is where some stores let you down but not JD Sports.

We have been very pleased with our service from JD Sports, our bag arrived quickly, was well packaged and the actual bag itself is brilliant.


Disclosure: We received this backpack free of charge for the purpose of this review. I have not been instructed what to write and I remain honest.

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Review of the YUU Bag (A super excited Miss E)

Last year all I heard from one of my twins was 'Mummy, I want a YUUbag, please mummy, it is really good, I can do all my drawing in the car and play games and...'.  It went on and on and on. Luckily we moved away and without seeing adverts on Nickoldeon (as we no longer have that channel) she stopped mentioning it and I completely forgot.

It was only when an email dropped into my inbox to say that YUUworld were offering their YUU bags for review and with Miss E's birthday coming up in a month I knew this would be the perfect treat for her.  I choose a bag in her favourite pink colours and the bag arrived with us quickly.  Miss E nearly collapsed with excitement when she came home from school to find the YUUbag sat in the kitchen.

The YUU bag is different to all the other rucksacks or travel bags you might have had before. It was designed by mums taking into account all the things their children had been asking for and what they felt was needed. It is ergonomically designed to ensure safe carrying for little people and no back damage.  I think that probably explains the price tag, as at £43 for one bag it is more expensive than many others. For that price you do get some accessories in the bag - a notebook, pencil case, pencils, magnetic snakes and ladders board with magnetic counters and dice and click on spiral keyring. You also receive a card with your UNNique number which gives your child access to the online YUU club where they can play games, enter competitions and win prizes.

The Yuu bag has so many different pockets and areas that it is fabulous and exciting for a little girl (and of course boys love them too, there are a whole range or designs). I thought the padded back pockets were very good for cameras, phones and other expensive electricals, it is just a shame they were not big enough for the girls 9" tablets so we put them in a side pocket instead, which given that the actual casing of the bag is thick and foamy I'm sure it would protect it fine.

The YUU bag has been designed to be fun in the car or on a plane as you can hook the straps over the seat in front and then the front completely zips down and can be used as a desk - for drawing on, playing with toys (there is a mesh bit that stops things falling off) or you can use the magnetic game board.  This is the bit Miss E is most excited about as she loves drawing and doing crafty things when we are on long journeys. When you un-Velcro the main strap inside a sort of concertina area falls forward and you could use this as a filing system which would appeal to Miss M who enjoys playing schools a lot.

Here is Miss M modelling the bag for her sister (who went a bit shy) -

In my opinion the YUU bag is a bit big for my twins. It is marketed as being for children 7 years plus.  The girls are currently 6 (7 in July, so practically there) and Miss M wears clothes for an 8 or 9 year old as she is tall and still the bag looks a bit big I feel. The strap across the front also seems to be too high, as it is right by her neck and she found that a bit uncomfortable. Yes it is perfect placing for her to blow the whistle (but frankly that is the least of my concerns!) I think the strap is necessary to ensure the backpack is placed well and helps with her back health.

In general the construction of the bag is very high quality, the straps are really thick and padded, there is an ergonomic EVA back panel, carry loop at the top and reflective strips for safety.

You can also buy the smaller YUUtuu bag and I think this might have been more size appropriate for my girls.

Conclusion -
The girls love the YUU bag and to be honest that is the main thing. They think it is stylish, they like the fact it fits lots in it and find all the many pockets really exciting. It is useful on journeys for them to be able to have fun and play and it does not feel heavy on their backs as it is a lightweight moulded foam material and so well padded. The price is higher than I would like but I believe it will last and be value for money as long as it is used over a long period of time.

Disclosure:  This is a review post, we were sent this bag for the purpose of this review. I have not been instructed what to write and I remain honest.

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If you like what you have read and want to stay up-to-date then subscribe by email for free and receive blog posts directly to your in-box - just click the link Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or perhaps you like to keep all your blog reading in one place, if that is the case you can follow me on BlogLovin too!