It’s that time of year when students are gearing up to head back to school. For some, they’re about to venture into the untamed frontier of high school. Whether they’re anxious freshmen or confident seniors, they’re going to need some reliable gear. While we trust you’ve already taken care of the essentials like folders and pencils, what about backpacks? Laptops? Items that are both durable and stylish enough to impress their peers? We’ve got you covered with these carefully selected, tried-and-true picks.
An Excellent, Durable Water Bottle
We’re big fans of the Owala FreeSip water bottle, and for good reason. This bottle, which scored a 9/10, likely needs no introduction since it went viral last year. Unlike some other popular brands (we’re looking at you, Stanley), the Owala is free from lead in its manufacturing process. It features a unique mouthpiece that lets you either sip through the built-in straw or slurp through the pour spout. With its eye-catching designs—mine’s a pink glitter!—and impressive durability, it’s hard to find a better bottle. But if you’re looking for alternatives, we’ve got a few other top picks for you too.
A Grown-Up Computer
Every parent eventually faces the moment when their child needs an upgraded laptop. The latest MacBook Air is our top choice among MacBooks, and it’s more than capable of handling a student’s workload, even through college—unless they’re pursuing something graphics-intensive like videography. It easily manages multiple Google Chrome tabs and apps running at once, but for optimal performance, consider upgrading beyond the base 8 gigabytes of memory. The battery lasts for about eight hours of continuous use before needing a recharge, and it offers a good range of ports, including a headphone jack. This laptop is built to perform reliably for years. For more options, check out our lists of the Best Laptops and Best MacBook Accessories.
A Multitasking Machine
An iPad offers much more than just streaming shows or playing Dress to Impress; it’s a powerful tool for note-taking, studying, and tackling projects—especially when paired with accessories like the Apple Pencil or a keyboard case. The 10th-gen model is our top pick for an iPad overall. It’s fast, comes in vibrant colors, and features Apple’s updated design with slimmer bezels and USB-C charging. The nearly 11-inch Liquid Retina display is both sharp and immersive. It’s also capable of running multiple apps at once, and Apple has even repositioned the front-facing camera to the center, making it more convenient for video calls. If you’re looking for an iPad, this is our favorite, but we’ve also got other great recommendations here.
A Paper Planner
Class Tracker offers the best planners for students, with a dedicated High School version designed to cover the entire academic year. It helps students stay organized with projects, homework, and extracurricular activities. The planner also includes a self-care section for tracking exercise and social time, along with two-page monthly spreads to ensure they never miss a Spirit Week theme or an important essay deadline. Pair it with some fun gel pens or highlighters, and they’ll be well-equipped for success.
A Reusable Notebook
Keeping track of notes can be a challenge, but this reusable notebook from Rocketbook makes it simpler. Just jot down your notes with the included erasable pen, scan them into the Rocketbook app, and wipe the pages clean with a damp cloth. The app organizes everything neatly and integrates seamlessly with Google Drive, Evernote, and other platforms. Once uploaded, your notes become searchable, and we appreciate how this reusable notebook helps reduce the massive piles of paper we all remember from school. Consider grabbing a multipack of pens for added color-coding and customization.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Studying can quickly turn frustrating when someone nearby is constantly clicking a pen. That’s where the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones come in. They not only look sleek but also deliver exceptional sound quality, with industry-leading noise cancellation. With up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, these headphones can keep going through long study sessions. They even pause automatically when the wearer starts speaking. Sony’s headphones are built to last, so your child will be able to enjoy them for years. If your child prefers earbuds, we’ve got some great recommendations for those as well.
Sleek Hand Sanitizer
Touchland’s hand sanitizers are a far cry from the sticky, smelly versions you might recall from lockdown days. They have a delightful scent and leave your hands feeling soft and refreshed. With 500 sprays per bottle, they last a long time. Plus, they’re a hit on TikTok, which is always a bonus for high schoolers. Your child might also appreciate this carabiner case to keep the bottle handy and organized.
A Good Wallet
This wallet is highlighted in our teen gift guide. Whether they’ve just landed their first job or need to start keeping track of their ID, a reliable wallet is a high school must-have. This one is exceptionally slim when folded and has stood the test of time, lasting my partner nearly a decade. It offers just enough space for essentials without being too bulky in a pocket. If you’re looking for a purse-friendly option, reviewer Nena Farrell recommends an affordable zip-up wallet from Amazon. She loves that it holds plenty of cards without being too bulky, making it easy to switch between bags.
