School Binders

School Binders are wonderful for organizing papers and more, even if you don't go to school. Most are zip up binders.

For example, My wife uses one for household paperwork. They typically fit into a backpack or a briefcase for the older student, or can be carried alone and contain everything that’s needed for class. Or you can just leave them home and use them for organization.

They range from simple school three ring binders which I use for organizing materials I print for and from classes but don’t need to transport much, to fancier yet inexpensive zippered binders which typically have lots of storage space often including a two or three ring binder section, sometimes an accordion type storage area for lose papers and the like, and an area to store small objects like pens and pencils. These often have outer shells constructed of nylon or another strong substance, and may even have a shoulder strap for easy transport.

Here’s an example of their use and utility. My 15 year old nephew Gregoire, colloquially called “Gregory Peccary” by my kids for his sometimes brutish and piggish behavior, came to visit for a few unplanned months after being thrown out of his snooty British Prep School. He’s a great kid, but rough on surroundings and belonging.

He had a blue zippered school binder he seemed to never be without. It definitely got beat on but seemed to survive everything with ease most of the time. The Peccary Kid seemed to be unable to go anywhere without this blue zippered school binder and his cell phone. I have no idea what he kept in it other some than school stuff and who knows what, but he and it were seemingly inseparable, kind of like I rarely go anywhere except maybe out for a quick meal without my laptop. He actually wore through a couple school zipper binders last year,  but he really beat on them..

There are lots of different types of school binders available, and every school kid will have their favorite, but here is a representative one: Case-it Large Capacity Zipper Binder which comes in multiple colors including blue, red, black/grey, and fuchsia among other colors.

It prides itself on being “efficiently-designed” and is centered on a 3 ring organizer which includes a five color, tabbed, expanding file folder and large capacity. It has a gusseted zipper for convenience as well as both a handle and shoulder strap. It’s pretty popular, especially the blue colored one, and under $20. It’s pretty durable although far from destructible by teenage boys (is anything?).

This may be the model The Peccary Kid, my nephew Gregoire, had, but I’m not sure. Certainly it was similar in design and construction.

My daughter on the other hand uses something much simpler and cheaper. She prefers her Avery Two-Pocket Portfolio which she carried in her backpack. It's a simple cardboard folder, but it serves her well.

Amazon has a big selection of School Binders at pretty good prices. Click Here to see their hundreds of selections. You can also find them locally at Staples, Office Depot, the school supplies and school office supplies areas of many stores like Walmart and Target, etc.

Some popular brands include Five Star Binders, Case Logic, Case-It, and many more. Cool school binders are in, at least at the local Middle School.