One of the things I’ve never understood about the back to school season is why so many manufacturers insist on making flimsy cardboard folders. When I was in school, my folders never made it past the first semester. My son appears to be the same way. So, I always make sure to purchase plastic folders for his school supplies.
The Mead Trapper Keeper folders are a standard 8 1/2 x 11 size, but they feature vertical pockets instead of the more common horizontal pocket style. Many people feel this is preferable for young children, since the papers won’t come out of the folder if it gets tipped upside down for some reason.
Mead Trapper Keeper folders come in black, blue, green, purple, pink, and red. This should be enough colors that your child can color code assignments for each school subject, if desired. They are easy to write on with a permanent marker, if your school requires everything to be labeled with your child’s name.
If your child really wants folders with cartoon characters or sports logos, have him or her make a picture to slip in the front pocket to give the folder a “custom” look. Then, if his or her interests change in the middle of the year, all you need to do is swap out the insert for a new look.
The only flaw I found with these folders is that the labels on the front are very hard to peel off. I ended up spraying Goo Gone on the front of the label and scrubbing with a sponge to remove the sticky residue.
Fortunately, since the folders are a very sturdy plastic, this didn’t cause any problems with the folder itself. But, if your child doesn’t care about the label on the front of the folder, I’d recommend saving yourself some time and not attempting to remove it.
Disclaimer: Sample Mead Trapper Keeper folders were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.
Photo credit: Mead
