You’ll Want to Steal This Item off Your Kid’s School Supply List (It’s a Brilliant Storage Gem!)

Back-to-school shopping in my house is something I save for all year. Unlike back in “my day,” when all I needed was a Trapper Keeper and a pencil box with a pop-up sharpener, each of my five kids has a very long list of required supplies. 

On our most recent supply run at Walmart, while grabbing the usual notebooks and folders, my elementary school son picked up something that looked ordinary — but I knew right away we’d struck gold. I’d seen it all over social media, hailed as the best storage solution hiding in the school supply aisle. That item? a clear zipper pencil case — and it’s been my organizing MVP ever since.

The Pen+Gear Clear Zipper Case is a clear, heavy-duty plastic pencil pouch with a closable zipper. It’s available in multiple trim colors and priced at just $3.97 at Walmart. Measuring 8 inches long, 5 inches wide, and just under 2 inches deep, it’s the perfect size for a purse, backpack, or tote. Reviewers note the pouch’s sturdiness and versatility, praising its endless possible uses.

For me, the best organizing products have to be inexpensive, versatile, and neutral. These pouches check all three boxes. They’re small enough to tuck in a large purse, the console of a car, or a basket of small items, but sturdy enough to keep their shape (unlike a floppy plastic bag). And because they’re clear, you can see what’s inside instantly. 

Here’s how I’ve been putting these zipper cases to use.

Whether it’s keeping younger kids busy at a restaurant or a soccer game, I’ll fill one pouch with markers and notebooks, another with card games, and rotate different activities so we always have screen-free entertainment at the ready.

Our main kit lives in the trunk, but this pouch holds quick-grab essentials — bandages, Neosporin, and insect-repellent patches (a must for family hikes near the Smokies).

Mini transformers, puzzle pieces, or building blocks each get their own pouch so they’re easy to store and grab for playdates or trips.

On nights when we head straight from school to dance class, a pouch prepacked with a small brush, hair net, bobby pins, and a bun maker saves the day.

And I have a feeling I’ll keep finding more uses. In fact, I’m already planning to pick up a few more the next time I’m at the store.

Buy: Pen+Gear Zipper Case, $3.97