5 Student Essentials You'll Want On Your Wishlist

Let's be real. If you’re looking to get kitted out for uni, between silly season and the insane postage delays atm you better start looking at your wishlist RN. With that in mind, here are a few things you can pop on your wishlist to kick your year of study off right.

A lightweight computer or tablet for class

I used to lug around this absolute beast of a laptop at uni. It would take up half of the space in my backpack, the fan was loud and I was terrified of it getting banged up. Loads of people might think that they need a super-powerful laptop so that they’ve got endless potential to run photoshop or video editing software, but if you’re just planning on browsing the net and taking notes, then you’re way better off with something like a tablet or the Microsoft Surface Pro. It’s got a long-lasting battery, it’s super lightweight and you can combine it with the Type Cover to get a more mechanical style keyboard for taking down those lecture notes.

A good pair of headphones

If you’re planning on pulling some long commutes to get to uni, or putting in the hours at the uni library, then a good pair of headphones is a great pick to spend a little more on. Better headphones usually come with great features such as noise cancelling, have better dynamic ranges (so the bass is bassier), and feel better on your ears so you can have them on for longer without your noggin getting sore. Something like the Samsung AKG Y500 wireless headphones could be a great shout. They’ve got some nifty features like being able to multipair to several devices at once, and they’re wireless so you don’t have to futz about with cables everywhere.

A quality backpack

Let me tell you right now - backpacks, or more specifically a GOOD backpack is way underrated tbh. If you’re out here hauling around your laptop, a jacket for the air-conditioned lecture halls, a 2L water bottle you bought bc you saw someone on TikTok with it AND your lunch bc you’re on that budget student life, you need something that’s:

• Durable
• Spacious
• Actually feels comfortable on your back
• Versatile and looks good with your fits

Gone are the days of having to lug around that enormous school backpack. It’s up to you - but for my money I really rate the backpacks that RAINS make atm. They’ve got the whole sleek, scandinavian thing going on without being too quaint or cute, and they’re super into their technical fabrics, so you won’t get caught out in La Nina’s wrath and end up with a soggy backpack. You can cop a Rains backpack via The Iconic over here.

BTW - The Iconic has a deal with UNiDAYS to get some sweet discounts for student essentials - so make sure you check it out and see if you’re eligible!

Some versatile essentials for your on-campus drip

With fast fashion on its way out, the vibe is now all about cultivating your own personal style and brand with high-quality essentials. Things like great jeans, jackets and versatile pieces can form a great foundation to build your own aesthetic on. If you’re looking for quality craftsmanship, timeless styles and enduring, sustainable materials, you can’t beat Levi’s. My personal picks would be the Cubano shirt, the Trucker Jacket, or the Flight Suit.

A top-notch water bottle

Much like fast fashion, we’re done with the disposable, single use water bottles. We here in Aus have the amazing luxury of being able to walk up to just about any tap and drink some of the best water in the world. So what are we doing out here PAYING for water out of a bottle? Here’s the deal - the Hydro Flask is actually worth the hype. Some things are popular for a reason, and if you’re looking for something insulated, steel and (most importantly) leakproof, the Hydro Flask is the way to go.

If you play your cards right, you can end up with some great uni gear that’ll last your entire educational journey. Thinking about stuff like comfortability, versatility and build quality will make sure that you’re enjoying your stuff for many years to come.