ProsDurable, Great Value, Performing as Expected, awesome!
I ordered two of these bags to take on my recent deployment. These are preferable to the military issued bags because they are lighter weight (I didn't need as much warmth) and far easier to pack (space is definitely a concern). I opted to have my name embroidered on them, due to shared living space. I washed them at whatever facility was available to me--certainly not in front-loading HE machines. I used rickety, ancient top-loaders, or dropped them off with a prayer at the laundry service point (where everything is washed and dried together at one temperature: sterilize). Well, I'm back home post-deployment, and the bags still look new (unlike pretty much everything else I took with me). Highly recommended.
I have two of these bags that I bought a few years ago for my husband and myself. We use them for camping as a bag liner or alone. I love that they are comfortable even in warm weather. They've held up beautifully and I am now planning to buy two more for my kids. I have a top-loading washer and have always washed these bags in there without trouble. Truthfully I never noticed the instructions state to use a front-loading washer. I just turn them inside-out so that the straps are inside the bag and then I zip them up and wash on delicate.
I bought this for my daughter to give to a 7-year old buddy for his birthday. Used my LL Bean card to get the free monogramming of his name. (Kids love seeing their name!) It was very well received and he can use it for sleepovers or unzip it and use it as a blanket for watching TV!
As soon as I tore off the paper label and found the care instructions, I knew this bag was getting returned. I have a top load washer and the instructions said the bag would be damaged if I did not use a front load machine. I am not buying a $1000 washer just so I can use this bag. Back to Bean. Thanks for free returns, but why not state the washing requirement in the product details?
