I got the Mini sized bag to use as an everyday type of bag (like a pocketbook). Overall, I really like it and would recommend it. The quality, style, and size are great. I have 2 suggestions for making it better: 1) Adding a divider inside to allow you to separate your items would be handy. It's all one big pocket inside. 2) The zipper is on a piece of material that must be held with one hand while you pull the zipper with the other hand (hard to describe). I wish that opening the zipper could be a one-handed operation, while I have a toddler on my hip!
My daughter has been bugging me for years to purchase her a messenger bag. We normally purchase the rolling backpack. She entered middle school this year and was thrilled that her rolling pack did not fit into the small locker. She is 11 and I was concerned that the bag wouldn't be big enough to accommodate all of her textbooks. I ordered the large. The bag is extremely roomie and made of sturdy, lightweight materials. There are tons of pockets in different sizes to hold all of her stuff. On average my daughter carries 4/1" binders and two textbooks, plus she is able to fit her cheerleading clothes, a pair of sneakers and her lunchbag. My daughter is slim but tall and I was a bit alarmed at how big the bag was when I opened the packaging. It was just the size she needed. We love L.L. Bean!!
My 6th grader needed a new bag for school since her LLBean rolling duluxe backpack wouldn't fit in the locker in her new school. She really wanted the look of a messenger bag but I wanted something that would hold up well and be functional. I was thrilled when I found one at LLBean. Originally I ordered the large (despite reading a review that said it was too big) since it looked to be the same dimensions as her old backpack. The review was right! We needed to exchange it for the medium one since the large was enormous and way too big for her to carry (she also changed color since the purple wasn't "purple enough"). The medium one is perfect. She is able to fit her 3 ring binder and corresponding books needed for homework. She loves the pockets provided to store smaller items. It's a great purchase and I know it will last her for a long time.
