Bought this for my partner's daughter last summer for her 3rd-grade school year. It had plenty of room for her school things and some extras, plus held up extremely well to the wear-and-tear typical from use by a 9YO. I popped it in the washing machine, hung it to dry, and it is as good as new for this school year! I am very pleased with the purchase and looking forward to seeing her carry it for a while.
I bought one of these backpacks 5 years ago when my son started Kindergarten. It's not as shiny new as it was back then, but it is still in otherwise excellent shape, nothing broken and still very functional. Now he's ready to move on to the pack with wheels, only because of the volume of homework (w/books) coming home, not because he actually needs a new pack (and he's reluctant to give up his old pack too!).
Now that my daughter is entering kindergarten, she'll be getting one of her own this fall and I am confident it will last just as long.
I purchased this bag for my son and it has been beaten but you would never know it. It has held up and looks almost brand new. I have even thrown it in the washer to clean it a few times and it still looks great. I will be buying a new one this year only because he wants a new color. I highly recommend it. As a teacher I have seen many bookbags fall apart mid year but not this one.
This backpack stood up to a year of abbuse -- rain, snow, dragged on the ground, etc. And it still looks like new. NEW!! Can't believe what a great backpack this is.
