My daughter has used this bag for 6 months now, and it is usually around this time that I have to purchase a replacement. She is tougher than her old man on her bags and luggage and this back pack and her lunch bag are still in great shape. Both items have many compartments and are very well thought out.
Roomy, water-proof material, broad and well-padded straps. But NO water-bottle pockets. This is a deal-breaker for an elementary-school backpack. I have to get another backpack...
While this is a well-made backpack, it doesn't have outer side pockets for water bottles. For children this is a must, and backpacks made by the cheapest of companies include these pockets. Today my son's water bottle leaked throughout the inside of this backpack. It looks like we will have to buy another backpack elsewhere. Very disappointed.
I purchased this backpack for my son when he was entering the third grade. He has just started his 8th grade year & I've never allowed him to purchase another backpack. Why would I? This one STILL looks practically new. The only signs of wear are some marks/scratches on the reflector tape. We purchased it in a digital/camo pattern available at the time- so he hasn't outgrown it. It is the standard size so it hasn't become too small. Unlike other backpacks I have purchased for my 3 children, there have been no broken straps or zippers. He carries it daily & I have washed it many times. I guess I'll let him get a new one for HS. But I doubt if he'll really NEED to do so--& I'll strongly suggest to him that it needs to be an LLBEAN backpack.
