I was very excited about receiving this bag based on the reviews, but once I received, I am very disappointed. This is not the quality I expect from LL Bean. The material was very thin, there were not enough pockets for everything, and it was poorly sewn. The highlight was the customer service was very helpful.
I cannot say enough good things about L.L. Bean backpacks!! I am mother of 3, and all of my children have had nothing but L.L. Bean backpacks since they started kindergarten. I have never been disappointed! The only reason for replacements was to order a larger size, or when our oldest started college, (with the backpack we had purchased when she started 6th grade), decided that having initials on her backpack wasn't very cool for a college student;) Lesson learned. Her younger sister, that just started 6th grade, is using it now. We just placed a soccer ball patch over the initials:) Backpack looks like new, and I am sure will last through high school again. Getting ready to purchase a new one for DS, I told him he could pick one from L.L. Bean. I won't purchase a back pack from anywhere else. The old ones are still used for hauling things around on trips. Definitely an investment!!
Our kids have always used LL Bean Book Packs, probably because I used them in high school and they never wear out.
We purchased this one for our little one starting school. I was a bit concerned it would be too big as it looked pretty big on her back the first time we tried it on, but it's great. Holds her LL Bean lunch box and everything she needs for school, and she will be able to put snow bibs in and change of clothes too during the winter. It will definitely grow with her. I wouldn't get anything bigger than this for a small one, I would probably put her in a smaller one if I could, but then they need space to take stuff to school. So this was the one to get.
I like that we can fold the material covering the zipper back so that she can easily unzip the bag. We haven't had a use to date for the front pouch but I'm sure it will come in handy at some point.
Love the prints - really cute this year. We got her the flowered pink design and she loves it.
Only complaint was matching lunch boxes sold out so early, we had to go with our third choice. We shopped early too and even went to the store. Would have been nice to have a had a set, but not a huge deal.
