Well, it finally happened. The backpack I bought for my daughter when she started Kindergarten, finally wore out. Did I mention she will be a Sophomore in high school this year? Actually, it didn't really wear out, rather she stuffed it so full for so long, the zipper finally gave out on it. These are the very best backpacks you can buy. I have since bought this very same backpack as well as the deluxe, and the original on wheels for each of my children with the same results. Every year I even throw them all on the washer and hang them up to dry, and they still last. In fact, they look like new when they come out of the wash. We've moved on to the Rally Pack, and she cannot wait to stuff this new backpack full for another 10 years. Thank you LL Bean.
I purchased this backpack for my son after reading all the good reviews. This backpack didn't even last as long as the cheap $10 backpack I had purchased the school year before. The flap of fabric that covered the zipper got caught in the zipper on almost a daily basis, and one of the zippers is messed up and not even working after attempting to get it unzipped. I'll never waste my money on a L.L. Bean backpack again!
We have this bag in both blue and green. Bag is very well made, should last for years. My only complaint is that the green (which we just got, blue one is older) is much more yellow than it appeared in the llbean advertising (both on the computer and print materials). It is more like a shade off neon green than I expected, that is a little disappointing. I would also highly recommend the monogram. In my son's 3 yr old preschool program, two other kids have the same (blue) bag. It is classic, how can you go wrong.
We have a couple of these original book-packs and love them! They are made of very durable fabric and are constructed very well! My original one is over 6 years old and still going strong, despite a lot of use and abuse. I loved my own bag and have purchased them for my daughter when she started preschool. It started just as a bag to carry stuff with her to daycare, but was still looking and feeling brand new, so she was able to bring it with her to her first day of Kindergarten! She used it throughout the entire school year, and let me tell you- she put it to the test! That bag was dropped and dragged and swung around- and still looks as great as it did when we bought it. The zippers are in perfect condition, as great as the rest of the bag. I did wash it twice (I thought it might need it more since it was a light blue color- but it resists dirt and grime well!)- It washed well and is still going strong. We did buy a new one for the next school year, but not because we NEED a new school bag, she wanted a different pattern for the new year. We will pass that one down to her younger sister because there is nothing wrong with it! I've learned not to monogram with first names, only last name or initial because it certainly can get passed down!
