ProsDurable, Great Value, Performing as Expected, outperformed expectations
My oldest daughter is entering the 3rd grade this coming year. We purchased this backpack for her when she was entering Kindergarten. It has stood up to absolutely everything she can throw at at! It's been full to the rim, drug across the road, sat on, squished under bus seats, hung outside their classroom with tons of books in it, used for sleepovers, playing school, trips to the pool and beach, etc. It still looks brand new! It has had smashed food in the bottom (eww, bananas), leaky juice bags, and mud smeared in so I could hardly see the print. Everything came out! The strap padding, the back padding and all the zippers look brand new. The only problem, is that after 2 years of use, the hanging loop started to come undone. Last year she wanted a new one, so we ordered her a new backpack from somewhere else, and it didn't even last 2 months! So we went back to the trusty L.L.Bean one, and it could, I'm sure, last many more years. The only reason we will be purchasing her a new one is because she will need more room this year. I HIGHLY recommend this backpack to anyone, and will be purchasing one for our first grader very soon! :)
My mom bought me this backpack for 3rd grade in 1986. I didn't like the color I selected back then but I grew into it and used this backpack every year for school until my senior year of college in 1999 when the zipper broke. My son is starting Kindergarten in the fall and I have already bought the JR bookpack for him until he can grow into this one. Cannot tell this story to enough people...love the product and happy it's still around 25yrs later!
My son has used his original book pack for two years and it's in great shape. The zippers have held up to very heavy use, even in our dusty environment. We've washed the pack twice with great results (air dried). Our only problem has been with the hanging loop, which broke shortly after we got the pack. I cut off the remnants. It would be nice to have the loop for use at school, but at home it ends up on the floor no matter what I say.
I ordered this attractive backpack for my 7-year-old grandson, thinking it at least would last him through elementary school. The backpack is very attractive, stands out among the other backpacks, and held all the items my grandson used in school. However, within a month, one of the main double zipper pulls became entangled in the flap that covers the zipper. This is a very awkward design and I believe the flap should be removed. After the pull became entangled, I had no choice but to remove it. Since the backpack had another zipper pull, my grandson could continue using the backpack. Now, after ten months of use, the other zipper pull became entangled in the flap and ended up being pulled off by my grandson at school. L L Bean has been most gracious and is replacing the backpack at no cost to me, monogram and all. Other than this flaw in the main zipper design, the backpack is as advertised, is very attractive and useful, and hopefully the replacement backpack will be used by my grandson for many years to come.
