My son's first LL Bean backpack lasted him through pre-school and kindergarten. When he hit first grade, we got him this backpack and it is still in great condition going into third grade. It seems to repel dirt and grime and is super durable. My only complaint is the lack of a side pocket for water bottles. As others have mentioned, I have to put his water bottle in the main compartment where it will inevitably leak on his folders. The Deluxe Plus backpack is too big for his frame. Please LL Bean! Give us a bottle pocket on the side so we don't have to buy from a competitor to get the size and features we need!
I bought this backpack in the orange/camo color for my son when he entered kindergarten. The backpack is a good size for him, but unlike every other backpack we've ever had (including the cheaper ones from the big brand stores), this L.L. Bean size does not have the outside cup/bottle holders.
This may seem trivial, but with the school district pushing kids to bring in reusable water bottles for their desks, I have to instead put his full water bottle in the small front pocket, and it gets the interior all wet.
I'm just surprised that this high quality backpack doesn't have this feature.
Love the shark pattern, love LL Bean, love the size. Two complaints- it should have a pocket for a notebook/folder. Also, the zipper has gotten stuck numerous times (on the canvas part itself. Right note, it's stuck open, so my son can't use the pack. Kind of sad about that. If I return, then I will have to buy another backpack to use in the interim. Grrrr....
I had the deluxe backpack all throughout high school and college and it held up beautifully. I bought the original back pack for my son 5 years ago when he started 1st grade, and he's still using it in middle school--it is in excellent condition (aside from normal dirtiness from every day use). My second son also received his in 1st grade and it has held up perfectly over the last two years. I'm now ready to buy my daughter's backpack and it's a no-brainer to get her the LL Bean original as well. Despite being used to carry books with pointy edges and frequently packed to capacity, my sons' backpacks are still free of holes or thinning. The straps are comfortable on their shoulders and can be adjusted easily as they grow. There are sufficient pockets and pouches for an elementary school child, although I do agree with other reviewers that a water bottle pouch would be a nice addition to the design. I will definitely be buying the deluxe backpack when the time comes that they need more space!
