I bought this for my daughter who just started 4th grade. I was buying her 3 backpacks a year and this year she has a lot more to bring home and she needed something that would last, and since I had an LL Bean in High School that I couldn't kill I had to get her one of these. She insisted on the wheeled version which is heavier to carry but she doesn't have a problem and wheels it most of the time anyway.I folded the flap over the zipper back to avoid the issue some people had with it. It rolls really nicely and has plenty of room for all her stuff and then some. This bag should definitely last at least the rest of elementary school. Even her Figure Skating team orders LL Bean as competition bags. Great quality and a good price because they last. Just don't get in monogrammed in white,not sure if there was another option but the name blends in on the pink bag when it's white. Also the pink one looks nicer in real life
states it's for 10 and up. My son is the tallest in his class. it looks like it's made for a college student. Barely fits on the backpack hooks outside each classroom. his pack is always in the way of someone else's pack. I haven't seen this on any other row of hooks in the school, and I have been looking.
No outside mesh pockets. We live in a warm climate. Water bottles must be easily accessible, not hidden in the bottom of a large compartment. We use outside mesh pockets for other things too--small items that are used all the the time, no digging required....
Pluses: lots of room, separate zipped compartments to separate things--- books and homework in one, extra clothing (we peel off here as the day progresses) in another, parent notes/agendas/permission slips in another. There is room for an elephant.
Buy this for a high schooler or college student--there's room for a laptop, change of clothes for afterschool activities, lots of huge books, and they will appreciate the opening for headphone/earbud wires. I have yet to see any 9-11 year old elementary students listening to their ipods or mp3 players while walking down the street.
It's going to be a great carry on for air travel, but it is totally impractical for daily school life. My son spends easily three times as long digging through his backpack than he ever has. For things as basic as water or extra erasers, paperback books fall to the bottom of cavernous compartments...
My daughter loves her new backpack, but is not sure what to do with her water bottle now. We are very bummed that there is no side mesh pocket. In a dry climate she needs to make sure she drinks her water all day. Why no exterior pocket...seems like a must have and so easy to do?
boys, and friends, starting the school year, L.L.Bean style
ProsDurable, Great Value, Performing as Expected, roomy and good looking, made for active boys!
We purchased this bookcase after going through a couple of regulard backpacks.
We are so pleased !
Our 2 older boys absolutely love the great colors, the numerous pockets where they can pack their books and school gear as well as hide treasures such as little rocks, old erasers, mailman rubberbands and other stuff they find on their way home! They also like the fact that they have their name monogrammed on it. It adds a special touch!
Us, parents, we love the durability, and functionnality of the bag. My older son is going on his 4th year with his bag, and his younger brother, on his 2nd and both bags look new. Fabric is wheather-proof, color has not faded, fabric is easy to clean with a damp cloth and the wheels, handle and zippers still function as well as day 1. And during the big snow storms, the kids like to put their bags on their shoulders.
We also have the matching lunchboxes and they have been equally durable and appreciated from the whole family,
Our 5-year old also got his junior backpack (blue with orange sharks) this year to start kindergarden and it already looks like it will be true to L.L. Bean quality promise. (Although he loves it, he is also looking forward to be in grade 2 and get his own rolling backpack, like his older brothers.)
