ProsDurable, Great Value, Performing as Expected, rolling book pack
I've had this excellent rolling backpack for over 5 years. Purchased it for my school aged son who is now 15, not so much for books but for travelling around Alaska and outside the US. We've taken it on various trips down to the L48 and can use it as a carry on for myself. Am plannng on taking it to Europe for 6 weeks and using it as a carry on on the cheaper airlines like EasyJet and Ryan air, I am sure it will perform admirably! It's well made and has nice extras like a net for a water bottle and ipad slot with a hole for the cable. Sturdy and dependable, after all these years it still glides smoothly even on uneven terrain. I will update my review after I lug it across the cobblestones in Italy...am sure it will live up to LLBean's excellent name!
After two years in the hands of a middle school boy who pulled this behind him during his daily 3/4 mile walk to school and kept the pack shoved full because he refused to use his locker, the pack is a little frayed around the bottom corners but easily good to go for at least one more school year. And it's not just that it's durable as heck, it's also so well designed. It definitely helped my son keep his things organized and anyone who has a 12-year-old son know organization is always a challenge. If there's a downside, it's that it's very uncomfortable to carry on your back. This was never really an issue for us though, and I bet it won't be for most kids and families. L.L. Bean should probably just do away with the shoulder straps and end any pretense that it can be carried. The school recently went to a no rolling backpack policy so had to buy the non-wheeled version of this pack. I have little doubt it will also be an excellent pack for years to come.
I am getting ready to purchase my second series of this backpack. I purchased two of these backpacks 4 years ago for my two children. One of the backpacks is going to be used this year,making it's 5th year! The other one is being retired and being replaced with the same one style backpack from LL Bean! Considering, that prior to getting this backpack, previous backpacks only lasted 3/4 of a school year, I am ecstatic!!! Well worth the price and outlasts any backpack I have ever purchased.
