After purchasing 3 backpacks for every school year & hoping they last...I made an amazing purchase at LL Bean. The backpacks have lasted for 2 years and still have plenty of life in them. They are sturdy and rough. I only wish they would make more "girlie" prints and not just solids. The only reason to change them is for a new color!
I purchased these back packs for my twin boys after buying several cheaper rolling back packs which never lasted more than a few months. These back packs are awesome. My boys were able to use these backpacks for two school years. They could have used them for a third school year, but they decided they wanted a new color. I would definately recomend these for school ages k-5.
I bought this backpack last summer for my 8 year old to use traveling. It rolled very easily, so he could handle it himself getting off and on trains and airplanes. He now uses it for school, and it still looks and rolls great. I expect he'll use it for at least another year.
This is a great backpack... BUT... We bought this for my grandson. His teacher recommended a larger pack (he HAD the "youth" backback) for carrying this and that. Worried about him carrying a heavy pack, we bought this one thinking the wheels would help him get it back and forth. My daughter is very disappointed, the frame takes away from the storage area inside and seems awkward for Matthew to carry when it's sometimes necessary. We plan on returning it and getting the original without the wheels/frames. My guess is it's GREAT for older kids but not for a 5-6 year old, it just isn't practical from our experience with it.
