This bag is beautiful, high quality and very well made. I brought this bag for travel and school. The bag is a little on the heavy side but, it is not a deal breaker for me. I would recommend this bag to anyone that wants a bag that will last forever. I would not reccommend this bag to someone looking for a light bag. This bag is not a light weight bag and when you add objects it is even heavier.You will loose interset in the bag before it wears out. Thanks LL Bean for such a beautiful well crafted bag.
I purchased this rucksack as a college graduation present to myself after ogling it online for about six months. I'm a part-time archaeologist who travels frequently and wanted something durable and retro that would be able to take the pounding that a dig environment inflicts on all your gear. I then proceeded to take it to rural Transylvania, three years in a row, and I have nothing but praise. It is larger than I expected, which is great because it means that I can use it as my only luggage for a weekend trip, or fill it with three days' worth of food and save myself a trip to town. I routinely fill it with fossils and other heavy items for plane trips (they don't weigh your carry-on, after all) and I have not had any problems with the amount of padding on the shoulder straps. It is true that there are no smaller compartments other than the outside pockets, but smaller items fit well in these and there is a small zipper pocket on the inside for valuable items you don't want to lose. This bag is VERY sturdy and shows essentially no wear despite the abuse to which it has been put. I have not noticed any fraying or other damage. My only complaint would have been that the clasps have an obnoxious tendency to come undone, but after reading a few other reviews I have just discovered and tested their locking mechanism (you press down on the bottom of the v-shaped clasp after inserting it into the keeper), and the problem is solved! A great bag--if they're still selling it in 30 years when I need a new one, I'll buy it again. If not, I just might not replace it! Bravo. L.L. Bean!
First of all let me say that LL Bean has stunning customer service, some of the fastest shipping of any online company. Now for the rucksack….I consider myself well versed in the 60+ years of backpack, shoulder bag and luggage obsession. I will say that this rucksack is superb in craftsmanship and design. Sure there will always be those who want a backpack or bag to be everything. That will never happen and online opinions will always appeal to those who feel they have purchased wrongly. This bag is expertly designed to reflect a design from 100 years ago authentically. Ole F Bergans invented the rucksack in 1908, and the military began using them in 1913. Having been to the Smithsonian many years ago I saw a number of rucksacks from 90 years ago and this LL Bean Canvas Maine Guide correctly copies some of those early designs with modern materials. This is not a lightweight ballistic nylon, super compartmentalized, zipper laden, laptop toting, hi tech netting, over-cushioned, widget strapped, recycled, ergo comfy backpack for the Gortexed distance hiker. This is what it is… a rough duty waxed canvas, simply designed rucksack from the past that will last you a very long time and is beautiful to behold. I find no issues with snap buckles, zips or any materials used. I find it reasonably comfortable and fully capable of working loaded on a day hike in any terrain or city streets. It is a very cool retro sack and one you will be proud to own. In closing, it is a bit costly but I’m sure well worth the price and bottom line is LL Bean is a great company that excels in world class craftsmanship and customer service built into all their products and as I said before no one ships faster than LL Bean and it's free!
My Maine Guide Rucksack in waxed canvas (not the leather one) arrived the day before we were going on Safari in Africa and I was so thrilled!! I thought it would be too late, but L.L. Bean is great when it comes to quick deliveries, however, the quality of this AND the matching luggage I bought for the trip were a HUGE disappointment. Here is why: the DAY it was delivered I noticed some threads coming loose on the right front pocket. When I pulled it ever so gently the whole pocket came off!! I spent quite a lot of time sewing it back on and giving myself numerous pin pricks doing so! Then, the matching luggage fell apart at one of the handles while on the trip! I am so unhappy that I am calling L.L. Bean and asking for a full refund or full repair (including free shipping back to them) as it was SO inconvenient and very annoying to say the least! And I am a great L.L. Bean customer! Very, very disappointed.
