Backpack broken..only 3 months to go..

[CarlisleMom]

Okay......I know this has been asked before but the I can't frind the threads using the search function.

DD10's wheeled backpack is toast...handle broken (repaired 3 times with duct tape) and holes in the bottom. School here ends the beginning of June.

We want to buy another wheeled bag as we have a long driveway (approx 500 yds.) and she plays the cello so the wheels make things much easier. I am willing to pay a little extra if we can get the rest of this year and next year out of it. It needs to be big. She carries 3 inch binders, 2 folders, water bottle, library book, and at least 1 textbook.

Any suggestions. I am looking at LL Bean but not sure if they are big enough. Are they worth the $90 pricetag

 

[mjkacmom]

Absolutely worth it - Lands End, too. They really do have lifetime guarantees. Anything breaks, just let they know, they will send a replacement, charge you, and credit the cost once they receive the damaged one back. I didn't even have receipts. One I bought online, they looked up my order and found it. The other was a gift from my mom, and they looked it up. However, I do believe they provide the same service even if you don't know who bought it.

 

[riley2008]

Lands End backpacks are great; however, if your DD is dragging her backpack down a gravel driveway, it's going to take a beating. Also, if she is trying to hang things on it, like her cello, it will also make a a rolling backpack wear out faster.

Too bad a folding luggage cart wouldn't work for her - strap a backpack and the instrument to it. (I know...not cool at all! but those things hold up so well.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

LL Bean and Lands End are both amazing quality and they have the best warranty/return policies. Chances are, your DD won't want to be seen with the same backpack long before it wears it

 

[Trae13]

The large wheeled backpack from LL Bean is awesome, and I feel worth every penny of its considerable price! My daughter is not easy on her backpacks and the one we bought for the start of school this year still looks brand new! We have had a wheeled backpack from Lands End in the past and it did not hold up as well at all. We also had friends who had problems with their Lands End bags, and while they will replace them they don't always have the replacement available in all of the colors which could be a problem. I am planning on getting at least another year if not two out of this LL Bean backpack and definitely recommend it!

 

[mama2ella]

I agree with the others...Lands End/LL Bean are worth the $$$

 

[swilshire]

if she is trying to hang things on it, like her cello, it will also make a a rolling backpack wear out faster.

Trying to imagine how you could hang a cello on a rolling backpack will keep me chuckling all day. That would be quite a sight.

Sheila

 

[Nicolepa]

My daughter is in 6th grade. I bought her a Lands End Backpack in 1st grade. The zipper was broken when school started in 3rd grade. I called to ask if I could pay to have it fixed. (She overstuffs her backpack and I didn't feel it was their fault.) They insisted on sending a replacement and she has had it ever since. She's been asking for a new one (wants a messenger bag). I told her she could get a new one next year when she started Middle School.

My son is in 4th grade. He has an LL Bean that was purchased in 1st grade. He is homeschooled so his doesn't get as much use but I think it is even sturdier than the Land's End.

 

[Patience]

LL Bean backpacks are great. I ordered one of the junior ones (on sale!) just a couple of weeks ago for my youngest daughter who will be starting Kindergarten in July. She will probably carry it until 3rd grade and then we will order a bigger one for her. My oldest daughter has carried an LL Bean backpack since middle school and it is still in great shape. We may order her another one for college this fall but she wants to wait until she gets there so that she can be sure it's big enough.

 

[dhardawa]

We usually do Jansport backpacks. They are much cheaper than LLBean and also have a lifetime guarantee. They hold up great too. I usually replace them every two years just because I'm sick of looking at them!

 

[NotUrsula]

Trying to imagine how you could hang a cello on a rolling backpack will keep me chuckling all day. That would be quite a sight.

Sheila

Yeah, hanging it would be funny since the backpack is undoubtedly smaller, but I can imagine propping it so that the cello case can be rolled if it doesn't already have wheels. It would be tricky to pull that way, but not impossibly painful if you were short.

What I would do if I were the OP is to buy a backpack with a rigid bottom. (If the backpack didn't have this already I'd try adding a piece of wood or hard plastic to the outside if I could.)

 

[CarlisleMom]

Lands End backpacks are great; however, if your DD is dragging her backpack down a gravel driveway, it's going to take a beating. Also, if she is trying to hang things on it, like her cello, it will also make a a rolling backpack wear out faster.

Too bad a folding luggage cart wouldn't work for her - strap a backpack and the instrument to it. (I know...not cool at all! but those things hold up so well.

This just happens to be the first school year the driveway was paved and her first with a rolling bag. She carries the cello on her back, which makes a rolling bag much easier to have.

I think I'll try the big one from LL Bean. I could not find one on Lands End website. I just hate to spend $80 on a school bag this time of year.