Backpack recommendations please

[Leader of the Club]

Jansport and only Jansport. Lifetime gaurentee. I bought one for my husband many years ago and he traveled around the world with it more than once. When it ripped we sent it back and got a new one--no charge!

You can't beat having to buy a backback only once.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

LL Bean or Land's End - both are great and last forever!

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Thanks everyone! I ended up getting a North Face and a Columbia. I wanted to get ones that had a laptop sleeve and these fit the bill.

 

[dizkids]

LL BEAN rolling/ wheels backpacks have the BEST handles. Very sturdy. I bought the deluxe rolling for my son in black and we got 2 years. I paid $75 and it is still very good.

 

[ceecee]

DD has an LL Bean from last year that looks like new. She informs me that backpacks are not in for middle school and she needs a Vera Bradley tote! That should last a few months. I asked around and sure enough backpacks are out and totes are in.

 

[IDoDis]

Not to be the bearer of bad news but my mid-schooler DD (7th grade 12 years old) said that the LL Bean Deluxe backpack is very uncool. I bought one for each of the kids on clearance that were used last year. The deluxe bags are large and do hold lots of books and the don't break! I was really surprised that the shoulder straps didn't tear.

Anyway, I bought another one for DD for this year (also on clearance) and when she found out that she was going to have LL Bean again, she begged me to get something else. She said she got teased by some of the kids last year because her backpack had a reflector strip on the pocket. The boys would pass her and say, "Nice reflectors" which also meant they were being sarcastic about other body parts, but teasing her about the backpack at the same time.

She said it was "way uncool" to have a "baby backpack" with reflectors and lights in middle school. I have that new backpack listed on ebay right now. and luckily I will make almost 4 times what I paid for it. I learned my lesson about buying before checking with her.

DD chose a Jansport this year that I got a great bargain on at Kohl's. I will come out ahead with the sale of the LL Bean backpack. I hope it holds up as well as the LL Bean backpack.

 

[marcyinPA]

I just ordered my DS9 an LL Bean book bag. I got him the teen one so it will last him. I've never ordered their book bags before, but I've bought many other things through LL Bean. If the quality is the same for everything, I know we'll be pleased.

If you happen to have a store near you, you can order on-line and have it shipped to the store for free pick-up. My DS can't wait to go pick his up!!

 

[eh24fan]

Not to be the bearer of bad news but my mid-schooler DD (7th grade 12 years old) said that the LL Bean Deluxe backpack is very uncool. I bought one for each of the kids on clearance that were used last year. The deluxe bags are large and do hold lots of books and the don't break! I was really surprised that the shoulder straps didn't tear.

Anyway, I bought another one for DD for this year (also on clearance) and when she found out that she was going to have LL Bean again, she begged me to get something else. She said she got teased by some of the kids last year because her backpack had a reflector strip on the pocket. The boys would pass her and say, "Nice reflectors" which also meant they were being sarcastic about other body parts, but teasing her about the backpack at the same time.

She said it was "way uncool" to have a "baby backpack" with reflectors and lights in middle school. I have that new backpack listed on ebay right now. and luckily I will make almost 4 times what I paid for it. I learned my lesson about buying before checking with her.

DD chose a Jansport this year that I got a great bargain on at Kohl's. I will come out ahead with the sale of the LL Bean backpack. I hope it holds up as well as the LL Bean backpack.

Wow. Glad my kid doesn't go to that school! He's using an LL Bean, just like I always had and just like a lot of the other kids I know are using. Sheesh.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

I had this dilemma a few weeks back and started a thread about it too. I ended up buying an LLBean rolling deluxe for my dd. Her old bag had a hole, was torn, the wheel was hanging on by a thread etc. I can't wait for her to put this baby to the test. She's 9 going into the 4th grade. I let her pick out the print and I monogrammed it for her. She loves it.

I am so glad that my dd nor her friends at school are not yet into what's cool or not. She wears what I buy her, period. Granted I know better than to buy her a Dora backpack but the things that I read here on the DIS regarding backpacks and clothing brands just make me cringe! It's crazy how some kids decide something is "uncool" and make anyone who has said item miserable.

 

[ceecee]

Anyway, I bought another one for DD for this year (also on clearance) and when she found out that she was going to have LL Bean again, she begged me to get something else. She said she got teased by some of the kids last year because her backpack had a reflector strip on the pocket. The boys would pass her and say, "Nice reflectors" which also meant they were being sarcastic about other body parts, but teasing her about the backpack at the same time.

.

That is too funny! I had to check, sure enough DD's has a reflective strip, but she didn't know what it was!!!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

We're on our second LL Bean backpack, and the only reason we got a new one is because the other one was a little small. They're wonderful. I'm so glad that I have a boy, because he's less likely to stop carrying his backpack because it's "uncool". Or so I hope. Then again, we go to the preppiest little public school you've ever seen. You'd think LL Bean backpacks and New Balance tennis shoes were some sort of strict uniform.

 

[IDoDis]

Wow. Glad my kid doesn't go to that school! He's using an LL Bean, just like I always had and just like a lot of the other kids I know are using. Sheesh.

I know! I thought they were great backpacks and will hold onto them for our traveling. I kept trying to convince DD that the LL Bean teen deluxe was made better than the Jansport. I know it's the whole reflector thing that the kids say make it nerdy. There's also a battery compartment in the small front pocket that lights up the perimeter of the reflector strip when the switch is turned on. We live in the desert, so having a reflector and a light up backpack in the daytime is pretty useless around here.

 

[megthewonderful]

And one great thing about LLBean is that they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee so if the bags rips, zipper falls off, etc, etc, they'll refund your money in full (or give you store credit if you don't have the receipt).

This is true! L.L. Bean backpacks last forever. My DH and I have had ours for almost 15 years! I just bought my son his first L.L. Bean backpack at a factory store yesterday. I thought it was well worth the money and he was thrilled with the bag. He told me character bags are too babyish and he needed a manly bag. L.L. Bean definitely fit the bill for him!

 

[NeedaVacation03]

We have 5 LLbean bookbags and love them. We used them this past weekend to pack our clothes in for a softball tournment(limited space for luggage) and my sister came along with hers too. We looked like an ad for LLBean when we arrived at the hotel.
I have used them on vacation, as diaper bags, small out of town trips, everything- you cant go wrong with one of them.
My kids know that they will use them for many years and if they get another one then mom will keep the old one to use for other things.