Good Quality Backpack. Which brands are worth the money?

[SwimChicSQ]

LL Bean, Mom bought me one in second grade it still useable (18 years later) but a bit on the worn side!

 

[theelfqueen]

Lands End or LL Bean.

 

[DisMomme]

Buy LL Bean

We bought both boys a Lands End backpack when they started Middle school. DS(18) lasted all the way through high school. DS(16) is still using his.

DS(18) needed a new one for college. As I have been VERY disappointed in the quality at Lands End recently, we went to LL Bean. They also have a replacement guarantee and we have never been disappointed in the quality (or customer service) at LL Bean.

 

[Mickey527]

Definately LL Bean.
I just bought my grandson a backpack yesterday at the LL Bean outlet and compared it to his Jansport that I bought a few weeks ago and will now return. The fabric is so much sturdier and a tighter weave in the LL Bean.
He picked one out of the rowboat in the front of the store and it had initials of someone else on it. I asked the sales lady if I took the initials off and sewed a decal over the area would I still have the warranty if the zipper breaks.
She told me that LL Bean wants the customer to be happy always and if I couldnt' get the initials off or cut the bag while taking them off I should bring the bag back and they would replace it no questions asked.
I took the initials off yesterday with a seam ripper and you wouldn't even know that they were there originally. No holes, no marks, it looks like new. So now I don't even have to sew any decals on it. And he loves it, especially the waist strap. None of his other book bags have that strap and it really makes the load easier to carry.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

LL Bean, my son used the same one from 4th-9th grade & it still looks awesome.

 

[dtnrhi]

Jansport. Went through two during my entire schooling career. (Decided to get a new design as a freshman in high school.) I just graduated and it still looks great. (Also support a lot of weight! I had four textbooks in it at one time!)

 

[Narnia_girl]

LL Bean.

 

[bookgirl]

So I know LLBEAN and Lands End are great but I carried my denim Jansport for a decade through College, life and travel.

When that one finally started to fray I bought another denim Jansport, so far I've been carrying that one for OVER a decade I think it might be 14 years now.

It is a single compartment with one smaller zip pouch on the front. The first one was black and my current is blue. They have been roughly treated, I am not easy on my bags, back of the car, the floor, camping, dirt, wet, you name it, it's survived.

http://www.amazon.com/JanSport-Deni...37071&sr=8-5&keywords=jansport+denim+backpack

 

[AuroraRora]

I still use my Jansport backpack that I got 10 years ago when I was in High School, and it's going strong today!

 

[KTSMOM]

I still use my Jansport backpack that I got 10 years ago when I was in High School, and it's going strong today!

I love Jansport. I got one when I was a freshman in HS and it just died last year (um I have been out of school for over 20 yrs). I took that thing to college and it has been on every Disney trip too. I was sad to see the era end.

 

[Mama Mouse]

LL Bean. I'm 35 and still have the same LL bean backpack that I took off to my first year of college when I was almost 18. It got me through five years of college, and many years of back and forth trips home. Now it houses some binders and papers i want to keep. Still in great shape-no rips or tears.

Jansport... I would also make sure that the teachers will allow her to use one binder for all subjects. When mine were in high school each teacher required their own binder/composition book... no combining, and they collected them once a week to make sure all the work was completed and you never knew what day it was going to be collected.

Off topic but this seems so silly to me. Gosh, you'd think if you had a high school aged student taking the initiative to actually organize her work, why nit pick the WAY it's organized. I know they do it to help others stay organize but sheesh.

 

[tinan]

Well I agree that LL Bean and Jansport are nice backpacks, but recently we really like Swiss Gear. I had my JanSport all through college and we had an LL Bean bag before. We just bought our daughter a Swiss gear from Sam's for $40 which has deluxe straps that tighten with a slight pull of the straps and loosen easily. It fits her 16' laptop, has a lot of compartments and easily fits what she needs for college. My husband has the same one that he uses as a laptop case that has made several trips to Disney with us as well

 

[Debbie7452]

To the OP about the High Sierra brand: My DD has had a High Sierra backpack since Junior year in HS. She's going to be a Sophomore in college this fall and it still is in perfect condition. Don't know about the guaranty, because we haven't needed it. She loads that thing down!! It is borderline abusive what she does to that poor backpack.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

LL Bean deal of the day (Sunday 7/28)

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/510312?nav=gnro-hp

Turbo Transit backpack- largest bag they make
reg $80, on sale for $40 in Navy Paisley and Dusty Olive Plaid

 

[rainydayplay]

Bought an LL Bean Deluxe Backpack for my 4th grader this year. The one last year (bought from Disney because she wanted a Merida backpack) barely made it halfway through the year!

I told DD that she needed to choose the design well, because I expect this one to last at least a couple of years. We have a backup we got at Disney (if we DO have to send it back and wait for a replacement...)

 

[irishsharon]

To the OP about the High Sierra brand: My DD has had a High Sierra backpack since Junior year in HS. She's going to be a Sophomore in college this fall and it still is in perfect condition. Don't know about the guaranty, because we haven't needed it. She loads that thing down!! It is borderline abusive what she does to that poor backpack.

I just bought this brand at Costco for $18.99, so glad to hear I made a good choice

 

[Pooh2]

Our kids always had LLBean backpacks. The only problem is that they get tired of having the same one year after year because they do not wear out!

 

[bluedevilinaz]

I have a Grip by High Sierra backpack I bought last summer and have put this thing through the ringer(countless trips across country via airplane loaded down with clothes, laptop(had a netbook and a 17" laptop in it at one time), food, books, etc) and have had no issues except where the shoulder strap got caught on the seat of a plane and slightly tore. It still functions just fine and the rip hasn't gotten worse. I suppose I could send it in for the warranty work but I don't see a point if it's holding up. The pockets are HUGE and it even has a small pocket on it with a port for your headphones so you can put an iPod/mp3 player in it. It has a chest strap to help distribute the load so it's not all on your shoulders as well as a waist strap(which is pretty well useless except to keep it from swinging a lot). It's very well padded and sturdy. The only down fall is it ran me about $75 at Target. The up side is you can write off school supplies on your taxes. Hope that helps!

 

[tasha99]

Swiss Gear. Mine has held up really well, and I've ripped a lot of backpacks in my life.

 

[disprincess4ever]

LLbean. I only have to get a new one every 5 years, they last that long! Plus their very roomy and easy to wash.