L.L. Bean backpacks?

[Robinrs]

I just wanted to chime in on the durability of these backpacks.

My sister volunteered every year to buy my son a backpack while he was in school. Every year she'd get him one from Walmart or Target and every year he'd tear it up a few months down the line. He was very rough on them or they were just plain cheap.

In his first year of high school she bought him an LL Bean backpack.

He still has it and he's going to be a junior in college next month! It still looks BRAND NEW and he gives it a HARD time.

Great product!

 

[pxidst119]

We've had a great experience with the LLBean back packs too. 7th & 6th graders still using them since kindergarten and they look great. I have even washed them when necessary. My advice is to get the bigger size and a neutral design or they will outgrow it long before the backpack needs to be replaced.

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

Anyone else's kid refuse to use the same backpack year after year? Lol. DS has a very nice LL Bean bag that he used in Kindergarten and 1st, but it was too "babyish" for 2nd. It was digital camo, original size. So we got him an Oakley bag on clearance and surprisingly the thing held up really well. I would like to get him another LL Bean but I know he would be tired of it by next year. Boooo.

 

[sherry7]

Anyone else's kid refuse to use the same backpack year after year? Lol. DS has a very nice LL Bean bag that he used in Kindergarten and 1st, but it was too "babyish" for 2nd. It was digital camo, original size. So we got him an Oakley bag on clearance and surprisingly the thing held up really well. I would like to get him another LL Bean but I know he would be tired of it by next year. Boooo.

That's the reason I got DD a solid pink one. I figure that she's less likely to get tired of it since it isn't a print.

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

That's the reason I got DD a solid pink one. I figure that she's less likely to get tired of it since it isn't a print.

I figured I'd be safe with camo (because he does still love it) but I think he associates the bag with K and 1st = babyish. If I do get another one, I'm not getting it monogramed because now I have this backpack with his name on it that I probably won't use. I use mine, that LL Bean replaced my 1992 bag with for free.

 

[RebeccaB]

I live near Freeport, we go to the LLBean reject store whenever we are in Freeport. (it's actually not called the reject store lol, it's the 2nds/returns store). If something is monogrammed and returned, they can't resell it. The reject store is full of backpacks with names/initials. One could probably make a killing buying these and resellin' em on Ebay.

I have an LL Bean backpack I got at the employee store about a hundred years ago, and it's my go to travelling backpack still. It goes to Disney every year. Imo, you can't go wrong with a bean backpack. They are awesome for returns/repairs.

 

[Grendalynn]

My DD (age 4) will be starting pre-K this fall, and she needs a backpack since she'll be riding a bus. After prior poor experiences with Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc backpacks, I'm more than willing to pay the $25-$30 to get her an L.L. Bean backpack that will last more than one school year.

I'm looking on the L.L. Bean website, and I'm debating on what size to order. She's already a tall girl, at 43" high. I'd like to get a size that can last her for pre-K, kindergarten, and maybe even 1st and 2nd grade. My choices are:
*Junior Original - 14.5"H x 11"W x 6"D"
*Original - 16"H x 13"W x 7.25"D

She needs one that will fit an insulated lunch bag, folders, etc. I'm not sure what else a little kid would be carrying, lol. Does anyone have personal experience with these backpacks? What size should I order? I'd love to visit an L.L. Bean store to try them on her, but the closest one is 90 minutes away.

Its always better to have too big than too small.... honestly, I wont buy my kids anything but LLBean backpacks. My son is going into 10th grade and we still have his backpack we bought him in kindergarten. Granted, we had to buy a bihgger one as he got older (bigger/more books, more gear) but we still use his for sleepovers and such. With a lifetime guarentee, you can always bring it back, no matter the issue. NO MATTER WHAT. I have an outlet right own the road. We often get backpacks and lunch bags that have been returned or lettered infcorrectly or with teh wrong color thread for cheap money!

 

[kirstie101]

Just wanted to add that during the sale we ordered my 2nd grader the deluxe backpack. I was worried it would be too big for her but its the only style that had the pattern she wanted. We received it last week and the size is fine. She loves it. This is our first LL Bean backpack. I hope it lasts us a nice long time!

 

[matdamom]

My son is going into 6th grade and still using his (red digital camo) LL Bean backpack we got in Kindergarten. My middle daughter stopped using hers in 6th grade because it was too narrow for her band folder, but it is still in great shape.

Not a backpack, but many years ago my DH and I bought a HUGE soft-sided duffel bag from the Bean outlet in DE. It has initials embroidered on it, but I took a seam ripper and carefully took out the initials. We use that bag every time we go anywhere and it will hold all of our beach towels (about 10) plus clothes for 3 people for a week, plus a mid-size blanket, and whatever else I can stuff in it.

 

[thebeesknees]

My SIL ordered the junior size for my son in kindergarten and it was not big enough for even a regular-size homework folder. We wound up getting him the original, and then ordered the original deluxe for my daughter a couple years later because it had the extra compartment. DS is going into 7th grade this year and his backpack still looks brand new. I wash it over Christmas and summer breaks and hang it to dry and it is in great shape. DD is wanting another pattern, but since her backpack is still in great shape, I told her she has to wait until it wears out. If it is anything like DS's, she'll be in medical school before she needs a new one! So make sure you order a pattern or color she will like for a long time.

 

[Patience]

My youngest daughter used the junior LL Bean backpack in Kindergarten and last year in first grade. She is going to use her big sister's regular sized LL Bean this year. The junior bags are pretty small but my daughter is a peanut and the regular sized one was just too big for her before now.

 

[Styx Fan]

I just want to throw in another point of view. I am sure LL Bean has wonderful backpacks. But I would not buy one for a younger child.

Both of my kids really enjoyed picking out new backpacks each year featuring their current interests or favorite colors. There were a couple of years they reused them for a year, but not usually until around 5th grade. I never bought expensive ones either. Just whatever was on sale at Target or the like. I think only one had the zipper break.

I also liked having a clean one each year since the little ones tended to get them filthy and stained. Probably the more expensive ones can be cleaned in some way though.

DS is now a senior and I bought him a nice one last year that we hope will last him through college. Before that he had one for a few years that was a mid-range price, but of a more distinctive color. His current one is black.

 

[Angie789]

Both of my kids really enjoyed picking out new backpacks each year featuring their current interests or favorite colors.

To solve this problem, we invested in nice LL Bean backpacks for our kids, but let them pick out a new lunch bag each year with their favorite character. Much cheaper and less likely to have problems than a lower quality backpack.

 

[amomma23]

To solve this problem, we invested in nice LL Bean backpacks for our kids, but let them pick out a new lunch bag each year with their favorite character. Much cheaper and less likely to have problems than a lower quality backpack.

We do the same. Although DS11, has used the same lunch bag since 3rd grade, too. Just last week, he said he'd like a new one for middle school.

 

[wenrob]

I just want to throw in another point of view. I am sure LL Bean has wonderful backpacks. But I would not buy one for a younger child.

Both of my kids really enjoyed picking out new backpacks each year featuring their current interests or favorite colors. There were a couple of years they reused them for a year, but not usually until around 5th grade. I never bought expensive ones either. Just whatever was on sale at Target or the like. I think only one had the zipper break.

I also liked having a clean one each year since the little ones tended to get them filthy and stained. Probably the more expensive ones can be cleaned in some way though.

DS is now a senior and I bought him a nice one last year that we hope will last him through college. Before that he had one for a few years that was a mid-range price, but of a more distinctive color. His current one is black.

I bought my youngest two LL Backpacks when they were 18mos old, they used them through Kindergarten and I bought bigger ones when they started first grade. That's all they know, they have never asked for a character backpack. They get to choose folders, pencil boxes etc. and are pretty happy with that. They also get key chains in their Easter baskets or Christmas stockings that they attach to the zippers.

As for cleaning, spray them, toss them in the wash and hang to dry. Still look brand new. We used the small ones on our Disney trip last month. My initial investment was in the ballpark of $25 a piece on sale and they have taken nearly seven years of abuse, just not worth the character ones that cost as much or more and don't last half as long IMHO.