Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Continental Rucksack

I used an old Army Surplus Alice Pack and two rifle straps all through college. This is by far a better version. The padding and straps are great. Contrary to other reviews, I was able to get 1L Nalgene bottles into both of the side exterior pockets. Snug, but they fit. I used this during a few day hikes in the Allegheny National Forrest this past week. I wasn't carrying tons of stuff so I just tucked the waist belts into the bottom. I think this would be sufficient for some overnight hikes for the person not carrying the tent, stove, AND sleeping bag. It's perhaps too big for a day hike but, I was happy with it.It could be an excellent weekend travel bag where day hikes are then going to happen. This is a solid utilitarian rucksack. I would recommend it to a friend. I'm 5'11" and about 170 and the fit was excellent.

I like using this rucksack for work. It can hold a 17" laptop and has room for many other things. Haven't weighed down the bag enough to utilize the hip belt.

I bought this bag specifically to serve as a carry-on for one bag travel. Fully loaded its a little big under a plane seat, but I'm able to make do on the leg room front. I've also never had an issue with it being my carry-on. I've been able to pack a week's worth of gear in it as long as I'm strategic about it. The side pockets are the perfect size for 1L water bottles, too.

I bought this to be my primary day pack for hunting. I live in a rural Alaskan community, so I expect my pack will be, at times, subjected to some pretty crummy weather. My hunting pack gets used fall, winter, and spring. I thought long and hard about buying a continental rucksack; I've always liked the way they look. My hunting day packs are typically camouflage packs. I have had this one for a year(ish). So far so good. It still looks like new and has been easy to clean. It certainly fits my needs and shoulders and carries very nicely. I generally expect/hope to get 3-4 years from a pack, before I need to consider searching for a replacement. I am tentatively hopeful this one can exceed that time frame.

I absolutely love this bag. Super good construction and at a fraction of the price of others. I bought one for me and one for my son. Thank you LL Bean for quality products at great prices!

Excellent day pack. I can carry everything I need for a day of "bushcrafting".

I love my new backpack! I bought this to take to work every day, and it's perfect. The side pockets are deep enough to fit my umbrella (something I had trouble finding in other packs), and it's capacity is perfect for fitting my lunch, my purse, and my shoes. It's very comfortable, and--bonus--it comes in a color that perfectly matches my LL Bean coat!

I've used this as a piece of luggage. It's well-made and looks good.

I purchased a Continental Rucksack many years ago when LL Bean first started selling them. I loved the bag. Many years have passed and my Rucksack has gone to the great rucksack heaven. I recently decided to purchase another Continental Rucksack, maybe nostalgia, who knows. The new bag has been upgraded in numerous ways. I am looking forward to getting many years of use from this bag. The only negative I have found is, in my opinion, the outside pockets should be a little larger to accommodate a one quart water bottle and a cup/pot nested together. The pocket will tightly hold the water bottle alone, but other than that the bag is well built and easy to carry.

This pack went with me 1/4 the way around the world. It was the perfect size.. my camera tripod fit nicely, and held everything I needed it to hold. Additionally, I can use it as a day pack back here in Colorado. LLB hit a homerun with this one. You can NOT go wrong. Buy it when you are looking for a pack

Classics endure as their design works. This is such an item. The traditional rucksack is a great design and far better than most modern packs. I bought my Bean Rucksack about a decade ago and have carried it all over the USA, on various kinds of trips - from bushwacking in the mountains to using it as luggage while traveling by rail. The ski sleeves are extremely useful - for not just skiis but treking poles, camera tripods etc The hold down straps on the top flap are great for holding a rolled up mountain parka, down vest or rain gear. The Cordura bottom is better than leather - its water proof. This pack is perfect. THEY SHOULD NEVER CHANGE IT!

I live an outdoor lifestyle as much as I possibly can with Spinal Cord Injury. I have purchased countless framed and unframed packs to find one that was comfortable to wear, big enough for my minimalistic approach to the outdoors, and durable enough to withstand the abuse that comes with stumbling and falling through the woods. Ive used my Continental Rucksack for going on six months on my YouTube channel Half Pace Outdoors and its has done everything I could ask. My only issue with the pack is how short the bottom straps are. Aside from that it is an awesome piece of kit!!! Absolutely Love my Rucksack!!!

This was a gift from our college senior's Christmas list. She wanted to replace her worn and battered college pack, get one ready for two years of grad school and also have something to take on a European summer vacation. This pack is perfect. We got the colorful one with great design and color blocking and many useful pack compartments. She loves it and just today she found a way to defer using the chest and belly straps while using it on campus without a heavy load and that thrilled her. Nothing but rave reviews from her. Thanks LL Bean for giving us practical and pragmatic products that also look great!

We bought the backpack as a Christmas gift for our grandson who is a scout. I thought it might be a little big as he is 11 years old but he filled it full of stuff and carried it on the plane with him home. He loves it. It is good quality and he will be able to use it for many years to come.

My daughter wanted a fairly small pack for study abroad; not too big, not too small. This pack from LL Bean was just the right size, it's very obviously well-made (as are all the Bean products we've purchased over the years), and even the color was great. We were very happy with it and she loves it.

My brother loved it! It was big enough to carry his camera gear but not to big to get in the way.

I've had this rucksack for 26 years. I got it as my book bag in high school, used it throughout college and grad school, and it's been my gym bag for the past 10 years or so. I was just marveling today at the quality- I've used this bag regularly for nearly three decades and the fabric and hardware are all still functioning well.

Well my fellow legume fanatics, I would not lie to you. This pack is awesome, but it is also a marriage wrecker with a capital W. I bought my pack from LLBean about a year ago for the purpose of making weekend trips to NYC on the train among other things. It's perfect for that. It's just the right size to pack up enough clothing for a few days, and the spacious pockets make it easy to organize types of clothing into the various pockets. I load up just enough, and I'm ready to walk Manhattan from end to end. I love it. However, I should also note that if you are looking for a backpack for school, this probably isn't it. It has big deep pockets, and not a lot of smaller pockets for stuffing typical school stuff like books, pencils, calculators and other school accoutrements. It's also a top loader lacking the common end to end zippers that make it easier to access books. So for that purpose, you should look at another design. But if you are looking for a nice sized pack with enough space for 3-4 days of clothes that is easy to carry and stow, this is it. Now, on to the marriage wrecking that this pack has caused me. I bought mine a year ago, and since then, my wife has been eyeballing it gamely. Being the wise man that I am, I bought her one of her own a couple of months ago for her birthday. What I discovered on our last trip, however, is that her more recent version of the pack has some modifications which are making me insanely jealous. With my older edition, the computer sleeve is inside the main pack. I have to open it up from the top and fish down in for my computer. Her new improved model has quick side access to quickly access the computer which is a huge advantage when one is having one's Fourth Amendment rights manhandled at the airport. Further, the nice little zipper pocket that is inside my pack has been moved to the top flap for quick easy access. Also an awesome refinement. So, I am insanely jealous. I want the new version of the pack. It's a super sweet design, and I want it real, real bad. I'm coveting, and that's not right, but the way this thing is built, it's going to be a lot of years before I need to replace mine, and my jealousy of my wife's pack is not conducive to a healthy marriage.

Got this for a 3-day trek to NYC. The bag was the perfect 3-day bag and is ideal for overhead storage on the plane. Lightweight but quite strong and feels good on the back. I am very pleased with this and plan to buy a couple more for gifts.

This was a nice backpack. It is just as described.

I did not buy this backpack for outdoor trekking, but for school and it works great for that purpose. I bought this bag because I liked the elongated shape (other bags just look short when you put them on your back). I wanted to be able to carry my laptops (I carry around two 13 inch MacBook Airs), a couple binders, pencil pouch, ect. I do plan to use the bag as a carry-on when I fly and it does have enough room to store a few days worth of clothes/toiletries. However, I agree with the other reviews - if you want to be able to carry a water bottle in the side pockets, it is not going to fit. So, maybe not completely perfect for trekking around...But overall, a great, fairly roomy, and comfortable bag to wear/use.

I did not buy this backpack for outdoor trekking, but for school and it works great for that purpose. I bought this bag because I liked the elongated shape (other bags just look short when you put them on your back). I wanted to be able to carry my laptops (I carry around two 13 inch MacBook Airs), a couple binders, pencil pouch, ect. I do plan to use the bag as a carry-on when I fly and it does have enough room to store a few days worth of clothes/toiletries. However, I agree with the other reviews - if you want to be able to carry a water bottle in the side pockets, it is not going to fit. So, maybe not completely perfect for trekking around...But overall, a great, fairly roomy, and comfortable bag to wear/use.

I got this pack several years ago - and have been on many hikes - rain - wind - hot - snow - this pack takes it all - prolly one of tne most comfortable packs I've worn !! - I also use this for day trips to the lake - river - holds all the gear - it's a very good day pack - have also taken to concerts - I love this pack !!!

Does ,very well.

I purchased this bag for a two-week backpacking trip across Europe, and it was the only bag I brought with me. I usually prefer to pack minimally for my adventures, but I was able to fit 8-10 outfits, all of my toiletries, snacks, and electronics without issue. This bag has many hidden pockets (great for storing valuables and passports), and the simple/secure buckles made unpacking at security checkpoints very quick. It fits within the TSA guidelines for a carry-on bag, no suitcase needed! This backpack is extremely comfortable and sturdy, and the extra straps made walking long distances so much more bearable. This bag was definitely worth the money! 10/10