Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Kids Kids Deluxe Backpack

Purchased this pack as my older boy went into 3rd grade, that pack is still in use as he's going into 6th. His brother has been trying to "borrow" it so many times that I've purchased him a matching one that he's been carrying around since it arrived 3 weeks ago and school hasn't even started yet.

We've only had the backpack for 2 months and part of the handle has already ripped off. Seems like other people have had the same issue.

Handle ripped after three weeks of use. Very inconvenient to have to send back for a new one and finding another bag for my daughter to use in the meantime. I had one of these in the early 2000s used all 4 years of high school. It had no issues what so ever. It's not made like they used to be.

I bought this backpack for my grandson. He loved it, however , on the first day of school the zipper got caught in the flap and wouldn't move. Several people tried to loosen it, but it wouldn't budge. I called customer service and they were great, immediately sending a new one. However, the zippers continue to be a problem. I will try folding the flaps and sewing them down so they stay out of the way. This is a great backpack and I would buy it again in the future if you fix the zipper problem. Please do that and don't change anything else on the backpack.

O sent iy back, wadnt big enough, waiting on refund.

We ordered what we thought was a dusty pink backpack according to the online photo. We were very disappointed to discover that it is in actually a dark lavender color. It doesn't look anything like what is advertised. I see now it is called "vintage lavender" but the photo is very misleading. The quality of the bag is fine but the color is a let down, especially for the price.

The multiple zipper pack areas are a plus. The main deficiency is the fact that the drink holder pouches are too high on the pack, and make pulling a drink out nearly impossible without taking off your back. I also like having an upper strap to secure your pack, rather than just a down at the waist area.

Good backpack. Cup holder always rips away from backpack. Biggest complaint is colors are boring.

My 6th grade son used this back pack for 2 weeks when a strap snapped. Another week and the other strap snapped. I contacted customer service with photos and they were amazing and over nighted a replacement. The first one must have been faulty because the straps on the second are still good now that the year is up. However, after 2 months of use, the water holder ripped (still functional) and the top handle strap began fraying and barely made it through the rest of the school year. I acknowledge that my son doesn't have a locker, carries a full bag all day but also uses a chrome book rather than text books. That's why I went for the Deluxe, but I'm researching a replacement for 7th grade. He still has a standard LL bean bag from elementary school in perfect shape (used for years) but it isn't big enough and he needs more compartments. It's a shame this bag can't have solid fabric water holders like the standard ones!

The backpack is great and holds a lot of items, but the flap of fabric that covers the zippers is constantly getting stuck in the zipper. Having to rip the fabric out of the zipper on a frequent basis really detracts from an otherwise great product.

We have bought LL Bean backpacks since my child started preschool and never had an issue. Our most recent purchase was the Deluxe Backpack IV. Our only compliant is the mesh on one of the water bottle pockets ripped after about 6 months of use. Looking at other reviews, we are not the only customer that has had this issue. Other than the mesh water bottle pocket, the pack back had held up well and is still in excellent condition.

Like many, I still have my llbean bag from High School and it held up beautifully. Due to this I bought my kids llbean bags. Unfortunately, they don't last more than one school year. My son isn't particularly rough with his bag or anything and the zipper broke and it ripped in multiple places! He takes it to school and home. This makes it hard to justify the price when I can get the same quality at a much cheaper price point and I really only came to llbean because of the quality in the first place. The size is nice, my kids feel like they are comfortable and hold a good amount. The padded laptop holder keeps laptops from hitting the ground when they inevitably toss it down without care. Wipes clean. It's just too bad the quality is lacking.

I got this bag a few years ago and it is holding up really well. The material is long lasting and holds my belongings well. There are plenty of pockets to store things. My problem however is with the water bottle holder. It is TERRIBLE . Too many times has the bottle fallen out of the bag and left huge dents. I got a new bottle today and it fell out because of how bad the pocket is. Too many winter morning have my fingers almost froze of due to me having to carry it instead of my bag. Which is its job. Fix this and it is probably the best bag in the market.

recently purchased this for some day hiking. I used to own one years ago and loved it. great variety of colors. unfortunately, the waist strap is too short for women if you are plus size (i wasn't years ago :-) . Also not sure if the waist strap would work for men or ppl wearing heavy coats. Otherwise a nice backpack.

I had this back pack for about 3 years and the zippers would derail and eventually come off but in the time that i had it it was very sturdy but i was also carrying a lot of things around all day

My kids have had several of these over the years, and this one doesn't feel as sturdy. I guess we'll see how it holds up. Probably my last purchase from LL bean since they donated so much to the Republican Party.

My son is on his 6th year of his backpack and it's still going strong so I decided to order 2 for my 5th graders. They have only been using them maybe 2 weeks and one of the mesh pockets is already coming apart of the top seam! Very disappointing!

First one torn across the top after two years. Wish they would fix

Great bag except after 2 weeks at school the top loop came apart. Now to return or exchange?

Biggest complaint is that the watee bottle holder ripped and heavy water bottles slip out. The drink holder needs to be wide and taller, the fabric of the backpack, and with some kind of drawstring at the top to adjust the size so things dont slip out. Also please start doing some more fun colors like you do the retro fleeces. Solid navy and black is really boring and dreary to look at everyday. Every backpack should have a more durable material on the bottom because this backpack scuffs. A retro ll bean camping color line of backpacks aimed at middle and high schoolers with neutrals and brights but not neon. Also what about a one time retro colorblock neon 90s backpack with neon zippers or embellishments.

Son used this pack all through elementary and it has held up beautifully. I'd love for him to be one of the kids carrying his same LLBean pack at graduation. But the water bottle sleeve has not held up. Just normal use with a standard size water bottle and it has stretched to where just putting his pack on his back his water bottles fall out. Water bottles at school are the expectation post-Covid. Please make them sturdier!

I've purchased L. L. Bean Book Packs for years because of their durability. They have made some updates to the internal pocket configuration that is much more contemporary for electronics, etc. that I like. The zippers don't seem as durable as they used to be, as one already jammed up. Not sure if it is an intended functionality, but when you lift it by the canvas strap at the top, the bag seems to shift forward - not necessarily a good thing if you're trying to keep everything in place, only to have everything shift when opening while using the top canvas strap. I also get that L.L. Bean has to meet their costs, but they used to offer "Free Shipping" on everything, and it is now crept up to what, $75.00 purchase for free shipping. If they'd make AMERICAN MADE products of quality people will be loyal customers, but that's slipping at L.L. Bean. Bring back the higher quality traditional L.L. Bean products that made L.L. Bean a powerhouse in the 1900's, ditch the higher shipping thresholds, and customers will be there!

The grab handle at the top of the backpack broke after only 2 weeks

Color is not the same in person as depicted online. The "vintage lavender" looks like a light mauve pink in the website photos but in person is a true light purple. If you want pink, this bag is purple. Otherwise looks like a good school backpack.

Held up great otherwise throughout the school year but zipper got caught in fabric and became unusable within two days of buying. I didn't want to go through the trouble of return/exchange so we just use the other zipper instead. But haven't had any other issues since.