Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Kids Kids Deluxe Backpack

The build quality of this backpack is, I hate to say it, below average. The mesh side pockets for water bottles rip easily and isn't durable at all. LL Bean replaced the first backpack we bought because of the ripped mesh pocket. The side pocket is flimsily and my daughter gave up on trying to put a water bottle in it as it constantly fell out no matter the size of the bottle. Just today, we the keychain clip in the smaller pocket snapped off the first time I tried to put a keychain on it. I'm so disappointed in the quality of this particular backpack by LL Bean. I would not buy again.

I've always thought LL Bean bagswere super high quality, but I got this and immediately put it back in the box to return. The seams felt fragile, and it was extremely uncomfortable to wear. Neither the bag or the laptop compartment is padded :/

Fits all the stuff my middle schooler is expected to carry around with him. However 16 months later one of the shoulder strap is halfway ripped out at the top of the bag. It's out of the 1 year warranty so there's nothing LLBean can do. Disappointing. A backpack should last longer than that!!

Zipper is stuck. Company won't stand behind their iriducts anymore. Sad. Thought you could rely on llbean fir the long term.

The text was much smaller than it was on previous backpacks I have bought.

My son had his Original Bookpack from Kindergarten through 5th grade and it still looks new! I got this Deluxe model for the extra space and pockets as he entered middle school expecting it to last us through college. Already the mesh water bottle pockets are ripping and we're not even halfway through the school year! To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. L.L.Bean, PLEASE make this bookpack with SOLID CANVAS WATER BOTTLE POCKETS like the Original Bookpack!!

The backpack itself is fine. However, my kids have to take a water bottle to school every day, and the mesh water bottle pouch has developed a hole less than four months into the school year. This is the second LL Bean backpack where we've had this issue. A replacement backpack is currently on backorder for another two months, so we are stuck with a $60 backpack that has a hole in it and can't hold a water bottle without ripping further. I went with an expensive LL Bean backpack for a 10 year old because I've heard great things about their return policy and the quality of their merchandise. The return policy is functionally useless (backpack isn't in stock, and I have to buy a new one before I can get a refund for this one). When this happened to the first backpack, I assumed it was a one-off manufacturing defect. Now it's two backpacks with the same problem. Really, really disappointed.

It really pains me to rate this book pack two stars. But for the first time in 35-40 years, we received a L.L. Bean book pack that was not perfect. (Part of the mesh around one of the water bottle pockets was not sewn properly.) Through two kids, four grandkids, and around 14-15 units purchased over the years, this is the only problem we have had. I only hope that this is a freak problem and not an indication of diminishing quality. We returned the pack to the local L. L. Bean store and reordered another exactly like the first oneour granddaughter needs it! Unfortunately, the reorder was on back order.

We have purchased bookbags from LL Bean for years and they are very durable; however, our recent purchase of this bag has been very disappointing. Due to the design of the flaps that cover the zippers, my son constantly has issued with the zipper getting stuck in the flap. We have successfully managed to get the zippers unstuck multiple times; however, we now have one zipper that has completely detached from the other side when we were trying to get it unstuck, and the other zipper is again stuck in the flap and the bag is almost unusable. It has only be used for a month. We are not sure how long he will even be able to use it now.

Liked the bag but top loop strap and waist straps started to fail and fray within 1 month. Exchanged for a new one and hope that it will hold up better.

While this is a great sized bag (we went with LLBEAN as my son has outgrown the other brand bag sizes), the top strap already ripped after 2 weeks of school. Good news is that LLBEAN is sending a replacement. I hope this one doesn't rip. We love LLBean and expect more from Mainer quality.

Bag didnt make it through 3 weeks of school. The top handle is fraying and ripping from the bag already. Bought this for my daughter because the bags lasted when I had them.

I've been purchasing LL Bean backpacks since the 90's. My son is in high school and got a new LL Bean backpack for this school year. Today is the fourth day of school and the center strap that you use to hang the backpack on a hook, is already tearing apart. No, it won't affect the shoulder straps or the backpack itself, but come onpieces of fabric ripping after just four days of use? This is a $55 backpack. Very disappointing.

I have purchased and returned these book bags twice now for the same reason. The water bottle holders need to be redesigned. The mesh material ends up coming unstitched from the elastic part at the top of the water bottle area. This has happened within days of use. I have twins and both bag packs have done it on both sides each time we have bought them. Thankfully we were within the return window but they just don't make them like they did when I was younger.

Quality not as expected, inexpensive feel, not fabric feel. Definitely lightweight, but shoulders straps are crisp and feel sharp and scape against bare skin. I am used to a more flexible, fabric based material so this was very stiff and uncomfortable.

I bought two of these bags for summer day camp as they were large and water resistant. While it does fit all of our stuff, after one week it is already showing signs of wear. The mesh from the water bottle pocket has started separating and one of our inner key clips broke on the first use. I contacted customer service and they said I could mail it back to return, but we need it daily for summer camp so that was not really an option. For the price, I expected this to be more durable for use by kids.

The zipper broke within 3 months of using the backpack. Also the zipper gets caught too easily in the fabric. If they either made the zipper stronger and back quality or use less fabric around the zipper this could easily be a 5 star backpack. I had an LLBean back pack in grade school and that one lasted forever with no zipper issue but this new backpack is not the same.

Already has a hole in the side pocket, super upset as these were suppose to "made to last". I have mine still from over 15 years ago in perfect condition and my bag has been through the wringer, thought the same bag would be perfect for my incoming middle schooler and 3 days in and the side mesh pocket is already ripped.

I love this backpack. I had one when I went to college 25 years ago. Believe it or not, I still use the bookbag! So, I decided to purchase one for my son. After the 3rd day of using it, the zipper broke. Needless to say, I am disappointed. So, I spent $60 plus dollars on a bag and the zipper breaks.

We have been buying backpacks from LL Bean for over 20 years. The quality isn't what it used to be. My daughter's backpack that we purchased for this school year (July 2023), and my daughter hardly uses, has the stitching of both bottle holders coming apart. Luckily, she took it on a plane trip this week and I saw it. Many other purchasers have the same issue. This is a quality control issue in the manufacturing process. It will be going back, but they are out of stock in the same color.

Not even through the school year and it's tearing and the zipper is broken. Unfortunately I purchased before the school year and waited for my son to use so we are past the 1 year guarantee and no response to email to customer service. Really disappointed. Save your money and get something with a better warranty.

The summer before I went into high school my mother bought me the biggest LLBean backpack, with my initials. Over those 4 years I added patches all over the front. I took it to college, added more patches. Used it in moves over the years cramming it with stuff. It's in the basement in a bin. The waterproof lining is coming off so I can't use it anymore, but I graduated in 1996. That backpack lasted decades. I bought my son the same backpack Feb 2022, it's now Apr 2023 and it's falling apart. I can see why they no longer have a lifetime guarantee.

School stared in Aug,by Sept the zipper had already come off track that I've had to rig many times & zipper is constantly getting stuck on the fabric flap over the zipper. costumer service said I could mail in and exchange but it could be a 2-3 week processing time. That's not feasible for a student who has a lot of books/laptop to carry around.This bag likely won't last one full school year.Would not recommend this bag!

Quality is just not there anymore. Size and color are great. Both side pockets ripped within 2 weeks of use. Can't return because my son had put a few iron on patches on. Reached out to custom service and got no response.

I have bought my boys this backpack in the past and it lasted them both several years. My oldest had his from 8th grade through high school graduation. I bought this one the end of October 2022 and the strap has already broken and that is with a 3 week break from school. My son is a junior in high school and I expected this one to last him this year and next based on the performance of the previous back packs. I would not recommend this for high schoolers and probably not middle schoolers either.