Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Kids Kids Deluxe Backpack

I bought 2 of these bags for each of my kids- one about a year ago (July 2022) and the other in February of 2023, and both have the side water bottle pockets falling apart. And it's not because they're being used inappropriately. They're just weak. Really really disappointed.

The only reason I bought this bag was because of the company's reputation for quality. The zipper broke within one year. I just got an email in my inbox on 7/17 titled, Our #1 Pack: Legendary for a Reason. Attached picture of email for reference. There's nothing legendary about a backpack that lasts one year. Attached photos of the backpack in great condition, except for the zipper. I called LL Bean and asked if I can get it repaired and or replaced. I was told maybe. I was sent a link to pay for the return and 'see' if they can do anything. This color isn't offered on their web site either.

After having to replace my boys bookbags every year, I finally bit the bullet and did what my parents did - bought an LL Bean bookbag so I'd never have to replace it again. Boy was I wrong. We haven't even finished the school year and one of the bags is unusable as both zippers on the main compartment are now broken (off track). The zippers constantly get caught on the fabric flap. The water bottle holders had holes in them within a week or so of use. I really can't express how disappointing these bags have been. I know my childhood LL Bean bookbag was basically indestructible. It's not the case with these bags now. Don't waste your money.

The shoulder straps aren't strong enough for a middle school book load. The straps broke within 5 months.

The backpack had a horrible smell, was wet and had mold on it. We threw it out immediately and when called LL Bean we got now help.

I purchased this backpack in red for my son whom is in 6th grade. It didn't even withstand 6 MONTHS! There are a couple of tear marks a few holes on the top of the bag. My son takes very good care of his belongings so I know it was not him! If he didn't the holes would have been there long before now! This Mama bear is not happy about this situation! Hopefully things can be resolved!

This is the 4th backpack I have purchased with LL Bean. I have had great luck with all of others previously, EXCEPT for this one. I got a call from school that the zipper was caught in the fabric and she couldn't get in her backpack at all. They made a small cut in the fabric along the zipper line and was able to get it undone. Mind you, she had it for two months. Fast forward to today, I just had to cut the zipper completely in order for my daughter to get anything out of the back pack. Please choose any other backpack LL Bean carries, just not this one if you want quality!

After five months of use by my second grader, one of the exterior pockets is separating at the seam. I will be returning it.

The strap ripped clean off of one side and the other was starting to fray. Our other llbean packs have lasted for over 6 years. Extremely disappointed in this bag.

I ordered this bag for my 9th grader and only after a couple of months of school the straps broke and they told me to wait until January for it to come back in stock and now they don't carry the color my AUTISTIC son has very disappointed I am currently looking for something similar (must be hunter green) to replace his bag that is still under the warranty

So disappointed. My brother got this. He put kinda heavy stuff in it, but it wasn't super heavy because he is in only 4th grade. After 4 months of use it broke. The strap just broke clean off the bag. This bag wasn't cheap, so I was expecting better quality. This bag looks cool with all the many pockets, but really those pockets make it harder to put stuff in. I will probably just go back to Lands Ends bags. They are cheaper, last longer, and are roomier. Disappointed

Too tight for my back have to hold with 1 hand inconvenience

The bag lasted less than 12 weeks. Zipper is useless.

I bought this backpack for my daughter to use for school, and the zipper for the large compartment has derailed and seems unfixable. It's sturdy otherwise, but unfortunately the broken zipper renders it virtually unusable. The backpack I bought in the 80s survived high school, the army, and college, and is still going strong.

My son has been using this backpack for only about three weeks, and a zipper has already broken. We now have to get another backpack. I expected higher quality from LL Bean. Unfortunately, this was a waste of money.

I purchased this for my 10 year old grandson on the recommendation of his friend's parent. Bean products have always been highly rated. The zipper on the section most used broke in a week. I ordered a replacement quickly as he needed it for school and the local store was out of stock and I couldn't wait to exchange it. Hopefully the next one has better longevity.

I love LLBean backpacks, and are the only backpacks I have bought for my 5 kids over the years. All the backpacks are still going strong--except for this one! This is a terrible backpack, and I'm not sure what happened to the quality, but either they got a bad batch or LLBean has discarded quality as a feature of their products. I ordered this backpack for my son, and two days after using it, the outside side pocket ripped at the top (the mesh pulled out). He kept his water bottle there. I requested a replacement since the backpack was defective. While waiting for the replacement, he put his water bottle in the outside pocket on the other side, and this pocket did the same thing. I had never seen this before. My kids all put their water bottles in the outside pockets and NEVER had anything like this happen. The replacement backpack came, and my son happily swapped out his stuff and went to school. AFTER ONE DAY OF USING THIS BACKPACK, THE FRONT POCKET (THAT SAYS LLBEAN) RIPPED AT THE TOP OF THE POCKET. My son did not have anything stuffed in there; he just kept pens and such. He did not abuse the backpack in any way, it just tore. I am so disappointed with this backpack. We're keeping it because my son doesn't want to wait another 2 months for another replacement that will just break again anyway. Just letting you know--buyer beware. The quality is gone in this particular backpack.

These backpacks used to last forever. This school year I decided to bite the bullet and pay the higher price to get an "indestructible" bag because the Jansport and Land's End backpacks we had previously barely made it to the end of the school year. Well, here we are three WEEKS into the year, and BOTH mesh water bottle pockets have holes where the mesh is coming apart from the top binding. What is it with these mesh pockets? Can no one figure out how to make one that lasts?? Of course, the only color my kid liked is sold out, but we are replacing it anyway because I can't find any other brand that is better quality that costs under $100. Just very disappointed that a brand I had always counted on has let their quality diminish so poorly.

This is the second backpack we purchased and zipper is stuck again.

I'm going to have to contact to replace it because the pocket broke already on this one and the strap broke on another one I bought at the same time. Literally the first WEEK of them using it. I'm pretty disappointed in the quality. Maybe I got a bad batch or something.

Used this backpack for less than one month and it already has holes in the side pockets. My son uses the side pockets for water bottles (nothing sharp of course) but both of the pockets are ripped.

One of the zippers to the main compartment got stuck & broke within the 1st week of usage. I've ordered other backpacks from LL bean in the past & not had this issue.

I had orded a back pack a few years back and used it everyday, so it was worn out. I ordered another not realizinf that the design had been changed and made smaller with less features. I sent it back because the new design wasnt conducive to my use at work. Disappointed because the old style was great. Please bring it back.

The zipper on the lunch bag will not budge. I found the customer service department I called to be less than helpful. Am returning the lunch bag and it was going to take WEEKS to get a replacement which is unacceptable with school starting in 4 days. So I just ordered another one and having to pay shipping on it. You need to check quality before shipping something out. This was a gift for my granddaughter's birthday. I will look elsewhere before I ever order from you again.

This backpack pulled apart at the top seem within a couple of weeks of use. I do not replace my kids backpacks every year, therefore I really try to buy quality packs. Now I have to go through the hassle of mailing it back and paying for shipping due to their lack of quality? I don't think so. I will not be purchasing from LL Bean again. I tried several time to add photos and was not able. You can clearly see in the photos that it's a new pack.