Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Kids Super Deluxe Bookpack (Little Kids/Big Kids)

I bought this backpack for my son for school. Initially, he was excited it fit so much stuff. However, it is extremely poorly designed and doesn't distribute the weight well on his back. The bag bulges out extremely far behind his back even when it is not stuffed and there are no cinch straps to bring the load in closer to his body. As a result, it doesn't work for wearing for any significant amount of time. We need to get him a new backpack now to walk to school because this one doesn't cut it. I expected more from LLBean, especially with so many positive reviews.

I got this for my son after he has for 3 months the Haul loop on top of the bag was one side ripped off from the top.

I was super happy when i got my backpack but in the first week i had it the zipper broke and couldn't get it back on I was super mad.

One of the zippers broke within the first week of school and the threads started raveling.

I am disappointed with the quality of the product from LL Bean. The strap has already begun to tear after only a weeks use.

I purchased this backpack hoping it would be durable enough at least for the entire school year. My son is in 7th grade and I knew he would need a durable bag this year. I was extremely disappointed when he came home after only been in school for 7 days and the stitching was already unraveling around the strap. I did look into the reviews and they were very mixed. It seems L.L. Bean has recently changed their warranty terms and conditions. Usually that means the customer is getting products with less quality. That is definitely the case here. From what information I gathered they switched manufacturers. The terms literally say that unraveling stitching isn't something that's qualified as a product malfunction. This seems a little suspicious since most of the negative reviews say that this is the main problem. I just wish I would've purchased the backpack when they were still of good quality. I was so hopeful that this would be a good purchase. I even paid for the engraving. I would not recommend this product to anyone and I will not be wasting my money again. I wonder if the other products are of this horrible quality as well?

Bought this for my high schooler. My older child has had the same back pack for over a year. This new pack is tearing where the strap meets the bag part-after only 2 days. I'm ordering another and hope that I can leave a better review.

I am extremely disappointed in this bag. I have used these for my children for years and never had an issue. Less than a week into school and the strap is already ripping off. Normally I can use these bags for several years before having to order a new one.

Bought 2 of these at the start of last school year. Neither made it through the year without damage. Straps are coming undone and other material has tears and the seams. Of course LL Bean no longer has a lifetime warranty.

Bought Bean book bags for my kids years ago and they used them for 4+ years for school. In fact we still use them on occasion. Kids got older and wanted new colors, so we ordered new ones. All 3 book-bags have zipper issues and ripped top handles within months of purchasing. Interior seams are frayed and messy. Cheap. Poorly made. Been a Bean customer for years. Can't say I'll buy another Bean book bag after this. Nothing like the first ones.

Bought this bookbag for my teenage son last August. School starts next week, we realized it has a large rip in the mesh on the side pocket. I contacted the customer service department for them to inform me that because we are a week past the one-year date of purchase that they do not offer any help to fix their product. I really expected so much better from this company, and for the price the bookbag should be more durable. NOT WORTH THE PRICE, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.

I ordered this backpack in 2020 to use as a baby bag after having my second child in October of 2020. I decided to go with llbean bc I always heard they are the most durable. I use it almost every day and it has since ripped along the Seam on the large pocket so much so that I cant use it and the side water bottle pockets also ripped. I contacted llbean to see if I could send it back to be fixed or replaced and they refused. So i will be purchasing a different backpack to use from now on. Very disappointed.

I bought for my high school son this backpack under the old thinking these were made and guaranteed to last or it would be replaced or repaired. I still have my bag from college (20+ years old) and our kids bags from childhood. However, the lifetime is not the case anymore and the quality is not the quality they once were. Given that it's not weighted down with textbooks (since textbooks aren't used anymore), it should have been able to carry the load for years to come. Will not buy again and will return the one I just received since I now know it won't last.

Clip broke in less than 3 months and they won't replace will not purchase another bag for that price!

These backpacks use to last for years! Now after two yrs with virtual learning most of the time it is ripped and zipper broken. One year return is not longer enough for these pricey backpacks

So bummed. Had to return this bag. The side water bottle holders are not tall enough or strong enough to hold a standard stainless steel water bottle. It fell out all day (the one day my child tried to use this bag), from carpool drop off as he got out of the car, to throughout the day as he moved to classes. I wanted this bag to be his 'forever' bag and take him through high school and beyond. Still waiting on return of funds after having sent the bag back.

These backpacks have typically lasted my kids a couple of years. I bought a new one this year and within a month of use, the strap started ripping out. It was discouraging considering the cost of these backpacks, but when I called they offered to send a new one. The color my son had wasn't available, so we chose a color from their limited stock. I had to buy a new one and then they credited me back the cost. I felt the return process was very lengthy, although I understand shipping is slow these days.

Recently purchased two of these backpacks to replace my children's very well worn LL Bean backpacks. This backpack has zero structure to it, so the backpack crumples when on the floor and when worn. Note in the attached photo where the padding that meets the back is buckling. While I do not expect this backpack to be as rigid as a hiking backpack, I do expect it to have some structure and support. This is like carrying everything in a flimsy knapsack or pillowcase. The contents of the backpack are a lunchbox, laptop, and a few folders and notebooks, so normal school gear. The material is similar to a raincoat in thickness and ability to hold any shape. LLBean customer service was helpful and they accept returns within a year. I will be returning these ASAP! Super disappointed!

I purchased this backpack based on a friends recommendation. Unfortunately I should have went with the brand I normally purchase. We are 5 weeks into the school year and the strap is already unraveling from the backpack. I contacted customer service and they said to return it for a replacement but all of their backpacks are on back order.

Ripped after one year and they would not replace it. I was told by the company that it had to be a result of misuse by my child although many people have had this happen. They are not using the same materials which is why they only replace them up to one year now. Horrible company, BUYER BEWARE!!

I bought each of my grandsons one of these bookbags. They are both 8 years old. The straps on both of their book backs have ripped. They were very disappointed because they liked the book bags. LL Bean used to repair their book bags but when I contacted them about these , they said they do not repair. I am very disappointed in LL Bean. I will not be buying any more.

Let me preface by saying we had a DIFFERENT LLBean Backpack that lasted the entirety of elementary school and into Middle School!!!! After all of those years, it finally gave up. I immediately thought we should get an LLBean backpack because really... how many backpacks hold up like that?!?! I purchased this backpack and was sorely disappointed!!! Within a matter of months(maybe 2?) the stitching completely disintegrated along the zipper, leaving about a 3-4 inch hole along the top. I hesitated to exchange it because it looks like a universal defective quality issue and not merely that it was stitched improperly. My kiddo insisted they loved the design so we tried again. Do you know that while I was waiting(so about a week) for the new replacement to ship, the shoulder strap started to detach?! I went back and looked at other 1-star reviews and saw much the same. Wishing I looked beforehand, but grateful ours disintegrated so quickly so we were within return limits. Terrible quality and not representative of any other LLBean products we've ever purchased. May go back to original that lasted nearly a decade (how many backpacks can say THAT?) but disappointed they even offer this piece of garbage. Looks nice, but severe and inherent defects.

I am a mother of 2 boys - one in junior high and one in middle school. And both have had LL Bean bookbags from their first day of school and they have lasted like no other year after year only to be replaced because they outgrew them. However, I purchased this one in July 2018 for my entering junior high schooler and it now has several holes in the bottom of it, the front is snagged/ripped in a few places, and the reflective piping on the front is completely worn down to the plastic. And of course, I'm 5 months out of the new 1 year return policy! I'm sure some is from bumping into walls and doorways and don't get me wrong, my son is a boy, but he also takes care of his things. It's not like he's throwing the thing around - otherwise all of his binders would be damaged. After many years of using LL Bean bags, I can tell a severe defect or deficit I should say, in the quality of materials used for this bag. Sorry LL Bean, you lost a loyal customer here. I will not buy another bookbag from you again. :-(

I have had one of the original design for years and when it came time to replace it discovered that they had removed the very feature that made it so great: all the pockets in the front which made it so easy to pack and organize smaller items. Now it's just a couple of large pockets so really no better than anything else on the market. Please bring back the original design as an option!!! I have tried before to post this and they would never publish it, presumably because it was a negative review. I complained to customer service and they always said they would review it but never actually did anything. Trying again. Kind of makes the online reviews pointless if they refuse anything that isn't 100% complimentary, don't you think?

We have always had good luck with ll bean products in the past. We have found the investment to be good as the quality lasts more than a year. Not this time. The back pack worked great in 8th grade when very little books needed to be brought home. The bag was still like new starting Freshman year. Unfortunately, the zipper busted out the first month when heavy books were added...just after the year guarantee. NOT worth the high price!