Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Zip Top Boat and Tote Small

Have always loved these totes and have ordered several over the years. Was very disappointed that my recent order for the same bag I have purchased for 4 of my children as their homecoming bag from the hospital (was purchasing for my 5th) did not have internal pockets. Packing his bag for the hospital last week and discovered this when I opened it up and didnt have the pockets. Not sure if this will be normal but wont be purchasing further if thats the case as we LOVE the old design with the pockets.

The problem is with the size of the bag. It is NOT listed on the description of this particular bag, and if you assume that the size of a Medium bag is the same as a posted dimensions for a Medium of other kind of similar bags, you will be wrong - it is different and corresponds to a smaller size. What is the problem with posting actual dimensions??

They should describe this as short handle and the long handle bag should be considered regular. Does not fit over shoulder

Wish this style came in some solid colors

I got a small tote, and the canvas straps are so stiff that it's impossible to use the long handles as shoulder straps. I think the long straps might work with the larger totes because of their extra size and weight. --- The small tote's straps are similar in feel to extra thick cardboard and just as uncomfortable. I ended up cutting off the straps entirely and plan to use this 'untote' to hold various items when I pack for trips. In other words, it is now pretty much a canvas ziplock baggie. Totally not worth what I spent. If I had purchased the tote bag with short straps, I would have given it 4 stars. Sadly, the description on the website did not say that the long straps were totally unusable on the small bag.

I was hoping that the material in the small bag would be a bit more flexible. I just found it rather awkward to get things in and out of the bag and the zipper was very stiff. It would be great if LL Bean made a small bag with a less stiff cloth and zipper. It was very nice looking, though.

The black "reinforcement" fabric on bottom is no longer sturdy canvas of the original, made-for-lifetime-of-heavy-use bag of Bean repute. Now it's a flimsy decorative material, sure to wear through quickly. We certainly don't set our bags on the ground or floor, but occasionally at athletic events others who don't know any better do so (bless their hearts, doubly baffling that anyone would a. move someone else's belongings and b. set any bag on floor/ground) and we would want to be able to clean the bottom of our Bean tote thoroughly if this happens. Alas. Iconic workhorse, much loved, is now reduced to a preppy fashion item.

LLBean totes that I have had in the past were strong, durable and lasted. These new ones have a second rate zipper that the person I gave it to got stuck the first time she used it. Since then, the zipper continues to be flimsy. The canvas is not as strong as it once was.

I ordered a medium bag with my name stitched on it and ended up receiving a small bag. The quality of the bag is top notch and the only reason I am unsatisfied is that i received the wrong size. Unfortunately, it is already personalized with my name. This is a very nice product but getting the wrong size limits what i had intended to use the bag for. I will try to make it work, but it is hard not to feel very disappointed that my bag will not be utilized on an everyday basis as I had planned. I hope that in the future, LL Bean will be able to improve its' the accuracy of sending the correct items that customers purchase. Thank you.

Good quality, but SO stiff that it's almost uncomfortable. Had thought I was ordering the same bag as my daughter's, but turns out that was from another company. Wish I had paid closer attention and ordered from the other company. I like the zipper enclosure, but miss having any additional pockets on the inside or outside. Wish I hadn't had it monogrammed as I would return it in a heart beat.

I ordered 4 large zip-top bags with monogramming for welcome gifts. The quality of the bags is excellent. Unfortunately on one of the bags the monogramming sewed the flap to the monogrammed message making it impossible to close or zip the bag. The LL Bean quality check should have caught this significant issue prior to shipping.

Agree with the previous poster. I ordered a large tote and it's (sadly) huge. I measured the width (widest part) and it's 23.5", way bigger than what is described. It's even bigger than the stated dimensions of the extra large. No way it will work as a tote to put under the seat on a plane. It's going back.

Initially decided to purchase this bag based on the photo/video and was disappointed when I realized that the handles were cloth rather than leather as shown in the video. Recommend changing the design of the bag to leather handles for durability and a classic look.

It was a Christmas present and came the middle of January. It was estimated to come in mid December.

I dont know for the life of me why this is a bestseller, inner or outer pockets. The land ends version is way better! I will stick to that one. Even trader joes bag is better.

Just got this in today it was a gift and I was looking forward to LL bean quality. Will be returning

The worst all the stiching is coming off from all u

We purchased the first LLBEAN Boat and Tote back in mid 1980s.The quality of the tote was marvelous. It was sturdy, with thick material, tight stitches and lovely pine corns design. It went with us on numerous trips, carried items when our kids moved to their colleges. After all of those years, I thought it is the time to get a new one. I could not believe the poor quality of this new tote. The workmanship is shabby, the stitches are sloppy, loose threads are dangling that at least should be trimmed, it is near impossible to close the zipper. I returned the tote. I am so disappointed while mourning over the beloved that seems is a long lost LL Bean quality.

I've been waiting months for my canvas medium zip top with long straps. Upon receiving it, I immediately had trouble with the zipper. It was very difficult to open and close. It needed to be pulled and held at a certain angle. I was thinking it may just need to be broken in, but looking closer it might be the uneven stitching/sewing application of the zipper entirely (when closed there are giant bumps that indicate there is a misalignment). I don't even use the zipper option because of how inconvenient and time-consuming it is. But now the entire zipper is unraveling, and there are loose threads EVERYWHERE. I've had the bag for about 2 weeks now and did not expect it to fall so quickly. Absolutely disappointed

I ordered this bag on December 5th 2024. The bag was not delivered until August.

I was so excited for this bag to come in only for the embroidery to be stitched right over the zipper, which makes the zipper unusable. Really expected a lot more from L.L. Bean.

I purchased this bag over the phone with an LL Bean employee. When the bag came, the bag was correct but the monogram was not what I asked for. Their customer service team gave me two options - send the bag back and they redo it (the bag is on back order until September so wait another month and go through the headache of sending it back) or I just keep it with the monogram incorrect, neither of which are options that would satisfy the situation. Customer service was not apologetic that an error was made on their behalf and there was no additional accommodation made to try to "make it right." But I was reassured by Tom (LL Bean employee) that they have the best customer service world wide. This is not customer service. The error was made on the company's behalf, not mine and nothing was done to make it right.

Multi-decade user of boat and totes, and one of the reasons I order from LL Bean is reliability - I expect not to have to go through the hassle of a return. However, my recent (spring 2025) order of a medium sized zip top boat and tote was super disappointing - one corner looks like the sewing machine and the bag got into it, and the machine won - a pile of random stitches, some missing stitches, bunched up sewing. It's just a mess.

I received the correct color bag, but the straps were the wrong length and no zip top.

I ordered this tote with a monogram on DECEMBER 4th and have still NOT received my order. LLBEAN has sent me multiple notes telling me how small the company is that makes these and to be patient. Then BEAN lost the order and had to find it to give me new dates. Now I am told it will be August before my bag is sent. After years as a customer ...No more LLBEAN for me. DO NOT BUY