Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Stowaway Pack

I've had this a while. I've tried adjusting it every which way, and it's as if it was designed for children. I am a "normal sized" man at 5'9" and 180 lbs. If the waist belt is around my waist, the shoulder straps have to be let all the way out, and the bag sits too low on my back. If I adjust the bag to sit flat on my back comfortably, the waist belt is above my navel. I wore it on a seven mile hike recently and I think I might just remove the waist belt, or maybe give it to my 12 year old.

I had purchased an LLBean stowaway pack quite a few years ago and was pleased with the comfort of the pack, but my water bottles always fell out of the mesh holders. So I was happy to notice that Bean's new stowaway day pack, under additional features, mentioned "loop locks" which were said to hold water bottles securely in place. I ordered the new pack, anticipating that the design problem had been solved. When I received the pack however there were no loop locks on the mesh bottle holders and my water bottles again fell out of the holders when I bent over. I did an online chat about the problem with a Bean representative who noted the misleading description, took my email address and said someone would get back to me. No one has ever gotten back to me and I see the "loop lock" description has now been removed from the online item description. I am returning the pack as it is, for me, unusable

I wanted to like this daypack for travel and urban day trips. I loved the color (ocean aqua with red trim). I loved the material and it's light weight. But I could not find a way to adjust the shoulder, chest and waist straps that would put the weight of the bag where it should be on my back without creating great discomfort across my chest. If I adjusted the bag high enough to where it should be on my back, then the cross-chest straps would be so low in the front that they would cross my bust very uncomfortably. If I adjusted the chest strap to where it should be, then the content weight of the pack was too low behind me AND the shoulder straps would go straight down my bust rather than to the sides, the normal position. I tried several variations over a couple of days because, as I said, I wanted to like this pack. But I never found a comfortable position so I will be returning it. I don't think this would be comfortable for any woman with any degree of curves. I am also quite tall, but neither of these factors have hindered my finding comfort in the many packs I've owned over the years (internal and external-frame backpacks, daypacks for long hikes or cross country skiing, book or laptop packs, light travel packs, etc.)

I bought for a trip to Africa this last month. The binding tape stitching on the strap has come loose. The bottle mesh carriers are loose and the water bottles fall out. Poor quality. I'm disappointed.

I really wanted to like this pack. I am a ninety year old woman, living in a senior residence and still cooking my own meals. I gave up my car in January of this year, planning to shop locally and on foot for groceries, using trekking poles for safety. The stowaway pack seemed like it would fit the bill for carrying my food items. I confess that I did not investigate the pack carefully enough; alas, without front buckling "wrap" straps to hold the pack securely close to the body the pack easily slips off my shoulders, making walking a hazardous situation, since I have to keep stopping to adjust the load.

Disappointed!! Returning Stowaway Pack Mr. Bean.. I originally bought this product perhaps 10 years ago at your Headquarters store in Freeport. The previous product was excellent and held up very well. This new Stowaway Pack lacks ANY durability features at all! I have been on two hikes and the flexible fabric on the sides of the pack have already developed holes. The fabric you have used to hold a water bottle or etc. lacks any ability to stand up to the simplest of wear and tear. The previous product had a netting fabric that lasted for ten years and showed only moderate wear and tear. Also, the fabric for the pack looks like rip stop nylon but it also has holes that should not be there. Your "rip stop" nylon is a joke. Just look at the bottom of the pack and you will see over a dozen holes. I have dropped you from my list of quality outdoor equipment providers. If you want to send me your "new" Stowaway Pack for a consumer test before releasing it to the public, just let me know. Sad Customer

I bought this to prepare for a trip of a lifetime tour in New Zealand. It was used occasionally over the year on practice day hiking trips with minimal weight as I have back issues and cannot carry much. Maybe 2 dozen uses. While on the hiking trip, with it containing a one liter water bottle, a lightweight rain coat, a packed lunch, a sweatshirt and a small first aide kit, the top loop ripped out while pulling it out of the overhead shelf where it was stored. It was a 6 week trip and I returned just as the 1 year warranty for this expired. I expect more from LLBean products regarding them withstanding normal usage for their purpose without ripping out a critical loop feature often used,

I purchased this bag for a hiking trip ! Not happy with the bag . The water bottle holder does not secure the bottle . I lost a $40 dollar water bottle . It just slipped out . I will be returning the bag !!!

Received this bag as a gift in 2018. Great travel bag and easy to pack away. However, an issue arose after a couple of years of use where it seems something on the underside of the straps and around one of the external pockets has bled through a black color. LL Bean refused to do anything and do not believe this is a quality issue. The staining is too uniform for it to be caused by me and I cannot purchase another bag for fear it may occur again. Bag was so taken out of being stored packed away. Guess I will need to find an alternative as the staining is very apparent and cannot be cleaned.

This is the most unformfortable backpack I have ever used. I wanted something well made, organized and sturdy to last me a life time. This was not the case. I bought them for my family and we all agree that we will never use these bags ever again. My shoulders still hurt! If I could get my money back I would.

This bag is so tiny. Had hoped to use it for travel and a trip to Disney. Better suited for a young kid.

It would be helpful if the backpack came with directions to put it in the stow away pocket. Maybe as a senior citizen, I am missing something but how does it fit in a pack and where is it on the backpack.

Style is ok but the color is NOTHING LIKE SHOWN IN THE ADDS. The actual color is dark mustard with bright yellow zipper pulls and straps that do not match. Even as a backpack it was just to ugly!

Purchased for hiking and an upcoming trip. Replacing a smaller pack. Used it the very next day after purchase and both water bottles fell out of side pockets when I had it on and bent over. The elastic isn't tight enough. I depend on quality, size, and convenience of a good backpack. This one doesn't fit the bill!!