L.L. Bean or Land's End? Who has the better bookbag?

[Xcited4Disney]

Sorry, another back-to-school thread!

My daughter will be entering 4th grade this fall and is in need of a new bookbag. I'm looking for a wheeled backpack that is sturdy enough to endure rolling around and supporting heavy books. For 3rd grade I had to run out and buy a wheeled bag because she was bringing home so many books! I ended up getting one off of ebay from the Gap. By June, it had a hole in the bottom, one of the wheels was about to fall off, and the straps were almost rubbed off from friction.

I really hate the prices, but I've heard good things about these two brands. I'd rather pay a little more now, than have to replace the bag mid year. What are your thoughts?

I'm looking at:
LL Bean's Rolling Deluxe Book Pack http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...at4=504619&shop_method=pp&feat=504621-tn&np=Y
and
Land's End's Classmate Wheel pack http://www.landsend.com/pp/ClassMateWheelPack~146382_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=:RO&CM_MERCH=IDX_00004__0000000491&origin=index#

 

[clori]

I've never used the wheeled backpacks but for the regular I think they are both great quality. We go with llbean since my my sil has there credit card we get free shipping and free monogramming. My oldest has a jr backback that was used for 2 years of preschool and one year of kindergarten and my youngest used the same bag her first year of preschool and will use it again next year.

I switched to a regular size bag for first grade and second grade and dd will be using it again for third grade. She walks 1/2 mile to/from school, leaves it on the playground etc and both look brand new. I do plan on getting new bags for when my youngest starts kindergarten so she can hav e her own initials on the bag.

 

[kinntj]

I've used both now since the beginning of preschool for both girls. My DD is entering 1st grade and I just received the critter pack from LLBean.

I think they both hold up beautifully and they both replace backpacks if seam rips or zipper breaks. They do have different size front pockets and the Lands End bags (depending on size) comes with 2 water bottle holders with one on each side of the bag. I liked that when I used the bag for park days and was able to put 2 bottles of water on each side for each kid. Otherwise, not much different.

Lands End hardly has any cute designs on theirs. I did get lucky and ordered my DD4 a back pack last year that was purple with flowers on it and she loves it. I'm hoping she can use it through at least 2nd grade. She's on her 2nd year. LLBean has the critter packs and more designs I believe, so if that's important for your DD.

I don't know about the rolling backpacks, as my kids don't have so much to carry yet. I hope I helped a little. Good luck with your choices.

 

[seashellmom]

We have used the rolling bag from llbean for 2 years and has no problems. Kids seem to like the llbean styles better, but the lands end have always held up well.

 

[3DisneyGals&1Grumpy]

I have always had very good luck with the LLBean backpacks. Both of my DDs still have their very 1st LLbean "little critters" backpacks from preschool that are still in perfect condition. They will still use them for car trips but they are too small and "babyish" for an 8 and 10 year old to take to school.

We moved on to the original backpacks. My oldest DD has been using the original rolling one for three years now and it has held up very well. It just has one worn spot one of the corners from her banging it around on curbs and stairs. I plan on upgrading her to the deluxe this school year only because she now has so many things to bring back and forth from school.

I would recommend paying for the monogramming and get her initials on it. LLBean is very popular at our school and there always seems to be another student with the same backpack as my daughter. Having initials on the backpack seems to help prevent mix ups.

 

[GreatDaneMom]

My DD has had rolling packs from both companies. Each of them has held up equally well. I would choose based on your preferences in styles, pockets, colors and price. We've never had a problem and she carries a lot of heavy books home every night. Her packs are as full as they can get and the zippers have held. Wheels have done good, too.

 

[ceecee]

DD has the LLBean, but we aren't allowed rolling backpacks at her school, so it's just regular. Outstanding quality and the design is very cute. She can't use a backpack at middle school, just a book bag, the difference is?!!!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Thanks so much for the replies. I'm still on the fence but these replies help. I'm leaning more towards the LLBean although I wish it had the side mesh pockets. I have to think does she really need it or is it that I'm used to seeing that on bags?

 

[mjkacmom]

My ds10 has the llbean rolling, and it held up great - however, if you don't adjust the straps when you roll it, it will continue to roll over the straps, and rip them. This happened, and llbean echanged it for us. He had it packed every single day, and he walks to school, so it definately got a lot of use!

We have the landsend lunchboxes, and love those, too!

 

[java]

My DD had the LLBEAN one. Rolling and it was in such great shape after 4th grade she wanted to use it again in 5th- but middle school wanted no wheels! So we got another LLBEAN one and it has held up great too!

The Rolling DELUXE has a water bottle holder on the inside if that is really important to you but it is a HUGE bag. Good luck and happy shopping
Oh and wanted to add that my son had a Landsend one Not wheeled that held up for 18 months- through his dragging it across the floor- So really you can't go wrong although I am going the LLBEAN route from now on with my 2 younger ones. I just felt like it was more sturdy and the wheels are great!(like rollerblade wheels)

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I was just talking to my mom about the great "backpack debate". I think I am going to go to LLBean and get my oldest an LLBean backpack. I have heard they hold up through a tornado, so that is the route we are going to go. LOL!!!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

My DD had the LLBEAN one. Rolling and it was in such great shape after 4th grade she wanted to use it again in 5th- but middle school wanted no wheels! So we got another LLBEAN one and it has held up great too!

The Rolling DELUXE has a water bottle holder on the inside if that is really important to you but it is a HUGE bag. Good luck and happy shopping

We have the same backpack. It is huge, but DD used every inch of it some days. (She was in fifth grade last year -- lots of text books, notebooks, etc.) It held up exceptionally well (through 1/2 of 4th grade and all of 5th). It still looks brand new. The problem now is, it's not cool anymore. So this year she got a messenger bag-style, but I know my DD, she'll be begging for that rolling backpack once the school year starts!

 

[Hedy]

I had LL Bean backpacks 6-12, and they held up great. I love LL Bean anyway, though. It might just be me, but I feel like Lands end quality has gone downhill since they started being sold at Sears. That said, either have a guarantee, so you can't go too far wrong,

 

[tinytink]

We have backpacks from both LL and LE and I personally like the LandsEnd backpack better because they are more comfortable to carry. The straps are super comfortable and they have held up the same and carry the same guarantee so it you are not missing out on one or the other.

 

[mousecrazy]

For those who have the LL Bean rolling backpack, do the straps drag when it's being rolled? Is there a place for them to be stored? Must you adjust the straps to a shorter position to roll? TIA.

 

[Cindy B]

We have the same backpack. It is huge, but DD used every inch of it some days. (She was in fifth grade last year -- lots of text books, notebooks, etc.) It held up exceptionally well (through 1/2 of 4th grade and all of 5th). It still looks brand new. The problem now is, it's not cool anymore. So this year she got a messenger bag-style, but I know my DD, she'll be begging for that rolling backpack once the school year starts!

I don't know about your school- but in 6th grade our kids go to middle school. The wheeled backpacks will not fit in any of the lockers-never mind the Made fun of factor.

 

[debsays]

I don't know about Land's End but I do know about LL Bean and their book bags are great. Also, no matter how old it is, if the zipper breaks, etc. you send it back and they will send you another, no questions asked. Can't go wrong with LL Bean

 

[Xcited4Disney]

My DD had the LLBEAN one. Rolling and it was in such great shape after 4th grade she wanted to use it again in 5th- but middle school wanted no wheels! So we got another LLBEAN one and it has held up great too!

The Rolling DELUXE has a water bottle holder on the inside if that is really important to you but it is a HUGE bag. Good luck and happy shopping
Oh and wanted to add that my son had a Landsend one Not wheeled that held up for 18 months- through his dragging it across the floor- So really you can't go wrong although I am going the LLBEAN route from now on with my 2 younger ones. I just felt like it was more sturdy and the wheels are great!(like rollerblade wheels)

Gosh I should have added a poll! lol!
Thanks for this info. It seems that I may go ahead and order the one from LLBean.

Now, does anyone have any codes?

 

[englishteacha]

I'm all about LL Bean backpacks. I always wanted one as a kid, but the initial cost was just too much for our family. Looking back on how many $5 backpacks I went through, we probably should have saved our pennies for an LL Bean! DH's backpack from college-4 years of heavy use-still looks great and is in perfect shape. I finally got my own LL Bean backpack this summer. It was $1 at a yard sale! Again, it's in perfect condition (it was like new when I bought it-can't beat that!) and I've already given it some heavy use!

As for the wheeled bags, they're great IF there's storage space for them at school. They will not fit in the lockers where I teach, and our classrooms are too small to store them for the kids. Luckily, the administrators tell incoming students this, so we see very few of the rolling backpacks, now. I'd hate for any parent to spend good money for a bag their student cannot use.

One other note to parents...check with your kids and make sure they're only hauling home what they NEED to! I have had many students in the past few years who bring every text book, notebook and binder home every day. My students are issued a grammar book that weighs a ton, and we only use it in class. I had a student who lugged that thing home every day of the year, plus his literature book, math, science, and social studies books. 90% of the time, he had homework in 2 of the books so there was no need to bring them all home. A lot of kids do it because they're afraid they'll be unprepared.

 

[edk35]

I have always bought my three kids LLBEAN. My daughter uses hers everyday all day long and has used the same one for 3 years of high school and said she is using it for her Sr. year. They lasts several years.