Lands End backpack frustration

[dis-happy]

Ugh. Trying to buy a decent and longlasting backpack for my 12 year old for a class he is taking this year outside the home. 4 years ago I went to the LE website for my older DS where there were just a few choices in the style I wanted.....a couple of clicks later I ordered it monogrammed and it's had plenty of use since and has held up great. Now, it is a different story, there are tons of bag choices but it seems that everything is catered toward little kids. Nothing is a plain color, just crazy, mostly childish, patterns. And as far as I can tell from the photos, the current backpacks don't have the same features as his old one.

Honestly, I can't imagine any high school boy wanting to carry any of the pack choices LE has now, or maybe I'm just out of it and teens don't carry backpacks anymore? Has anyone purchased a backpack lately for an older kid? If so I'd love to hear what you bought.

 

[allison443]

Have you looked anywhere besides Lands End? You could try LL Bean for their backpacks, or Jansport or North Face brands (available at many places online).

Or you could just let him pick out a less expensive one at Target or something and that way it won't be a problem if it doesn't last through high school.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

DS13 and 11 both carry LLbean Back packs. Definitely the solid color but with lots of features. Both need a back pack that can hold a 3"binder. We have been very pleased with the LLbean ones. They do offer free shipping - no code needed.

Good luck

 

[SaraJayne]

What about this one? http://www.landsend.com/pp/kids-gra...-backpacks-lunch-boxes-_-big-kid&origin=index

 

[HelenePA]

Have you look at pottery barn teen? I got my 3 (school age) kids them last year and they have held up wonderful!

 

[dis-happy]

Thanks for the suggestions! So far the llbean one looks pretty good and I'm still checking out the others. Plus it's less than LE!

Funnily enough, I can't even find a picture of the old bag online. There is a 2009 Consumer Reports reference to it being a Best Buy at $40. But when I logged into the website ratings LE has completely disappeared (plus back then they called them Student Backpacks, not "Little Kids" and "Big Kids" as they do now).

I did see the graphite check one, which seems to be the closest to being acceptable, but really my ds prefers a solid color and I think a more plain style will last him more years. The interior features as well as some of the zipper areas are different and imo not as useful as the older style. They really seem to be marketing toward kids; even those who are modeling the larger packs are young.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Most kids at my DDs high school are taking the North Face back packs, and some of the girls are taking the Patagonia Bach packs.

 

[uk_wildcat]

We had this problem also. I ended up going to Dick's Sporting Goods and got an Under Armour backpack for him. He wanted a green one, and it was the only one in stock that was big enough and the right color. He loves it. I am not sure how well they are made, but hopefully it will last. They also sell North Face, but they only had black and girly colors at our store.

 

[OperaMama]

D used her LE backpack from gr1 until HS when she snagged my NorthFace bag that took me through grad school! D2 used his LL Bean backpack from Gr1 through HS. All 3 brands washed well and still looked great at the end and all were solid color- D's dark purple, S2's navy blue and mine was bright blue.

 

[cvjw]

My sons stopped wanting Lands End and LL Bean backpacks in elementary school. They now carry North Face (16 year old DS), or Nike/Puma/Under Armor (13 year old DS). There are lots of great backpacks available now, just go to Dick's - they sell great brands for boys.

 

[Jerseyguy's Wife]

I have never owned a LE back pack, but I bought my sister one when she started college, nearly 7 years ago. It lasted her for about 5. I was a little disappointed since I kept reading about people keeping them throughout their entire school careers.
I started college about 12 years ago. I bought myself a Jansport back pack on clearance. I am happy to report that I am still carrying that bag. I carried it through nursing school, massage school, as a Disney World bag, as a diaper bag, and as a carry-on when flying. I have carried amazing amounts of stuff in there (I happen to know that you CAN carry 14 frozen water bottles and baby stuff in that bag all at once). I have washed the bag several times; I used carry baby bottles in it, you see.
I guess I can say that I am recommending Jansport. It has sure held up better than my sisters LE pack. And I'm pretty sure I paid about $15 for it...but that was 12 years ago.

 

[dhardawa]

My daughter uses Jansport bags usually. This year she has a Pottery Barn Teen messenger bag because I got it on clearance back in the spring for $12.99. It is great quality.

 

[kirstenb1]

Our dd wanted a North Face; she's 14. I went to 6pm.com and found several in the 30-40 range. Ordered it, and she's carrying it now.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Eddie Bauer is another option. They have solid colors in the sizes for older students. And they are 100% guaranteed!

 

[cel_disney]

We are huge LL Bean backpack fans! I have had mine for 15 years now - thru college and daily use for work and travel! My son just got one for kindergarten too! He has the original size and we have the deluxe size with the extra pocket! I think they are great!

 

[plummer925]

I'd go with LL Bean - they advertise that their packs will last from K through college! and free shipping too!

 

[dawnhaze]

I've used the same Jansport backpack since high school - it lasted me through all of high school, 7 years of college, and many years of frequent travel. The seams and zippers hold up really well, and I stuff it to the brim on a regular basis. And I think there's a good amount of colors and styles, so finding something more masculine or feminine styled shouldn't be a problem.

I didn't know schools still let kids have regular backpacks, though. All the ones around here, you either have to have a clear plastic or mesh backpack, or carry your things by hand. That started right after I graduated...

 

[mjkacmom]

My older kids were done with Lands End/LL Bean backpacks by middle school (due to not being cool). Ds14 went with an Under Armour one in 7th, and switched over to a Nike string bag in 8th.

 

[okeydokey]

My 7th and 9th graders have been using the same LL Bean backpack for the last 4 years. This year I am ordering new ones only because they need the next size up. These bags hold up great. They will use the old ones for travel, camping etc.

Funny, some people saying that the older kids are choosing different bands because of the "cool" factor. Thankfully we don't have those kind of petty issues here. Nobody really notices what kind of backpack anyone else is using.

 

[ceecee]

Our school doesn't seem to care what brands either. Most HS girls are now into totes not backpacks. Vera Bradley is seen a lot! DD used the Vera tote for the last 2 years but this year wanted a cow print Jansport (she saw in Seventeen, she's into cows). She wants a new one every year, so she just gets one she likes.