Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Continental Rucksack

This is my 3rd CR. Got the 1st one in the mid 80s for college, & it was perfect: easily carried heavy textbooks & binders + cleats, disc, water & food. Chest strap & belt made biking @ campus & town a cinch; also held a week of groceries from the store. Stolen in mid 90s & I immediately replaced it; essentially the same, but with lighter fabric which I didn't like at the time, but I still have it & fully functional, after 25+ years of regular use, insane. After carefully watching the design updates over the years I finally caved when this version came out, even though the old one works fine. I was VERY skeptical about the clips replacing the front pocket zipper bc my bag gets thrown around a lot. I have to say that this design works: the front pocket's mesh organizer, combined with the "hinged" lid & clips, hold the 8-10 items (glasses case, small medicine vial, snacks, etc.) I keep in there secure. After 2 years, NOTHING HAS EVER FALLEN OUT. Side pockets: yes, they are too tight for a wide mouth, 1L Nalgene bottle, I can't figure out why this is, but it is. That said, my bottleneck 1L Nalgene fits in just fine; go figure. My design rec is to remove the inside layer of fabric & add 5mm to the diameter of the side pockets, problem solved. Moving on, the redesigned narrower back pad with horizontal vents is surprisingly relevant, & the addition & placement of the zippered laptop pocket is just elegant for such a rugged pack.(DON'T CHANGE THAT) The added interior pocket/hydration accommodation added a lot of value for me w/zero trade off; at 2.5# & 33L, this pack could pull off a short through hike. The CR is just versatile. I take mine to work every day, carry it on on flights, day hike with it, including carrying some kids & dog gear. There isn't a single better pack I know of, honestly; I'd need 2 or 3 different packs to replace it, & for a hundred bucks? Fugeddabahtit!

It's just the right size. It's good for and day hike or an overnighter.

I got one an older version of this as a high school graduation present just before I hitchhiked across country for my first time. I traveled with it for the next 25 years, bringing it to several different countries and on countless road trips, backpacking trips, concert tours; I loved the thing. It held all my stuff. It was a pillow. My dog fit inside sometimes when she got tired of walking. It was a solid pack. Then somebody smashed in my window and ganked it out of my trunk; Portland, OR is getting out of hand. Anyway, I had to get a replacement and I love the updates. The mesh padding on the back and the straps are great modifications and the more ergonomic shape of the whole thing is excellent. I totally dig it and can't wait to take it traveling and get it dirtied up a little bit. I still miss my original (if backpacks could talk, it would tell some stories) but if somebody is going to steal it this is a great replacement. I'm hoping to have this one for at least another 25 years.

As a student ambassador for L.L.Bean I've been sent a few backpacks of theirs... this one is by far my favorite and most-used. I've been on a few day hikes with this pack and I honestly love it! The bag itself is spacious and durable, not to mention it looks super clean! It really only fits enough things for a one-day or two-day hike, but for what it is, it more than gets the job done. Would highly recommend this product to anyone looking for hiking and camping gear!

It was a little larger than I expected and a little less flexible but I love the design, all of the pockets, the color. It worked under my airplane seat which is why I had bought it even on a smaller sized airplane. Very happy

There is not ONE magnet on any of the bucklesjust real honest to goodness buckles to secure the backpack! For some reason folks like to have magnets on buckles and frankly I can't figure out why.maybe easy of opening the flaps on the pack. For me I find they come open at the least opportune times and spill the contents out all over the place. The places to secure water bottles may be a tad to small, but, I can live with that.especially since the bottles I carry ARE small enough to get in and out of the pack.

I try to travel with one bag. Very sturdy, lightweight & efficient. One pack: happy traveller.

Great sack. We have an older model and were impressed with the added features on this sack. We bought it as a gift so we were disappointed it couldn't be monogrammed like our older one was.

Fits everything and more. Super comfortable on shoulder and i love the style. Highly recommended!

I bought this backpack in 2003 and used it almost everyday going on hikes, the park, bike rides and the beach with my daughter. Very adaptable and strong. Able to attach things to the with straps such as beach umbrella, boogie board, chairs and other items. Side pockets perfect for drink bottles.

Perfect for fitting tons of stuff for day hikes for myself, my husband & our dog. Easily fits snacks, water bottles, a blanket, change of socks, bug spray, dog extra lead etc. very comfortable as well.

Just the right size has enough storage straps fit adult humans great color comfortable on back

Bought this for my son. 8th grade. He needs something that he uses for travel and for school. This has a stuff sack feature that is perfect for a kid that just stuffs it all in there. It also has compartments and straps for hooking day hiking stuff to. Great for school, traveling and hiking.

Found this gem at my local store, ON SALE! I bought it in black. It will be my families beach, boat, hiking and camping backpack. I've read the other reviews on this bag. My sons Yeti fits in the side pocket and my thinner taller water bottle also fits. The front pockets flap does make it impossible to put anything large in the pocket. I will use it for sunscreens. The top pocket on upper flap is fleece lined and perfect for phones. Inside the bag there is a pocket and its very large. There is also a seperate zipper compartment on the back of this bag which is great, such easy access. I did get this bag monogrammed with the family last name in black, it looks so sharp! Plan on using this bag tomorrow for a trip to Boston. Excited to get years of use out of it. Another LL Bean classic that made a comeback!!

Well made rucksack. I was looking for a larger daypack than I currently have and saw this on a Facebook ad. A big fan of LL Bean, I knew it would be a quality pack. I especially appreciate the slots under the bottle pouches for hatchet, trekking poles, knife, saw, etc. My old pack didn't have a sternum strap or waist belt so those are a fine addition. The sternum strap is partially elastic so it never restricts your breathing. Well made, durable, holds a lot of gear. As always, the LL Bean site is easy to navigate, and the pack arrived quickly. The price is what caught my eye first. It's a lot of pack for a reasonable price. I would highly recommend this rucksack to anyone that needs to pack a fair amount of gear, comfortably and securely.

Bought as a gift. My son loved the fit, and the generous pockets.

Great backpack for carrying gear to beach, pool, or for day hikes. No zippers to snag and very comfortable to wear. High quality product from LL Bean as usual.

Great product, excellent for hiking, plenty of space

I find it confusing how several reviewers are knocking this bag for the side pockets. I'll will say, they could be bigger and I wouldn't complain. But I fit a normal 32oz Nalgene water bottle in each pocket where several people said they couldn't. It also has plenty of room for all the stuff I need for daily paddles in the Boundary Waters - snacks, extra layers, extra gear - with room to spare, Great bag at a pretty good price.

This is the perfect backpack! I first bought it a few years ago to replace the stroller, which had become nothing more than a backpack on wheels. This rucksack worked perfectly for this, carrying everything from extra clothes to lunch to water bottles to a first aid kit. I particularly loved how easily accessible everything is because of the pockets. More recently, I've used it has a day pack, either by myself or with the family. I've done a lot of backpacking and used expensive brand name packs, but this one carries the weight just as well if not more comfortably, and it can hold a ton of stuff for its 2000 cubic inches. I am very impressed! It's also extremely rugged. I highly recommend!

Well this is the 5th one of these I've purchased. Everyone in my family now has one. great stuff

High quality pack that is already paying for itself. We expect quality from LL Bean and this pack does not disappoint. I had to replace a well-loved 5.11 pack and wanted something that would last and be organized enough for day trips, while also being useful for work. My packs tend to stay pretty heavy, so it's getting put to work. I'm glad my wife talked me into giving it a shot. You should too, you will not be disappointed.

I seen a few reviews saying they did not like this bag. Too bulky and what not. I disagree, it's not too bulky, it's made for the outdoors not public transport. Also someone noted that the "laptop" sleeve was wasteful. Well, that's not a laptop sleeve, it's a space for your water bladder. Then you run your "straw" out the left side. It's a good solid backpack, yes specs changed. But still is a great carry and has held up great on my canoe camp trips, fishing trips and displace camping hikes.

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I have to say I'm quite surprised with the sturdiness of this pack. Not only does it have that big cavernous storage internally, it's got a few nice small and medium zipper pockets placed strategically around its body. The two pockets on the side also are externally fastened, so filling them doesn't subtract from the internal space. Great quality product from LL Bean, yet again. Would definitely (and have already) recommend to friends!