Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Continental Rucksack

great bag. good quality. useful pockets. watch the bands to keep the straps from dangling. lost one because i didn't set them properly once i got the bag. also, side pockets could be a bit bigger or maybe even adjustable tops (in terms of circumference)?

I have traveled Europe with this backpack, take it on every weekend trip, stuffed it to the brim, lightly packed it, used it as a pillow, and everything in between. I love this bag and it's so durable. When it's time for a new one, which will be many many many years from now I hope LL Bean is still selling it so I can repurchase it!

This was a replacement for an original bean backpack of many years ago. It is working out well with new subdivisions in the pockets and I use the hydrating section for a laptop.

This rucksack is great for hunting /camping /weekend trips and school. I love it.

Love it! It is so comfortable. I'm able to get all my things in there in an organized fashion.

It was a gift and the recipient loves it. It's big enough for weekend trips and small enough for a day hike.

My husband and I are planning an over seas trip and are going to use our backpacks as our carry ons, due to regional flights within the UK and areas have a different carry on size (a bit smaller). So many compartments and the over laying straps for safety is a big plus. This backpack holds so much stuff, when I saw how much stuff my husband could fit in his (he is 6'1" 230pds) I had to get my own. So happy I did! Now we ready to go.

Bought this bag before traveling and it works wonders! I was able to carry a lot items and its durability is what surprised me! I am in awe with this bag!

Bought this in college and still use it every weekend. Best backpack I have ever had. Very well built and has lasted for years !!!

Looking forward to using it on my plane trip home in a couple of months. Thanks for making good quality products!

I've had my bag for about 18 months now and purchased it to replace my worn out diaper bag. With a newborn, I still needed something for diapers. We have 4 kids under 7 and I adventure with them daily. I needed a bag that could keep up with us and fit al of our snacks, diapers, change of clothes, treasures, etc. I wasn't finding a diaper bag to my liking and read an article that suggested a hiking bag that could be used after baby. This bag was one of the suggestions. We love the bag, the storage, the fit, etc. It goes everywhere we do and still looks new. We are loving our choice!

An excellent all around pack. Great for day hiking and for traveling. A great backpack.

I have looked high and low for a quality backpack for both the trail and the conference room. Time will tell if the first few decades compare equally to my impression from the first few days.

Full disclaimer: I haven't taken this out for a true test run yet, but I feel it'll hold up just fine. The material is durable out of the packaging, clips all made of quality material. The brain pocket is slim, so not as much space for storage, but the lower accessory pocket is large enough for 4-5 sunglasses cases vertically. Drawstring open is nice. Holds a double rack of cams, full rack of stoppers, anchor gear, necessities and 1-2 pairs of shoes if you're smart about packing. Holds a rope under the buckled brain without issues and the hip/chest strap combo makes it a comfortable fit. Only wish it had a couple extra places to clip stuff on, but that could be added if you're handy with some webbing and a sewing needle. Out of the package, 10/10. Field test pending.

This has been a great backpack. I love that the side pocket is big enough to store a water bottle. There is plenty of storage for all my needs. It is big but not too cumbersome.

I've had mine for about 5 years and I love it! It has just the right amount of room for many different kinds of trips. I was surprised to read reviews that said that water bottles don't fit in the side pockets. I have two 320z Nalgene bottles that live in the side pockets, I don't understand that claim. The front pocket is perfect for First Aid Kit, map, compass, whistle, headlamp, etc. I've also used it for overnighters in cabins when I actually used the laptop sleeve for a laptop. The material just never wears out, it's very durable and after 5 years or so none of the Fastex buckles have broken, none of the straps or drawstrings have worn out. It's just a solid product, designed and constructed to last for years. I sure am glad I have one.

Great size, great pouches, great comfort. Plenty of room for everything including a soft pocket for glasses.

Bought this as a present for my 6'4" inch and 280 lbs hubby for day hiking and as a travel pack. He likes it a lot. It fits well on his frame and holds enough for his needs without extra bulk. I would purchase it again. Hoping this review is helpful.

This was bought as a gift for our son. He does armored combat and needed a larger capacity pack to carry his gear to competitions. He loved the room and quality of this backpack.

Has awesome options for customization. Absolutely perfect day/overnight pack. Cor the price this is hard to beat. Well made and versatile.

Awesome Bag. Very spacious. Easy to use. I take it with me everywhere.

I just purchased this after debating for a few weeks, reading mostly positive reviews. The main issue seems to be a standard 32 oz. water bottle not fitting in the side pockets. Since no store was near me, I picked one at random, called and the helpful lady went to find one to fit. They were out of stock but transferred me to a product specialist. They called me back in 15 minutes and said they tried, and it didn't fit. It had already shipped to me, so I bided my time. I received it, and they fit fine, as do same size metal water bottles. No problems. The rest of the pack is first rate. No loose strings, clips seem sturdy, good stitching, and everything fits really well. I like the "hidden" full zip back panel, and it's a great hidden area if you're inclined to (legally) carry protection in town or on the trail. I've had other hydration and technical packs over the decades and thousands of miles walking and hiking. This one is really comfortable and holds a lot due to its boxier shape. It's not tapered towards the top like most of the technical hiking pack designs. Maybe it's the old school design, but I'm really liking it. I'd recommend it for day use, hiking, daily carry for the office, or any other use. I also like that it will blend into a variety of environments, unlike looking too...tactical, militaristic or like you're about to bag some 14,000 peaks while you're just out walking.

My grandson loves it. He is an avid, serious hiker & world traveler and said it will meet his needs nicely.

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!

I purchased a Continental Rucksack many years ago when LL Bean first started selling them. I loved the bag. Many years have passed and my Rucksack has gone to the great rucksack heaven. I recently decided to purchase another Continental Rucksack, maybe nostalgia, who knows. The new bag has been upgraded in numerous ways. I am looking forward to getting many years of use from this bag. The only negative I have found is, in my opinion, the outside pockets should be a little larger to accommodate a one quart water bottle and a cup/pot nested together. The pocket will tightly hold the water bottle alone, but other than that the bag is well built and easy to carry.