<p>Please share any recommendations for a good "University" backpack for my S. Thank you!</p>
<p>check out </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/935759-backpack-college.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/935759-backpack-college.html</a></p>
<p>Jansport!!!</p>
<p>You can’t beat North Face’s lifetime warranty. ALL of their backpacks are built to last and if there’s ever a rip or tear, you bring in the receipt for a full refund (even if it’s 10 years!). I have never had to return one, but do keep the receipt :). They have many types built to carry a laptop with added padding to protect it. You have to buy it at a North Face store to have the full lifetime guarantee.</p>
<p>North Face Recon =)</p>
<p>even without a receipt, you can send any northface item in for repair and they replace damaged hardware, whatever, for free.</p>
<p>LL Bean also has great back packs, and can be returned for a new one at any time, no questions asked, no receipt needed!</p>
<p>S2 is a rising college senior. He has been using the same NorthFace backpack since ninth or tenth grade (been so long I can’t remember). It’s pretty dingy but otherwise in great shape. He’s def. got our money’s worth out of it.</p>
<p>Another vote for North Face - our son has the Surge. It still looks brand new. :)</p>
<p>To update on the link that ihs posted (I was the OP), my son loves his NF Surge. After one year of daily use, it looks brand new. </p>
<p>Crossposted with BlessedTwice.</p>
<p>My mom’s always been a little obsessed with LL Bean, and thus… my backpack is LL Bean. Love the quality and plenty of pockets/places to put things. Enough room for laptop and two BIG science textbooks and binder/notebook, etc. I had the same one from 4th grade-last december, everything still in perfect working order. Upgraded over Christmas break for more space. I still have my older one for misc. use.</p>
<p>I know many people who are very happy with their north faces, as well. I’m just not sure if I could ever ‘convert’, lol.</p>
<p>Another vote for North Face!</p>
<p>Another North Face advocate…they simply last and last and last. I can’t remember who has which one but I know we’ve got a boy with a Recon and a boy with a Surge…not sure what the name of the third one is.</p>
<p>Funny how kids think…when S2 attended a charter school for middle sch., LL Bean backpacks were all the “thing” there. S2 requested one for Christmas when he was in seventh grade. It was still in great condition at the end of eighth grade but he told me he really wanted a NF for high school because LL Bean was not cool at high school.
He might have gotten this vital info. fr. S1 who was a rising senior. </p>
<p>Since he was nervous about going to a h.s where only a few of his charter school classmates would attend, I bought him the NF. Turned out to be a good investment.
The old LL Bean backpack is still in his closet.</p>
<p>Ebags macroloader laptop backpack. Son has used all freshman year, engineering major, full of calculus, physics, engineering books, plus laptop. Separate padded compartment that comes out for laptop. 80 bucks total from ebags. Highly recommend.</p>
<p>Can anyone recommend a particular NorthFace (or other good quality) bag that is good? comfy shoulder straps are a must, and a waist strap is a big plus. Will need a laptop pocket, probably for a 17" though he might choose a 15". S likes a large pack, and a few extra small pockets for organizing would be great.</p>
<p>We researched this in December and S ended up with a north face recon. Has a hip belt, and a mesh pocket on the front that can hold a bike helmet, and a few other pockets. Laptop pocket is 15"</p>
<p>My S has been using a Jansport Odyssey for high school. It has <em>super</em> comfy shoulder straps (“biovent” straps) and I’m afraid he’ll find any other straps stiff. I don’t think his has a laptop sleeve, though the stats say it has one now, but that may be a new feature. It is showing a little wear after 4 years, but I think Jansport also guarantees their packs for life, so they would probably repair it.</p>
<p>Another mom of a satisfied kid with a North Face Surge. DS brought home an amazing amount of stuff in it over breaks.</p>
<p>When I was in the market for a new backpack, I ordered a number of different ones to try from North Face, Patagonia, LL Bean, and Jansport. The design of the LL Bean Quad Pack was the one that I liked the most, and it felt more comfortable than some costing nearly twice as much. I’ve been using the Quad Pack for a couple of years now and I’m really happy with it. </p>
<p>I have an old Patagonia backpack that I also really like. They don’t sell it anymore, and I’m not sure what the quality is like with the new designs, but they may be worth checking out.</p>