L.L. Bean Signature Saltwash Canvas Backpack – $145.00
First question. Can a backpack look good? And a follow up: Do you have to be college aged or younger to carry it?
Here’s what I do know. I wish I had one of these L.L. Bean Signature Saltwash Canvas Backpacks last Friday, when on my day off I decided to take an early fall spin around the city with my black Sun Bicycles cruiser. I ended up at our local high-end organic food co-op. Their beer selection is incredible, and after purchasing a six pack or Rogue Red, a 22 oz big bottle of Full Sail Sanctuary Belgian Style Dubbel, plus a sixer of Dry Soda for those alcohol free nights, I had quite the load to get back to the home offices.
Which by the way are up on a hill. And my only option for lugging this liquid cargo happened to be my favorite duffel bag.
By the time I got up that hill and home I thought my weight bearing shoulder was going to fall off. The bottles all made it back in one piece, but I’m still not so sure about my rotator cuff. I needed not one, but two shoulder straps.
The detailed customer reviews online are mixed, with one saying the bag is a dream come true, and the other being disappointed. But those first two questions still stand. Is there such a thing as a stylish, grown up backpack? And if so… is this it? I’ll leave it up to you guys, so leave your answers in the comments section. If you’ll excuse me, I need to wash down a few more ibuprofen with another bottle of Rogue.
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I saw the LL Bean rucksack in person the other day. It looked well-made, but the extra little embellishments turned me off. Something about the dangling D-loops and rivets made it seem a bit too poseur.
I bought one of these a few years ago from an military surplus store for twenty bucks:
http://theglengarrysportingclub.blogspot.com/2009/10/inspired-goods-swiss-army-rucksack-ca.html
It took me less than an hour to surgically remove the internal frame, and it is awesome – stylish, rugged, functional and very comfortable. However, I think these are catching on again – a quick scan on ebay shows that they are now going for the $100 mark.
Holy crap, Vaughn! That’s a beautiful bag. I’ll have to look for one. My mom’s family is all swiss so perhaps they can find one for cheap.
Have you ever thought of panniers with a bag like this? That way you have it with you for these kind of trips, but you don’t have to carry it around. Personally I have been thinking about getting a Bike Friday for my grocery getting needs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSSgkcWqR6I.
Thanks Matt – I think I’ve just found something to carry my netbook in….