L.L. Bean Classic Continental Rucksack

For what it is, it's amazing! is it the highest quality? maybe not. but it's a day to day smallish pack that gets it done.

It has done really well on the day to day subway commute, and even performed well during an overnight camping trip that turned out to be quite rainy and hovered around freezing. My $500 SLR stayed dry for the entire hike in and out that weekend!

Top loading and has a canvas bottom which is nice. There is 1 small pocket (keys, etc) on the inside of the main compartment. Then there are 3 others (2 side 'water bottle' pockets that each snugly fit a standard Nalgene and a front pocket that is good sized, enough for a paperback book plus other stuff).

Like the other reviewer said, for under $50 (more like $35!), this is an amazing product. Couple that with LL Bean's lifetime warranty and it's a no-brainer.

An excellent little pack for the money. While not in the same class as something like the Exocet, one would be hard-pressed to find a better 'knocking about' pack for less than USD 50. Not only is it economical, it's really quite well designed with a padded back stiffener, sternum sraps, and a web waistbelt. It even has ski slots behind the side pockets that are also great for things like shovels or those time when a hiking staff needs to be carried to free both hands.

35 lbs. would be about the maximum weight I would like to carry with this pack, and even that gets awfully heavy after a while (a padded belt would be nice). Still, for anything less, it makes for a durable, handy, and cost-effective pack.

I've used the LL Bean Contintal for years, for everything from a school pack in college to a two-night pack to an emergency pack in the more remote regions of Norhtern New England. It balances well, is rugged, easy to load, comfortable and well designed.

Perfect? No. But perfect starts at $180 dollars. For those of us on a budget and/or needing versatility, it is hard to beat.

8.9 out of ten.