Lifetime Warranty Luggage Backpacks and Book Bags

Until I had children, I didn’t appreciate the value behind buying luggage, backpacks and books bags with a lifetime warranty. You see, kids can be hard on stuff. So, you want to spend your hard-earned money on products that will hold up.

When my daughters were little, we only bought backpacks and bookbags from L.L. Bean. Because at that time L.L. Bean was offering a lifetime guarantee that was really generous. However, when Bean rolled back their lifetime warranty to a one-year warranty, we switched allegiances.

From then on we got all of their school book bags or athletic backpacks from Jansport. Jansport has been incredible about standing behind the products they sell. 

List of lifetime warranty luggage, backpacks and book bag brands 

Below, you can read a review of my experience with the Jansport warranty. In addition, you can learn about other brands that sell luggage, backpacks and bookbags with a lifetime warranty or a limited warranty. Sometimes a limited warranty is better than no warranty at all.

For starters, here is an alphabetical list of brands I’ve included in this blog post review. All of these makers of luggage, backpacks and bookbags offer a lifetime warranty or guarantee of some sort.

• Adidas
• Arcteryx
• Away Suitcases
• Dakine
• Jansport
• LL Bean
• The North Face
• Patagonia
• Tumi
• Samsonite

Finally, you may wonder why neither Eddie Bauer nor Lands End are included in this blog post. That’s because both companies have ended their lifetime guarantee on everyday products. 

Now, onto the specifics of how the lifetime guarantees work for each of these brands. First, I’ll cover luggage brands with a lifetime warranty. After that, I’ll move onto backpacks and book bags.

Luggage Brands with Lifetime Warranty

I’m probably dating myself by sharing this memory of a long-ago luggage commercial, but here goes.

When I think about luggage brands with a lifetime warranty, I think about the vintage TV commercial from American Tourister, now Samsonite.

In this commercial they have a gorilla throwing around the brand’s suitcase.

The idea was to show how well the suitcase could hold up under a relentless beating from a gorilla. 

Now that I’m thinking back to my childhood, I’m pretty sure my parents had American Tourister luggage because of this commercial.

Since Samsonite bought American Tourister, I checked to see if they offer a warranty on their suitcases.

And they do.

More about that and other luggage brands with a lifetime warranty, below. 

Away Luggage Lifetime Warranty

Away Suitcases promote their modern design, roomy interior but compact exterior, spinner wheels and a portable charger built right into the suitcase.

However, here’s another reason to buy an Away Suitcase when you’re shopping for luggage: its warranty.

Here’s what the company says about how it stands behind its suitcases:

“[T]hat means we’ll always fix or replace a suitcase if it breaks.”

However, I recently learned there is a caveat to this “always fix or replace.”

If you buy a limited edition color in an Away suitcase and something happens, your only option is getting a new suitcase–and not in the limited edition color again.

Someone I know has one such hardside luggage from Away.

Then, the zipper on the inner lining broke.

Because it is a limited edition color, for some reason Away only offered to replace the entire suitcase.

They wouldn’t entertain the notion of trying to fix the zipper. 

New colors of Away Luggage

Beyond the guarantee, Away Suitcases recently announced a new color for its line of luggage: lavender, which I’ve shown below.

I love this color because you’ll never question again which bag is yours on the luggage carousel at the airport.

Unfortunately, though, this color probably won’t be replaced if you need to cash in on the guarantee.

The lavender Away luggage comes in these sizes:

• Carry-On in Lavender
• Bigger Carry-On in Lavender
• Medium Away Suitcase in Lavender
• Large Away Suitcase in Lavender

Samsonite Limited Global Warranty

When it comes to a lifetime guarantee, Samsonite calls it a limited global warranty.

It’s 10-years long and does have some specific exclusions.

For example, the warranty does not cover damage by airlines–or probably gorillas (as per the introduction to this section).

But it will cover any manufacturing defects in material and workmanship.

The company will fix, repair or replace your suitcase at its discretion.

You can find a huge selection of Samsonite luggage at Macys. 

Tumi Luggage Lifetime Warranty

When it comes to Tumi luggage, the lifetime warranty is really a limited lifetime warranty, but it’s generous nonetheless.

Also, it’s broken out by the duration of time that you’ve owned the Tumi product.

Personally, I own two Tumi backpacks and love that I can count on the company to stand behind their product.

First year of ownership

For example, in the first year or 12 months after purchasing Tumi luggage, this is how the Tumi website describes the warranty:

“With limited exceptions, if your TUMI product is damaged during the first twelve (12) months you own it– including damage caused by normal wear and tear, airline handling, or other transit damage–TUMI will cover all repair expenses, including shipping costs to and from our repair facility. If we determine that the product is damaged beyond repair, we will replace it. If we determine that a replacement product is not available, we will provide you with a product of comparable value. “

Years two through five of Tumi ownership

The limited warranty gets more, well, limited from Tumi. Alas, the company will still cover some damage. I grabbed this information from the Tumi website:

“From the second through the fifth year you own your TUMI travel item, business case or other bag, and for the second year for wallets or accessories, TUMI will repair any item that is damaged due to normal wear and tear, or defective in materials or workmanship, including any structural defects (such as defective handles, zippers, or locks). For years two through five, we do not cover damage caused by airlines or other transit damage.”

After that time, Tumi will still consider a warranty or guarantee claim on your luggage.

However, they won’t promise to replace or repair it for free or a fee.

Nonetheless, Tumi does stand behind the luggage it sells.

At this past year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I treated myself to a Tumi backpack pocketbook. I love it.

Backpack and Book Bag Brands with Lifetime Warranty

I’ve decided to combine this section on backpacks and bookbags with a lifetime warranty.

That’s because, when buying backpacks for school, you may think of them also as book bags.

So I wanted to make sure that the information was easy to find.

However, some of the backpack brands, below, are for outdoor exploring or made for athletic endeavors.

Therefore, to make things easier in this combined section, I’m just going to list each brand alphabetically.

Adidas Backpack Lifetime Warranty

I’ll admit that the Adidas backpack lifetime warranty was new to me. But here’s what I’ve learned.

A third-party makes all of the Adidas bags. And that third party warrants the products it sells.

Therefore, you have a five-year warranty or guarantee on Adidas bags and duffels. 

You can find more information on this page that explains the Adidas warranty.

Arcteryx Lifetime Warranty

Arcteryx is a Canadian company that specializes in technical high-performance gear that includes backpacks.

It offers a limited lifetime warranty.

This means it will replace or repair a product, at its discretion, “for the practical product lifespan.” 

You can buy Arc’teryx outdoor gear on REI.com.

Dakine Backpacks Lifetime Warranty

When it comes to Dakine backpacks, these are primarily made for the outdoors person.

No wonder you can buy Dakine products on Backcountry.com, a website for the outdoors enthusiast.

Speaking of outdoors, this blog post focuses exclusively on outdoor gear with a guarantee.

Dakine packs and bags come with a limited lifetime warranty. It spans 10 years.

Dakine warranty explained

Here is a summarization of how the company describes what it will and will not cover under this guarantee:

• 10 year Limited Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects within the normal scope of use.
• Dakine will replace, at its discretion, any products found to be defective within the scope of normal and appropriate utilization and still within the lifespan of the product.
• Not responsible for any costs, losses or damages incurred because of loss or misuse of the product.
• Dakine does not offer refunds for honored claims.
• A discount code will be provided.
• Not responsible for damages caused by transit damage. 

Jansport Lifetime Warranty Reviewed

The Jansports backpack warranty and guarantee overall is simple and straightforward:

JanSport engineers quality, durable, and reliable products. So, if your pack ever breaks down, simply return it to our warranty center. We’ll fix it or if we can’t we’ll replace it or refund it. We stand by our packs for a lifetime and since we’ve been making packs since 1967, that’s a guarantee you can stand by.

The company means it.

When my daughter Annie’s Jansport backpack could no longer zip up, I downloaded a Jansport warranty form, sent it in with the backpack, and a few weeks later we got a brand new Jansport book bag.

Easy peasy. Here is my review of the Jansport backpack warranty.

LL Bean Backpacks Lifetime Warranty

For years we would only buy our daughter L.L. Bean backpacks, duffel bags and lunch boxes.

We knew that, should something happen to these items before they wore out, L.L. Bean would repair or replace them for free.

However, those halcyon days of the L.L. Bean lifetime warranty are over.

These days, L.L. Bean is offering a limited warranty. See below for how the company describes the update:

Customers will have one year after purchasing an item to return it, accompanied by proof of purchase. After one year, we will work with our customers to reach a fair solution if a product is defective in any way. [Note: I’ve added the bold.]

North Face Backpacks Lifetime Warranty

One of my daughters’ new favorite brand of backpacks is from The North Face.

For years they’ve worn North Face outwear because they loved how it looked and felt.

I loved it because it came with the well-known The North Face Lifetime Warranty.

Here’s what the company has to say about this limited lifetime guarantee:

“We proudly stand behind the quality of everything we sell and hope you’re happy with your gear. All products (except footwear) are fully warrantied against defects in materials and workmanship with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. All footwear and items from our The North Face Renewed line have a One-Year Warranty.”

You can buy The North Face products from most major retailers, including Amazon.

I bought the most recent North Face backpack from Nordstrom. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods Holiday Deals

Many of the outdoor brands that have a lifetime guarantee are part of the Dick’s Sporting Goods holiday deals.

This includes up to 30% off on Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia and more.

Finally, don’t forget to check out deals at Going, Going, Gone stores, the Dick’s outlet.

Patagonia Lifetime Warranty on Backpacks

If you know Patagonia, then you know it is a company that’s well known for providing high quality outdoor products, including backpacks. Patagonia calls its warranty an Iron Clad Guarantee and describes it this way:

We guarantee everything we make. If you are not satisfied with one of our products at the time you receive it, or if one of our products does not perform to your satisfaction, return it to the store you bought it from or to Patagonia for a repair, replacement or refund. Damage due to wear and tear will be repaired at a reasonable charge.

Final thoughts on Lifetime Warranty Luggage Backpacks and Book Bags

I hope I’ve answered all of your questions about which brands offer a lifetime warranty on luggage, backpacks and book bags. If you’re looking for new bags you don’t have to check when flying, check out this roundup of the best carry-on luggage.

If I’ve missed something or you’re aware of another brand that sells these items–and offers a guarantee–please post a comment and let me know.

I’ll check it out and, if necessary, update this post.

Here are the best Pacsafe bags for teenagers.