Vintage 80s L.L. Bean Boat and Tote — Navy Zip Top, Medium

This vintage 1980s L.L. Bean Boat and Tote — medium, zip top — pairs cream 24 oz. canvas with navy trim. No stains, clean interior, label intact and legible. The canvas still stands on its own, carefully cleaned to preserve its patina, not erase it.

How We Dated This Bag

• The two-color sawtooth tag - The boxed "Made by" label sits inside a sawtooth border; "Made by" prints in blue, the rest in forest green — an unmistakably 1980s combination that makes this one of the fastest tags to date.
• The zip top - Bean introduced the zip-top Boat and Tote in 1983, setting this bag's earliest possible date. The two-color tag generation narrows it further, placing this bag in the mid-to-late 1980s — still older than the '90s date most zippered totes get listed under.
• The double ® - Both "L.L. Bean" and "Boat and Tote" carry the registered mark on this label generation, a quick cross-check when comparing tags.

Condition Notes

The 24 oz. canvas holds its structure and has softened only slightly with age. Navy trim shows no fraying. The zipper runs smooth. Interior is fully lined.

How to Style It

Carry it as a preppy everyday tote — laptop and notebook fit easily in the medium size, and the zip top keeps things secure on the subway or at the beach. Works equally well as a weekend bag, boat bag, or vintage carry-all layered over a canvas jacket or classic prep staples.

Product Details

• Size: Medium
• Capacity: approx. 1,008 cu. in. (17 L)
• Dimensions: 12"H × 13"W × 6"D
• Handle drop: 6" regular
• Closure: Zip top
• Material: 24 oz. cotton canvas
• Trim: Navy
• Condition: No stains, clean interior, label intact
• Made in: Freeport, Maine, USA

One of one — when it's gone, it's gone.