I'm looking for someone who's used the LL Bean Bigelow Day Pack Top-Load version to find out if they liked it. Backpacker magazine gave it a great review so it looks like a great pack. My main question is how comfortable is the back panel and how solid is the frame? Does the frame have some give?

It's on the web Here: Pack

The Backpacker Editor's Choice award is not given out lightly.
If they endorse it, then it will be great. However, for travel I think that you would be much happier with the same pack but in a panel loading version.