Lacoste backpacks: price by condition
| Condition | Typical |
|---|---|
| New with Tags | £77 (~$103) |
| Like New | £65 (~$87) |
| Good | £50 (~$67) |
| Fair | £35 (~$46) |
| For Parts | £19 (~$26) |
Seller-declared grades, sterling with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). What each grade means.
What holds its value across Lacoste
- The L1212 pique polo, which has been in production essentially unchanged for decades and is the item buyers search for
- Vintage pieces made in France under the Devanlay licence, printed on the care label, which carry a clear premium over later production
- Older garments labelled Chemise Lacoste, which is the original naming and dates a piece to the earlier era
- Collaboration pieces and the Lacoste Live sub-line, which were made in much smaller runs than the mainline
What pulls Lacoste resale value down
- A frayed, lifted or partly detached crocodile, which is the identifying feature and the first thing anyone looks at
- Stretched or greyed collars on the polos, the normal failure and the reason most used ones sell cheaply
- Faded colours on the brighter polos, which is common and very visible
- Current mainline basics in common sizes, which compete directly with a new one on sale
Identifying and dating yours
- Lacoste sizes are numbered 2 to 8 rather than lettered, so state the UK equivalent and the flat chest measurement — this is the commonest cause of a return on the label
- The crocodile should be tightly and evenly embroidered with defined teeth and eye; buyers compare it against reference photographs
- The care label gives the country of manufacture, and Made in France places a garment in the earlier, more valuable period
What lifts any backpack, whatever the label
Technical and heritage packs hold value well; everyday backpacks sell for very little, and the difference is mostly construction.
- Recognised outdoor and heritage makers
- Intact zips, which are the usual failure point
- Undamaged straps, buckles and hip belt
- Waterproof coatings that have not delaminated
And what pulls one down
- Failed or sticky zips
- Delaminated waterproof lining flaking inside
- Frayed shoulder straps and worn stitching at the anchor points
- Generic school and promotional bags
Working out what yours is worth
- Run every zip fully open and closed
- Turn it inside out and check for lining delamination
- Inspect the stitching where the straps meet the body
What to state in the listing
- Capacity in litres, and external dimensions
- Whether it has a padded laptop sleeve, and what size it takes
- Condition of every zip, buckle and strap anchor
- Whether it is cabin approved, and whether a rain cover or hip belt is included
Brand, capacity and purpose: “Osprey Farpoint 40L Travel Backpack, Cabin Size”. Litre capacity is the primary search. Say whether it is cabin sized, laptop compatible or hiking specific, because those are separate searches with different buyers.
Preparing and photographing it
- Find or estimate the capacity in litres, which is often printed on a label inside or on the back panel.
- Run every zip along its full length, and check the pulls, the buckles and the stitching at the strap anchors.
- Empty every pocket, clean the base and shoulder straps, and check for fraying at the seams.
- The backpack from the front, standing, straps visible
- The main compartment open, showing capacity and lining
- The shoulder straps and back panel, showing wear
- The zips and buckles, plus the base and any fraying or stain
When it sells best, and handing it over
Steady with lifts in spring, in late summer for travel, and in September for school and university. Recognised outdoor and travel brands sell fastest.
Packs down and posts cheaply. Compress it with the straps and use a large mailing bag rather than a box.
What buyers ask
What size is a Lacoste 5?
Lacoste uses its own 2 to 8 numbering rather than S to XL, and a 5 is roughly a UK medium to large depending on the cut. Always give the flat chest measurement as well, because this numbering causes more returns than anything else on the label.
Are old Lacoste polos worth more?
Pieces made in France under the Devanlay licence, and older ones labelled Chemise Lacoste, carry a real premium. The care label is what tells you which you have.
How much is a Lacoste backpack worth?
Roughly £16 to £77 depending on condition, against £15 to £70 for backpacks generally. The identification points above are what move a listing to the top of that range.
What the fees would take elsewhere
At the mid-range £46 for a Lacoste backpack, against what the commission marketplaces would deduct:
| Platform | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Poshmark | −£9 | £37 |
| eBay | −£6 | £40 |
| Mercari | −£5 | £41 |
| Etsy | −£3 | £43 |
| WishThrift | −£0 | £46 |
Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026, percentages only — the per-order and processing charges those platforms add are excluded, so the real gap is wider.
Listing is free and there is no commission — read how to sell a backpack for the title, handover and timing, or the general backpack value guide if yours is not a Lacoste.
See also: all Lacoste value guides · value guides by brand · buying a backpack · Bags & Handbags · condition grades.