When it comes to down to travel gear, selecting the proper bag for the proper occasion can be an arduous task. For example, you might not necessarily want to use a boarding bag in lieu of a day pack—it just wouldn’t be ideal. With such a wide selection of bag options, it’s to your benefit to have a good feel for what your needs are. For baggage larger than carry-on size, the choices can range anywhere from large upright suitcases to duffel bags and beyond! Recently, I tested out Fjallraven’s Duffel No. 6 and my findings were impressive.
Camping, anyone?
When I first checked out the many features of the Duffel No. 6, I instantly became enthralled with its backpack conversion feature. The well-padded backpack shoulder straps are housed zipper-adjacent and are easily and quickly accessible. What I appreciated about this was that it instantly elevated what would have been a travel duffel into a multipurpose duffel. The Duffel No. 6 could now accompany me camping if I were so inclined. I loaded the duffelbag with a sleeping bag, tent, and clothes. It then occurred to me that the Duffel No. 6 could, in many cases, replace a camping backpack for backwoods excursions. Another reason the Duffel No. 6 shouldn’t be relegated the to the indoors is its highly durable fabric. It’s treated with Greenland Wax (a combination of beeswax and paraffin) which is an excellent water repellent.
Checked Luggage
Fjallraven has three sizes of Duffel No. 6, and I tested the largest of the three. Due to having the capacity of 110 liters, the large Duffel No. 6 could scarcely be considered a carry-on piece of luggage. Its size lends itself to be great for all kinds of objects. Despite being a duffel bag, the floor of the bag is quite sturdy. If you needed to put flat items with hard surfaces in the bag, their ideal home would be at the bottom of the bag. If you are taking home breakable souvenirs from your travels or placing a laptop or tablet in the Duffel No. 6, I would suggest that you could make a clothing cocoon for additional protection. If you want the same cool features of the Duffel No. 6, but with the carry-on option, I would suggest checking out the small or medium size. You might want to double check the specs with your airline to verify if the large size qualifies as a carry-on.
Pockets, Pockets, Pockets
Duffel No. 6’s has just the right amount of pockets to come in handy for pocket lovers. There’s no mystery about it, more pockets equals more storage. I am absolutely a pocket fan when it comes to my outdoor and travel bags, but sometimes the overabundance of pockets lends itself to small items getting forgotten or useful pockets going unused. When I was first getting my bearings with Duffel No. 6, I found the number of pockets to be noteworthy. On either side of the bag, you will find side pockets that close together with snaps. The side pockets are great for items you need ready access to. Inside the bag, there are two zippered mesh pockets—a large and small one. These are great for toiletries or smaller items that you don’t want floating around the duffelbag.
I found Fjallraven’s Duffel No. 6 to be a great camping backpack alternative and perfect for traveling. Its hard-wearing construction makes it useful for your schlepping needs.
- The good:
- Durable duffelbag
- Handy leather hand grip
- Quick rucksack conversion capabilities
- Useful pockets
- Comfortable to carry
- Water and wind resistant thanks to Greenland Wax
- Stylish
The bad:
- Large not carry-on size (but smaller sizes of Duffel No. 6 are)
All photos provided by Fjallraven.
Fjallraven Duffel No. 6 is available at Amazon.
Note: Fjallraven provided me with a product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the company.