Fjallraven  Farden Duffel 50

The Fjällräven Färden Duffel 50 has been a major disappointment. The shoulder straps are too thin for the weight this bag is clearly meant to carry, and there is no real padding. If you wear it over just a T-shirt, the straps can rub badly enough to cause blisters and even break the skin. I did not expect such poor carrying comfort from Fjällräven.

This bag will streamline your life! It’s what I have been waiting for. A blend a duffel and a multi day pack, carrying options are many, I’ve packed and unpacked it many times to see how it rides, endless possibilities. Love this, holy grail type bag. Suitable for overhead bins.

The bag is very large and spacious, the straps feel durable and comfortable, and the overall build is very solid. A very good bag choice for traveling and I believe the dimensions still allow you to take this as a carry-on.

Will be used for road trips and carry-on travel for business and leisure. I like the simplicity and versatility of duffels, and prefer carrying to wheeling luggage. I don't typically hike around with my main luggage so strap comfort is not a top priority, but it was definitely considered. I was using a Marmot 50L duffel before that was even more barebones (and horribly uncomfortable), and this is a nice upgrade. Pros: - Overall design is great and flexible for different uses. The single zip and compression system make packing easy and the size adaptable. - Love the boxy geometry -- Note that the dimensions are misleading: the bottom panel is about 20×15 inches, which I think is good, not too long such that it loses its shape, and I like the width. My personal preference is to always have a bigger bag and under pack then a smaller pack stuffed to the brim - Very spacious, enough for a week-long business trip that nests my minimal laptop bag inside and it's easy to get out for security - Quality feels solid - More comfortable than other duffle-backpacks I tried - Coal color looks great: monochromatic, muted, and professional, but more interesting than black ballistic nylon. - Fabric is burly and feels nice to the touch - Holds its shape surprisingly well, likely due to the padding and stouter geometry - Side pocket is great for toiletries - I probably won't need it much, but the stowable straps are nice Cons: - Material attracts lints and hairs easily - I used an anti static spray which seemed to help a bit - They should have lined the front pocket and entire inside (top paneling is not) and put the same internal pockets all the way around, or mirrored the shoe/laundry pocket on the top (for a toiletries kit) because why not, symmetry is nice - On the logo side of the bag, I would have liked to see webbing/lashing points (or even some nylon loops on the panel seams) so that I could easily rig a water bottle pocket or stuff pouch: flexibility is nice - Expensive duffel, all metal hardware all around and more thoughtful zipper pulls (e.g. like those metal rings I've seen FR use) would be appreciated - Dedicated grab handle on the top would be nice Summary: If you love simple and high quality bags and are willing to spare some comfort (vs. a backpack) just because you love the design, this is a great choice. Definitely wait for a sale, though.