The Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack is a well-made, sturdy backpack. It’s been around since the 1950s, and it’s still in good shape today. This review will take you through all of its features to help you decide if this bag is suitable for your needs.
A robust build, a comfortable harness system, and adaptability are just a few of the features we look for in a daypack at Pack Hacker. The Fjallraven Raven 28 is an excellent example of this.
In Detroit, Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack. This bag is made of high-quality materials that will keep your belongings safe. We found the harness system comfortable even though it is simplistic and lacks a few components. It’s also a terrific mid-size car for daily commuting and short getaways.
After two weeks of testing, we’ve got a lot to talk about, so let’s get started on the review.
Aesthetics & Materials
The understated style of this bag appeals to us; while it isn’t the most low-profile bag we’ve ever tested—when completely loaded, it can get very hefty, causing it to protrude far from our backs. However, this isn’t an issue for mid-size and smaller loads.
It should come as no surprise that we’re testing the Black hue of this backpack if you’re acquainted with us here at Pack Hacker. We appreciate how it gives the bag a basic, traditional look, while the brown leather on the top handle and logo adds a subtle yet elegant touch. If black isn’t your thing, there are plenty of different earthy and muted colors in authentic Fjallraven flair.
Raven 28L Backpack by Fjallraven. Speaking of logos, the traditional Fjallraven Arctic Fox can be found in the bottom-right corner of the front of the bag, which, as previously said, contrasts nicely with the black fabric. This emblem can also be seen on one of the shoulder straps, albeit black-on-black, and blends well. However, just one fox is enough to let everyone know you’re wearing a Fjallraven—no need to shout it from the rooftops (unless you want to, of course).
Raven 28L Backpack by Fjallraven Material. This pack is constructed of G-1000 HeavyDuty Eco fabric, comprising 65 percent recycled polyester and 35 percent organic cotton. Because it’s impregnated with Greenland wax, it feels lovely and smooth in hand and provides increased durability and water resistance. In other words, if you are caught in some wet or windy weather, you should be OK.
Furthermore, the recycled material makes this bag eco-friendly, which we like. However, like many other Fjallraven goods we’ve tried, this material scuffs quickly and collects a lot of fluff, dust, and other debris. After a few usages, it may need some care, in which case Fjallraven suggests cleaning with a gentle brush and lukewarm water. It’s not a big problem, but we don’t want to clean our bags every time we grab them on our way out the door.
Raven 28L Backpack Zippers by Fjallraven. The zippers on this are from the well-known YKK brand, with which we’ve had a lot of good luck in the past. We can say the same about this pack since all zippers have performed well throughout our testing.
There’s also Duraflex hardware, which we’ve had a lot of good luck with in the past on other bags. And we’re pleased to announce that, as planned, everything is functioning normally.
Components from Outside
Before we go inside this pack, we’ll go over a few exterior details, beginning with the harness system. For a bag of this size, it’s rather basic overall, and it’s lacking a few features like a sternum strap and a hip belt.
Shoulder Straps for Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack. The shoulder straps are well-padded and include a mesh lining for extra ventilation. They also have a little bend to them, which we appreciate since it helps them fit comfortably over our shoulders, but we’ve noticed that when you’ve put the bag on—especially when it’s completely loaded—you can feel them pressing into your neck. This is most likely owing to the bag’s straps being fixed close together, although it also depends on your body shape. We tried it on a few team members and discovered that it’s more evident when the bag is tightened higher up. If you’re like us and like to carry your luggage in this manner, this might be an issue.
There’s no sternum strap, load lifters, or hip belt on this pack. None of these items are vital, since this pack is neither too large nor too little. So although having the added stability and weight distribution that these elements provide would be good, their absence isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker.
Back Panel of the Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack. When you turn the bag over, you’ll see that the back panel is beautifully cushioned with foam and has enough firmness to give it some strength. This keeps it tight against your back rather than floppy. Back here, though, you won’t find any mesh or air ducts of any type. And, since it’s an all-black bag, you’ll be sweating a lot if you wear it outside in the heat.
Raven 28L Backpack with Top Handle by Fjallraven. You have a leather handle at the top of the bag that feels comfortable and soft in your palm. It’s comfy and handy for grasping the pack and hanging it where appropriate.
Raven 28L Backpack with Water Bottle Pocket by Fjallraven. You also have two exterior water bottle compartments, not one. We’ve been storing the Stanley Classic Easy-Clean Water Bottle 25 oz in one of them, but both of them are rather large—we’ve even put the Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle 1.0 qt (which, as the name suggests, contains a quart of liquid) in one of them. As a result, this size and any smaller will fit.
It’s worth noting that these pockets are rather basic. Because there is no elastic to keep them in place, the bottle seems a little slack. This pocket grows tighter when the interior of the bag is completely packed—which is typically a bag issue, but in this instance, it helps keep the bottle more secure. Even so, if this backpack gets jostled about or flipped over, you’ll want to keep an eye on your water bottle.
The Inside of the Pack
Now that we’ve gone over everything, let’s dig inside this bag. This bag has enough space for all of your everyday necessities. With a capacity of 28L, it’s a great middle-size bag that’s also suitable for shorter journeys. We were able to fit everything we needed for a quick vacation up to Northern Michigan in it.
Raven 28L Backpack with Top Quick-Grab Pocket by Fjallraven. The first is a quick-access pocket at the bag’s very top. It’s a handy place to keep your most regularly used items, such as your wallet, keys, or phone. It has a wonderfully soft lining, so if you intend on storing things like your phone or a pair of sunglasses in here, you can rest certain that they will be scratch-free.
One thing to keep in mind with this pocket is that when the main compartment is completely loaded, it might be difficult to get stuff in and out. We’ve been putting some Felix Gray Nash Glasses in a case within here, and it fits well; however, getting them out when the main compartment is full requires some additional maneuvering (like on that short trip we mentioned).
Raven 28L Backpack with Front Pocket by Fjallraven. Moving on, there is a front zippered pocket. Because it has some built-in dimensions, we don’t have to worry about running out of room in here while the other compartments are full. We’ve merely kept some snacks in here for quick access, however, this pocket is rather large, so feel free to store other taller items here if necessary.
Raven 28L Backpack Front Compartment by Fjallraven. Behind that pocket is a more oversized compartment with an almost full-clamshell opening for quick access to whatever is within. This compartment also has some built-in dimensions, so you won’t lose a lot of room even if the main compartment is filled. And with this site, we’ll be able to accommodate a Roost Laptop Stand and a medium-sized laptop with ease.
Mesh Pockets in the Front Compartment of the Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack. On the front flap of this compartment, you’ll see two mesh pockets. The mesh allows us to see what we’re getting when we open the pocket, so we always know what we’re getting. During our testing, we discovered that the bottom pocket is ideal for storing a laptop charger, while the top bag is ideal for stray wires and other assorted electronic items. We’re substantial pouch enthusiasts around here, and all of this is something we’d generally keep in one. We’re pleased to inform you that these compartments have been supporting our stuff organized without needing a tech bag.
Front Compartment Liner Pockets Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack. There are two more oversized pockets and a pen sleeve against the rear wall, and various inner pockets for your other electronic equipment. We keep an Apple Magic Mouse is one of the more enormous sleeves, a set of headphones in the other, and pens in the third.
While the size of these pockets is ideal for our staff, they’re also quite essential (as is the case with the water bottle pockets)—like the water bottle pockets, they don’t have any elastic to fasten the top, which means our belongings aren’t safe inside. This isn’t a significant concern if you’re carrying the bag upright, but your belongings may fall out if you’re taking it on its side.
Now we’ll go on to the main compartment. It unfolds in a horseshoe shape and provides lots of open space within. Apart from the enormous zipped pocket on the front flap, there isn’t much in the organization. We didn’t use it much during testing, but it’s a good size for items like your passport or extra nibbles. If you’re going on an overnight excursion, you can even use it to segregate items like socks and underwear.
The remaining room in this compartment is free—and this bag is relatively large, so there’s enough of it. You may compensate using pouches and packing cubes if you need additional organization. That’s what we’ve been doing, at least.
We were able to fit a giant packing cube inside for our brief journey up to Northern Michigan, with enough left over at the top for a tiny Dopp kit. If you put a second packing cube on top of the first, there is enough room to store it, but it will become very hefty when fully loaded. With such a basic harness system, it’s also less pleasant to carry.
Raven 28L Backpack with Laptop Compartment by Fjallraven. We’ve finally made it to the laptop compartment. There’s a spacious inner pocket on the front flap that we’ve discovered works great for storing flatter goods like a keyboard. It’s worth noting that this compartment doesn’t have the exact built-in dimensions as the others, so if the main room is completely packed, the pocket’s capacity will be limited. Nevertheless, we could still put our belongings inside, although it took some wriggling.
The laptop sleeve is well-padded and has a soft lining, which we always like. However, since this lining only displays on one side of the sleeve, we suggest putting your device in a protective case if scratches are a concern.
It accommodates a 15-inch laptop in a protective case with space to spare. It also includes a fake bottom to safeguard your costly equipment from everyday wear and tear—from placing the bag down to those unintentional drops.
In Detroit, Fjallraven Raven 28L Backpack. Everything is holding up well in terms of durability. As we said previously, the bag may become a bit filthy after a few uses, but we’ve just seen cosmetic damage so far.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fjallraven Raven good?
A: Fjallraven is a Swedish company that manufactures quality outdoor and travel gear.
Is the Raven 28 waterproof?
A: Yes, the Raven 28 is fully waterproof.
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