Fjallraven High Coast Foldsack 24 Review

We’re going to be taking a look at the Fjallraven Foldsack 24 in this review, which is a versatile daypack all around—from its capacity to its organization to its overall aesthetic, this pack can get the job done of carrying your everyday gear in multiple places, for multiple use cases.

Like other Fjallraven bags we’ve tested, we appreciate its relaxed demeanor and water-resistant materials. The Foldsack also features functionality that we don’t always see from this brand, and we’re digging it.

Just how deep are we digging this pack, you ask? Dive into the review below to find out!

Materials & Aesthetic

As we’ve said before, the High Coast Foldsack 24 is not only versatile in its storage but also its look. It has a casual vibe that fits in with more laid back settings but still looks at home in the outdoors. Its fold top opening gives it a unique look, which only 47% of our followers were fans of according to our Instagram poll on its aesthetic. If you favor functionality, this may not bother you as much, but your mileage may vary.

You can pick up this bag in a more heritage colorway at the time of this review, like Green, if that’s the look you’re going for. If you’re looking for something on the subtler side, you’ll want to consider something like Dark Grey, Black, or the Navy colorway we’ve been testing; on the flip side, to add some brighter color to your carry, Red Rowan is one to consider.

We’re not surprised to see the famous Fjallraven fox on the front of this bag. The logo is red-on-white, in addition to being reflective, so it’s much more noticeable than the kind of branding you’ll find on an EVERGOODS or Aer pack. We also can’t forget the small Swedish flag that makes a minor appearance on the side. Both of these additions are part of what gives this bag its casual, cute personality.

The High Coast Foldsack 24 is made of a 210D polyamide fabric, a fancy word for nylon. Fjallraven claims that this material is waterproof, but notes that with its zippers and seams, the bag itself is not submergible by any means. We like the honesty and are happy to report that despite this, the material still offers great protection from the elements for your gear. It’s also recycled, so we also appreciate the environmentally-friendly approach—and we’re sure the planet does, too.

One note we have about this fabric is that it can get pretty crinkly, especially when the bag isn’t fully packed. Because of this, you’ll want to be conscious of where and how you position your gear on the inside so the material looks smooth (and not lumpy) on the outside.

We’re glad to be using the YKK zippers on this bag, considering all the positive experiences we’ve had with the brand in the past. We especially like their corded zipper pulls that are a mix of blue, yellow, and white, so they’re much easier to find than if they were the same blue as the bag.

We do need to note, though, that we’ve had some trouble with the zipper on the main opening during testing. When we pull the zipper all the way open or closed, it tends to get stuck in the corners, so we have to finagle it to get it back along the track. It’s not a huge deal, but it is a nuisance when we’re on the go and are trying to get in and out of the bag quickly. The problem is only magnified if the pack is stuffed to the brim.

To finish off this section, we’re also going to talk about the bag’s hardware from the brand Woojin. The buckles on the sternum strap and hip belt have been working like a charm, as well as all the adjusters; the same goes for the hook that secures the main compartment, which we’ll go into detail about later in the review.

External Components

The Foldsack 24’s shoulder straps aren’t anything to write home about, but they get the job done. They have a small amount of padding and a thin mesh lining to keep you comfortable and ventilated enough for what you’re likely carrying; at least, that’s been our experience during testing. We’re also thankful for their elastic keepers that conveniently manage any excess strap.

You also have an adjustable sternum strap that clips to the attachment points along the shoulder straps. It’s a nice feature to have on a bag of this size when you need that extra stability. An elastic keeper makes an appearance here, too, so dangling straps are thwarted once again for a much cleaner look.

We can’t forget this bag’s hip belt, which is another helpful addition for added steadiness. It’s more of a waist strap than anything else, as it doesn’t have any real padding. Despite this, it still helps keep the bag close to the body and lies flat against the back panel when not in use. Like the sternum strap, you can also remove it entirely, so it’s out of the way when you don’t need it.

Looking at the back panel, it’s also lightly padded and features a mesh lining to help with breathability. That said, we haven’t found it to be the most comfortable during testing. Because of the bag’s lack of built-in structure, we can feel certain items digging into our back whenever we pack this thing to the brim with gear. Having a laptop inside helps some, as it acts as a kind of frame sheet, but we don’t like the idea of our expensive tech having that job.

However, this lack of structure does provide some added functionality in its own right, as this allows you to flatten the bag when empty and roll it into a packable size. This way, you can stuff it inside your travel pack and use it as your daypack once you’ve reached your destination.

Then, at the top of the bag, you have a small handle with which to grab the bag when you’re getting something out or need to move or slide it around quickly. It’s not padded—it’s essentially just a nylon strap—so we wouldn’t use this for longer carries. It works best for the tasks mentioned above.

As we’ve said before, the Foldsack 24 doesn’t retain its shape very well, especially when there’s little to nothing inside. Thankfully, it does have compression straps on either side that you can use to cinch it down when carrying a lighter line up to give the bag some structure semblance. We also appreciate Fjallraven’s consistency with the elastic keepers, as they’re featured on these straps as well—no dangle, no problem.

Also, on either side of the bag, you’ll find a tall, narrow water bottle pocket. We’ve been keeping the YETI Rambler 18oz Bottle in one, and it’s the perfect size for it. You can slip another bottle of similar size into the other, or you can opt to use it as a quick-grab pocket—you can keep an extra pair of gloves or an umbrella inside, for example.

Inside The Pack

While you can use the water bottle pockets to keep gear handy, you also have a designated quick-grab pocket on the front of the bag. It’s large enough for a phone, wallet, sunglasses, etc., and has a bright liner that makes finding and grabbing what’s inside super easy.

Something to keep in mind: if you really pack out the main compartment, it will eat up space in this pocket, affecting what you’re able to pack inside. That, and because the material is so thin, your gear will leave a noticeable outline on the outside of the bag.

So, you’ll need to decide where you want to utilize the space. If you have more frequently-used items, filling out the quick-grab may be more beneficial; if you have bulkier items that you won’t need until you reach your destination, stuffing the main compartment is most likely your best bet.

Speaking of, the main compartment secures via a fold top system (hence the name “Foldsack”). The top of the bag has a hook in the middle, which you can attach to the bag’s daisy chains below it. This is helpful for when you’re carrying a smaller amount of gear, as you can fold down the excess material and keep the bag looking as minimal as possible.

The other neat thing about this system is that you can also use it to expand the amount of space you can use. Because a zipper secures the actual access point, you can unhook and unroll this bag to its full height and pack the compartment full with gear, and everything will still stay secure.

As for the inside, this compartment is basically one big bucket. What we mean by that is there’s not much in the way of organization. To supplement the lack of compartmentalization, you can incorporate a combination of pouches and packing cubes, so your stuff is easier to find and grab when you need it.

All that said, you do have a small zippered pocket towards the top where you can stash your smaller items, so they’re not free-floating around inside this compartment. It houses a dedicated key leash you can clip your keys to and space for stuff like your passport, chapstick, and even a phone charger, so they’re all secure and close by.

We really like the integration of this pocket as it’s super easy to access and a convenient feature on a rolltop-style pack like this one. Our only note is that because it sits above the laptop sleeve when it’s fully packed, it can inhibit your access to your laptop below. It hasn’t been a deal-breaker for us during testing, but it’s definitely a nuisance.

There’s also an elasticated sleeve against the back wall that can hold up to a 15″ laptop. It has virtually no padding, and a pretty insignificant false bottom, so we recommend keeping your tech inside a protective case (like the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Case) to keep it safe from any damage. If you don’t plan on carrying a laptop with you, you can also use this sleeve for more segmentation!

The remainder of this compartment is free to pack with as much or as little gear as you’d like, up to 24L. We’ve been keeping the Thule Subterra PowerShuttle along with a packable jacket inside, which has been working well, but lunch boxes, books, jackets, and a ton in between will also work just fine.