Fjallraven Raven 28

“**Why the Raven 28?** The [Raven 28](https://www.fjallraven.com/uk/en-gb/bags-gear/backpacks-bags/laptop-bags/raven-282) is admittedly a backpack that I’ve been curious about for over a year, mostly because of its great organization and materials. Fjallraven’s G-1000 waxed canvas might not be as durable as something like Cordura, but I consider it to be nicest materials out there, and the Raven 28 seemed to be like Fjallraven’s most versatile backpack made in this material. Their Ulvo backpacks use BERGSHELL (also nice and water-resistant but not as thick) and their more sporty-looking Skule 28 is made of generic polyester. I really like waxed canvas and I figured it would be nice to check out a bag that uses such a comfortable earthy material, but is also tech-friendly, spacious and has lots of pockets. I didn’t get the Raven 28 sooner because of a huge drawback: the lack of back padding. This is generally a dealbreaker for me because I like to have at least some padding, ventilation and/or mesh on the back panel. The Raven 28 had none of that and that was my only reason for not pulling the trigger. However, ***this year Fjallraven released an updated version of the Raven 28*** that comes with a mesh back panel and also some other minor updates. So that gave me the green light to get the new updated version and I’ve been very happy with it so far! It’s cool that Fjallraven is a company that listens to customers and they enthusiastically gave a promising backpack such a needed upgrade. ​ **Materials** I already admitted my love for the G-1000 material. It’s soft, supple and feels quite strong, although I’ve seen comments about the older Raven 28 model that the bottom of the bag tends to wear out after a few years. Maybe the updated version has some reinforced stitching there, I don’t know, but Fjallraven definitely recommends re-waxing the material with their Greenland Wax occasionally to protect the material and maintain its durability. I think waxing canvas is a nice process and if I decide to keep the Raven 28, I’ll be sure to re-wax mine early next winter and add a few extra layers to the bottom just in case. It should be noted that G-1000 picks up lots of hair and lint, so dog owners beware. It also gets creases easily. The G-1000 should be highly water-resistant and while the YKK zippers are not AquaGuard or anything, there are flaps covering each zipper to keep water out. There are some nice leather accents on the bag too, including the carry handle and the logo on the front. These touches make the bag feel more premium. The leather arctic fox logo on the front is one of the nicest branding touches I've seen on a backpack, it's super cute yet classy. My Raven 28 is the in the dark olive color. I like Fjallraven’s earthy colors a lot. When I was getting familiar with the Raven at the store, the Terracotta Brown and Foliage Green colors really caught my eye as well. They just pop! ​ **Comfort** I was worried about ”