Fjallraven Greenland Top Backpack Review

It’s a well documented fact on Wild Tide that I’m a huge fan of the brand Fjallraven and in particular their bags; I already own a Re-Kanken, Duffel No. 4 and large Splitpack and use them all regularly.

Kanken are a hugely popular and excellent bag with pretty much a cult following, however, I needed a slightly larger backpack for bigger adventures. It had to have thicker straps, a greater capacity, a laptop pouch and more pockets. I found a pack that ticked all the boxes in the Fjallraven Greenland Top Backpack.

As with all Fjallraven gear, it’s made to the highest standards and uses really top notch materials. The main bag is made from the incredible, heavy duty G-1000 fabric which makes the pack about as hard wearing and as tough as bags get.

With a 20 litre capacity, you are able to fit plenty of kit into the Greenland Top. It’s really great that Fjallraven have given this pack thick and padded shoulder straps. At 5.5cm wide the straps spread the weight well across your shoulders. I’ve worn this pack full for a whole day and it was still perfectly comfortable at the end of the day.

Along with the two shoulder straps, there is a grab handle on the top of the bag. I find this really handy for picking up and moving the pack around. It is also really useful for hanging the Greenland up when you arrive at your destination. As the stitching on Fjallraven gear is really solid, you can be very confident that this simple grab handle is going to be able to stand up to whatever stress you put it through.

The quality of the fittings on the Fjallraven Greenland Top Backpack is really awesome. I love the stainless steel buckles on pack which fasten the lid down. Fjallraven branding on the metal buckles is another really nice subtle addition to the design.

They’re much stronger than any plastic buckle and they’re an ingeniously smart and simple way of having a buckle, which is not only easily adjusted but also attached and released.

On the top of the Greenland there is an accessories pocket. It’s not a very deep pocket but as it covers the full width of the pack, you can still fit quite a lot into it. You’re easily able to fit your wallet, phone, snacks, keys etc inside. As it’s at the very top of the bag, it is the most easily accessible pocket and very useful.

On either side of the Greenland Top there are bottle pockets. These pockets are brilliant for carrying bottles of water or vacuum flasks. One thing I really like are the fasteners on the pockets, which keep them in place when the pockets are empty. What is even better is that the fasteners are decorated with the Fjallraven fox!

My only criticism of the Greenland Top backpack is in relation to the side bottle pockets. They are brilliant for slim water bottles and flasks but you do need to check first before you assume that your thermos and water bottles will fit.

Several of my favourite bottles (including my favourite Nalgene one) are too chunky to fit in the bag’s bottle pockets. That being said, the pockets are really deep so when you have a bottle in one, you have no reason to fear it falling out.

When you open the flap of the Greenland, you have access to another large pocket on the front of the pack. I like how the opening is covered by the lid when it is closed. I think this is great for protection against the elements as well as keeping your belongings safe for wandering hands in urban environments! This front zipped pocket is very good for storing larger gear such as maps, hats or gloves.

With the lid open, there is a snow-lock closure, which gives your gear a second layer of protection. The snow-lock opens easily and with a very wide opening that makes loading and emptying the Greenland really easy.

The spacious main compartment can fit 20 litres worth of kit inside. The backpack measures in at 26 cm wide, 43cm high and 15cm deep, this means you can take a lot with you. I think it makes it the perfect size for a day pack. Inside the Greenland, there is a really useful laptop sleeve, which will take up to a 15inch laptop. This is excellent and makes the pack really well suited for travelling, school or work!

In summary, the Fjallraven Greenland Top Backpack is an incredibly versatile and well designed backpack. Fjallraven always use the toughest materials and make really rugged gear. Because of this, you can rest assured that the Greenland Top is an investment that will last you years and years. I love using this bag, whether it’s as a day-pack when out walking, adventuring or camping, travelling around a city or just as my day to day work bag.

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6 Comments

  1. Carlos
    September 10, 2019 / 11:07 pm

    I love this review of the Fjallraven Greenland Top. I was doubting if buying or not, but you really help me to decide. I have one question for you: what´s the color of your backpack? I like it. Thank you.

    • WildTide
      Author
      September 25, 2019 / 5:28 pm

      Hi! Glad you like the review. The colour is “42 Dusk” hope this helps!

  2. Julius
    January 22, 2020 / 10:33 am

    I really liked your Parka. What kind of brand is it from?

    • WildTide
      Author
      January 23, 2020 / 7:46 pm

      Thanks! It’s an old (but amazing) Volcom one! I’ve had it years and it comes out every winter. Not sure if they make it anymore but may do something a bit similar.

  3. J
    January 25, 2020 / 9:50 am

    Does it catch a lot of dust and hair?

  4. K
    February 20, 2020 / 3:50 am

    What a nice review! May I ask you something? If you don’t mind I just got a Greenland Top from a friend, but I wanna know is it an original or not because there are a lot of the fake product of Fjällräven here If you don’t mind, could you please inform me the special characteristics of your bag, like the tag, the code, etc. Thank you

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