Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L Review

We were instantly drawn to the ability of the Sojourn Shuttle's to eat up gear and keep it safe en route to anywhere in the world. It's brimming with unique features that set it apart from other gear-haulers, including its recognizable straitjacket compression system.

Performance Comparison

Capacity

When it comes to gear, the Sojourn Shuttle can eat nearly everything. Primarily designed as adventure luggage, this bag pays homage to Osprey's well-known backpacks and offers a great balance between wide-open main storage and compartmental pockets.

Our measurements of the main interior compartment of the Sojourn Shuttle resulted in 99 liters of volume. This doesn't include the bag's additional exterior pockets. All combined, the Sojourn Shuttle (weighing 8.7 pounds) has a great weight-to-volume ratio and can pack up mixed gear along with general, everyday items, and it does it well. Akin to the Sojourn Shuttle is the Osprey Daylite Wheeled Duffel 85. Our tests documented it at just 6.8 pounds and 78 liters of main compartmental volume.

The straitjacket compression system gives this bag a unique edge over many other gear haulers we've studied. We shoved ski gear, ropes, wet suits, tents, and more into our Sojourn Shuttle and were able to perfectly secure it into a tightly protected bundle. Thick 1680-denier ballistic nylon fabric makes the straitjacket system tough enough to keep nearly any gear item firmly in place during travel, and it is also padded, which offers an extra layer of protection. Even better, when payloads are smaller, there's a second set of buckles that allows travelers to reposition the straitjacket and cinch it even tighter. Although it doesn't offer the same straitjacket system, we absolutely loved the four rugged exterior compression straps on the The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 28. They rival the Sojourn Shuttle in their ability to securely clamp gear in place.

The compression system is both very simple and incredibly versatile. It even offers two additional offset buckles, which allow the straps to be mixed and matched around oddly shaped gear or cinched firmly around smaller loads, keeping everything safely strapped in. The only negative we found is the straitjacket compression system leaves some loose ends — literally. Once tightly cinched, we often had trouble securing the leftover strap tails. The plastic clips designed to handle the job weren't very effective, especially during the rigors of air travel, so we usually ended up looping the excess strapping around itself.

It isn't a real adventure unless it involves muddy boots or wet gear (right?). The large lower compartment on the Sojourn Shuttle makes easy work of storing dirty items or more rugged gear that needs to be kept separate. The compartment is self-contained and is comprised of a thick nylon pocket, which does an excellent job of separating its contents from clean clothes or more fragile gear located in the main storage area.

Similar to a backpack, we like that the lower pocket sits at the very bottom of the bag and is accessible from the outside. This reduces contact between dirty items and the suitcase's main payload. Even better, if more storage is needed in the main section of the Shuttle, the lower pocket simply collapses, folding into the suitcase's main body.

After assessing the durable fabrics, extensive metal frame, and rugged wheel assembly, we were rather surprised to find that the Sojourn Shuttle tips the scales at just 8.7 pounds, resulting in one of the higher weight-to-storage ratios on our list. This gives travelers the ability to shove nearly 42 pounds of gear, supplies, and clothing into this bag before hitting the 50-pound general airline limit.

Ease of Transport

The Sojourn Shuttle is ready to tackle nearly any terrain. It excelled in all of our transport tests, making it one of the easiest bags on our list to lift, pull, carry, or tie down.

Two massive 4-inch, sealed bearing wheels allow the Sojourn Shuttle to easily break trail on nearly any surface. Even filled with its max weight of 50 pounds, the Shuttle kept up with us on gravel, hiking trails, and grass. The only area it struggled was in soft sand, but sand is a challenge for any wheel-based suitcase.

The three low-profile grab handles are one of our favorite Sojourn Shuttle features. Each sits nearly flush against the bag's exterior, which reduces the potential of getting snagged during the baggage claim process or while being transported through a remote wilderness area. The trolley handle is sturdy and well-protected by the bag's frame when it's not in use — an excellent feature when considering the general brutality of baggage claims.

During a recent Alps adventure, we lugged our Sojourn Shuttle all over Switzerland and Italy, and we loved how it handled city streets, airports, buses, and trains. However, When considering each bag's overall ease of transport, we think it's important to mention both the Osprey Daylite Wheeled Duffel 85 and the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT 32". What makes them stand out is their ability to convert into a relatively functional backpack. This is a great transport feature for an adventure bag and is something the Sojourn Shuttle can't do.

Ease of Use of Specific Luggage Features

Product	Tracking Ability	Wheel Smoothness	Telescopic Handle Smoothness	Balance
Best	5	5	5	5
Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L	3	3.5	4	4
Average	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.5
Worst	2	2	2.5	3

Of particular note is the unique bow shape of the Sojourn Shuttle. The back side of the bag is bowed from top to bottom. This exceptional feature gives it a more ergonomic fit when strapped to a pack animal or carried by a porter. We feel this is a simple but thoughtful and effective feature that sets the Shuttle apart from the adventure-bag competition. The only drawback of this design is the lack of protective bumpers that normally run the full length of most bags designed predominantly for airline travel.

Construction Quality

A casual glance at the Sojourn Shuttle may leave you assuming it's simply a large backpack or a typical duffel-style suitcase. However, closer inspection reveals many added-value components that set it apart from your average adventure bag.

During our testing, we did our best to put our Sojourn through the wringer. We threw it down staircases and cliff sides, which produced only minor cosmetic scuffs and scratches on the exterior. We also doused it with hose water, only to find its interior virtually dry. One of the most impressive features is the aggressive fabrics. The main portion of the bag is comprised of 420HD nylon pack cloth, while the bag's bottom section, body, and key wear points are wrapped in 1680-denier ballistic nylon. This stout exterior is resilient enough to take on the rigors of extensive adventure travel. When it comes to fabrics, we think it's important to compare the The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder] and the Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30 directly against the Sojourn Shuttle. The Northface's shell is made up of 1000-denier Recycled Polyester With Phthalate-Free PVC Coating. The Eagle Creek's 900 to 1000-denier casing is equally impressive.

The Sojourn Shuttle lacks full-length exterior bumper rails, which would allow it to ski down stairwells or across concrete. Without them, our testing showed that this bag was more likely to tumble end over end. This is one of the Sojourn Shuttle's more noticeable design drawbacks, as flipping end over end down stairs can cause more damage to packed items. That all said, we were highly impressed with its full-length, interior aluminum frame. It's super sturdy and stays true to Osprey's backpacking roots. The aluminum frame runs the length of both sides of the bag and ties into both the wheel assembly and the collapsible handle assembly. We feel this is an excellent design feature that adds strength and stability. We also found it effective in allowing the Sojourn Shuttle to stand solidly upright and effectively absorb stresses associated with being tossed, stacked, bumped, and dropped.

Lastly, we weren't overly impressed with how the trolley handle attaches to the Sojourn Shuttle. This is a small issue with potentially very frustrating consequences. Instead of rivets or bolts, the plastic handle is secured to the top of the telescoping rails with two small screws. During a recent trip abroad, we pulled our Sojourn daily over cobblestone streets. The vibration easily loosened the screws, forcing us to re-tighten them regularly, even several times per day, while pulling our bags to the local train or bus stations. Losing these screws could have resulted in losing the function of the entire trolley handle, leaving our heavily packed Sojourn very difficult to move. We highly suggest a better design.

Design and Functionality

Travelers who are familiar with Osprey backpacks will instantly recognize the style and function of the Sojourn Shuttle. In many ways, it's similar to a backpack on wheels.

While this bag could be used for any travel application, it leans heavily toward adventure travel, where more gear is packed than clothing. The rounded backpack design is stylish but also lends itself well to being dragged through the brush, lashed to a pack animal, or strapped to the top of an SUV. One of our favorite simple yet very functional features aboard the Sojourn Shuttle is its grab handles — there are four of them. Each is massive and very comfortable. Both side handles are offset, so they ride very closely to the body. This is crucial when carrying a load of gear up less-than-ideal terrain because it more effectively balances the weight of the bag against the weight of the body and allows the porter to maintain a normal walking posture.

Should You Buy the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L?

If your destinations have more rock, dirt, and bugs than luxury suites and swimming pools, this bag should be high on the list of your possible options for luggage. The ballistic nylon cocoon and straitjacket compression system will smother loads of heavy gear and keep it protected through a wide variety of transport methods. If your adventure travels need even more space, Osprey also makes a 130-liter version of the Shuttle.

What Other Suitcases Should You Consider?

Check out The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 28. It's another one of our top-performing adventure bags. It scores as well as the Sojourn but has a bolder style. It's a superb option that's burly and ready to handle all your adventuring. If you groove on more systematic bags, the Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30 is a very sturdy adventure roller that offers tons of compartments to organize your stuff. The REI Co-op Big Haul Rolling Duffel 30" also scored very well in all of our tests. We love its layout and functionality. Lastly, if you'd rather skip wheeled bags altogether, check out our reviews on the best travel backpacks and the best duffel bags.