Review: FHF 24HR Satchel

Designed for whatever the day might throw your way, the 24HR Satchel from FHF Gear is a durable, modular bag that can handle it all. For everyday use, the 17-liter capacity is plenty for a laptop, charging cords, a few lunch containers, gym clothes, and running shoes. Packing everything in is no problem, thanks to the minimalistic interior design. In total, there are only four internal pockets: a slim sleeve big enough for a few magazines, a small mesh pocket for things like headphones and glasses, and two water-bottle stretch pockets—one for a Nalgene; one for a coffee mug.

After a month of use, I’ve come to appreciate the lack of internal organization. Nothing bugs me more on packs and bags than pockets that take up space with no clear functionality. Not so with the 24HR Satchel. The empty bag can be stuffed full with everyday items during the work week, but then dumped out on the weekends and replaced with ammo, binos, and a spotting scope for a day at the shooting range, or with clothes and layers for a quick camping trip.

For people who do prefer more pockets, however, there is a large Velcro panel on the interior that accepts all kinds of accessories from FHF, like a pistol holster, laptop sleeve, or phone pouch. Additionally, the exterior has MOLLE panels stitched on both ends, which can take a whole slew of other add-ons like a water-bottle holder or pouches of all shapes and sizes. That’s the beauty of the satchel, and more broadly of all FHF gear: the packs and bags are simple and strong, and can be fully customized to your needs. Eventually, I’ll likely pick up a few accessory pouches—mostly to hold snack bars or to squirrel away dried fruit and nuts to munch on throughout the day.

(Not to beat a dead horse on the pocket design, but it’s also worth mentioning how nice the internal water-bottle pockets are. Gone are the days of losing a Nalgene when hopping a curb on my bike, or my coffee mug sliding out when bending over or setting down a backpack.)

In terms of carrying, the satchel has a padded, adjustable shoulder strap. It’s comfortable and situates the weight well when biking through town, but can also be cinched tight when sprinting through the airport to catch a close connection, or racing to your favorite fishing hole. Overall, the 24HR Satchel is a functional, adaptive bag, built to FHF’s high standards. It’ll last for years to come, and will be my primary bag for all type and manner of trips.

$175; available at fhfgear.com, firstlite.com, or locally at the MeatEater store in downtown Bozeman.