Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L Review

1. Introduction

Ideally, you’d be able to fit all your clothing, toiletries, and other gear in a convenient carry-on, but the reality is that long-term travelers are going to need a larger checked bag. This could be a hardshell suitcase, a trunk, or, in the case of the Sojourn Shuttle, a wheeled duffel.

This style of luggage isn’t for everyone, but it is great for digital nomads that spend a lot of time exploring wild and woolly locations.

It’s made by Osprey, a brand that has a solid track record of supplying luggage for the thrill seekers out there.

In this post, we’re going to look at how the Sojourn Shuttle stands out from the competition and whether the bag is the right choice for your overseas experience.

2. Size, Capacity & First Impressions

We’re amazed that the Osprey can technically fit 100l of stuff into 31” H X 19” W X 17” D (78cm X 49cm X 43cm). That seems just short of miraculous when you think that similarly sized hardshell alternatives reach around 80l.

A big part of that is down to its depth. Since the Sojourn Shuttle is fabric, you can stuff it with items until it bulges like a man who has subsisted off beer and burgers his whole life.

Our first impression out of the box was, wow, this looks big. True, it’s only slightly larger in height than Osprey’s biggest backpack, but to be honest we can’t imagine how anybody shorter than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson could carry this around without wheels.

Of course, realistically it’s no larger (at least height-wise) than some of the hardshell suitcases we’ve tested, but the fact that it’s a duffel and so massive just threw us for a loop.

There is also a 130l option for people who want even more space, and that is frankly terrifying!

There are just two colors to choose from. We went with the Koseret Green, just because it’s a tad more exciting than plain old black. Plus, it seemed more suitable for nature walks –koseret is a kind of plant, after all.

At 8.6lbs (3.9kg) empty, it’s one of the lightest 100l bags on the market.

3. Features & Functionality

Osprey bags are made with bluesign-approved materials, including 100% recycled nylon, but that’s not the only interesting feature of the Sojourn Shuttle.

Storage & Interior Design:

The heart of the duffel is the main compartment, which contains three compressions straps to help you cinch down your clothing, trekking poles, and any other items. It also has a couple of pockets along its length, one mesh and one opaque fabric.

We don’t always find packing cubes necessary for our packing. However, given that the Sojourn Shuttle doesn’t have two separate sides like a hardshell suitcase, we do recommend them in this instance, just to keep things nice and neat.

There are three exterior-access pockets. The larger one underneath the main compartment is the boot bin, where you can store a pair of shoes – although we actually used it for dirty laundry. On the top of the bag, there’s a smaller pocket for items that you might want to access quickly.

Finally, there’s a rear pocket with a mesh lining. This is where the telescopic handle collapses, but there’s enough space for flat items like a couple of books.

One of our fav features about the Sojourn Shuttle is the StraightJacket compression system. This allows you to compact the bag down so that it hugs your personal items, ensuring that nothing inside gets tossed about in transit.

Wheels & Handling:

The Sojourn Shuttle comes with a pair of roller wheels. These are oversized at 110mm and provide a bit of extra stability.

Of course, roller wheels don’t give as much maneuverability as 360-degree spinner wheels, but they do tend to be more durable – which is handy for more out of-the-way destinations.

The duffel also comes with an inventive buttonless trolley handle (dubbed the ErgoGrip) that you depress to release. We loved the idea of this in theory, but we did struggle with using it compared to the standard button. Perhaps long term it’s less likely to break (or perhaps it’s even more likely to break). We don’t know, but what we do know is that it’s not as ergonomic as its name suggests.

Security:

While there’s no combination locked, the Sojourn Shuttle does come with Travel Sentry ID (TSID) luggage registration. This assigns a unique code to your bag, so that if it gets misplaced or lost, there’s most chance of it being returned to you.

Tech & Smart Add-ons:

There are no smart add-ons included with this duffel – although there is a strap for you to attach a smaller bag to the front of the duffel, which saved our shoulders the extra work!

Mobility & Ease of Use:

With a top handle, a bottom handle, a handle on each side, and a handle on the front, you can pretty much lift the duffel whichever way you want!

Overall, the Sojourn Shuttle has pretty good balance, although it did tip over when we filled it to bursting without thinking about weight distribution.

4. Durability & Travel Performance

We took the Sojourn Shuttle with us on a recent summer trip to the Alps. Of course, it’s not a bag that you take with you on an actual hike, but it just seemed to fit the vibe.

Overall, it worked fantastically, the larger wheels providing a smoother dragging experience over uneven surfaces. We didn’t try dragging it up a mountain, but we did have to pull it up an uneven dirt road to get to our chalet.

The high chassis and durable plastic bumpers are designed to take a bit of punishment, and while they might get scuffed up, ultimately, they are protecting your possessions.

Speaking of scuffing, one huge advantage in choosing a duffel instead of a hardshell suitcase is that the fabric of the Osprey doesn’t pick up marks and scratches easily, so that it looks new for longer.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros

• Good capacity
• Sturdy construction
• Easy to manhandle

Cons

• No locking mechanism
• No smart features

6. Osprey Sojourn Shuttle vs. Patagonia Black Hole vs. Eagle Creek ORV

At 8.6lbs (3.9kg), the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle is lighter than similar products like the Eagle Creek ORV Wheeled Trunk (9.9lbs/4.5kg) and the Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel (10.5lbs/4.7kg). That’s handy for airlines that limit checked luggage by the weight, as well as ensuring you’re not dragging about any extra pounds unnecessarily.

At $395, it’s also cheaper than the Patagonia ($419) and the Eagle Creek ($439). Admittedly it’s not a huge price differential, but hey, every little counts!

The boot bin is a big bonus for this bag, as we found it very useful for stashing dirty laundry or a pair of muddy shoes. While it’s not as big as the Eagle Creek ORV’s expandable bottom compartment, which we used for a similar purpose, it was big enough for our purposes. In contrast, the Patagonia Black Hole has this feature missing entirely.

Another thing we like about the Osprey Shuttle is the ability to strap an extra bag to the front – another feature shared with the Patagonia Black Hole. The Eagle Creek ORV has a slightly different design feature that provides external storage for extra gear like boots or a helmet but wouldn’t manage a backpack.

7. Who It’s For (And Who It’s Not)

Perfect for: hikers, backpackers, adventurers of all kinds

Not ideal for: remote families, nomads largely based in cities

We happily managed with the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle for two weeks in the Alps over the summer without needing to do any laundry. Mostly, the bag was filled with clothes, but we also had our retractable hiking poles and a large water bottle, along with a couple spare pairs of shoes. Even with more equipment-heavy activities, a week’s worth of clothing seems very doable.

8. Final Verdict & Rating

We really like the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle – but it does have a specific use case. This is not the bag for someone who mainly hops from city to city or plans to set up shop in one place as a base, then do weekend breaks away. For that, you’d be better off with a hardshell suitcase like the Nomatic Check-In or the Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX.

The features of the Sojourn Shuttle are specifically designed for people who enjoy a rough and ready expat lifestyle, particularly one involving hiking, skiing, or other adventure sports. In that context, it’s a sure-fire winner!

Rating: 4.5/5

9. FAQ Section

What’s the warranty policy?

Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee (AMG) covers you for any defects or damage that occurs under normal use – i.e., as long as you didn’t throw it off a cliff or feed it to a bear. It lasts for 30 years, during which the company will repair or replace your Sojourn Shuttle at no charge.

Is the luggage waterproof?

The Sojourn Shuttle is weather-resistant, rather than waterproof. That means it is designed to withstand rain and snow, but there’s no guarantee it will survive monsoon season in India.