Decathlon Forclaz 500 Extend Duffel Bag Review
The Decathlon Forclaz 500 Extend Duffel Bag is a versatile hiking/trekking duffel bag that can also be worn as a backpack. The bag is lightweight, and its storage capacity can increase from 40L to 60L. I haven’t used the bag on any hikes yet, but I have been using it regularly for more than half a year now. These are my first impressions of the Forclaz 500 Extend Duffel Bag!
The Decathlon Forclaz 500 Extend Duffel Bag (Dark Ivy Green)
Disclaimer: Decathlon sent me the Forclaz 500 Duffel, but had no input in the creation of this post.
Impact-Site-Verification: 8c7f71c4-0580-4c7c-a832-9a2ad48f01c5Details/Features
10-year bag warranty
Capacity: 40L to 60L
Color: Dark Ivy Green
Plenty of straps to cinch the bag down or expand it to capacity
Weight: 2.8 lbs (1.27kg)
Padded shoulder straps to wear on your back
Multiple padded handles around the bag for various points of carry
Water repellant
Lockable main zipper for extra security
1 external pocket, 2 internal pockets
Price: $79.99 USD - check here for the latest price
Usage
Fit/Feel
Because of the bag’s material and design, it feels like a really fancy duffel. It’s definitely an upgrade from the generic Nike sports duffel that I’ve had for over 10 years! I appreciate all the handles around the bag, which make it really easy to transport and carry in different situations.
When used as a backpack, my wife says I look like a Ninja Turtle. It appears bulky when worn; however, it’s quite comfortable to wear thanks to the chest straps and the bag’s ability to conform to the shape of my back. To me, because of its size, it’s more of a travel/adventure bag, rather than a gym bag.
Performance
So far, I’ve primarily used the Forclaz 500 Extend as a catchall baby bag to bring during weekly visits to grandma and grandpa’s house. As a new dad, I’ve quickly realized that there are a lot of items to bring for the baby! The bag comfortably fits diaper-changing essentials, toys, bottles, a small cooler, a bottle warmer, extra clothes (for me and the baby), my camera bag, etc. For organization, I keep items in packing cubes and smaller bags.
Pros
Look and feel: I love the sleek green and yellow color scheme - it really makes the bag look like it’s meant for adventuring
Multiple handles: The multiple handles on the bag make it really easy to grab in a variety of situations
Lots of space: This is the biggest bag that I own. You really can throw in a lot items in here, especially when expanded to 60L!
Cons
I had no major cons, but wanted to point out a few small details:
Lack of internal organization: Inside, aside from the two small pockets, there’s no way to organize or tie things down. When holding several items and moving about, everything jumbles together and moves around. This probably can be solved by cinching the bag down with the outside straps, but it would be nice if there were internal dividers, or some kind of easy ties to hold things in place
Bulky when worn as a backpack: As expected, when the bag is filled to capacity, it looks huge when worn as a backpack! For context, I’m 5’10”
Conclusion
The Decathlon Forclaz 500 Extend Duffel Bag is a great hybrid backpack/duffel with plenty of space at 40L, expanding to 60L. Although I haven’t tested it out on any hikes yet, I’ve used it to transport a bunch of items when visiting relatives. Throwing everything into the duffel and wearing it on my back makes leaving the house much more efficient, especially when carrying a baby!
The bag feels durable and solid. In my half a year of testing, I haven’t had any issues with it so far.
I had no major cons, but it does look very bulky when worn as a backpack. In addition, I wish there were a few more pockets or ties inside for additional organization.
I hope you found this review helpful. I’ll be posting a video review soon, so if you’re interested in more clothing and gear reviews, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!
Happy journeying,
Jeremy
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