Why We Chose The Savotta Keikka 50L Duffel Bag: Multiple carry options, simple style, big capacity
Savotta are perhaps best known for their Happy and Grumpy stoves and their army-style backpacks. More recently, however, they’ve been focusing on travel-style bags such as the Keikka duffel bag, which are built to carry very heavy loads.
In fact, under a stress test, the Keikka – that weighs just 1.42kg – was able to withstand 200kg (440 lbs) worth of weight. That’s roughly the weight of an average-sized deer.
Most of the materials Savotta use here are actually the same as the ones they use in equipment for the Finnish Defence Forces and other security clients. Rest assured then, the Keikka is made of tough stuff. If, however, you need more proof, there’s a good video on the main product page involving a horse and a tow hitch…
Who Is The Savotta Keikka For?
We can see the Keikka 50L working well for trips abroad, road trips, or perhaps even photography day trips, when you want something a little more organised than a daypack.
Needless to say, it’s definitely not for hiking, though it would make a great kit bag for any trip involving a basecamp.
Materials and Construction
The main materials here are a 1000-denier Cordura fabric with polyester webbing and steel buckles. Though the Cordura is water repellant and PU coated on the inside, it’s not entirely waterproof so you’ll need to keep this covered if the forecast isn’t looking too good. Stress points on the bag are reinforced with double stitching and seams are finished with binding tape to prevent fraying.
The padding is made from a closed cell foam and is mostly found inside the zippered lid and the bottom of the bag. It can be removed, however, if you’re desperate for a little more space. Alternatively, there’s also enough room to further reinforce the cell foam with extra padding or plastic sheet inserts if you need more protection.
Features
There’s a lot of neat carry options to work with here. First, there’s the 50mm wide carry handles that wrap around the bottom (the traditional duffel carry system). Then there’s hauling handles on both ends, quite literally for hauling the bag out of the likes of your car boot, for example. And lastly, there’s the removable shoulder strap if you need to give your arms a bit of a rest or want to carry it across your body to distribute the weight further. This can be attached at six different steel D-ring points depending on your personal taste.
“It certainly feels like it’s up to the challenge.”
There’s actually attachment points on the Keikka for a padded backpack harness too (sold separately). Once in this mode, the cell foam padding should act as a barrier against the components of your bag, and offer some basic comfort.
In terms of the key storage features, you’ll find the main compartment (35 x 25 x 50 cm) with a large zippered lid, two internal mesh compartments, zippered side pouches with internal organisers, and two flat side pouches with hood and loop closures. There’s also a loop inside the lid and side pouch for hook backed accessories, as well as on the exterior of the bag for personal tags and identifiers.
