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We tested the most promising duffel bags on the market from The North Face, Patagonia, Thule, Osprey, REI, Cotopaxi, Eagle Creek, and more to find the best
We put these duffel bags to the test in both real-world rigors and systematic test scenarios to determine which is the best for your next trip.
Our travel experts hauled 15 duffel bags across the globe for months to evaluate their durability, weather resistance, organization, and ease of transporting.
Our favorite overall bag, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, combines storage and ease of transport with quality construction, making it our go-to choice. For budget-conscious buyers, the HYC00 Travel is a fraction of the price of most other options and works well for shorter trips.
See our luggage review if you need more space. There are also some great duffel alternatives in our travel backpack review. And whether you're traveling near or far, we've got you covered with our travel packing list.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on November 15, 2024, to make the award recommendations more clear and concise.
900D polyester ripstop (100% postconsumer recycled) with TPU-film laminate
Sizes Available
40, 55, 70, 100 L
Number of Pockets (Excludes Main Compartment)
3
Backpack Straps
Yes
D or I-Shaped Opening
D
The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel took the top spot in our most recent round of testing after years of consistent performance. This duffel bag does it all, and no matter which size you purchase, you can be confident that it will serve you well. We've tested various sizes of the Black Hole throughout the years and appreciate the high-end design details across all versions we've had our hands on. The 100-liter model has an external zippered pocket, two internal zippered pockets, internal luggage compression straps, and external daisy chain attachment points. In contrast, the 55-liter has a zippered pocket accessible from both the inside and outside, a zippered lid pocket, and daisy chain attachments. Our testers found the backpack straps comfortable and easy to remove on all models. The 900-denier recycled material is durable and water-resistant, and the reinforced bottom panel helps resist wear from dragging and hauling. This bag is durable enough for the most rugged expeditions yet stylish for frequent business trips. You'll see it often in airports, and for good reason.
No matter your size, the Black Hole has a few drawbacks. We found that the closure wrap for the suitcase handles — the piece of material that allows you to secure them together — uses button snaps that are challenging to use, especially if you are in a hurry. Additionally, we would appreciate the inclusion of a smaller internal or external pocket to aid with the organization of smaller items. Still, these gripes are minor, considering this an excellent and high-scoring duffel bag. If you'd like to keep your small items better organized for easy access on the go, the HYC00 Travel offers three internal pockets to keep things neat and tidy.
900D polyester ripstop (40% recycled) with TPU weather-resistant coating
Sizes Available
40, 60, 80, 100, 120 L
Number of Pockets (Excludes Main Compartment)
3
Backpack Straps
Yes
D or I-Shaped Opening
D
The Gregory Alpaca has every feature you could want in a premium duffel bag with a lower price point than many other top models, providing exceptional value. The Alpaca boasts a sleek and classy design built from high-quality materials. Depending on your chosen size, it includes multiple storage pockets, full-length daisy chain attachment points on both sides, comfortable backpack straps, and water-resistant 900-denier material. It balances a large storage volume with convenient carrying options, durable and water-resistant material, and reasonably low weight.
In our tests, the Alpaca scored well and showed no significant weaknesses. The only downside is that the suitcase handles are oddly large, especially for smaller options. They don't detract from use while carrying the bag but can dangle and get caught on things when not wrapped up. All things said, the Alpaca is still one of our favorite bags and offers great value. If the mere thought of dangling suitcase handles strikes a nerve, the Thule Chasm can help reduce irritation by removing the detachable straps.
The HYC00 Travel packs many features into an affordable bag, scoring well across our tests. We loved the storage and organization features, with a separate lay-flat compartment for shoes or folded clothes. There are also a bunch of smaller storage pouches within the main compartment for organizing small items for travel. The fabric resists a light mist or rain for a while, though it doesn't stand up to a downpour.
When comparing its weight-to-volume ratio, the HYC00 is one of the heavier bags we tested. Storing and accessing items is easy, but this isn't a traditional duffel-style design, and the main compartment requires some digging around to grab items on the bottom. We found the bag comfortable enough for a short walk. However, its suitcase handles and single shoulder strap aren't the most comfortable if the bag is overweight or carrying a significant distance. When it comes down to it, for a daily bag or weekend getaway, the HYC00 is a great option at a great price. For shorter trips, we also like the more durable Herschel Novel — it has a larger capacity, though fewer pockets for organization. For the long haul, the comfortable carrying system of the Osprey Transporter will likely suit you better.
The REI Roadtripper offers excellent storage and utility at over half the price of other bags, making it an exceptional value for a duffel bag on a budget. The Roadtripper stands out from the crowd by being so affordable and straightforward. With its reliable, lightweight construction, removable shoulder sling, single external zippered pocket, and basic daisy chain system, the Roadtripper has tremendous value.
The lightweight design of the Roadtripper is owed to its thinner material and simple construction. Also, this bag lacks many “fancy” features found on higher-end models like the Gregory Alpaca — stuff like internal pockets, compression straps, backpack straps, or extensive daisy chains. The Roadtripper's fabric and zipper are sturdy enough for most general use, but they might not withstand the abuse that the more robust adventure-ready duffels can endure. This bag is a versatile, lightweight, affordable option for basic use. If you want a duffel with high-end features but a reasonable price, check out the Cotopaxi Allpa Duo.
The Roadtripper is a very handy bag that costs less than a lot of others.
900D polyester (recycled) with PFC-free DWR and TPU coating
Sizes Available
40, 65, 95, 120 L
Number of Pockets (Excludes Main Compartment)
3
Backpack Straps
Yes
D or I-Shaped Opening
D
With a supportive and well-padded backpack harness design similar to their backpacks, the Osprey Transporter earns recognition for having the most comfortable carrying system. While most of the bags we tested include backpack straps, this is one of the only models in our lineup with a sternum strap in addition to its comfortable and supportive harness. The harness quickly unbuckles and easily tucks inside a zippered pocket on the top lid for smooth airport transitions. The bag has four heavy-duty grab handles and high-quality materials and construction.
Updates to the Osprey Transporter
While previous versions of this bag had load lifter straps, the latest version no longer includes these handy adjusters. Still, it has improved the backpack harness system and sternum strap adjustment style.
In backpack mode, the Transporter is quite comfortable but does not have the traditional briefcase-style carry handles most duffel bags do. The comfortable and heavy-duty grab handles help compensate for this, but we wish there were more carrying options. The bag has an interior and an external zippered pocket, but their awkward placement makes them less useful. Built for hauling heavy loads in comfort and style, the Transporter is a great option if you prioritize backpack-carrying capabilities. If you want a backpack-optional duffel with more pockets and organizational features, check out the Cotopaxi Allpa Duo. If you are in the market for a duffel with traditional briefcase-style handles, The North Face Base Camp is a terrific option.
1000D polyester with phthalate-free PVC coating (body), additional layer of 840D recycled ballistics nylon with a non-PFC DWR finish (bottom)
Sizes Available
31, 50, 71, 95, 132, 150 L
(XS-XXL)
Number of Pockets (Excludes Main Compartment)
2
Backpack Straps
Yes
D or I-Shaped Opening
D
A mainstay on remote expeditions worldwide for decades and near the top of our lineup for several years, The North Face Base Camp is our favorite choice for a simple and rugged expedition bag. Its classic design has remained mostly unchanged through the years, and its robust 1000-denier material is among the toughest we've tested. Two internal pockets, one zippered and one not, sweeten the deal. These bags have withstood the test of time for decades on expeditions to all corners of the world. On our test team alone, we own several Base Camp duffels with years of adventurous travel behind them.
Our biggest gripe with the Base Camp regards the strap arrangement. Although the grab handles and traditional briefcase-style straps are permanently affixed to the bag and straightforward, you must thread the shoulder straps through a doubled-back buckle to remove or replace them. Many airlines require you to remove duffel bag straps, so this design feature adds a bit of a tedious task each time you hand off or collect your luggage. The thick material also shows scuffs more than other contenders and sports a more practical look than some more elegant models. Still, for a simple, dependable bag that can easily take you to all seven continents, the Base Camp is the one we recommend above the rest. Another option worth a gander is the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, which boasts a durable design but has far more quickly removable shoulder straps.
The Adidas Defender Small is everything you need in a sports or gym duffel bag and nothing that you don't. The D-shaped opening folds back to easily load your basic equipment, gear, and nutritional needs for your next workout, practice, or game. Our test team liked how lightweight the bag is. Although it takes away from durability a little, a lighter gear bag is a nice touch, especially if you have a lot of other equipment to carry. The gym bag is also surprisingly water-resistant, which is great if you get caught outside for a surprise shower.
Unfortunately, the material and stitching on the Defender are not as robust as we'd like to see on a duffel bag, specifically one designed to be tossed around on buses, lockers, and muddy fields. We love the dual-sided pouches but wish they were slightly bigger. It will fit one pair of shoes, but there isn't much room to spare, especially if the bag is full or your shoes are longer or bulkier. The Defender is an excellent choice for everyday use in the gym, courts, or sports practice. But for expeditions and rugged adventures when durability is essential, The North Face Base Camp is our top recommendation. If you're looking for a more robust bag while maintaining a degree of style and everyday look, the Peak Design Travel 35L is a good in-between choice.
Weight: 8.7 lb (100 L model) | Volume Options: 45, 100, 130 L
REASONS TO BUY
Metal frame and durable materials
Large wheels are great on rugged terrain
Light among suitcase options
Very effective external compression system
REASONS TO AVOID
Zippers are a bit stiff
Costly
The Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 100L is our suitcase testing team's new favorite rolling duffel bag. This backpacking-inspired bag securely holds a ton of gear, keeping everything in place with its external straitjacket-like compression system. Made of 460D and 500D high-tenacity recycled ripstop nylon and a metal frame supporting its structure, this bag is built to withstand the rigors of travel. A telescoping handle hides below the end of the bag, sliding out easily to let you roll the Sojourn, with its large wheels and thick tread, easily over even the most variable terrain. No more having to carry your duffel on your back or along one side.
The Sojourn Shuttle's big burly zippers are well-designed to withstand the trials of being crammed full and sent through airline-checked baggage systems, but that added bulk makes them more challenging to use. It does not have the back rails of many other suitcases that would let it slide more easily up each staircase step. And though it's built to last, the cost of this gigantic rolling duffel can be hard to stomach. Still, if you often find yourself slinging heavy gear in a duffel bag, this rolling monster is worth the price. We also loved the Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30, a similar style of roller bag, just with slightly different organizational features and a marginally different price point.
Weight: 5.2 lb (50 L model) | Volume Options: 50, 75, 100 L
REASONS TO BUY
Completely watertight
Very durable design
Easy to seal and reopen
Good carrying system
REASONS TO AVOID
Rigid structure doesn't accommodate underpacking
Weighs a lot for a dry bag
Sometimes, adventure takes us into truly adverse weather conditions, and for those times, water resistance isn't enough. If you're looking for a fully waterproof dry bag and duffel bag hybrid, the Yeti Panga 50 fits the bill. Its durable laminated high-density nylon is completely waterproof, and the opening seals shut with a HydroLok zipper. With RF welded seams, this duffel keeps the water out and the air in, even when fully submerged. For this reason, it is our go-to bag for protecting sensitive electronic equipment in wet conditions. This Yeti has a healthy amount of webbing and attachment points, plus shoulder straps, so you can just as easily carry it through the airport as lash it to an inflatable raft.
As is often the case, these premium features and protection come at a premium price and a high weight for a dry bag. The Panga tips the scales at 5.2 pounds. Compared to other duffel dry bag contenders, it is also one of the more expensive models, but for peace of mind, sometimes that price is worth the investment. These downsides are likely tolerable if you need to protect valuable electronics and equipment in a wet environment or if you want the versatility of one bag to meet any potential needs. The Watershed Colorado Duffel is another 100% waterproof dry bag we love to use, with a slightly more flexible design and a lower price. However, sealing it against the elements is a bit more involved. For smaller accessories and items, the NRS Expedition DriDuffel is our favorite small-form waterproof duffel.
Credit: Jediah Porter
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You might never intend to submerge your duffel bag, but you'd be surprised at when the weather can try and infiltrate. Here, while getting dropped off by a bush plane, the plane propeller blasts us and our pile of gear.
Credit: Jediah Porter
How We Test Duffel Bags
The legwork for this review began well over a decade ago when we first researched and tested duffel bags on some wild expeditions around the world in 2010. Since then, we've kept up with the duffel market, continually getting the top duffel bags and even testing multiple iterations and sizes of our favorite models. For each iteration and update, we select the best, most popular, and most interesting duffels on the market to purchase and take into the field for extensive hands-on testing. In addition to surviving our lab testing, some bags have gone on climbing trips to the French Alps, got dragged across glaciers in Alaska, found themselves stowed in the forest in Patagonia, and hauled paddling gear to the Indian Ocean. We've also tossed them in the back of cars for weekend adventures, sports practice, road trips, workouts at the gym, and Ironman races. To learn more about our testing process, check out our How We Test article.
The duffel bags in our test lineup span across a variety of types and are available in many different sizes. During testing, we directly compared feature-to-feature for each bag to avoid biases that might arise from testing different types and sizes of bags. Remember, the best duffel for you is the one that meets your needs the best.
We divided our duffel bag testing across five metrics, weighted according to their overall importance:
Storage and Ease of Packing (30% of overall score)
Ease of Transport (30% of score)
Protection (15% of score)
Construction Quality(15% of score)
Weight-to-Volume Ratio (10% of score)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is brought to you by several longtime GearLab contributors: Maggie Nichols, Miya Tsudome, Nick Bruckbauer, and Hale Milano. Maggie has been an avid adventurer and backcountry guide for over 15 years. She has taught courses and skills in the Galapagos and South Africa, guided trips in the Virgin Islands and the American West, and spent months visiting far-flung places like Svalbard and Senegal, living out of her duffel bag. Miya is a climber, professional mountain guide, and photographer based in California's Eastern Sierra and can regularly be found hauling gear to and from her favorite climbing crag. Nick has a competitive running background and is an all-around outdoorsman. He has snorkeled in Thailand and the Maldives, trekked in Nepal, skied in Alaska, and climbed and skied 14ers in Washington, California, and Colorado. Hale is a Type-II fun junkie and gear addict, who has climbed in Norway, snowboarded across the Swiss and Italian border, trekked solo through Patagonia, and dove shipwrecks in Vanuatu. He's traveled to over 30 countries and lived out of duffel bags for months at a time. Maggie, Miya, Nick, and Hale regularly use duffel bags to haul their belongings and gear on their adventures around the world, and they know what it takes to make a great duffel bag for journeys near home or on the far side of the globe.
This bag stayed comfortable hiking up an approach trail full of climbing gear.
Host testing on the Eagle Creek proved to be too much of a challenge for the non-waterproof zipper, though the fabric shed rain with ease.
After purchasing our lineup of duffel bags at retail just like you, we compared each model side-by-side in our home lab and out in the real world.
Real-world testing coupled with measurable and repeatable testing helped us evaluate which duffel bags are the easiest to pack, most durable, and more.
Analysis and Test Results
To help you find the best duffel bag, we evaluated every product in our lineup across five essential performance metrics. We used the overall weighted scores to determine our top rankings. To learn how each bag performs in specific areas, read on.
What's the Best Value?
Duffel bag prices range greatly from the least expensive to the most expensive. Generally, prices tend to correlate with the size of the bag and the quality of the material it is made from. The Patagonia Black Hole is one of the pricier models in our lineup, but its sticker price is only slightly higher than the high-value Gregory Alpaca. Aside from the more expensive Mountain Hardwear Expedition, our lineup has a very minimal price spread among the seven or eight top-scoring adventure duffels. All of these products have robust materials and high-quality designs, so it is easy to justify their expense.
The Gregory Alpaca offers great value performance, and the container that it comes with doubles as a packing cube for extra value.
Credit: Hale Milano
On the other end of the spectrum, the HYC00 Travel and REI Roadtripper are among the least expensive duffel bags in our entire review. Although the size, durability, and versatility are compromised compared to the more robust products mentioned above, both have their own merits. The HYC00's design makes it perfect for weekend car trips, and the REI Roadtripper's low weight and large capacity design makes it a good choice for hauling lots of gear. Among our smaller-sized duffels, there is a more noticeable price spread that is dependent mostly on the materials used and the bag's construction quality.
The HYC00 Travel bag is one of the least expensive in our lineup, and is a great value bag for weekend and day trips.
Credit: Hale Milano
Storage and Ease of Packing
While most of these duffel bags have plenty of capacity to haul heavy loads for extended durations, each model has different nuances that impact its storage efficiency, organization capabilities, and ease of packing. In this category, we first compared each bag's overall storage compartment and how easy it was to load with typical travel items and oddly shaped equipment. We considered whether the bag held its shape while empty to aid in packing and whether straps, flaps, and zippers got in the way. We also analyzed how useful smaller pockets or compartments were for keeping gear organized and the ease of accessing the smaller and main compartment.
After dozens of trips to the field and direct side-by-side comparisons in the lab, we nearly always prefer the big D-shaped zippered openings rather than the straight “I” style zippers. Many of the larger duffels we tested have D-shaped openings, which makes it much easier to access the contents of your pack and securely fit more cargo since the flap can fold completely out of the way. Smaller duffels tended to have I-shaped openings, which were easier to zip but limited accessibility. Some of the most travel-focused options have heavy-duty zippers that can be locked, and zipper pulls to help close up bags packed to capacity.
The T-grip zipper pulls on the Alpaca are easy to use, especially when fumbling around in the dark
The D-shaped zipper opening on the Black Hole folds all the way back, making packing and accessing gear a breeze.
Multiple internal pockets on the Cotopaxi bag help organize small items and lots of gear.
Ergonomic zipper pulls, D-shaped zipper openings, and internal pockets help you access and store your gear more efficiently.
Our testers appreciated the unique packing system of the Mountain Hardwear Expedition, which features a main zipper that zips out to flaps on either side of the bag to create an extra large opening, as well as a stiff collar on the inside that can be folded out for easy, unencumbered access to the interior.
The Cotopaxi Allpa Duo (blue, left) and Thule Chasm (orange, right) have some of the most pockets of any duffels we tested.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
A bag's ease of packing is an important feature, and everyone has struggled to zip closed a fully stuffed bag when it is overloaded just beyond its capacity. In this case, we appreciated the internal compression straps on many bags, including the Osprey Transporter, Patagonia Black Hole, and Mountain Hardwear Expedition. The Expedition also features an exterior compression strap that helps even more when struggling to close an overstuffed bag — tighten the strap down and zip from either end for a stress-free packing experience.
Compression straps inside the Transporter help keep gear secure, especially when carried vertically on your back.
Credit: Hale Milano
Most bags we tested feature cavernous internal storage compartments well-equipped to haul a ton of gear or clothes. While all fine and dandy, a few internal or external zippered pockets are crucial for avoiding smaller items getting lost in the abyss. It's even more necessary for separating wet shoes or dirty laundry.
Since we started testing duffel bags, we've been able to compare different size options of the same models. Not all models have the same features across each mode. For example, the Patagonia Black Hole has compression straps on the 100-liter model but not the 55-liter version. We liked it both ways; straps were most useful in the larger size and were not missed in the smaller size.
The most impressive bag we tested when it comes to pockets is the Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, which has eight extra pockets (three internal and five external), plus a full-length laundry compartment on the bottom.
The Cotopaxi Allpa Duo has eight pockets - two inside the main compartment, another inside the full-length laundry compartment on the bottom (not included in the pocket count), and five more on the outside of the bag.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Thule Chasm has two massive mesh pockets on the lid's bottom side, a third hanging inside, and an external pocket on top. Similarly, the Patagonia Black Hole 100L, the REI Big Haul, the Gregory Alpaca 90L, and the Mountain Hardwear Expedition 100 each have one external pocket and two internal pockets. The smaller versions of the Black Hole and Alpaca lacked dedicated external pockets, but we loved the zippered mesh pouches on the inside of the lid.
The Alpaca's side pocket is connected to a laundry or shoe pouch, a helpful feature for separating dirty gear from clean. On the 40-liter model, it was just large enough to fit a pair of size 10 hiking boots.
Credit: Hale Milano
While they don't win any competitions for storage or small organization compartments, we need to give credit to both The North Face Base Camp and the REI Roadtripper for the sheer volume and depth of their main compartments and their ability to pack away large quantities of equipment.
The side pocket on the Base Camp was large enough to fit two pairs of climbing shoes, well above average.
Credit: Hale Milano
Suppose huge volume is what you're after. In that case, many of the bags we tested are also sold in 100-liter sizes and larger, including the Patagonia Black Hole available in sizes up to 100 liters, the 104-liter Amazon Basics Large Nylon, the Osprey Transporter, Gregory Alpaca, REI Big Haul that can be purchased as large as 120 liters, the Thule Chasm (up to 130 liters), the Mountain Hardwear Expedition and REI Roadtripper (up to 140 liters), and The North Face Base Camp, which is made as large as 150 liters.
Our last standout from our storage and organization tests is the HYC00 Travel bag. Although we weren't fans of the I-shaped zipper that limited accessibility and overall storage space (tapering the bag at the top), we loved the internal organization pockets. The HYC00 has a dedicated lay-flat storage compartment underneath for shoes or clothes, two internal zipper pockets, and three internal mesh pouches for organizing small items. It also holds its shape relatively well, even when empty.
Multiple mesh and zipper pockets on the HYC00 bag provided plenty of options to store and organize small items while on the go.
Credit: Hale Milano
Ease of Transport
Part of what separates duffel bags from other luggage styles is that they are typically available in much larger sizes that can make them difficult and awkward to lug around. They're also designed to make transport more manageable. Each bag we tested may employ up to four distinct carrying systems: traditional briefcase-style carry handles, backpack straps, over-the-shoulder slings, and grab handles (wheeled duffels are in our best luggage review). Each carrying method can be useful depending on the situation and length of travel. Grab handles are convenient for hauling into or out of vehicles or luggage racks, and briefcase-style grips and shoulder slings are ideal for carrying a shorter distance and when you have other luggage to haul. Backpack straps are the most comfortable and efficient method for heavier loads or over longer distances. Daisy chain attachment points make it easier to lash a bag to a vehicle, cart, or pack animal, and easily removable straps help protect your investment from wear and tear during air travel. If you want to go extra fast and light or need to carry your belongings over longer distances, you might want to consider one of the best travel backpacks instead.
Many adventure duffels in our lineup have included backpack straps, making them easier to carry when fully loaded. Different models have slightly different strap geometry, padding levels, and adjustability ranges. The Osprey Transporter goes above and beyond in this category. It has the most comfortable backpack carry system, including well-padded shoulder straps and an adjustable chest strap. The backpack harness on the Transporter can be quickly stowed inside its storage compartment on the top lid and easily deployed again with only two side release buckles. While this bag does not include traditional briefcase-style carry handles, it has four heavy-duty padded grab handles — one on each end — that make it simple to lug around or to carry by your side for moderate distances. Even as one of the larger bags in our lineup, the Transporter is a breeze to load up and haul out.
Deploying the Osprey's comfortable backpack straps takes about 15 seconds from start to finish.
Credit: Hale Milano
The Thule Chasm is another impressively comfortable backpack carry model. Though it lacks the sternum strap of the Osprey Transporter, the Chasm's backpack straps are very comfortable. They quickly detach with a T grip at the top and plastic buckles at the bottom for easy conversion. It also features snaps on the sides to hold the suitcase-style handles out of the way when you don't need them.
Easily snap the suitcase style handles out of the way when you don't need them.
The Chasm backpack straps come off so quickly and easily.
Detachable straps on the Thule provide quick transitions at the airport to prepare bags for flight.
The Mountain Hardwear Expedition is not far behind with its supremely comfortable backpack straps. The Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, The North Face Base Camp, Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, and the REI Big Haul also have reasonably comfortable shoulder straps for carrying heavy loads over longer distances. These models also have traditional briefcase-style carry straps and reinforced grab handles on their sides and ends for versatile carrying options.
Shoulder straps can double as a one-shoulder sling when carrying multiple bags.
An adjustable chest strap on the Transporter backpack harness is a nice touch to accommodate different body sizes and preferences.
The Black Hole offers removable backpack straps and traditional suitcase-style handles, plus grab handles on either end.
We prefer bags with various carrying options to suit the weight, distance, and amount of gear we're hauling.
Most of the larger products we tested forgo a traditional single, messenger-style shoulder sling in favor of the more comfortable and efficient backpack straps. Sometimes, it's just easier to sling the bag over your shoulder, though — like if you're only carrying for a short distance or hauling multiple pieces of luggage simultaneously. You can adjust the length of most of the backpack straps to make it easier to sling the bag over a shoulder, although frequently, the padding doesn't line up correctly to protect your shoulder, or the bag's balance feels awkward. The Patagonia Black Hole has highly adjustable shoulder straps and extended padding, which help facilitate comfortable carrying on one shoulder. The Mountain Hardwear Expedition also includes a convenient shoulder sling carry option with adjustable strap systems.
Connect the straps together via the velcro attachment for a large grab handle or shoulder sling.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
Smaller bags in our lineup, like the Peak Design Travel 35L, HYC00 Travel, Adidas Defender Small, and Herschel Novel forgo backpack straps entirely, featuring the quick one-shoulder sling and suitcase handles that are ideal for lighter weight bags and shorter carrying distances. While most are fixed options, the Peak Design handles and straps can be adjusted to one of ten attachment points around the bag. It's slightly tedious to do so, but it does provide some customized carry options.
Secure hooks snap onto any one of five attachment loops on both sides of the Peak Design, letting you customize the carry strap layout.
Credit: Hale Milano
Both the 100-liter REI Roadtripper and the 104-liter Amazon Basics Large Nylon duffels are impractically large to be carried backpack style, not to mention they lack any rigidity to support the weight. These bags have a beefy shoulder strap that lets you lug them to the car if arduously.
The Amazon Basics Duffel has a large nylon strap to throw it over your shoulder, and works well as long as its not too heavy.
Credit: Hale Milano
If you've traveled to far-flung destinations around the world, you've probably seen your luggage strapped down to some form of transportation. During the years of testing for this review, we've had duffels carried by llamas, mules, horses, snowmobiles, motorcycles, campers, small prop planes, and helicopters. We've also pulled them ourselves, lashed to a sled deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Most of the products in our test group feature robust daisy chains (externally mounted webbing with sewn loops) that are versatile and easy to use to securely attach your duffel to various modes of transportation. Other single attachment loops, large grab handles, or permanently affixed shoulder straps are also useful when securing your load.
When traveling to more remote regions, having a duffel that can be easily and securely tied down to a bus or some sort of pack animal can be the difference between losing your bag or not.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Most of the highest-rated products in our lineup include daisy chains or some kind of external attachment loops. The Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, and The North Face Base Camp all stand out for their robust and extensive daisy chain features. The Thule Chasm, REI Big Haul, and Mountain Hardwear Expedition are also noteworthy with their sturdy, reinforced daisy chain loops that are thicker and stronger than most.
The Alpaca 100-liter size has full-length daisy chains on each side of the bag for easy attachment to a car, truck, or motorcycle.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Counter to the beefy and reinforced adventure-style duffels, the Adidas Defender, HYC00 Travel, and Herschel Novel are all smaller bags that rely on their lightweight and compact size to make them easy to transport. With an impressively low weight, the Adidas Defender is particularly easy to toss over your shoulder, under a bus seat, or in a locker.
The Adidas fits comfortably behind seats or under benches, but still holds an ample amount of equipment.
Credit: Hale Milano
Protection
Whether you're loading up the vehicle on a damp day, anxiously cringing as airport personnel toss around your bag on the tarmac, or slogging through boggy or snowy conditions, protection from mother nature and bumps along the way is crucial. We took these bags on worldly expeditions to challenging climates like Denali, Bolivia, Aconcagua, Central Chile, and Patagonia. Additionally, we tested them on road trips, camping trips, and beach outings. We sat them outside during a tropical storm to test for seepage over several hours of light rain. We also put them through the wringer by running systematic tests involving drenching them with a high-pressure garden hose with dry towels and clothes inside.
The rankings for weather resistance look relatively similar to our durability ratings — bags with heavier-duty materials tend to perform better. One difference is that models with multiple exterior pockets and additional zippered closures are more vulnerable to the outside elements. Simpler designs with fewer openings offer better protection. The North Face Base Camp scores well with its 1000-denier material and limited vulnerabilities. After our high-pressure hose test, the dry paper towels inside it showed no signs of water intrusion. The Osprey Transporter scored equally well and only had a few drops of water intrude through the zipper area. Both bags have a one-inch protective flap where the top lid overlaps the main zipper. While neither bag has sealed seams to make them waterproof like a true dry bag, they provide excellent weather protection.
The Base Camp survived over an hour outside in a tropical storm, and a 30-second high-pressure hose test, without any water intrusions. At the end of it, our test towels were completely dry.
Credit: Hale Milano
Several of the remaining top contenders all scored similarly well in this performance metric. The Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, and the Thule Chasm all provide exceptional protection from the elements. The Black Hole and Alpaca passed the long-duration exposure to the elements just fine, with water beading off their 900-denier fabric. However, both succumbed to water leaks via their zippers during the high-pressure hose test. The Thule is one of the few duffels with a sealed external zipper, which we appreciated for a phone or keys.
The Thule Chasm has a waterproof zipper on its external pocket.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Most of the remaining bags in our lineup, like the Herschel Novel, Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, and REI Roadtripper, have waterproof or water-resistant fabrics but don't have sealed seams or waterproof zippers. These bags will repel some light rain, snow, splashes, and spills but won't withstand extended downpours or complete submersion.
We sat all the bags outside for an hour during moderate to heavy rain; for the most part water beads right off the fabrics.
We sat all the bags outside for an hour during moderate to heavy rain. For the most part, water beads right off the fabrics.
Construction Quality
Almost all of the contenders in our lineup are super durable, made from robust materials, with reinforced bottom panels and heavy-duty seams. Most of the bags we tested are constructed from a high-denier laminate or high-denier ballistic nylon. Denier (also denoted as “D” behind a number) is the measure of a material's thread thickness and density, and a higher number corresponds to a thicker, sturdier, more durable fabric. Our lineup includes a wide range of possible bag fabrics, from heavy-duty expedition packs made of 1000-denier materials plus additional reinforced areas to easily compressible nylon bags. We are also pleased to note that many of the bags leverage recycled materials as well.
The tried and true The North Face Base Camp set the tone for durability decades ago with its burly 1000-denier body material, and a similar heavy-duty construction has spread to several other manufacturers. Many of the top models in our fleet used at least a 900-denier nylon or polyester material throughout the duffel, with an additional reinforcement layer of at least 600-denier nylon on the bottom or other high-wear areas. One of our testers has used a Base Camp duffel on over 20 rugged expeditions to remote locations and in extreme conditions, and it's still going strong.
The Base Camp duffel is one of our longtime favorites that sets the standard for durability. We've taken previous versions of this bag on over 20 expeditions around the world and it's still going strong.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
With fabrics ranging from 840 to 900-denier, the Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, Thule Chasm, Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, Osprey Transporter and Mountain Hardwear Expedition are similarly sturdy. This level of fabric thickness is still very robust and can withstand a lot of abuse. All of these bags also have strongly reinforced seams and include sturdy hardware. The Black Hole and Alpaca also feature ripstop fabric to protect you against a worst-case scenario.
The Transporter (left) and the Black Hole (right) models are plenty durable to withstand rough handling.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Another standout in our construction quality metric is the Herschel Novel, constructed from 600-denier fabric and a liner that is made from 100% post-consumer water bottles. Not only do we love the eco-friendly materials, but this fabric felt durable and looked incredibly stylish. The seams and hardware on the bag are of excellent quality as well. While we might not want to strap it down to a muddy vehicle or drag it behind us, we're confident that the Herschel would stand up to the wear and tear.
Constructed with quality materials and craftsmanship, the Herschel Novel is both durable and weather-resistant.
Credit: Hale Milano
The Peak Design bag is a very impressive model and clearly has a high level of craftsmanship and design that went into its creation. We'd feel just as comfortable using it to lug gear around as to pack up for a business trip. It, too, used a 100% recycled 600-denier canvas and a thicker bottom liner. While we had no complaints about the overall construction quality upon examination or issues regarding its durability, we were disappointed to note that the supposedly weatherproof zippers failed to stop water into the bag and side pockets. This led us to slightly doubt the overall construction quality of the bag. Nevertheless, we still thought the Peak Design felt durable and well-made.
Despite a durable fabric and weatherproof zippers, we questioned the construction quality of the Peak Design when it failed to keep out water from any of the compartments.
Credit: Hale Milano
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
Once you've filled a duffel bag full of gear, you may not notice the initial weight of the bag. However, it can make a difference when you're trying to stay within an airline's weight limits or when the transportation switches from vehicles to your own two feet.
Since this lineup includes tested bags ranging from 30 liters to 104 liters in size, we calculated the weight-to-volume ratio for each bag to measure its relative weight.
Our two top-scoring bags for our weight-to-volume metric are two of our largest. The REI Roadtripper and Amazon Basics Large Nylon bags weighed in at 1.6 pounds and 1.8 pounds, respectively, and each offered roughly 100 liters of internal storage space. Their excellent ratio is thanks to their stunningly simple design and a lack of extra features, fabric, and pockets found on many of our more rugged bags. Still, if you're looking for bulk hauling capacity and don't require much protection from the elements, these are both great options.
The size of the Amazon duffel makes it ideal for large, bulky, or squishy items; like hauling 3-4 sleeping bags and blankets for a weekend of car camping.
Credit: Hale Milano
The Adidas Defender is one of the lightest bags in our lineup but offers significantly less storage space than other bags. This ultralight 1.0-pound bag still boasts enough space to pack anything you might need for the gym or practice session without weighing you down.
The Defender's lightweight fabric and plastic hardware are a tradeoff between weight savings and durability.
Credit: Hale Milano
The Osprey Transporter, Mountain Hardwear Expedition, and Eagle Creek Migrate are all rugged adventure bags that still offer a good tradeoff between weight and storage volume. They are constructed from medium-thickness fabrics, providing a nice balance of durability and weight savings.
We tested duffel bags across the world putting them through real-life rigors and systematic testing environments.
Duffel bags offer a utilitarian approach to carrying luggage that provides more versatility than traditional hardshell bags. Using a duffel while traveling provides more room for gear and clothing while offering a lighter form than other luggage styles. When looking at the world of duffel bags, it's important to consider the type of travel you need a duffel for. Some folks may need a multi-week bag capable of carrying an array of gear, while others just need a simple bag to carry clothes to work, the gym, or school.
The world of duffel bags comes in a variety of different orientations and styles.
Credit: Hale Milano
What Size Works Best?
Once you know the style of duffel you need, it should help naturally lead towards the appropriate volume. Typically, a duffel bag under 40 liters is suitable for quick, overnight trips, while a duffel in the 50 to 70-liter range will work well for weekend trips. Bags in the 80-100 liter range work great for longer trips over a week or more and can usually avoid tipping over that 50-pound airline weight limit. For those with specialized gear or extended travel, bags upwards of 150 liters are worth considering.
What Features Should You Look For?
Certain features can make or break a good duffel bag. Consider the different carrying strap styles, such as shoulder straps, hand straps, or backpack straps. If you plan on walking extended distances and carrying larger loads, it's a good idea to consider duffels with backpack-style straps. Internal organization features, such as pockets and compression straps, can also provide easier access to belongings and secure them from moving around inside the bag. Consider your typical travel routines and luggage contents to find a bag with the most useful features for you.
Feature-rich bags provide ample opportunity to carry gear in and around your duffel.
Credit: Hale Milano
Is Durability Important?
Depending on your travel style and intended use, a duffel bag with proven durability can be a high priority. This is especially true for folks who plan to travel into weather-prone areas, camp or hike with their duffel, or just want extra security when checking in their bag at the airport. Look for waterproof materials and coatings, reinforced areas around the bag, and the material itself.
A durable bag like the North Face Base Camp provides rugged construction and a reinforced bottom for top-of-the-line durability.
Credit: Hale Milano
Conclusion
Today's duffel bag marketplace includes numerous impressive products from top manufacturers that perform well both for general travel and rugged expeditions. While each model is capable of hauling your gear around town or around the world, distinct nuances between each design can significantly impact the comfort and convenience of hauling your gear. We hope that our intensive testing and side-by-side comparisons help you find the right bag for your style of packing and travel, and we wish you luck and safety wherever your new bag may accompany you.
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Hale Milano, Maggie Nichols, Nick Bruckbauer, & Miya Tsudome
