Likes
The
Gregory Long Haul Duffel is cheaper than any other
duffel bag tested except in the largest sizes, where it is priced the same as the Wild Things Mule. One of the biggest advantages of the Gregory Long Haul is the fact that it is the lightest duffel in our review. While it is only four ounces lighter than a Wild Things Burrow, it is one to two pounds lighter than any other. Another thing we like is that fact that it is available in five sizes, more than any other duffel. The Long Haul is also available in the largest volumes, with its two biggest(272L and 180L) being larger than any other duffel tested. We also thought the Gregorys to be among the more weather-resistant models we tested, far more resistant than the similarly-priced Wild Things Duffels, a hair better than the
Helly Hanson Duffle and just behind the
Mountain Hardwear Expedition Duffel and
Black Diamond Huey.
Dislikes
The Long Haul only has one little pocket that doesn't hold much on the end of one side, but we did like that you don't have to go digging through the main compartment to access it. We didn't like that it lacks a little window pocket for your information, something all the duffels we reviewed had except for both Gregory models. Its biggest drawback is that along with the Wild Things models the Gregorys are the worst to carry, offering no shoulder or backpack straps and sporting only two straps for carrying the duffel in "briefcase" mode, a big pain in the larger sizes when they are full. It features a single zippered opening that makes rooting around for lost items a little more difficult compared with the models with D-shaped openings. This wasn't much of a problem in the smaller sizes but we found it more difficult in the larger sizes. The Long Haul doesn't have many extra lash points for strapping it on the top of Jeeps or onto a sled, but it had enough that you can make it work. Another note: both its fabric zipper pulls came off on our first day.
Value
These are the least expensive duffel bags in our review with the exception of the largest sizes (XL and XXL), which are comparably priced with the Wild Things models. Despite their drawbacks, the Gregory Long Haul Duffels are durable and weather-resistant duffels that will last most people through many adventures. For those on a budget and not needing all the features associated with more expensive duffels, the Long Hauls are a good option.
