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Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Review

A classy-looking duffel bag that performs well across the board with its tough, weather-resistant design
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patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review
Credit: Backcountry
Price:  $219 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Nick Bruckbauer ⋅   ⋅  Aug 20, 2020
78
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 16
  • Ease of Transport - 25% 9.0
  • Storage and Ease of Packing - 25% 8.0
  • Durability - 20% 8.0
  • Weight - 15% 5.0
  • Weather Resistance - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is an impressive duffel bag and earns a notable mention with its stylish design and dependable all-around performance. It just misses out on our top award and is one of our favorite designs with its sleek and durable 900-denier recycled material. It's easy to pack with one external and two internal storage pockets, and comfortable to carry thanks to its cushy and easily removable shoulder straps. It's durable enough to make it an excellent choice for a rugged expedition and is stylish enough for any kind of casual travel. Explorers looking for a versatile and well-rounded piece of luggage will be pleased with the Black Hole Duffel.
REASONS TO BUY
Durable recycled material
Easily removable shoulder straps
Convenient pockets
Stylish design
REASONS TO AVOID
Thinner material than other high-end options
Pricey

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Pros Durable recycled material, easily removable shoulder straps, convenient pockets, stylish designRugged build, comfortable removable straps, variety of carry optionsDurable and weather resistant, comfortable carry options, convenient storage designEasy to pack, comfortable shoulder straps, excellent pockets, super durableLightweight, affordable, packs into own pocket
Cons Thinner material than other high-end options, priceyOnly one small pocket, heavy, priceyShoulder straps are somewhat difficult to removeHeavy, not as comfortable as others, less refined styleLimited durability and weather resistance, no backpack straps
Bottom Line A classy-looking duffel bag that performs well across the board with its tough, weather-resistant designOur favorite model due to a heavy-duty build and versatile carrying systemsA fully-featured duffel with a sleek and durable design that's ready to tackle your next adventureThe longtime standard for expedition duffels that we have recommended for a decadeA light, packable, high-volume duffel with an affordable price tag
Rating Categories Patagonia Black Hol... Sea to Summit Duffel Gregory Alpaca The North Face Base... REI Co-op Roadtripper
Ease of Transport (25%)
9.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
4.0
Storage and Ease of Packing (25%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
Durability (20%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
6.0
Weight (15%)
5.0
4.0
5.0
4.0
9.0
Weather Resistance (15%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
6.0
Specs Patagonia Black Hol... Sea to Summit Duffel Gregory Alpaca The North Face Base... REI Co-op Roadtripper
Measured Weight 3.8 lb (100L model) 4.3 lb (90L model) 3.8 lb (90L model) 4.1 lb (95 L model) 1.6 lb (100L model)
Size Options (volume) 40, 55, 70, 100 Liters 45, 65, 90, 130 Liters 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 Liters 31, 50, 71, 95, 132, 150 Liters 40, 60, 100, 140 Liters
Material (main body) 900-Denier 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with TPU-film laminate 1000-Denier nylon tarpaulin laminate 900-Denier TPU diamond ripstop with additional bottom layer of 630-Denier nylon 1000-Denier phthalate-free TPE laminate body with additonal bottom layer of 840-Denier Jr. ballistics nylon 610-Denier coated Cordura polyester
Number of Pockets (excludes main compartment) 3 1 3 2 1
Backpack Straps Yes Yes Yes Yes No
D or I-Shaped Opening D D D D I

Our Analysis and Test Results

After extensive testing and real-world use of previous versions of this bag over the last several years, we are more impressed than ever with the latest Patagonia Black Hole duffel. Its recycled materials are more durable and water-resistant than ever, and the backpack-style shoulder straps are easily removable for quick airport transitions with an intuitive buckle design. To remove the shoulder straps with previous versions of this bag, you had to delicately unthread them through some very tight-fitting buckles, a similar design to many other bags in our review. This convenient feature is one of several well-executed design details that earn this bag a high ranking.

Performance Comparison


patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the black hole duffel is versatile enough for rugged expeditions...
The Black Hole duffel is versatile enough for rugged expeditions, general travel, and everything in between, like this family camping trip.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Ease of Transport


This model is one of the top-scoring duffels we tested in this performance metric and is also one of the most comfortable bags to carry backpack-style for extended durations. We like the design of the contoured and padded shoulder straps, which our testers agree are among the most comfortable in the lineup. Our only wish is that the shoulder straps had an additional chest strap to make extended carries more efficient. Besides being among the most comfortable in this review, the Black Hole's two backpack straps are also the easiest to remove when checking in at the airport. They feature an easy pass-through buckle design on top and traditional side release buckles on the bottom.

The upper ends of the backpack straps are easily removable by...
The upper ends of the backpack straps are easily removable by passing them through a buckle system.
The lower ends of the backpack straps connect with a pair of...
The lower ends of the backpack straps connect with a pair of convenient quick-release buckles.
The straps can easily stow away in the outer side pocket during...
The straps can easily stow away in the outer side pocket during travel.

In addition to the backpack straps, the Black Hole also features two shorter permanently attached straps for a traditional briefcase-style carry system. It also includes two low-profile grab handles that are convenient for lugging the bag in and out of vehicles or on and off luggage racks. Four sets of vertically oriented daisy chains, plus a few extra lash points, help facilitate attaching the bag to auto rooftops, yaks, or whatever else you might need.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the traditional briefcase-style handles provide a comfortable option...
The traditional briefcase-style handles provide a comfortable option to support a fully-loaded bag.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Finally, when your trip is over, the Black Hole also stuffs inside its side pocket for convenient low-profile storage. If you have limited storage space for your gear, this feature certainly gives the bag a smaller footprint when not in use and makes allows it easily fit inside another piece of luggage.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - although it's larger than the smaller ultralight version (right)...
Although it's larger than the smaller ultralight version (right), the 100-liter Black Hole (left) packs down pretty small into its own pocket.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Storage and Ease of Packing


The Black Hole features a large D-shaped zippered opening that makes it easy to load and access the main storage compartment. The 900-denier recycled polyester is also a bit softer and more flexible than other more rigid expedition duffels, which makes the bag easier to handle in certain circumstances, but harder to hold its shape while packing. Our entire review team loved the two well-designed pockets located under the lid that helped us stay just a little more organized. After using these two pockets, we truly missed them every time we packed up a different model with only a single giant mesh pocket, where everything would inevitably get clumped together and be more difficult to find.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the two zippered mesh pockets underneath the top lid are a nice...
The two zippered mesh pockets underneath the top lid are a nice addition to the large main storage compartment.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

There is also a small external zippered pocket conveniently located on the front of the bag that doubles as a stuff sack in which you can store the empty bag. While this extra pocket is a convenient addition, we never found ourselves using it much, as its flat shape makes it difficult to access when the bag is fully loaded.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - while a slim side pocket might not fit bulkier items, it can...
While a slim side pocket might not fit bulkier items, it can definitely keep your essential supplies easily within reach.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

We tested the 100-liter version of the Black Hole Duffel, which is the largest that is currently offered by Patagonia. It is also available in a 40, 55, and 70-liter volume.

Durability


The Black Hole's 900-denier recycled polyester held up to everything we could throw at it during our side-by-side testing and throughout a few remote expeditions. It's not quite as durable as other top-rated bags with 1000-denier materials, though it's close. The fabric is relatively supple and thin compared directly to the burliest duffels, which makes it more comfortable to carry and easier to store, but ever so slightly compromises its overall durability.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the transporter (left) and the black hole (right) models are plenty...
The Transporter (left) and the Black Hole (right) models are plenty durable to withstand rough handling.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

We also really like the Black Hole's padded base. A thin layer of padding between the outer material and the internal lining not only helps protect your gear from overzealous baggage handlers and the rigors of rugged travel, but it also adds to the bag's overall durability.

Weight


We have tested multiple iterations of the Black Hole Duffel through the years, and at one time, it was the lightest all-around expedition duffel that we tested. While improvements and additional features added through the years have increased its weight compared to its former self, it remains one of the lightest full-size expedition packs on the market. The 100-liter size that we tested weighs in at 3.8 pounds.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the black hole is reasonably lightweight for its size and is capable...
The Black Hole is reasonably lightweight for its size and is capable of carrying big, heavy loads.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Weather Resistance


In addition to our real-world testing on camping trips, climbing expeditions, and family vacations, we tested each contender by filling them with towels and spraying them down with a hose. The Black Hole performed about as well as any of the other top performers. The seams and zippers are not submersible or watertight, but the fabric thoroughly keeps the water out.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the 900-denier body material repels moisture, while the protective...
The 900-denier body material repels moisture, while the protective weather flap guards the main zipper against the elements.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Value


The Patagonia Black Hole is one of the more expensive duffel bags in our lineup, but its list price is in line with the highest performing contenders in this review. The majority of top-end bags from all of the top outdoors manufacturers have a surprisingly narrow price range. While you could potentially save a few bucks with a similar style from another brand, the difference is small enough that we recommend getting the bag that suits you best. The Black Hole is a high-quality, fully-featured duffel that should last years and years and would make a great long term value.

patagonia black hole duffel duffel bag review - the black hole duffel is a little pricier than some other models...
The Black Hole duffel is a little pricier than some other models, but you definitely get what you pay for with top-notch materials and a user-friendly design.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Conclusion


While the Black Hole doesn't emerge as a top award winner, it comes close with its classy style, comfortable carrying options, and high-quality materials. While there are a few other burlier options that would be a bit more durable, this bag remains plenty durable for most people. It makes a great all-around option for world adventurers, weekend warriors, and casual travelers alike.

Nick Bruckbauer
 

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