The North Face Base Camp Review

The North Face Base Camp duffel bags are designed to withstand and excel on remote expeditions to every corner of the world. These bags last a long time, and their classic design has remained relatively simple throughout the years, with a few useful improvements along the way. Other companies might offer a few fancier features or more comfortable carrying options. Still, the Base Camp keeps plugging along with its simple, robust design that continues to set the benchmark for durability in this category. A broad range of sizes and colors broadens the bag's appeal for numerous users and travel scenarios.

Performance Comparison

Storage and Ease of Packing

The Base Camp's sizeable D-shaped main zipper provides easy access to the main storage compartment for easy loading or digging around. Even when you stuff this duffel to the brim with gear, the heavy-duty zipper and robust material support a heavy-handed effort to zip it shut. The stiff body material also holds its shape well, making it easier to pack an empty bag or access its nooks and crannies. Dual compression straps on both the front and back of the Base Camp help take out any extra room once the bag is packed to prevent contents from shifting excessively.

One end of the Base Camp also features a relatively sizable zippered pocket that is secured with the same type of heavy-duty zipper as the main storage compartment. This pocket opens in a wide semi-circle that provides easy access and enough space to stash things like dirty laundry or a wet pair of shoes.

Inside the main compartment, a mesh sleeve pocket on the opposite end of the duffel only adds to its organizational ability. It is a great spot to keep smaller items organized, like your sock collection or a hat and gloves. Note that this duffel is available in a wide range of sizes, and this mesh sleeve pocket is not included in the smallest two versions (size XS and S). Finally, there is a large zippered mesh pocket underneath the top lid. This pocket is excellent for smaller items like books, toiletries, or electronics that can quickly become engulfed in the main compartment.

While it is heavily dependent on the size of the duffel, we found the simplistic design of the Base Camp to be well suited for large amounts of gear. The higher-than-average sides and slightly tapered-in zipper edges of the duffel let us drop, shove, and otherwise cram everything we needed for our adventures into this single bag. For a climbing trip, we easily fit clothes, an 80-meter rope, a trad-gear rack, harnesses, a helmet, and two pairs of climbing shoes into the 95-liter version — and there was still room to spare.

Ease of Transport

The Base Camp receives average scores in this performance metric, with a versatile range of carrying options that are also employed by many other manufacturers. The classic design includes traditional carry handles joined together with a velcro clasp, adjustable and somewhat removable shoulder straps, two grab handles, and two sets of daisy chains. While these transport options are useful and straightforward, other manufacturers stand out with more comfortable padding, more easily removable straps, or more innovative adjustment features.

The two padded shoulder straps are relatively thin compared to those of many close competitors but provide enough comfort for a backpack-style carry over most “normal” haul distances, like walking from baggage claim to the train station or from the bus stop to the nearby hotel. They also have a wide range of adjustability to balance the load on your back and comfortably fit a wide range of users. You can lengthen the straps enough to sling them over just one shoulder, but the strips of padding are a bit short and aren't movable, making the over-the-shoulder carry method uncomfortable and imbalanced. Each shoulder strap can also be removed by threading the webbing through a buckle on each end. This is a pretty straightforward process, although much more tedious than the quick-release buckles found on many other high-scoring models.

A grab handle on each end of the Base Camp allows for easy hauling or dragging over shorter distances or a quick grab-n-go out of the trunk or off of the baggage claim belt. A set of heavy-duty daisy chains runs along the entire length of each side of the duffel, providing plenty of attachment points to lash the bag onto a vehicle, motorcycle, or pack animal.

Protection

In our protection and weather resistance ratings, the Base Camp duffel scores near the top of the class. The 1000-denier polyester coating, along with the 840-denier recycled ballistic nylon with non-PFC durable water-repellent finish, provides an impenetrable barrier to moisture.

The bag isn't totally submersible nor completely waterproof, as the seams and zippers are not fully sealed and will eventually let in an extended or pressurized presence of water. The external zippers are protected by a rain flap, making them pretty darn water-resistant. The side zipper has both an internal and external flap, though again, it is still not waterproof, only resistant.

We have used this duffel on more than a half dozen Denali trips where it was left out to be snowed on for days or purposely buried in the snow. The contents remained unscathed. Even in our high-pressure hose test, the Base Camp shed the deluge of water with ease and was completely dry on the interior.

Construction Quality

This durable duffel is thoughtfully built to last. It remains one of the most commonly used expedition duffels out there for a good reason. Once you buy one, you'll likely never need another. If you do use and abuse it, it will probably be a very long time until you need to purchase a new one. The North Face also provides a lifetime warranty covering the materials and workmanship of its products.

Even after dozens of expeditions and trips to exotic locations around the world where the Base Camp has spent countless hours on the top of jeeps, strapped to llamas, or just plain enduring abusive transport. One of our early test models is still going strong after a decade of travel. More modern variations of this duffel have only slightly tweaked the fabric to make it even more durable.

The Base Camp is constructed from a 1000-denier polyester with a phthalate-free PVC coating and an additional layer of 840-denier recycled ballistic nylon with non-PFC durable water-repellent finish on the bottom. This combination is one of the toughest around and has long set a high bar for other duffels. It offers superior durability and excellent abrasion resistance and easily withstands dragging and rough handling.

Weight-to-Volume Ratio

With its extremely robust body material and additionally fortified bottom panel, the Base Camp duffel is one of the heavier models in our lineup. The 95-liter (size L) version that we tested weighs in at 4.1 pounds.

While most other similarly-sized expedition duffels weigh a few ounces less, very few match the heavy-duty construction and proven durability of the Base Camp. Since we tested bags of different sizes, we calculated the ratio between each bag's weight and volume to get a more accurate comparison.

Though this is one of the heaviest bags we tested, it also holds a LOT of gear and is built very durably. Bags of this capacity can be loaded with 50 pounds or more of gear, so an extra few ounces in luggage weight likely won't be as noticeable as the additional strength and performance.

Should You Buy The North Face Base Camp?

You can't go wrong with this simple, classic, and top-quality duffel bag. There are now more sophisticated options on the market, but few can match the rugged durability that continually accompanies adventurers to every corner of the globe. If durability, weather resistance, and longevity are your top concerns, then The North Face Base Camp is our top choice for the most simple and rugged expedition duffel that is built to last.

What Other Duffel Bags Should You Consider?

The other bag in The North Face Base Camp product line is The North Face Base Camp Voyager Duffel. It might not be quite as ruggedly built, but it boasts some excellent organization features on the inside and outside, and can still shed off the occasional rainstorm. While the Base Camp isn't any more expensive than other bags in our lineup, there are other high performing models that do cost less. The Cotopaxi Allpa and Gregory Alpaca are two such bags that offer excellent features and durability for slightly less money. If you need to walk longer distances carrying your fully loaded bag, the Osprey Transporter is one of the most comfortable backpack-convertible models we've tested, and it is still amazingly water resistant.