The North Face Base Camp Voyager Roller Duffel 29" Review

The water-resistant Base Camp Voyager is a perfect size and shape for nearly every type of escape and was an immediate favorite based on its crisp, sporty good looks and easy transportability. Rugged enough to cart heavy gear and organizationally simplified for carefree packing, this bag speaks to options and opportunity. But in the end, an unexpected failure of its pull handle in testing called all other design and performance merits of this otherwise sturdy suitcase into question.

Performance Comparison

Storage & Organization

94L is a lot of room, but this ready-to-roll North Face duffel doesn't feel overly large. The main compartment is a standard hard-base duffel issue, with a large u-shaped zip-access panel complimented by a single organizational mesh pocket, interior compression straps, a few external daisy chain links for gear, and an exterior easy-access zip-pouch up top.

Bottom structural supports may dictate the lay of the packing landscape inside, but if you travel with compression cubes and stuff sacks, or you like to toss or roll loose clothing into suitcases, the bag's interior will serve your packing style well. An optional organizational "zipper divider" for the central compartment is noted in the advertised listing, but we found no evidence of such a feature on the bag in practice.

Ease of Transport

A broad base with oversized wheels combine to make the Base Camp Voyager among the steadiest of the two-wheeled suitcases we tested. Solid corner wheel housings offer sturdy protection for the smooth-rolling mechanisms within. Combined with a thick plastic support stand/load handle at the bottom, walking and stopping was a breeze across nearly any road we set foot upon.

A bright red retractable pull handle served well in street use tests, although the ambidextrous opening mechanism — activated by equally bright red buttons on either side — proved harder to use with one hand than any of the other pull handles we tested featuring only single-release buttons. But at a long 13.25 inches, it did allow for easy navigation in relatively crowded conditions with plenty of space to account for a casual gait even when tall.

On larger suitcases like this, load handles also become critical components since you'll inevitably be grabbing and dragging the bag in and out of cars, trains, planes, and buses. Thanks to its generous handle placement, this two-wheeler is pretty well designed in this regard, with heavy nylon or support stand handles placed on all sides.

Spinner bags with swiveling wheels tend to take the prize for maneuverability in most urban settings. They can certainly turn on a dime and move comfortably right alongside you. Any bag with fixed inline wheels will, by default, require more space to travel and need more room for turns. But still, the Base Camp Voyager Roller Duffel rolled smoothly and comfortably on each trip and ended up one of our favorite bags in transit.

Reliability

The rock-solid chassis and sleek recycled ripstop nylon fabric showed no signs of wear during our testing period. And the fabric's durable water repellent finish was a welcomed feature for a simple bag with rough and tumble aspirations. Although not fully waterproof, the slick TPU laminated 300-denier recycled polyester tarpaulin fends off light showers to keep your clothes dry, and the extended flaps over each zipper will provide a solid first defense for weaker exposure points where water might seep through. Just don't count on watertight security for your belongings in a heavier downpour, as this bag, like most all others, failed here in testing.

All external zippers are large with sturdy toggles and extra thick nylon pull tabs, maximizing strength. Similarly, the oversized, heavy-treaded wheels seem both durable and easily replaceable using just a single hex key to the outside wheelhouse. The hard chassis also appears solid and ready for extensive road use out of the gate, which is encouraging. But after the results of our throw test (during which the suitcase's handle housing was dented, rendering the pull handle useless), any claims of durability and longevity seem highly diminished. Although we understand that one-off lapses in quality construction or production controls occur occasionally, it would be a gamble to assume such a repeat performance won't happen out on a tarmac far from home. So anyone with big adventure plans and risk aversion will need to weigh the odds accordingly and may be better off investing in a sturdier bag before takeoff.

Weight

At 9.1 pounds, you can pack the Base Camp Voyager with nearly 41 more pounds and still check it onto most airplanes. Yet, while the luggage is quite roomy, it's also not so oversized you are likely to run into the problem of an overweighted bag (unless perhaps you pack specifically small and heavy items). Still, it certainly isn't the lightest suitcase we tested, so a quick pass on the scale is always good practice. For road trips, we see no problems at all.

Style

The Base Camp Voyager Roller does a nice job of combining functionality with a sleek, sporty, urban outdoor look. It's not your typical business casual case nor a tactical gear hauler. Instead, it's got an understated excursion-ready charm that delivers just what you'd need for both work and play without a whole lot of extra fuss.

Value

This suitcase is an investment, but one you could get enough mileage out of to justify the cost. Handle breakage incident aside, the bag's rugged overall construction is built to last, and its heavy-tread wheels and well-placed load handles make it very easy to use. Plus, with the brand's limited lifetime warranty, the resources should be available to address any unexpected material construction concerns — we would consider shipping our now damaged sample in for repair, without hesitation. Plus, the durable water repellent (DWR) finish on the bag is also non-PFC. That means it's not made with perfluorocarbons, which harm human health and our living environment. Buying a less toxic bag is better for your health, offering additional value to you.

Conclusion

This attractive, road-worthy wheeled duffel bag is one we'd be very happy to have at the ready for weeklong trips into the city or a month-long adventure into the wilds. No unnecessary frills complicate the design, so you're left with a simple yet flexible suitcase to meet your storage and transport needs with only a minimal amount of extraneous organizational support. You don't have to fear losing yourself in The North Face Rolling Base Camp Roller Duffel 29", but you can plan for a comfortable ride across airports, city streets, cobbled paths, and dirt roads bound for more exotic destinations.