Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L Review
Our Verdict
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Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $169 List $169.00 at REI | $149 List Check Price at REI | $160 List | $229 List $229.00 at Backcountry | $185 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Big and lightweight, a duffel that can be carried as a backpack, weatherproof, super durable | Tapered for easy loading, comfortable harness system, adventure friendly, very light | Versatile, sleek, camera box, vented wet shoe compartment | Distributes weight nicely, good structure, attachment clips, daisy chain, sturdy handles, comfortable harness system, plentiful organization | Good suspension, lightweight, affordable, gobbles gear |
Cons | Uncomfortable unless full, must pack with intention | Does not sit upright, laptop sleeve unpadded | No waist belt or sternum strap, no water bottle holder, back panel not very breathable, tall | Not great for bulky items, cumbersome security loops | Square design protrudes from back, too big for some airlines checked baggage |
Bottom Line | A duffel-style backpack with an unmatched weight to volume ratio for longer vacations or expeditions | With its tapered shape and backpacking pack structure, this is the perfect bag for the outdoor adventurist that doesn't want to spend an arm and leg | With its convertible camera cube, ventilated shoe compartment, and padded device sleeve, this pack was made for the outdoor photographer on the go | A stylish and slim 40-liter three-way travel backpack with stellar organization and a comfortable harness system, perfect for a weekend getaway | This is a durable and easy to pack travel backpack, but may be bulky for some airlines or uses |
Rating Categories | Patagonia Black Hol... | REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 | Mammut Seon Cargo 35L | Topo Designs Global... | Osprey Porter 46 |
Comfort (25%) | |||||
Features (25%) | |||||
Packing and Accessibility (25%) | |||||
Volume to Weight Ratio (15%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Patagonia Black Hol... | REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 | Mammut Seon Cargo 35L | Topo Designs Global... | Osprey Porter 46 |
Volume of Main Compartment | 55L | 40L | 35L | 40L | 46L |
Measured Weight | 2.57 lbs | 2.10 lbs | 2.10 lbs | 3.65 lbs | 3.23 lbs |
Volume to Weight Ratio (bigger is better) | 21.4 | 19.05 | 16.67 | 10.96 | 14.24 |
Detachable Daypack? | No | No | No | No | No |
Dimensions | 26.7" x 15.7" x 11.8" | 24" x 13" x 10" | 24" x 14" x 9" | 22.5" x 14" x 7.5" | 21" x 14" x 12" |
Carry-on Size Compatible? (22" x 14" x 9") | Yes, if squished | No | Yes | Yes | Must be cinched down |
Stuffed Dimensions | 27" x 16" x 12.5" | 22" x 9" x 14" | 24" x 14" x 9" | 22.5" x 14" x 7.9" | 22" x 14" x 12" |
Fabrics | 900D recycled polyester, 200D recycled polyester | Recycled nylon ripstop and recycled polyester lining (bluesign approved) | 600D waterproof polyester, 840D ballistic nylon | 1000D recycled nylon, 400D recycled nylon, 210D recycled nylon, 1680D recycled ballistic nylon | 420D nylon hex diamond ripstop, 420HD nylon packcloth |
Frame Type | None | Ventilated mesh | Foam padding | Foam with nylon padded backpanel | Stiff foam |
Access Type | Clamshell | Top loading | Panel loading | U-Zip | Panel loading, zips all the way open |
Number of Pockets | Internal/external zippered side pocket, interior mesh lid, | 6 zip, 7 no zip, 2 water bottle | 3 small zippered, 1 ventilated, 1 camera comparment, 1 main | External: 2 large zippered security, 2 water bottle Internal: 1 laptop, mesh organization |
7 zip, 8 no zip |
Laptop Sleeve? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Waist Belt Type | None | Padded | None | Removable | Padded |
Sternum Strap | None | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, whistle |
Different Sizes Available? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Volume Options | 40L, 55L, 70L, 100L | 18L, 28L, 40L, 65L | 35L | 30L, 40L | 30L, 46L, 65L |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This soft 55-liter pack is 27 x 16 x 12.5 inches when stuffed and weighs less than three pounds. It is great for longer trips and durable enough to last a lifetime. Read on to see how the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel held up to our testing regime.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
Patagonia is known for checking all the boxes, but it is difficult to make a truly comfortable duffel-style pack without a proper harness system, especially at 55 liters. The 55-liter Black Hole Duffel is big, soft, and stuffable, which means it can get heavy very quickly. The shoulder straps are somewhat thin but surprisingly comfortable as the foam is dense. The comfort of this bag highly depends on what you're packing and how you pack it. Since it is essentially structureless, packing things like hard shoes by the back panel doesn't feel good. It's best to put heavy items, like boots, down at the bottoms and softer, lighter items close to your back and at the top of the pack. Packing cubes are also very helpful here, and having a fully stuffed backpack helps keep everything in place.
At the end of the day, not having a hip belt on a 55-liter backpack is somewhat of an oversight, but the Black Hole is meant to be a duffel that can be carried like a backpack and not the other way around. When considering that, we understand why the design doesn't prioritize backpack-style comfort.
Features
The Black Hole Duffel offers two different carry modes: a snap-secured set of handles that carry like a duffel and a backpack-style with over-the-shoulder straps that are attached and detached via D-rings and Duraflex buckles. The D-rings are super incognito without the backpack straps attached, and they work very well, despite what our testers expected when first inspecting the design. The buckles at the bottom of the bag don't have a garage to tuck into, so they flop around a little, but they still remain mostly out of the way.
There are daisy chains on each side, great for clipping water bottles, climbing shoes, or any irregularly shaped items that might make the inside feel too bulky. The two hauler handles on each side of the bag, made of folded nylon webbing, are great for moving the duffel around while it's open or pulling it out of an overhead bin. The main compartment zipper is covered with a storm flap for weather resistance. That, paired with hefty YKK zippers, truly helps keep moisture out, even in heavy rain.
The strap adjusters pull up rather than down to tighten, which is unique to some Patagonia bags. We are unsure of how we feel about it. Some testers prefer the feeling of pulling the straps up to tighten, while others prefer pulling down and back. The one thing we all agreed upon is that pulling them forward means that they flop around in front of you, which can be a little annoying when on the go.
Speaking of annoying, the duffel straps share the same side as the backpack straps and have nowhere to go when you have the Black Hole Duffel in backpack mode. This makes it easy to get your arms stuck in the duffel-carry straps when putting it on as a backpack, and if the straps are clipped together, they tend to dig into your back.
Packing and Accessibility
The Black Hole Duffel is modeled after a true duffel bag and is therefore very simple without the need for excessive organizational pockets. It has a small quick-grab zipper pocket that is accessible from both the exterior and interior. This pocket also comes with a minimal key clip.
The main compartment has tons of room with little organization, as you'd expect from a duffel. Like many travel bags with large main compartments, we suggest using packing cubes for optimal organization. There is also a shallow zippered mesh compartment on the main flap, which is great for anything you'd like to keep separate from the larger bucket-style compartment. The mesh makes finding smaller items easy, although it would be nice to have a few smaller mesh pockets for organization sprinkled throughout this pack.
Volume to Weight Ratio
The Black Hole Duffel is available in sizes as small as 40 liters and as big as 100 liters. The 55-liter pack, which we tested, only weighs 2.57 pounds. This is insanely lightweight for its carrying capacity making this bag a top contender in this category.
Durability
The TPU-coated, 900D ripstop polyester is an absolute dream. Duffels like this are meant to be placed on the ground, tossed up into overhead cabinets, and brought along on treacherous expeditions, so durability is paramount. The nylon webbing daisy chain and grab handles are all made of 100% polyester and are Bluesign-approved recycled material. The number 10 durable YKK zippers and Duraflex hardware ensure longevity in all the moving parts, and the bottom of the bag is also slightly more padded for protection.
Should You Buy the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel?
To answer this question, you'll need to consider what you're looking for in your travel bag. Are you looking for a lightweight duffel-style pack with a high volume capacity and durability to match? If that is so, then this bag is pretty close to perfect. But if you're looking for comfort and optimal organization, then you may want to check out some other options in our review.
What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?
If you want to stay in the Patagonia family but require additional organization and comfort, the Black Hole MLC is the option for you. This pack is perfect for anyone who wants to get the most out of their one carry-on item, but be careful because it can end up being a little too big if you over-stuff it. Another higher volume pack that offers higher quality comfort is the Osprey Fairview 55. It is far heavier than the Black Hole Duffel but comes with useful features like a removable daypack and internal compression straps. The Peak Design Travel Backpack is another favorite, but it is geared mostly toward the traveling photographer. Finally, if you're looking for more of a personal item than a carry-on, the Mammut Seon Cargo 35L is a very versatile pack, although it is not big enough to be your only luggage if you plan to leave for more than a day or two.
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