We tested the most promising duffel bags on the market from The North Face, Sea to Summit, Patagonia, Thule, Osprey, REI, Cotopaxi, Eagle Creek, and more to find the best
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Throughout the last decade, our team of experts has bought and traveled with over 40 of the best duffel bags. In this update, we look at 16 of the most promising models that are available today. We hauled these bags across the globe for weeks at a time to evaluate their durability, weather resistance, and ease of packing and transporting. We've covered it all, whether you're looking for a bag for your next adventure or just a durable duffel for everyday travel. The right duffel bag should give you years of worry-free service, and we'll help you find the right model for you.
The Sea to Summit Duffel Bag narrowly escapes with a repeat of our top ranking, beating out an impressive lineup full of worthy competitors from many of the top outdoors manufacturers. This bag stands out with remarkable construction quality and thick, burly 1000D material, combined with a unique and versatile strap system. The two completely removable straps can be attached to 14 different mounting points around the bag, and are easily adjustable with built-in metal carabiner-style clips. Depending on your preference, they can be used either as backpack straps, a shoulder sling, or traditional briefcase-style carry handles.
One minor weakness of the Sea to Summit is that the briefcase-style carrying configuration feels a little awkward. This bag lacks traditional carry handles, but you can adjust the shoulder straps to carry it by your side, and the straps have small magnets embedded in them to keep the straps joined together. While we love this idea, the magnetic link is not very useful, and gripping the bag this way is less comfortable than with most other models. Further, it has just one pocket on the inside of the top lid, and its rugged material makes it one of the heaviest bags in our lineup. Overall, we heartily recommend this piece of luggage for its high-quality materials and construction.
If you prefer to wheel your duffel rather than carry it, there's none we like more than the REI Co-op Big Haul Recycled Rolling Duffel. This hefty bag has everything we want in a duffel, plus beefy wheels that cross any terrain with ease. Like your favorite suitcase, this oversized bag has a retractable handle, sturdy handles on all four sides, and plenty of internal and external organization to keep your smaller items from getting lost. It's made of 400D recycled ripstop nylon with 1680D reinforcements, daisy chain lash points, and even a piggyback clip for attaching smaller bags during transit.
If you're heading to a rainy climate or need to roll your bags through puddles, the REI Big Haul Rolling Duffel can't guarantee your belongings stay dry. Its nylon exterior is water resistant, but not waterproof, like some of the carry-only models we tested. While we love its spacious interior, with so much room inside, we found it all too easy to far exceed the 50 pound limit for checked bags followed by most airlines. But if you have more self-control when packing and need a bag you can just as easily roll through the busy streets of Manhattan, across the ancient cobblestones of Rome, and through the Egyptian sand dunes, the Big Haul Rolling Duffel is the bag for you.
The Gregory Alpaca has every feature you could want in a high-end duffel bag with a lower price tag than many other top competitors, providing exceptional value. With a sleek and classy design and high-quality materials, the Alpaca has multiple storage pockets, full-length daisy chain attachment points on both sides, comfortable backpack straps, and water-resistant 900D material. It successfully balances a large storage volume with convenient carrying options, durable and water-resistant material, and reasonably low weight.
The Alpaca scores well across the board and shows no significant weaknesses. The only notable drawback is that the backpack straps can be somewhat tedious to remove. You must unweave one end through a doubled-back buckle and then slide the strap through a girth hitch at the other end. While this is not necessarily difficult, it may test your patience and dexterity when trying to remove or replace the straps at a busy airport. Overall, the Alpaca is still one of our favorite bags and offers excellent value.
While the Gregory Alpaca stands out for its great value among the sturdy, high-end bags in our lineup, the REI Roadtripper offers excellent storage and utility at nearly half the price, making it an exceptional value for a duffel bag on a budget. The Roadtripper stands out from the crowd by being so affordable and straightforward. With its reliable lightweight construction, removable shoulder sling, single external zippered pocket, and basic daisy chain system, the Roadtripper has tremendous value.
The Roadtripper's lightweight design is owed to its thinner material and simple construction. It also lacks many "fancy" features found on higher-end models, like backpack straps, compression straps, internal pockets, or extensive daisy chains. While the fabric and zipper are sturdy enough for most general use, it may not withstand the abuse that the more robust duffels can endure. But for basic use, the Roadtripper is a versatile, lightweight, affordable option.
A mainstay on remote expeditions around the world for decades and near the top of our lineup for several years, The North Face Base Camp is our favorite choice for a simple and rugged expedition bag. Its simple and classic design has remained mostly unchanged through the years, and its robust 1000D material is among the toughest we've tested. Both an external and internal zippered pocket help sweeten the deal. These bags have withstood the test of time for decades on expeditions to all corners of the world. On our test team alone, we own several Base Camp duffels that have years of adventurous travel behind them.
The primary drawback of the Base Camp is its strap arrangement. The grab handles and traditional briefcase-style straps are permanently affixed and are straightforward to use, but you must thread the shoulder straps through a doubled-back buckle to remove or replace them. Many airlines require you to remove duffel bag straps, and so this adds a somewhat tedious task each time you hand off or collect your luggage. Also, the thick material shows scuffs more than other models and has a more practical look than some more elegant options. But for a simple, dependable bag that can take you to all seven continents with ease, the Base Camp is our top choice.
The Base Camp duffel features beefy daisy chains and grab loops on all-four sides that help facilitate lashing the duffel to a variety of vehicles and animals. Photo in route to Illimani, Cordillera Real Bolivia.
Backpack harness includes load lifters and chest strap
Heavy-duty padded grab handles
REASONS TO AVOID
No traditional briefcase-style handles
Storage pockets not easily accessible
With a supportive and well-padded backpack harness design similar to their backpacks, the Osprey Transporter earns recognition for having the most comfortable carrying system. While most of the models in our lineup include backpack straps, the Transporter is one of the only options we tested with a chest strap and load lifter straps in addition to its comfortable and supportive harness. The entire harness can also be quickly unbuckled and easily tucked inside a zippered pocket on the top lid for smooth airport transitions. The bag has four heavy-duty grab handles for briefcase-style carrying, and high-quality materials and construction typical of Osprey products.
The Transporter is quite comfortable when in backpack mode, but it lacks the traditional briefcase-style carry handles found on most duffel bags. While the comfortable and heavy-duty grab handles help compensate for this, we appreciate carrying systems with more options. Additionally, although this bag contains both an interior and an external zippered pocket, their awkward placement makes them less useful. Built for hauling heavy loads in comfort and style, the Transporter makes an excellent choice for those who prioritize backpack carrying capabilities.
Consistently one of the top pieces of luggage on the market, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel just misses out on our top ranking with its high-quality design and top-notch performance. The backpack straps are comfortable and easy to remove, and we appreciate high-end design details like an external zippered pocket, two internal zippered pockets, internal luggage compression straps, and external daisy chain attachment points. The 900D recycled material is durable and water-resistant, and the reinforced bottom panel helps resist wear from dragging and hauling. This bag is durable enough for the most rugged expeditions, yet stylish enough for frequent business trips. It's one you'll see frequently in airports, for good reason.
The Black Hole is an impressive and capable duffel bag but just misses out on our highest rating. Our testers preferred the Sea to Summit for its slightly thicker and more durable material (1000D vs. 900D) and its more versatile and adjustable strap system. However, others may prefer the Black Hole's style, its additional storage pockets, or its extra daisy chain attachment points. Both of these top-scoring bags are excellent products, and the right choice comes down to personal preference.
The Patagonia Black Hole is another one of our favorite duffel bags, with its extensive daisy chains and beefy build.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
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You might never intend to submerge your duffel bag, but you'd be surprised at when weather can try and infiltrate. Here, getting dropped off by a bush plane. The plane propeller blasts you and your pile of junk. The Sea To Summit does as well as most in keeping the harsh out.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Why You Should Trust Us
The legwork for this review began with extensive research into the duffel market, surveying nearly 60 of today's top duffels before selecting 17 to purchase for this review and take to the field for extensive hands-on testing. In addition to surviving our lab testing, some bags have gone on climbing trips to the French Alps, got dragged across glaciers in Alaska, found themselves stowed in the forest in Patagonia, and hauled paddling gear to the Indian Ocean.
We divided our duffel bag testing across five metrics, weighted according to their overall importance:
Ease of Transport (25% of overall score weighting)
Storage and Ease of Packing (25% weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Weight (15% weighting)
Weather Resistance (15% weighting)
This review is brought to you by three longtime GearLab contributors: Maggie Nichols, Miya Tsudome, and Nick Bruckbauer. Maggie is an avid adventurer and backcountry guide of 15 years. She has taught courses and skills in the Galapagos and South Africa, guided trips in the Virgin Islands and the American West, and spent months visiting far-flung places like Svalbard and Senegal. Miya is a climber, professional mountain guide, and photographer based in California's Eastern Sierra and can regularly be found hauling gear to and from her favorite climbing crag. Nick has a competitive running background and currently lives life as an all-around outdoorsman. He has snorkeled in Thailand and the Maldives, trekked in Nepal, skied in Alaska, and climbed and skied 14ers in Washington, California, and Colorado. Maggie, Miya, and Nick all regularly use duffel bags to haul their belongings and gear on their adventures around the world.
This bag stayed comfortable hiking up an approach trail full of climbing gear.
We thoroughly tested each duffel's different carrying methods, like the heavy-duty grab handles shown here.
After purchasing our lineup of duffel bags at retail just like you, we compared each model side-by-side in our home lab and out in the real world.
Analysis and Test Results
To help you find the best duffel bag, we reviewed each of our products across five essential performance metrics. While we used the overall weighted scores to determine our top rankings, to learn how each bag performs in specific areas, keep reading.
Many of the duffel bags in our lineup are available in a wide range of sizes. To get the most accurate direct comparison, we bought and tested most models in a similar 90 liter to 100 liter size range.
Value
Duffel bags are an interesting product category when it comes to value, as there is not a very broad price spread among most of our highest-rated bags. The Sea to Summit Duffel is one of the pricier models in our lineup, but only has a slightly higher list price than the high-value Gregory Alpaca. Aside from the more expensive Mountain Hardwear Expedition Duffel, there is a very minimal price spread among the seven or eight top-scoring models in our lineup. All of these products have robust materials and high-quality designs, so it is easy to justify their expense.
On the other end of the spectrum, the REI Roadtripper is among the least expensive full-size duffel bags in our entire review. Although its durability and versatility are compromised compared to the more robust products mentioned above, its lightweight and affordable design make it a good choice for general use and an excellent value product. The small, ultralight models in our review also come in a much lower price range when compared to the full-sized bags. In the lightweight duffel category, there is a more significant price spread that is dependent mostly on the quality of materials used and the bag's weight. When weight savings and quality matter, shelling out some extra money seems to bring higher performance, based on our testing.
The Gregory Alpaca (black, left) and the Sea to Summit (blue, right) are two duffel bags that boast both exceptional quality and exceptional value.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Ease of Transport
Part of what separates duffel bags from other luggage styles is that they are typically available in much larger sizes that can make them difficult and awkward to lug around. To make transport more manageable, each bag we tested may employ up to four distinct carrying systems: traditional briefcase-style carry handles, backpack straps, over-the-shoulder slings, and grab handles (wheeled duffels are in our best suitcase review). Each of these carrying methods can be useful depending on the situation and length of travel. Grab handles are convenient for hauling into or out of vehicles or luggage racks, and briefcase-style grips and shoulder slings are ideal for carrying a shorter distance and when you have other pieces of luggage to haul. Backpack straps are the most comfortable and efficient method for heavier loads or over longer distances. Daisy chain attachment points make it easier to lash a bag to a vehicle, cart, or pack animal, and easily removable straps help protect your investment from wear and tear during air travel. If you want to go extra fast and light, one of the best travel backpacks may be the way to go.
The Sea to Summit Duffel has an innovative adjustable strap system that adds to this pack's overall versatility. The two shoulder straps have removable metal carabiner-style clasps at each that can be attached to any of the 14 different mounting points around the bag, allowing it to be carried briefcase style, like a backpack, or over the shoulder. The bag can also be hauled via the grab handles when the straps are entirely removed and stowed for air travel. While the briefcase-style strap configuration felt a little awkward to handle, we appreciated the versatility of this adjustable design and the ability to remove the straps completely.
Easily adjustable and removable straps are a hugely beneficial feature. These metal carabiner-style clips are strong and user-friendly.
The Sea to Summit's adjustable strap configuration is very convenient, but the briefcase-style carry option is not quite as comfortable as others.
Most of the duffels in our lineup are reasonably comfortable to carry with the included backpack straps. Different models have slightly different strap geometry, levels of padding, and ranges of adjustability. The Osprey Transporter has the most comfortable backpack carry system that includes well-padded shoulder straps, an adjustable chest strap, and adjustable load lifter straps. The entire backpack harness on the Transporter can be quickly unclipped and stowed inside its storage compartment on the top lid. While this bag does not include traditional briefcase-style carry handles, it has four heavy-duty padded grab handles — one on each end — that make it simple to lug around or to carry by your side for moderate distances.
The Transporter has a comfortable backpack carrying system that has similar features as Osprey's high-end backpacks.
The Transporter's heavy-duty padded grab handles are among the best in the lineup and make for comfortable and efficient carrying.
The Thule Chasm is another impressively comfortable backpack carry model. Though it lacks the load lifters and chest strap that the Osprey Transporter has, the Chasm's backpack straps are very comfortable and they quickly detach with a T grip at the top and plastic buckles at the bottom, for quick conversion. It also features snaps on the sides to hold the suitcase-style handles out of the way when you don't need them.
Easily snap the suitcase style handles out of the way when you don't need them.
The Chasm backpack straps come off so quickly and easily.
Not far behind is the Mountain Hardwear Expedition with its supremely comfortable backpack straps. The Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, Gregory Supply Duffel, The North Face Base Camp, Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, and the REI Big Haul also have reasonably comfortable shoulder straps for carrying heavy loads over longer distances. All of these models also have traditional briefcase-style carry straps and reinforced grab handles on their sides and ends for versatile carrying options.
Demonstrating the ease of carrying the Alpaca with the adjustable backpack straps.
The Base Camp duffel has supportive straps and more rigid material that make it easier to support a heavier load.
Most of the products we tested forgo a traditional single, messenger-style shoulder sling in favor of the more comfortable and efficient backpack straps. Sometimes it's just easier to sling the bag over your shoulder, though — like if you're only carrying for a short distance or if you're hauling multiple pieces of luggage at once. You can adjust the length of most of the backpack straps to make it easier to sling the bag over a shoulder, although frequently the padding doesn't line up correctly to protect your shoulder, or the bag's balance feels awkward. The value-oriented REI Roadtripper and REI Stuff Travel Duffel are some of the only models we tested with a dedicated shoulder strap.
The REI Stuff Travel Duffel is one of the few bags we tested with a single messenger-style shoulder strap. You can carry this bag over the shoulder with its removable, nylon strap.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
The Patagonia Black Hole has highly adjustable shoulder straps and extended padding, both of which help facilitate comfortable carrying on one shoulder. The highly-rated Sea to Summit and the Mountain Hardwear Expedition also include a convenient shoulder sling carry option with adjustable strap systems.
Connect the straps together via the velcro attachment for a large grab handle or shoulder sling.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
Many of the lightweight and packable models like the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Packable and the REI Co-op Stuff Travel Duffel have more limited carrying options. However, they are still convenient to handle because of their ultra-low weights and smaller overall sizes. Of the ultralight and packable models, the Sea to Summit Ultra Sil stands out for its overall simplicity and its strong handle design.
The incredibly lightweight Ultra-Sil duffel lacks the durability of other models but makes a great choice as a second bag or for daily use during a long vacation.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
If you've traveled to far-flung destinations around the world, you've probably seen your luggage strapped down to some form of transportation. During the years of testing for this review, we've had duffels carried by llamas, mules, horses, snowmobiles, motorcycles, campers, small prop planes, and helicopters. We've also pulled them ourselves, lashed to a sled deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Most of the products in our test group feature robust daisy chains (externally mounted webbing with sewn loops) that are versatile and easy to use to securely attach your duffel to various modes of transportation. Other single attachment loops, large grab handles, or permanently affixed shoulder straps are also useful when you need to secure your load.
When traveling to more remote regions, having a duffel that can be easily and securely tied down to a bus or some sort of pack animal can be the difference between losing your bag or not.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Most of the highest-rated products in our lineup include daisy chains or some kind of external attachment loops. The Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, and The North Face Base Camp all stand out for their robust and extensive daisy chain features. The Thule Chasm, REI Big Haul, the Mountain Hardwear Camp 4 Duffel, and Mountain Hardwear Expedition are all also noteworthy with their sturdy, reinforced daisy chain loops that are thicker and stronger than most. Though the Sea to Summit doesn't have a full set of daisy chains, it has four smaller lash loops and four heavy-duty grab handles.
The Alpaca duffel has full-length daisy chains on each side of the bag for easy attachment to a car, truck, or motorcycle.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Storage and Ease of Packing
While most of these duffel bags have plenty of capacity to haul heavy loads for extended durations, each model has different nuances that impact its storage efficiency, organization capabilities, and ease of packing. In this category, we first compared each bag's overall storage compartment and how easy it was to load with both typical travel items and oddly shaped equipment. We also analyzed how useful smaller pockets or compartments were for keeping gear organized, and the ease of accessing both the smaller pockets and the main compartment.
After dozens of trips to the field and direct side-by-side comparisons in the lab, we prefer the big D- or U-shaped zippered openings rather than the straight "I" style zippers. Most of the duffels we tested have U-shaped openings, which makes it much easier to access the contents of your pack and securely fit more cargo. Most options have heavy-duty zippers that can be locked, but the Sea to Summit stands out with a smooth and robust — and unique! — double-decker zipper that makes it more difficult for a thief to access.
The doubled zipper of the Sea To Summit is just one of the details that sets it apart and earns it high marks.
The Mountain Hardwear Expedition 100L zips open all the way to the end of the wings on either side creating a large and accessible opening.
Our testers also appreciated the unique packing system of the Mountain Hardwear Expedition, which features a main zipper that zips all the way out to flaps on either side of the bag to create an extra large opening, as well as a stiff collar on the inside that can be folded out for easy, unencumbered access to the interior.
The Cotopaxi Allpa Duo (blue, left) and Thule Chasm (orange, right) have some of the most pockets of any duffels we tested.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
A bag's ease of packing is an important feature, and everyone has struggled to zip closed a fully stuffed bag when it is overloaded just beyond its capacity. In this case, we appreciated the internal compression straps found on many of the bags, including the Osprey Transporter, Patagonia Black Hole, Marmot Long Hauler, and Mountain Hardwear Camp 4 and Expedition. The Expedition also features an exterior compression strap that helps even more when struggling to close an overstuffed bag — simply tighten the strap down and zip from either end for a stress-free packing experience.
The Transporter's internal compression straps make it easy to compress and secure your cargo.
The Marmot Long Hauler has an abundance of features, including internal luggage compression straps.
The majority of bags we tested feature massive internal storage compartments well equipped to haul a ton of gear. While that's all fine and dandy, a few internal or external zippered pockets are crucial for avoiding smaller items getting lost in the abyss. It's even more necessary for separating wet shoes or dirty laundry. The most impressive bag we tested when it comes to pockets is the Cotopaxi Allpa Duo, which has eight extra pockets (3 internal and 5 external), plus a full-length laundry compartment on the bottom.
The Cotopaxi Allpa Duo has eight pockets - two inside the main compartment, another inside the full-length laundry compartment on the bottom (not included in the pocket count), and 5 more on the outside of the bag.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Thule Chasm has two massive mesh pockets on the bottom side of the lid and a third hanging inside — plus an external pocket on top. We also love the Marmot Long Hauler's large external zippered pocket on each end and two internal zippered pockets. Similarly, the Patagonia Black Hole, the REI Big Haul, the Gregory Alpaca, and the Mountain Hardwear Expedition 100 each have one external pocket and two internal pockets.
The Long Hauler features two external pockets (one on each end) and two internal pockets.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
The inclusion of at least one internal pocket is a common feature most of these models share. However, all the testers were in agreement that two small pockets are far more beneficial for organizational purposes. Meanwhile, flat external pockets that come with models such as the Patagonia Black Hole or the REI Roadtripper were hard to search around in when the bags were jam-packed. While it's certainly better than no external pockets, these pockets are less user-friendly.
While a slim side pocket might not fit bulkier items, it can definitely keep your essential supplies easily within reach.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Durability
A ton of the contenders in our lineup are super durable, made from robust materials, with reinforced bottom panels, and heavy-duty seams. Most of the bags we tested are constructed from a high-denier laminate or high-denier ballistic nylon. In general, denier (also denoted as "D" behind a number), is the measure of a material's thread thickness and density, and a higher number corresponds to a thicker, sturdier, more durable fabric. Our lineup includes a wide range of possible bag fabrics, from heavy-duty expedition packs made of 1000D materials plus additional reinforced areas, to silky smooth 30D nylon bags that compress down to the size of a tennis ball.
The tried and true The North Face Base Camp Duffel set the tone for durability decades ago with its burly 1000D body material, and a similar heavy-duty construction has spread to several other manufacturers. Many of the top models in our fleet used at least a 900D nylon or polyester material throughout the duffel, with an additional reinforcement layer of at least 600D nylon on the bottom or other high-wear areas. The Sea to Summit also uses 1000D nylon laminate for its primary body material, as well as beefy bar tacks on all of the critical stitching areas. Both the Sea to Summit and the Base Camp have an additional layer of material on the bottom panel. One of our testers has used a Base Camp duffel on over 20 rugged expeditions, and it's still going strong.
The Base Camp duffel one of our longtime favorites that sets the standard for durability. We've taken previous versions of this bag on over 20 expeditions around the world and it's still going strong.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
With fabrics ranging from 840D to 900D, the Patagonia Black Hole, Gregory Alpaca, Thule Chasm, Mountain Hardwear Expedition, Osprey Transporter, and Cotopaxi Allpa Duo are similarly sturdy. This level of fabric thickness is still very robust and can withstand a lot of abuse. All of these bags also have strongly reinforced seams and include sturdy hardware. The Black Hole and Alpaca also feature ripstop fabric to protect you against a worst-case scenario.
The Transporter (left) and the Black Hole (right) models are plenty durable to withstand rough handling.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
On the other end of the spectrum are the ultralight, packable models in our lineup that are as thin as 30D in material thickness on the Sea to Summit Ultra Sil. While these ultralight bags won't likely stand up to the prolonged abuse of the heftier expedition duffels, they have different design applications. Their lightweight and packable designs make them ideal for daily use or as a secondary bag to pack along on a more extended vacation. Their versatility makes them incredibly useful, and their lightweight materials are just robust enough for their intended use. We used the Ultra Sil and the REI Stuff Travel Duffel as daily gym bags and to carry toiletries and dirty laundry on longer trips.
The REI Stuff Travel Duffel easily fits shoes, a water bottle, and a change of clothes with room for more.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
Weight
Once you've filled a duffel bag full of gear, you may not notice the initial weight of the bag. However, it can make a difference when you're trying to stay within an airline's weight limits. This lineup includes both heavier bags weighing up to 4.5 pounds, as well as several ultralight and packable duffel bags that weigh half a pound or less.
The Sea to Summit Ultra Sil and the REI Co-op Stuff Travel Duffel each pack into their tiny stuff sack and are all surprisingly durable, considering their weight. These models easily pack away into your main luggage and make a great secondary bag for shorter day trips, grocery runs, beach outings, or picnics.
The REI Co-op Stuff Travel Duffel packs down even smaller than the size of a 32-ounce Nalgene.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
For the non-packable duffel bags, we bought and tested products in the same general 90L to 100L size range to get a more accurate direct comparison for storage capabilities and measured weights. Providing an excellent blend of storage volume and durability in a surprisingly lightweight package, the REI Roadtripper clocks in at a mere 1.6 pounds in a 100L storage volume, while the Gregory Supply Duffel weighs 1.7 pounds for a 90L storage volume.
The Gregory Supply Duffel is a decent value for the everyday traveler looking for a bag with extra durability.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
The Mountain Hardwear Camp 4, REI Big Haul, and Eagle Creek Migrate are the next lightest full-size models in our lineup, both weighing in at 3.0 pounds or less in their 90 and 95 liter capacities. These bags are constructed from medium-thickness fabrics, providing a nice balance of durability and weight savings. None of them are as robust as the 900D and 1000D models, but they weigh over a pound less in the same size range.
The Eagle Creek Migrate weighs just over 3 pounds - pretty light for a 90 liter bag made of 900D fabric!
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Weather Resistance
Whether you're loading up the vehicle on a damp day, anxiously cringing as airport personnel toss around your bag on the tarmac, or slogging through boggy or snowy conditions, protection from mother nature is crucial. We took these bags on worldly expeditions to challenging climates like Denali, Bolivia, Aconcagua, Central Chile, and Patagonia. Additionally, we tested them on road trips, camping trips, and beach outings. We also put them through the wringer by running systematic tests involving drenching them with a high-pressure garden hose with dry towels and clothes inside.
The rankings for weather resistance look relatively similar to our durability ratings — bags with heavier-duty materials tend to perform better. One difference is that models with multiple exterior pockets with additional zippered closures are a bit more vulnerable to the outside elements. Simpler designs with fewer openings offer better protection. The Sea to Summit and The North Face Base Camp both score well with their 1000D material and limited vulnerabilities. The Sea to Summit has no external pockets and a seriously strong double zipper, while the Base Camp has only one external pocket protected by a weather flap. Both bags have a 1-inch protective flap where the top lid overlaps the main zipper. While neither bag has sealed seams to make them waterproof, they both provide excellent protection from the weather.
With 1000-denier material, no external pockets, and a generous weather flap protecting the main zipper, the Sea to Summit model provides excellent weather resistance.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Several of the remaining top contenders all scored similarly well in this performance metric. The Osprey Transporter, the Gregory Alpaca, the Patagonia Black Hole, the Mountain Hardwear Expedition, and the Thule Chasm all provide exceptional protection from the elements.
The Thule Chasm has a waterproof zipper on its external pocket.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Most of the remaining bags in our lineup have waterproof or water-resistant fabrics but don't have sealed seams or waterproof zippers. The Chasm features a waterproof zipper on its external pocket, but its main zipper is only protected by an external storm flap. All of these bags will repel some light rain, snow, splashes, and spills, but won't withstand extended downpours or complete submersion.
The REI Stuff Travel Duffel is a fine bag for everyday needs.
Credit: Miya Tsudome
Conclusion
Today's duffel bag marketplace includes numerous impressive products from top manufacturers that perform well both for general travel and rugged expeditions. While each model is capable of hauling your gear around town or around the world, distinct nuances between each design can significantly impact the comfort and convenience of hauling your gear. We hope that our intensive testing and side-by-side comparisons help you find the right bag for your style of packing and travel, and we wish you luck and safety wherever your new bag may accompany you.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
