Theyโre at the start of every expedition documentary. Explorers in a conga line, chucking bulging bags loaded with ropes, food, and tents into the back of a seaplane or weathered Land Rover. You see them piled on docks, in airports, or swaying back and forth on pack mules as they wind their way to basecamp โ duffel bags are the storage backbone of any long adventure.
Any duffel bag worth its salt needs to meet certain metrics. They must be sturdy enough to protect and transport hefty loads of technical gear, yet light enough to merit use on an expedition. They should exhibit thoughtful organizational features, and have to be packed and unpacked with ease.
Senior Editor Chris Carter took over 25 of the finest duffel bags money can buy, and pitted them against each other for over six months on dusty overland trips in Africa, climbing expeditions through Mexico, and weekend cabin getaways, to bring you the crรจme de la crรจme of these brawny bags. He tested each duffel with a mind for a variety of different performance metrics, including durability, ease of transport, organizational features, and weather resistance.
A seasoned globe trotter, Chris has been hopping around the world from a young age. His parents worked with an NGO in East Africa, and travel was โ and still is โ a way of life. He’s been zipping up duffels, carry-ons, and all manner of luggage and schlepping them through international airports for just about as long as he can remember. He knows what makes a duffel bag worth its mettle, and allows only the best into this guide.
Check out our top picks below, and be sure to browse our comprehensive buyerโs guide at the end for help in choosing the perfect duffel. Use our comparison chart for a quick overview, or have your burning questions hashed out in the FAQ.
Editor’s Note: We refreshed this article on March 27, 2024, by adding the NEMO Double Haul 70L Convertible Duffel & Tote and adding new details about the 2024 update received by our Overall Best pick, the Patagonia Black Hole 70L.
The Best Duffel Bags of 2024
- Best Overall Duffel Bag: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L
- Best Budget Duffel Bag: Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 60L
- Best Expedition Duffel Bag: Black Diamond StoneHauler 120L
- Best Duffel Bag for Casual Use: Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L
- Best Ultralight Duffel Bag: Matador FreeFly 30L
- Best Rolling Duffel Bag: The North Face Voyager 40L
- Best Waterproof Duffel Bag: YETI Panga 75L
- Weight: 3 lbs.
- Volume Options: 40, 55, 70, & 100 L
- Face Fabric: 14.1-oz 900-denier 100% recycled polyester ripstop & recycled TPU-film laminate
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, top carry handles, 2 side handles
Pros
- Versatile, stylish design
- Durable yet lightweight
- Comfortable carry system
Cons
- Flimsy material doesnโt stay open when packing
- No zippered pockets at either end
- We kinda miss the old look
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 60L
- Weight: 2 lbs., 3 oz.
- Volume Options: 40, 60, & 90 L
- Face Fabric: 1000D Helix Poly & 600D Poly TPU
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, 4 side handles
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Solid organization features
- Sturdy, weather-resistant construction
Cons
- No top carry handles
- Fabric doesnโt hold shape while packing
- Not the highest quality zippers
Black Diamond StoneHauler 120L
- Weight: 3 lbs., 13 oz.
- Volume Options: 45, 60, 90, & 120 L
- Face Fabric: 600D & 1500D SuperGrid ripstop & 1640D polyester
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, 4 side handles
Pros
- Extremely durable materials
- Bomber tubular webbing loop around entire bag
- Foam-reinforced fabric in high-use areas
Cons
- No top carry handles
- Non-laminated fabric absorbs water faster than TPU-coated duffels
- Backpack straps arenโt the most comfortable
Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Volume Options: 35 & 65 L
- Face Fabric: 100% recycled 600D nylon canvas & 900D waterproof base
- Straps: Single shoulder strap, top carry handles (can be backpack straps), 2 side handles
Pros
- Sleek, stylish look
- Thoughtful design
- Comfortable, versatile carrying options
Cons
- Cord hooks difficult to pull out of strap loops
- Not the best for long adventures in rough conditions
Matador Freefly 30L
- Weight: 8.5 oz.
- Volume Options: 30 L
- Face Fabric: 70D Robic nylon UHMWPE ripstop, with PU waterproofing & 50D mini ripstop nylon
- Straps: Top carry handles, front and back grab handles, single shoulder strap that splits into backpack straps
Pros
- Ultralight
- Extremely packable
- Waterproof materials (not submersible)
Cons
- Lower durability than other duffels
- Thin, basic carry straps arenโt the most comfortable
The North Face Base Camp Voyager Roller Duffel 21โ
- Weight: 6 lbs., 13 oz.
- Volume Options: 40 & 94 L
- Face Fabric: 840D recycled ballistic nylon with DWR finish
- Straps: Three side carry handles, telescoping top handle
Pros
- Durable, weather-resistant fabric
- Sturdy wheels and chassis
- Carry-on compatible
Cons
- Heavy
- Pricey compared to duffels of similar volume
- Wheeled duffels arenโt as versatile
YETI Panga 75L
- Weight: 6 lbs., 1.6 oz.
- Volume Options: 50, 75, & 100 L
- Face Fabric: EVA molded bottom & ThickSkin waterproof nylon shell
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, 4 side handles
Pros
- Fully waterproof
- Extremely durable material
- Simple, easily attachable backpack straps
Cons
- Minimal feature set
- Heavy
- Expensive
Osprey Transporter 95L
- Weight: 3 lbs., 6.4 oz.
- Volume Options: 40, 65, 95, & 120 L
- Face Fabric: 900D & 600D TPU-coated DWR recycled polyester
- Straps: Stowable backpack straps, 4 side handles
Pros
- Uber comfortable backpack carry straps
- Durable, quality materials
Cons
- Minimal extra pockets
- Not many lashing points
- Weight: 1 lb., 6 oz.
- Volume Options: 40, 60, 100, & 140 L
- Face Fabric: Recycled polyester
- Straps: Single shoulder strap, top carry handles, 2 side handles
Pros
- Affordable
- Simple, sleek design
- Lightweight and packable
Cons
- Simple straps are uncomfortable during long carries
- Fabric isnโt as durable or water-resistant as other models
- Weight: 3 lbs., 13 oz.
- Volume Options: 70 L
- Face Fabric: Bluesign-approved 420D recycled nylon
- Straps: Padded backpack straps, top carrying handles, deployable tote handles
Pros
- Versatile design for long trips or use around town
- Large opening
- Extra pockets for organization
Cons
- A bit floppy when first loading it up
- Weight: 3 lbs., 9.1 oz.
- Volume Options: 31, 50, 71, 95, 132, & 150 L
- Face Fabric: 1000D polyester with PVC coating & 840D DWR ballistic nylon
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, top carry handles, 2 side handles
Pros
- Durable, time-tested design
- Comfortable carry system
Cons
- Zipper can be difficult to open and close
- On the heavier side
- Weight: 2 lb., 10 oz.
- Volume Options: 50 & 70 L
- Face Fabric: 840D ballistic nylon & TPU coated 1000D polyester
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, top carry handles, 2 side handles
Pros
- Stylish design with lots of fun color schemes
- Durable materials
- Fantastic organization
Cons
- Backpack straps attachment design isnโt our favorite
- No internal compression straps
- Weight: 3 lbs., 6 oz.
- Volume Options: 40, 60, 80, & 100 L
- Face Fabric: 900D polyester polyester ripstop with TPU coating
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, top carry handles, 2 side handles
Pros
- Durable design
- Expedition-oriented features
- Packing cube included
- Easier to remove backpack straps than previous iteration
Cons
- No internal compression straps
- Update removes external compression straps
- Weight: 2 lbs., 9 oz.
- Volume Options: 30, 50, 80, & 120 L
- Face Fabric: 600D polyester with TPU film
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, top carry handles, 2 side handles
Pros
- Affordable
- Comfortable carrying options
- Functional adventure-ready design
Cons
- Not as durable as other expedition duffels
- Minimal extra zippered pockets
- No internal compression straps
- Weight: 2 lbs., 9.5 oz.
- Volume Options: 45, 65, 95, & 135 L
- Face Fabric: 420D carbonate-coated ripstop nylon
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, 2 side handles, single 25 mm webbing shoulder strap
Pros
- Sleek, haul bag inspired design
- Comfortable backpack straps
- Lightweight
- Effective dirty laundry system
Cons
- Minimal lashing points
- Few additional pockets
- Lower durability materials
- Weight: 4 lbs., 8 oz.
- Volume Options: 45, 65, 90, & 130 L
- Face Fabric: 1000D nylon with waterproof tarpaulin laminate
- Straps: Removable backpack straps, 4 side handles
Pros
- Impenetrable fabric
- Modular strap configurations
Cons
- Minimal organizational features
- Heavy
Duffel Bags Comparison Chart
Duffel Bag | Price | Weight | Volume Options | Face Fabric | Straps/Handles |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patagonia Black Hole 70L | $199 | 3 lbs. | 40, 55, 70, & 100 L | 14.1-oz 900-denier 100% recycled polyester ripstop & recycled TPU-film laminate | 6 |
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 60L | $129 | 2 lbs., 3 oz. | 40, 60, & 90 L | 1000D Helix Poly & 600D Poly TPU | 6 |
Black Diamond StoneHauler 120L | $230 | 3 lbs., 13 oz. | 45, 60, 90, & 120 L | 600D & 1500D SuperGrid ripstop & 1640D polyester | 6 |
Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L | $140 | 2 lbs. | 35 & 65 L | 100% recycled 600D nylon canvas & 900D waterproof base | 5 |
Matador Freefly 30L | $85 | 8.5 oz. | 30 L | 70D Robic nylon, with PU waterproofing & 50D nylon | 5 |
NEMO Double Haul 70L Convertible Duffel & Tote | $200 | 3 lbs., 13 oz. | 70 L | Bluesign-approved 420D recycled nylon | 6 |
The North Face Base Camp Voyager Roller | $240 | 6 lbs., 13 oz. | 40 & 94 L | 840D recycled ballistic nylon with DWR finish | 4 |
YETI Panga 75L | $350 | 6 lbs., 1.6 oz. | 50, 75, & 100 L | EVA molded bottom & ThickSkin waterproof nylon shell | 6 |
Osprey Transporter 95L | $200 | 3 lbs., 6.4 oz. | 40, 65, 95, & 120 L | 900D & 600D TPU-coated DWR recycled polyester | 6 |
REI Co-op Roadtripper 100L | $65 | 1 lb., 6 oz. | 40, 60, 100, & 140 L | Recycled polyester | 5 |
The North Face Base Camp Medium | $149 | 3 lbs., 9.1 oz. | 31, 50, 71, 95, 132, & 150 L | 1000D polyester with PVC coating & 840D DWR ballistic nylon | 6 |
Cotopaxi Allpa 50L | $140 | 2 lbs., 10 oz. | 50 & 70 L | 840D ballistic nylon & TPU coated 1000D polyester | 6 |
Gregory Alpaca 60L | $160 | 3 lbs., 6 oz. | 40, 60, 80, & 100 L | 900D ripstop polyester with TPU coating | 6 |
Rab Expedition II Kitbag 120L | $170 | 2 lbs.9 oz. | 30, 50, 80, & 120 L | 600D polyester with TPU film | 6 |
Mountain Hardwear Camp 4 95L | $160 | 2 lbs., 9.5 oz. | 45, 65, 95, & 135 L | 420D carbonate-coated ripstop nylon | 5 |
Sea to Summit Duffel Bag 90L | $200 | 4 lbs., 8 oz. | 45, 65, 90, & 130 L | 1000D nylon with waterproof tarpaulin laminate | 6 |
How We Tested Duffel Bags
Author and Senior Editor Chris Carter led the charge with this guide, whittling the selection down to the 16 deserving duffels you see today. He tested over 25 duffel bags’ durability, weather resistance, and overall useability over a 6-month testing period on remote climbing expeditions in Mexico, international overland adventures in Africa, and long road trips around the States. Each model was put through the wringer over thousands of miles of real-world travel tests in a variety of different climates and environments. Rest assured, only the best ended up on this guide.
If Chris isn’t navigating international airports or security checkpoints, he can usually be found traveling the U.S. and scheming his next road trip. In short โ he’s practically always on the go. He knows the importance of a reliable piece of luggage on any excursion, and won’t cram his travel belongings in any ol’ vessel.
We know everyone’s travel plans differ, and no two trips are alike. We selected a broad array of duffel designs for each traveler’s budget, style, and adventure needs. Slung over our shoulders, strapped to roof racks on wild backroads, or thrown into the belly of planes, these bags were put through their paces and all performed with flying colors.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Duffel Bag
What Is a Duffel Bag?
The line between travel backpacks, standard suitcases, and duffel bags can often be blurred. So what are these rugged malleable sacks, and what makes them special? The origin of the duffel bag is somewhat disputed, but most trace it to the actual town of Duffel in Belgium, where they employed “duffel cloth” to make thick, cylindrical bags with zippered or drawstring closures on top. The burly material was also used as a covering for ships.
Used widely by the military in WWI and WWII, the durable, flexible nature of these souped-up knapsacks made them perfect for chucking haphazardly into the back of transport vehicles or bunkers. They were more durable and voluminous than backpacks, and easier to carry than a solid crate. But they weren’t very comfortable to tote around.
News of these nifty packs seeped into the public, and the design evolved. Longer, wider bags with various sturdy straps for throwing over the shoulder or lashing to animals emerged. The likes of arctic explorers, mountaineers, and international travelers began seeing the value in these versatile wonders, and big-name brands picked up the scent.
From fully waterproof models to technical bags with more pockets and straps than you can count, duffels have come a long way from their humble roots. For weekend getaways to visit the parents or gear-intensive climbing trips, they now offer state-of-the-art storage for wherever the road takes you.
Categories of Duffel Bags
The type of duffel bag you decide to go with depends on your unique travel plans. If you need a general all-around workhorse, something like the simple REI Roadtripper or versatile Patagonia Black Hole would be a solid choice.
If you’re looking for a sleek companion on international flights, The North Face Voyager Roller may be the move, whereas the spec’d-out Black Diamond StoneHauler is catered for dedicated expeditions in rough environments. Duffels can be expensive, so consider what you’ll be primarily using your duffels for before making your final decision.
Expedition Duffel Bags
The last thing you want to worry about on an expedition or long adventure is your precious cargo. Expedition duffels are the more burly, specialized bags of the bunch, and are often decorated with fancy technology and features for specific outdoor pursuits. They are designed to be light enough for fast missions while withstanding abuse from the elements, and must be easily carried, packed, and unloaded โ all while protecting important technical gear.
Bags like the Rab Expedition II Kitbag, Black Diamond StoneHauler, and Gregory Alpaca fit this bill. They prioritize durability, weather resistance, and useability, featuring elements like TPU-coated waterproof fabrics, and reinforced lashing points.
Expedition duffels will often be hauled to basecamp on pulk sleds, strapped to the backs of pack mules, or thrown on top of janky overland trucks as they bump along remote dirt tracks. They need to be malleable to fit these various modes of transportation, durable enough to fight abrasion, and fitted with attachment points that are rated to hold heavy loads.
The Black Diamond StoneHauler, for instance, is lined with thick tubular webbing loops that are each rated to 2kN, and sports a bombproof 1,500-denier outer shell. This allows it to be easily affixed to anything and instills confidence that your only tent and cooking kit won’t slide off into a couloir whenever your mule stumbles.
You can expect to find thoughtful additions, like waterproof zippers and storm flaps, unique storage compartments, cushy backpack straps, and compression straps, on expedition duffels. The amount of fancy add-ons makes these bags a bit overkill for a simple weekend getaway, and their durability will often add some significant weight.
Travel/Casual Use Duffel Bags
If you’re scoping out a bag for shorter trips, lugging around the gym, or flying home for Christmas, these are the duffels you want. While not as stalwart as their battle-ready cousins above, these often still boast excellent storage, weather resistance, and carrying capabilities. Travel and casual duffels focus on comfort and useability over rugged durability.
You probably wonโt find many adventure-specific features of technical expedition duffels on these, such as DWR-treated fabrics, storm flaps, and stout daisy chains. This means they are generally lighter, easier to handle, and may be more stylish for use around town. We found the biggest difference between casual-use duffels and more outdoor-oriented models to be the denier and durability of the fabric they use.
We narrowed in on the sleek Peak Design Travel Duffel as our top pick for casual use. It is loaded with features that make life on the road a cinch and doesn’t feel nearly as bulky or unwieldy as other models in this roundup.
Many duffels on our list function as solid crossover pieces, and their versatile nature makes them good for casual trips, with enough gumption for demanding adventures. The Patagonia Black Hole and Cotopaxi Allpa fit this description. Theyโll look great while tramping between gates in the airport, but boy will they perform when you need them to.
While some designs may be better suited for casual trips, most of the bags on this list would be fine in just about any scenario. You don’t need to be trekking to a far-off base camp to merit the use of Black Diamond’s StoneHauler on your travels.
Waterproof Duffel Bags
Long paddling expeditions, snowy winter excursions, or a family fun day at the lake โ these are the bags for the job. Though the selection is sparse, some brands have developed entirely waterproof duffels for trips where keeping your gear dry is paramount. Their higher weight, minimal features, and hefty price tag make them a pretty niche bag, so we wouldnโt recommend snagging one for everyday use.
Itโs important to note that most duffel bags, including casual-use models, are already crafted with a high degree of water resistance. Some face fabrics may even be waterproof, but water will still be able to get through the unsealed seams or zippers.
It takes a good deal of prolonged rain to breach the beefy TPU-coated fabric of Gregoryโs Alpaca or Ospreyโs Transporter. For most of what youโll encounter on your travels, this will suffice.
But if you really plan on getting wet, models like YETIโs Panga will fend off a downpour, with technical Hyrdolok zippers, minimal stitching, and impenetrable fabric. Waterproof duffels are great for keeping sensitive gear or technology dry on long outdoor trips through wet climates, or anything involving extended time on a boat.
Rolling Duffel Bags
Rolling duffels merge the convenience of a duffel, with the ease of standard wheeled suitcases, and are great for carrying heavy loads over smooth surfaces. These designs caught on quickly, and you will often see wheeled versions of popular models, like the wheeled Patagonia Black Hole or Osprey Transporter.
Rolling duffels are good choices for trips where you wonโt be navigating a variety of different environments, as their designs are restricting in many travel scenarios. Youโll rarely see backpack or shoulder straps on rolling duffels, limiting how easy it is to carry them yourself.
If youโre touring around South America and will be shouldering your baggage onto busses, or hiking through small towns to your next hostel, it may be best to go with a traditional duffel. Trust us โ trying to roll a wheeled bag down a rocky dirt road is less than optimal.
However, if youโll be keeping to controlled environments with a lot of pavement and nice walkways, these can alleviate a lot of stress on your body. Many brands also offer rolling duffels that hover around 40 L, making them suitable as carry-ons.
We found the North Face Voyager Roller to be one of our favorite rolling duffels for a diversity of environments and surfaces. Its sturdy wheels and chassis instill confidence over bumpy cobblestone or broken-up sidewalks, and the burly materials and lash points make it somewhat adventure-ready.
Volume Selection
Duffel bag models are frequently available in a variety of volume options, usually on a spectrum of 40 to 120 L. And 40L duffels will often be carry-on compatible, which is perfect for weekend trips where you donโt want to check a bag. At the higher end, 100L or 120L bags are for seriously long trips or gear-intensive expeditions.
The volume you decide to go with will obviously depends on the length and intensity of the trip you plan to bring it on. A 90L model is probably overkill for weekend getaways, and will be uncomfortably floppy with a few changes of clothes and an overnight kit inside.
Weโve seen duffels with volumes of up to 150 L (like the gigantic XXL North Face Base Camp Duffel), which are great for clunky outdoor gear on long trips like tents, ropes, crampons, or backpacks. Itโs easy to bump the weight of these duffels above what is allowed for checked baggage on a plane, so pack with care. Black Diamondโs 120L StoneHauler has been one of our favorite hardworking large-volume duffels for serious missions with technical gear.
Medium-sized duffels in the 50L to 70L range are our favorite versatile volume, as they work for long weekend adventures, or international trips that last for months. Patagoniaโs 70L Black Hole and Ospreyโs 65L Transporter are some of our top picks in this range. They swallow enough gear to travel comfortably, but arenโt overly bulky and unwieldy.
Smaller duffels can dip as low as 25 L, and can be solid day packs or weekend carry-ons. We love the North Face Base Camp Voyager 40L rolling duffel as a carry-on for short flights, or the stylish Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L for spontaneous overnight trips.
Weight and Packed Size
Most people donโt plan to haul duffel bags on their person for very long like they would a traditional backpack, so weight isnโt a huge concern for many travelers. Sure, you may have to carry your duffel like a backpack from the airport to your hotel across town, but you wonโt be trekking up a mountain with it on your back.
You want your gear to be protected by thick, durable materials, with hefty zippers and straps. That said, most duffel bags maintain a relatively low weight and are often surprisingly packable. Many of the duffels on this list come with their own stuff sacks, and cram down to the size of a small throw pillow.
Nothing holds a candle to the packed size of Matadorโs Freefly 30L duffel though, which fits in the palm of your hand when shoved into its tiny stuff sack, and weighs a scant 8.5 ounces. Duffels like this are great solutions for throwing into larger suitcases to be used on shorter missions during your trip, or as backup luggage.
While a duffel bagโs weight doesnโt matter as much as that of an ultralight backpack, it is still an important consideration when planning your trip. Rolling duffels, for instance, can have dry weights north of 8 pounds (like the Patagonia Black Hole wheeled duffel), which is a significant chunk out of the 50-pound weight limit of checked baggage on most airlines.
Straps and Carrying Comfort
This is where duffel bag manufacturers truly flex their creative muscles. Simple side handles with a shoulder strap, removable backpack harness that stows into a pocket, or handles that transform into backpack straps and snap together with a magnet โ this feature can get complicated. It is an admittedly difficult conundrum for these brands. How do they keep the bag streamlined and easy to throw around, while making it comfortable enough to carry long distances?
Versatility is key when handling duffel bags, and different situations require you to carry them in different ways. You may just need a small handle on the side to transport your bag into another room or pull it from the bed of a truck. A single shoulder strap while lugging it between airport gates may suffice, while it makes sense to use a full backpack harness when walking across town. A good duffel bag can be grabbed from any angle and carried with ease.
Youโll see a lot of variety in the strap designs of duffel bags. Most will have some way of either carrying the bag slung over your shoulder with a single padded strap, or as a traditional backpack with two shoulder straps (generally found on models with larger volumes).
Our favorite layout for easy handling is two top carry handles, two haul handles on the top and bottom, and removable padded backpack straps. For us, this allows for maximum carrying comfort and quick organization during the duffel shuffle.
These bags get chucked around a lot, so the fewer loops and straps that could get snagged on things the better. For that reason, shoulder straps will usually be fully removable, or able to be tucked away in a pouch on the lid or side.
The Sea to Summit Duffel features one of the more unique carrying designs weโve seen. Cozy, contoured harness straps easily clip to the top and bottom of the pack, and have above-average padding for heavy loads. When you want to pick the bag up without wearing it on your back, magnets in the shoulder straps quickly snap together to form an effective carrying handle.
Peak Design’s Travel Duffel also has a good deal of modularity and allows you to configure its straps in different ways depending on how you want to carry it throughout your trip.
No matter how fancy the strap system is on a duffel, they will almost never be as comfortable as an actual backpacking backpack, so donโt plan on clocking serious miles with them. Though some will have hipbelts, without a backpack frame, beefy foam shoulder straps, or ventilation systems, they tend to wear you down pretty fast.
Materials and Weather Resistance
If duffels need to be one thing โ itโs durable. These bags often find themselves being tossed about, drug through the dirt, or strapped to the outside of trucks, and they need to keep expensive gear safe through it all.
The denier of a duffelโs material (often written as a number followed by โDโ), is a good general way to determine the durability and weather resistance of a bag. Denier is a unit of measurement that indicates the thickness of the yarns that are used to construct a fabric. The number represents the actual amount of yarn within each thread. So the durable 900-denier polyester shell of Patagoniaโs Black Hole contains 900 yarns within each of its threads, plus a TPU-film laminate for water resistance.
Most of the brands in our lineup employ some combination of tough ballistic nylon, polyester, or TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) laminate for their duffelโs face fabrics. TPU is a plastic-like film used to laminate and waterproof fabric โ it is not a fabric itself. These materials will often be ripstop to help fend off large tears, and many duffels have reinforced areas that get particularly abused, like the bottom.
Vinyl or laminate finishes are common on outdoor duffels and will keep the bagโs contents dry in light to moderate rain, but water will eventually leak through zippers and seams that arenโt taped. Fully waterproof models obviously donโt have this weakness.
From hard-working expedition bags with face fabrics boasting 1,000-denier or more, to ultralight casual duffels with flimsy 70-denier nylon shells, we cover a wide range of options on this list. While denier and fabric choice arenโt the only determining factors in a bagโs durability over long trips, itโs a good, quick way to compare different models and narrow in on the best pick for your travel needs.
Ease of Use and Packing
A variety of features contribute to a duffel bagโs ease of use while packing and unpacking your gear. Below weโve outlined some extra features that boost a bagโs useability.
Main Compartment
In case you havenโt caught it by now, our favorite lid design for duffels is definitely a large U-shaped opening. Nothing beats it for quickly accessing everything in the bagโs main compartment while maintaining structure and weather resistance. It is easier to add storm flaps to this design than it is on a single center zipper, as the lid flap naturally overlaps the zipper, protecting the zipper from moisture.
The Sea to Summit Duffle Bag has one of the larger, easier-to-open U-shaped lids we tried. We love being able to quickly see and rummage through piles of climbing and camping gear immediately after pulling it open.
Center zippers make it more difficult to pack things in an orderly fashion and access that gear when the bag is filled to the max. They do tend to be shorter than U-shaped zippers though, so can save some overall weight.
Some U-shaped openings hinge from the sides of the duffel, while others, like Ospreyโs Transporter or Rabโs Expedition KitBag, hinge from the top. This means the lid is longer and thinner when opened, which isnโt our favorite design, particularly if there are mesh pockets on the lid. They tend to be harder to hold open, and feel a bit floppy while accessing the pockets.
The main compartments of duffels will often have a couple of mesh zippered pockets inside or on the lid (like on Gregory’s Alpaca), or removable dividers to boost internal organization (like on Eagle Creekโs Cargo Hauler), but they are generally quite basic.
The fabric and design of a duffel help dictate how easy it is to pack with clothes and gear. Duffels that have stiffer sides and thicker fabrics are much easier to load up, as they stay firm even when empty, and donโt fold over on themselves while holding them open with one hand and packing with the other.
Our main complaint with our top pick, Patagoniaโs Black Hole, lies in its flimsy fabric. Models like The North Face Base Camp Duffel or Black Diamondโs StoneHauler, on the other hand, boast solid structure with stiff materials and padding to hold the bag open. However, this can come at the cost of a higher weight.
Extra Internal and External Pockets
With your bulky gear and clothing items inhabiting the main compartment, youโll want some smaller pockets for loose items like toiletries, passports, and electronics. Internal pockets help with organization, and external ones provide quick access to essentials while on the go.
We found that the vast majority of duffels have a couple of zippered mesh pockets on the inside of their lids. This isnโt our favorite design, as we prefer to have pockets in the main compartment itself, since heavy items in the lid make it unwieldy when opening and closing the bag. This does make it so that you can grab those items without having to shove other gear aside, but those pockets generally go unused by us.
Patagoniaโs Black Hole features one of our favorite pocket designs, with the ability to access one of its extra pockets from both outside or inside the bag.
Many duffels will have one or two zippered compartments on either end of the bag, which are often big enough for larger items like rain jackets or hiking shoes. These are great for keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones as the days go on, or for stashing gear you need to easily access.
Lashing Points
You may never have to tether your duffel to a muggy jeep bouncing down a dirt road, or a smelly yak teetering over a mountain pass โ but you definitely want it to be secure if you do. Bags for light travel and casual use might never see these conditions, but expedition duffels will often be put to the test atop a variety of different modes of transportation. These can be some of the most important elements of a duffel bag.
Most bags designed for outdoor use feature some layout of daisy chains or nylon straps along the sides of the bag. Our favorite daisy chain design is a horizontal configuration that runs the length of the bag, allowing for a more even tie-down of the load. Gregoryโs Alpaca, The North Face’s Base Camp, and Black Diamondโs StoneHauler sport this setup.
Sea to Summitโs Duffle Bag only has a couple of small lash points on each side, and Patagoniaโs Black Hole has two daisy chains that run vertically up the side, limiting your tie-down options. These arenโt our favorite configurations, but still get the job done.
No matter the layout, lashing points need to be robust enough to hold serious weight while tied to unstable vehicles and animals. You donโt want your gear tumbling down a slope mid-adventure because the stitching popped out.
Black Diamond nudges the bar high with the StoneHauler. They put its tie-down loops through the same load tests as their carabiners and cams, and rated each one to 2kN. The daisy chains on Gregoryโs Alpaca also inspire lots of confidence, and are great for strapping to pulk sleds or roof racks.
Waterproof duffels often forgo lashing points to reduce the amount of stitching on the bag, and casual-use duffels may leave them off, opting for a simpler, lighter design. If you plan on tying your bag down during your travels, make sure itโs ready for the job.
Internal and External Compression Straps
These are some of our favorite features of duffels, and we bemoan the design of a bag if it doesnโt have them. Aside from rolling duffels, most models on this list donโt have a lot of internal structure to speak of. For that reason, loads that donโt entirely fill the bag jostle and shift around a good deal during travel and can make the duffel unwieldy and floppy โ particularly when carrying it like a backpack.
Both internal and external compression straps help snug down the load, making it a tighter, easier-to-transport package. External compression straps are rarer, but can be found on bags like Rab’s Kitbag, or The North Face Base Camp.
Internal straps help keep things organized and compact while on the road. This means clothes stay folded, shoes stay together, and you wonโt find a tossed salad of gear when you zip open your bag at the end of the day.
Flying With Duffel Bags
Duffel bags can be great flying companions, and many brands offer 30L to 40L models that are carry-on compatible if youโre looking to dodge checked baggage fees. Patagoniaโs Black Hole, for instance, comes in the popular 40L option that meets most airline and train carry-on requirements.
Bag dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 inches are standard for carry-ons on many common airlines such as United, American, and Delta. Some airlines, like Delta, do not have weight limits for carry-ons to most destinations. Others, such as Frontier, put a cap at 35 pounds. Keep this in mind as you are loading up your bag. We found the 21โ The North Face Voyager wheeled duffel to be our go-to carry-on model for domestic and international flights alike.
Duffels make great checked bags as well. Since they weigh less themselves, you can often fill them with more heavy gear than regular suitcases, and they are built to be thrown around and handled roughly.
United, American, and Delta have weight limits of 50 pounds for checked bags, with common international airlines like Qatar, Turkish, and British Airways enforcing similar restrictions in the 51-55-pound range.
Airlines generally have checked bag size limits of around 35 x 30 x 17 inches, which is plenty big enough for most duffels youโll throw in the belly of a plane. Rolling duffels obviously provide some of the greatest ease of transport while navigating airports on a long trip.
If the entirety of your trip will accommodate a bag with wheels, weโd definitely recommend them. But be careful โ these are heavier duffels and you wonโt be able to pack quite as much before hitting 50 pounds.
Be sure to always check the baggage regulations of your airline before packing for your flight, as the above figures could change over time. Interested in how we pack our duffels, backpacks, and suitcases for various trips? Check out our tips and tricks for both domestic and international travel.
Value
While there are some great budget options out there, you do get what you pay for with duffel bags. In the midst of an adventure, duffel bags serve as the barrier between your valuable cargo and the unforgiving elements. Make sure you can travel with confidence.
Expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $300 for a quality duffel bag. Additional features and bleeding-edge technology boost the value and useability of a duffel bag โ along with its price tag.
Simple cheaper models like REIโs Roadtripper will get you a basic polyester tube with webbing for $65, which may be just what you need for occasional weekend jaunts. Staring down the barrel of a full-on expedition up Denali? Youโll need to shell out a bit more cash.
Duffel bags at the higher echelon of quality, functionality, and durability โ like Black Diamond’s StoneHauler โ will run up your tab ($230). If you’re seeking total confidence when toting your gear on truly rugged missions, the price tag may be justified. Burly SuperGrid ripstop fabric ain’t cheap, but it won’t break under pressure, preventing your cargo from spilling across the mountainside.
Down the middle of the road, you have casual-use models like Peak Design’s Travel Duffel, which aren’t crafted for wild expeditions but will still hold up to moderate abuse. These duffel bags will run you anywhere from $100 to $200 and are great versatile options for a variety of different travel scenarios.
No matter which duffel you go with, every bag on this list has proven to be dependable on far-flung overseas tours, and short overnight excursions alike. We feel confident recommending each of them for any journey youโve penned down on your bucket list.
FAQ
After years of stuffing climbing, camping, and expedition gear into the Patagonia Black Hole and hauling it to far-off places, we feel that it is the best all-around duffel bag on the market right now. While different models may serve you better for more niche needs, the Black Hole is one of the more versatile bags we tested, and performs incredibly on both tough outdoor missions and casual trips. It features our favorite strap layout, main opening, and fabric choice, and is just fantastic to travel with.
Duffels are flexible, light, extremely durable pieces of luggage that offer greater versatility than traditional suitcases. They are often cylindrical tube-like bags made with tough ballistic nylon or polyester and are quite weather-resistant, with zippered or drawstring openings at the top.
Suitcases, on the other hand, are usually rectangular rigid cases with a large hinged lid to access your possessions. They may not offer as much weather resistance, but will have more structure and often have wheels to help roll them long distances.
Duffels are the better option for outdoor and expedition use, as they are much easier to transport through difficult terrain, or to lash onto various vehicles or animals.
Travelers use duffel bags for various reasons, and the type of trips you have on the docket will help dictate the duffel you decide to buy. Some use them for simple weekend travel, while others depend on them to protect sensitive gear in harsh landscapes on wild adventures. Regardless of where you intend to bring your duffel, you want it to be reliable and durable enough to keep your gear protected from the elements.
Duffel bags make great travel luggage because of their malleable, versatile nature, and ability to be easily strapped to different modes of transportation. This makes them perfect for trips that go through a wide variety of landscapes and environments.
We highlight a number of different categories of duffels in this guide, and each one is catered to different types of trips. All of the duffels we tested fall into the following designations: expedition duffel bags, travel/casual use duffel bags, waterproof duffel bags, and rolling duffel bags.
Many of the bags above fit into a couple of different categories. The Cotopaxi Allpa, for instance, could easily be used for both casual use and expeditions in harsh settings.
Many models of duffel bags come in carry-on sizes, and can be used to cut down on the cost of checked baggage. Most airlines enforce dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 inches for carry-on bags. Usually, a duffel bag in the 30-40L range will fall within these restrictions.
Most duffels with volumes of 50 L or more will have either removable or stowable backpack straps to help with carrying your bag long distances. Not all backpack straps are created equal, though, and some are much more comfortable than others.
The Osprey Transporter has the most cozy backpack system of any of the duffels we tried, and we had no problem carting it across town to a bus stop or standing in line for hours in the airport with it on our backs.
No matter how fancy the backpack straps are on a duffel bag, they will almost never be as comfortable to carry as backpacking backpacks. You shouldn’t plan on having to trek for long periods of time with your duffel, as it could wear you down fast.
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