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Best Duffel Bag
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Features
Most outdoor enthusiasts want something that they can pack easily, and unpack easily when utilizing a duffel bag in the outdoors. One way to tell how easy a duffel bag will be to pack and unpack is to take a look at the main compartment area and the zippers around that area. Besides that, check out the number and use of the pockets on the bag, the size of the opening, and if you need to pack larger items, make sure you get a bag you can get those large items in and out of the bag quickly. When looking at the duffel bag, take a look at how hard it might be to search around the inside of the bag to find your items, which means the more organizational features, the better.
Duffel bags that have a D-shaped zipper opening will be easier to pack and unpack than a bag with a straight-lined zipper, simply because D-shaped openings create a wider opening size and shape. Nowadays, many bags come with D-shaped openings, and the North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag was the first manufacturer to offer this feature. If you know you need to pack and unpack things like poles or other large items, you want a bag that opens long and wide enough to pack this. Also, the number of pockets on the bag and how easy these pockets are to access and organize becomes a necessary feature if you want a bag that packs up easier.
Now, more pockets on a bag usually mean that the bag will cost a bit more, so this is one of those features that will be up to you and your budget. And, if you’re not packing anything long or large, you might not need to pay for the D-shaped zipper. Consider how you are going to use the bag and if you need several easy packing features before you purchase your bag.
Portability
Some duffel bags are designed to offer better easy-carry features than others. If you want a bag that you can carry in multiple ways, over your shoulder, as a backpack, or in your hand, then you might want to opt for a more versatile carrying bag. Some bags come with backpack straps while others don’t, and if you do plan on hiking for long periods with your bag, chances are you’ll want a bag that at least features a backpack carry option.
The straps many of these duffel bags use for a backpack, or other carry options can make or break the comfort level when you carry the bags. Different backpack straps offer various levels of comfort, and a lot of this depends on the foam thickness on the straps, and where you’ll find the foam and padding. Another thing to consider is how easy the backpack straps come off if you don’t wish to use them since some bags have better options than others when it comes to removing the straps.
If you want a bag that can give you a variety of carrying options, then something like the Gregory Alpaca Duffel will work well for you since you can carry it as a backpack, in your hand, or over your shoulder. Bags with these features do tend to cost more and aren’t always lightweight, so those are your trade-offs. You need to decide whether you need this variety or not, and how beneficial it might be for your outdoor activities.
Make sure to also assess the duffel bag’s lashing points and compression straps so you can see how easy the bag is to attach to things or fit into certain areas. A duffel bag that offers all three carrying options usually works best for versatility and adaptation, but might not be lightweight or affordable enough for everybody. Some duffel bags allow you to more easily pull them out of places or drag them and include drag loops—a feature that’s great when you’re traveling but might not be necessary if you are only using the bag for outdoor trips.
Durability
Since people using duffel bags outdoors want a strong, durable bag, they need to look at the bag’s material, the way the seams are stitched, and the types of zippers on the bags. Most bags made for outdoor use have polyurethane on them, which is very durable and water-resistant. However, some bags have other materials and features on them.
Most outdoor enthusiasts want a bag that will keep water out, so you want to invest in a bag that’s water-resistant, or even better, waterproof. You want a bag that can protect your items if you encounter adverse weather, rain, snow, or even if you drop the bag in a puddle. The more waterproof and weatherproof the bag, the better your items will be protected, but also the more the bag is likely to cost.
Materials
Good waterproof materials in duffel bags include high denier nylon, PVC, polyester with a tarpaulin, or vinyl laminate. Many of these materials are also found in whitewater rafts, meaning they not only keep water out but also are very strong and don’t rip or tear easily. Plus, water-resistant materials on duffel bags can make these bags much easier-to-clean. An extra feature to look at is how the zippers or clips close on the bag, and how sturdy the seams are for keeping water and other unwanted items out of the bag. Plus, you want strong stitching anyway, especially if you’re carrying a lot of items in your bag.
Top 10 Picks
1. North Face Base Camp
If you’re looking for a great duffel bag that can withstand weather conditions while you’re outdoors and help you with organization, then the North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag is a great option. It’s one of the lightest duffel bags on the market that has backpack straps—although it’s about average weight if you compare it across the board to all duffel bags.
Read moreFeatures
One nice feature the North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag brings you is its little additions, like the small window it has on it so you can place your contact info in the bag in case you use it. The bag also has multiple grab points, dual daisy chains, solid compression straps, and a helpful zipper mesh pocket.
Portability
This can be worn as a typical one-strap duffel bag, or you can attach shoulder straps and wear it as a backpack.
Durability
The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag has been on the market for a long time, and while it’s manufacturers update it routinely, it’s managed to stay so popular because of its durability and organizational features. It’s very easy to carry, both on outdoor trips and even on airplanes, and includes a nice waterproof and weather-resistant fabric.
Materials
The bag is made from 1,000D TPE-fabric laminate, free from phthalate.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel bag also comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors, giving you a lot of options in weight, style, and what you can bring along with you. You’ll also love the long-lasting durability and how easy it is to pack this duffel bag since it includes a lot of pockets to help with organization.
2. Patagonia Black Hole
If you’re looking for a very lightweight duffel bag to take along on your outdoor trips, then you might want to consider the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag. This duffel bag is one of the lightest outdoor versions of this type of product you can find on the market today.
Read moreFeatures
Considering this duffel bag comes with padded shoulder straps and is so lightweight, weighing under three pounds, it’s got a lot of pockets and organizational opportunities to offer. You won’t have to worry about not locating items in your bag since you’ll have plenty of places to stash your things.
Portability
Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel Bag’s features make it an easy-to-use bag since it’s very easy to transport and comfortable to carry along on any trip. It’s got excellent supportive shoulder straps which you can also remove if you plan to not use them, but will feel comfortable and easy-to-carry if you do opt to move the bag with them on.
Durability
Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel Bag is also made with weather-resistant and water-resistant materials, making it very durable for any outdoor trip. It will protect your items well, while also giving you plenty of pocket options so you can easily find what you need.
Materials
The bag is made from 900D Polyester ripstop with TPU film and a DWR finish. It has a bit of a sheen to it, but that also makes it easier to find in dim lighting, or to locate at the airport.
3. Osprey Transporter
With a trusted name like Osprey, you already know that it's going to be a great product. The Transporter is a great addition that can be carried as a traditional duffel or a backpack. It is incredibly durable and available in multiple capacities and color choices. In fact, in 2018 the Transporter won the #1 spot as the Best Travel Luggage from Carryology.
Read moreFeatures
The Transporter is available in multiple sizes, but we will be focusing on the 65L for this review. Other sizes available include 40L, 95L, and 130L. The 65L provides you with ample space and is great for a business or leisure trip, a hiking or camping trip, or even a flight. The pack fully zips open, making it easy to pack and unpack or search for a certain item.
On the outside, you’ll find a space for an ID card and eight side panel lashing points that you can use to secure the bag in place or to attach gear. As an added bonus, if you are using it as a backpack, on the sternum strap, there is a built-in whistle.
Portability
This piece of luggage is highly portable, as any luggage should be. Initially, you have the option to attach the padded strap and wear the bag like a true duffel bag. If it’s a bit too heavy or just not your style, you can unpack the padded backpack straps and sternum strap. If you would rather just pick it up and go, there are also four webbed grab handles.
Durability
The main compartment of the Transporter is made from 840D double coated Nylon TPU. This protects your bag from the outdoor elements, as well as protects your bag from whatever objects you have packed inside as well. The duffel has a slightly stiff feeling that helps it to keep its shape no matter what you pack inside.
The zippers strategically overlap and the rain flaps provide extra weather resistance. There are a couple of panels that are less durable than the main body, and for the reason, we can’t say this bag is waterproof. However, it is very strong, durable, and water-resistant for sure.
Materials
The body and bottom of this duffel are made from 840D double coated Nylon TPU. The accent panels are made from 400D double coated Nylon TPU. The zippers are large and slide comfortably and have large and reinforced handles. The zippers of the main compartment can be secured with a lock through two metal loops.
4. Gregory Alpaca
If you’re looking for a good, versatile, all-around duffel bag to protect your belongings on your outdoor trips, then the Gregory Alpaca Duffel Bag just might have some of the benefits and features you need.
Read moreFeatures
The Gregory Alpaca Duffel Bag also includes several small features that many outdoor enthusiasts love, like many indoor pockets for organization, nice daisy-chain-like lash points, and helpful compression straps to help you carry the bag. Plus, with the ability to carry this bag in a variety of ways, this is one of the most versatile options on the market.
The Gregory Alpaca Duffel Bag’s backpack straps are sized well and include padding on the top of the bag, keeping your items from hitting you in the back if you carry the bag this way. Also, the bag has a nice D-shaped opening and a lot of strength and durability.
Portability
The Gregory Alpaca Duffel Bag offers the most carrying options of any other duffel bag on the market, and can be used as a briefcase, carried over the shoulder, or carried as a backpack depending on how you use the removable shoulder strap.
Durability
The Gregory Alpaca Duffel Bag is made to be both weather-resistant and water-resistant so that your belongings will stay safe no matter where you find yourself. It’s also very comfortable to carry, and with its versatility, you should be happy with it no matter how you plan to use it.
Materials
This duffel is made from 900D Polyester ripstop with a TPU coating and 630H HD Nylon. The Polyester is diamond-woven and for ultimate durability and resistance.
5. Helly Hansen 2
The latest Helly Hansen Duffel Bag, called the Helly Hansen Duffel Bag 2, is a more updated version than its previous duffel bag, with many of the same design features but offering you a better and more durable fabric.
Read moreFeatures
Helly Hansen’s Duffel Bag 2 also has a nice variety of pockets to help you organize your items so you can easily find them. There is an external pocket with a zipper, as well as an internal pocket to hold other items.
Portability
On the Helly Hansen Duffel Bag 2, you get two top carry straps that include removable padded shoulder straps so that you can adjust how you carry the bag. Plus, this bag is packable in an external wash bag and is also carry-on compatible if you plan on using it to travel on an airplane.
Durability
The Helly Hansen Duffel Bag 2 is stronger than the previous version and includes an outer material that makes the bag both water and weather resistant so that your items stay safe inside the bag.
Another feature Helly Hansen added to their new duffel bag to increase durability is better stitching around the shoulder straps, which helps to reinforce the strength and carrying power of the bag. The shoulder strap update is also more comfortable and built to last longer than the previous model.
Materials
The exact materials used to make this duffel aren’t listed. However, the material has been described as “rugged” and “water-resistant.” We can assume that it may be a Nylon or Polyester material with TPU.
6. Kwik Tek Dry Pak
If you like easy access to your items in a great duffel bag, then the Kwik Tek Dry Pak Duffel Bag could be an excellent product for your outdoor carrying needs. The Kwik Dry Pak Duffel Bag comes with a very wide opening on the top, making it easy to access your items.
Read moreFeatures
Along with the easy access you get from the Kwik Tek Dry Pak Duffel Bag’s opening, you also can easily close the bag when you’re done opening it by pulling the sides together, then rolling them down. There are side snap buckles on each side that snap in together so you know your bag will stay closed.
Portability
You can wear this bag or carry it with you. It comes with dual grab straps and a padded, adjustable, detachable shoulder strap.
Durability
The Kwik Tek Dry Pak also comes with a water-resistant and weather-resistant material on the outside and includes two zippered water-resistant pockets on both sides of the bag to help you easily access items you want to keep on the outside of your bag.
Materials
The material this bag is designed with is a durable vinyl and polyester laminate, which helps keep the bag strong and weather-resistant. The Kwik Tek Dry Pak is also designed with welded seams that keep water out, and the outside of the bag is made to protect your items on the inside.
7. OverBoard Waterproof Pro-Sports
If you want a duffel bag that’s totally waterproof and made to handle just about anything you might run into outdoors, then you might want to consider the OverBoard Waterproof Pro-Sports Duffel Bag.
Read moreFeatures
Not only is the waterproof and weatherproof protection of this bag so amazing, but it also includes an easy and secure way to open and fold it. You can open the main compartment by folding it down several times, using the two compression strap release buckles and side release buckles. There is a quick-release handle option you can use after you unbuckle the bag to open it efficiently.
Portability
There is plenty of organization to pack you items, including an external waterproof zippered pocket, one Velcro mesh pocket on the front, a vented pocket on one end, and two mesh pockets on the inside. The bag also features a top haul handle and adjustable, removable shoulder straps.
Durability
The OverBoard Waterproof Pro-Sports Duffel Bag is also made with high frequency welded seams to add even more waterproof protection to the bag. Even if you drop this bag into a body of water, it’ll float to the top and nothing inside the bag will get wet since it is made to repel rain, dust, and snow.
Materials
OverBoard made this bag to be 100% waterproof, with an outer shell designed from PVC tarpaulin, meaning you never have to worry about your items getting wet.
8. Exped Tempest
For those outdoor enthusiasts who want a simple, easy-to-use, minimalistic bag, then the Exped Tempest Duffel Bag might be a great product for them. While it doesn’t look like it offers much considering its price when you first see it, it’s earned a popular reputation because of its high performance and durability for outdoor enthusiasts.
Read moreFeatures
The full-length zipper is smooth and makes packing and unpacking a breeze. Exped’s bag gives you more than just your standard waterproof body on the bag since the zippers on this bag are also made to keep water from getting inside the bag, keeping the bag airtight.
Portability
The design of Exped’s Tempest Duffel Bag is simple and lightweight, and they’ve kept the straps and buckles on this bag to a minimum to make it light and easy-to-carry. The bag also comes with nylon straps if you want to carry it like a backpack.
Durability
Exped also made this duffel bag with welded seams to bring you further water and weather-proof resistance, and the bag is 100% waterproof. If you do a lot of outdoor activities that put you in danger of getting wet or running into adverse weather, then this bag can store your gear and keep it safe.
Materials
The Exped Tempest Duffel bag is made from a hydrophobic material that’s then laminated with a combination of fabrics that’s designed to make the bag totally waterproof.
9. Watershed Yukon
For those outdoor enthusiasts planning to endure harsh weather conditions and tough environments, they’ll need a strong, water-repelling bag like the Watershed Yukon Duffel Bag to better protect their items. The Watershed Yukon Duffel Bag is made to be a great bag that can endure any type of hardcore outdoor activity and environment.
Read moreFeatures
This duffel bag includes a wide mouth opening so it’s easy to get your stuff out of your bag. Featuring extra compression straps, your items will stay in place, so your belongings are organized.
Portability
This bag can not be used as a backpack. It does have two rugged handles and plenty of lashing points to attach gear or anchor down the duffel.
Durability
The Watershed Yukon Duffel Bag is also made to be durable and long-lasting, and even if you drop the Watershed Yukon Duffel Bag into a body of water, it’s made to keep water out and your gear safe.
Materials
The Watershed Yukon Duffel Bag has been used by outdoor enthusiasts who travel on Arctic expeditions and difficult mountain hiking trips. The Watershed Yukon Duffel Bag is made to be better than most other water-resistant bags, meaning that it’s fully waterproof. It is made from a Nylon Ripstop fabric that is chemical and UV-resistant.
Its outside material is totally waterproof, it’s also made with welded seams to seal the inside of the bag from water exposure, and it comes with a ZipDry closure feature that keeps the bag closed against water and other exposure.
10. Wolfman Expedition
The Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel Bag offers another option to outdoor enthusiasts who know they’ll be traveling in harsh environments and need waterproof protection for their belongings. While this bag is designed for motorcycle use, it still works well on the trails and is fully waterproof with an easy-to-open design.
Read moreFeatures
The Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel Bag utilizes a roll-top design, so all you need to do is roll the top of the bag down to close it and then secure it with the compression straps. The compression straps are designed to keep items securely in place, so your items will never spill out or hit you in the back as you carry the bag.
Portability
The carrying handles are padded so that you’ll feel more comfortable as you carry the bag around. There is also a removable shoulder strap to carry the bag like a traditional duffel. It couldn’t be comfortably worn as a backpack.
Durability
The material, construction, and compression straps all work together to make this a durable bag. The waterproof construction and welded seams can hold up to just about anything.
Materials
Another nice feature on the Wolfman Expedition Dry Duffel Bag is its waterproof webbing on top to keep contents dry from rain or water. Plus, the vinyl fabric the bag is made out of makes it durable and sturdy, so it can hold a lot while staying sturdy and keeping your items safe.
This bag also has a stylish appearance, with a sleek and shiny material that makes it attractive to look at, which is a nice, but not totally necessary benefit.
Sources
- , BEST DUFFEL BAGS OF 2019, Outdoors Blog
- , The Best Duffle Bags, The Wire Cutter