Pack Duffels

Featured review by Snigjs

Patagonia's Black Hole Duffel line has 4 sizes, 45L, 60L, 90L and 120L. All are made from a durable water resistant fabric which can take a beating. I have the 60L size which is perfect for hauling around a ton of gear while still being carry-on size.

Likes Size/Shape: The 60L duffel is just within carry-on size limits. With a little coaxing, I've gotten it to fit into even the smaller overhead compartments. For carrying gear on a plane, a duffel bag has advantages over a backpack in that it doesn't have any hard panels that can't be compressed. Also, a rectangular shape can hold more volume than a backpack which is generally taller and skinner with a rounded top. Finally, the rectangular shape is easily stacked versus a cylindrical shape like the North Face Base Camp Duffel.

Read more: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel reviews (3)

Featured review by Andrew F.

My size small base camp duffel is a favorite for short work trips and toting small amounts of extra gear to and from a trailhead. It is built to withstand harsh punishment, easy to carry, and easy to access the interior contents. Cost is the only negative.

Available from carry-on size to trek-swallowing massive, the base camp duffel might be the most indestructible and comfortable way to get your stuff from one place to the other. Mine is a size small, and I use it primarily for air travel, national and international, and for storing extra stuff to toss into the back of the car for a hiking trip. Mine is about five years old. What makes this such a great bag? MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION The bag itself is pretty simple—one D shaped zipper opening, super durable handles, straps and materials, very usable shoulder straps for getting this through airports or carrying to a remote bus stop.

Read more: The North Face Base Camp Duffel reviews (5)

Reviewed by Andrew F.

A great choice for a mid-large sized duffel. Durable, multiple good carry options, and some helpful internal organization. The shoulder straps are comfortable and pretty easy to remove. The top opening is particularly wide, which helps with packing. Only downsides? Fairly heavy and expensive.

  Just carried through an airport.  Shoulder straps stashed. BASIC DETAILS The Chasm is a heavy-duty duffel line from Thule, a Swedish company I mostly thought of as a good roof rack maker. This 70-liter duffel weighs 3.9 pounds empty and is 27x16x12 inches. These duffels are made from 100% recycled materials and come in 30, 40, 70, 90, and 130 liter sizes. These duffels main bag is made of 900D laminate; the bottom is reinforced with textured polyester.  FEATURES WORTH MENTIONING Carrying larger duffels is a pretty important part of the equation.

Read more: Thule Chasm 70L review (1)

Featured review by Andrew F.

This is a review of the largest (120 liter) Alpaca, whose primary role will be long trips and transporting my big backpack and gear. Durable fabrics and features mean the bag will last a very long time. It has comfortable shoulder straps and multiple handles for getting around. Top opening is big, a plus for packing. If there is a downside, the removable shoulder straps lack a quick release—takes some work.

  BASIC INFO Shows how the shoulder straps attach at the top. Dog and starfish not included.   The Alpaca 120 is a big bag, no way around it. Capacity is 120 liters, or about 7,300 cubic inches. It weighs about 4 pounds, empty. [for the sake of comparison, the extra large LL Bean Adventure Duffel that the Alpaca replaced holds 139 liters and weighs a little less than 3 1/2 pounds]. The main pack is made of 900 denier polyester ripstop with a TPU coating on the outside, making it effectively waterproof in the rain unless there is a concentrated stream of water hitting the zipper and avoiding the overlapping cover—very unlikely.

Read more: Gregory Alpaca Duffle reviews (2)

Reviewed by Bob Peltzer

While not a backpack it is a great duffle bag for flights and vehicle-supported travel. Rainproof and wearable as a backpack it can expand or compact as needed. Rugged and well made.

           I bought this for a vehicle-supported bicycle trip across central Africa. We were required to have two bags and neither could weigh more than approximately 50 pounds (22.5kg). Since our bags were sometimes stored outside in all sorts or weather it was recommended that the bags be rainproof. I also had some bulky items such as a bicycle helmet and rack packs that, while not heavy, took up a lot of space. This bag has a zippered section that allows it to expand from 80L to 120L in a few seconds.

Read more: Forclaz Simond 500 Extend 80-120 L Duffel Bag review (1)

Reviewed by Paul Wong

Great convertible duffle/backpack. Rain resistant and bomb-proof. TSA friendly. Check it in!

As an active Scouter with a Pack AND Troop, I camp a lot. I've purchased different bags over the years in an effort to find the perfect bag. Is the Transporter the go-to bag? Not exactly, but pretty close. When my Troop went to Hawaii at Camp Pupukea, I looked around for a duffle bag that the Scouts could use regularly and was TSA friendly (i.e., lockable). After several trips to REI and beyond, I settled on recommending the Osprey Transporter. Simply put, it works. You can stuff it. You can even overstuff it.

Read more: Osprey Transporter 95 review (1)

Reviewed by Hiram

Hi, I really enjoy the Transporter line from Osprey. Osprey's construction is tough and their suspension systems are very reliable. I bought these packs about five years ago before I moved to Germany for a year. I needed bags that I could travel with, as well as carry a heck of a lot of stuff in (hey, I brought my Nintendo 64 with me!). I searched for a long time looking for the right bag. Nothing really stood out at me. I wanted something versatile, and nothing on wheels. I finally stumbled across the Transporters.

Read more: Osprey Transporter 90 review (1)

Reviewed by Charles Polidano

Protective cover for medium size rucksacks when travelling by air. Packs down to a compact size.

Hiking rucksacks tend to have plenty of dangling straps that can get caught in airport luggage conveyor belts, risking damage if they are checked in as hold luggage. The Osprey Airporter is a protective cover that completely encases your rucksack, eliminating this problem. The Airporter packs into its own pocket, so you can keep it in your rucksack till it's time for your flight back home.  The Airporter comes in different sizes. The small is rated for rucksacks of up to 50 litres in volume.

Read more: Osprey Airporter Small review (1)

Reviewed by Gilipollas

(Nearly) perfect rope and gear bag.

This is just what I wanted when looking for a rope bag. It has everything I wanted: a ton of storage, integrated (not to mention removable) tarp, backpack straps, waist belt, looks great, super durable.  After returning the Metolius Speedster for lack of volume, I picked this pack/duffel up. Huge improvement. A bit more expensive, but worth it. It's huge inside, the full length zipper is convenient, material is burly, the backpack straps are really comfy (although not terribly padded), and the waistbelt is substantial and actually useful.  I pretty easily fit my 60m 10.2 rope, 10 draws, chalk bag, two 30m accessory cords, harness with biners and other crap, some webbing, helmet, and shoes.

Read more: Black Diamond Demon Duffel review (1)

Reviewed by Badass Outdoors

This is a great International Carry On sized piece of luggage for the serious traveler. Mine had a minor failure, hence the three stars. If you get one with no issues, the design and function of this little pack could be excellent for business and pleasure.

I’m a backpack man. From my first overnight at my grandparents to more recent adventures in Panama and Iceland, I packed a pack that went on my back, no wheeled luggage for me. One of the contributing reasons for my pack preference is a wildly irrational one, filled with action-packed fantasy. I always figured, should we all need to sprint across the airport and seek cover in the nearby hills, those poor suckers pulling their wheeled gear would have to abandon the entirety of their belongings while I, pack on back, would be ready for the next act in the action thriller in my mind, Airport Departure.

Read more: Eagle Creek ORV Wheeled Duffel International Carry On review (1)