- There's no question that the modest duffle bag
is a staple to the travel world.
Their overall simplicity, versatility,
and durability have stood the test of time.
I'm Tom, the founder of Pack Hacker,
your guide to smarter travel.
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Our team of world travelers and gear heads
have tested and reviewed hundreds of different types
of travel-focused gear.
And in this video we're talking about duffle bags.
We've been testing over 50 duffles,
for both the daily grind and travel,
including domestic and international flights.
We've even made a detailed guide
on how to choose the best duffle bag
to fit your travel needs, so make sure to go check it out
over on our website, packhacker.com.
We'll link to it in the description below.
We recommend you open up a new tab
and follow along with this video
or bookmark it for later.
We won't be covering everything from the written guide
in this video, because if we did it would be really long.
We will however be covering how you can choose
the best duffle bag for you,
some reasons why you may want one,
and the different types and categories of duffles,
as well as how they break down.
And remember, we'll have some examples in the video as well,
a lot of which we've fully reviewed over on the website.
So we'll leave links to those
in the description below as well.
Let's jump into the video.
(upbeat music)
There are so many ways to haul your stuff,
so why choose a duffle bag?
If you've watched any of our videos before,
you'll know we're big fans of one-bag travel,
using nothing but a backpack.
But there are some times when traveling
with a duffle just makes sense.
First of all there's two-bag travel,
which, you guessed it, involves two bags.
Essentially, you shove your clothes, toiletries,
and other gear into a larger duffle bag,
while packing your laptop, tech accessories,
and in-flight essentials into a smaller daypack.
This is how Nathan and Rebecca on the team recently traveled
from London to the U.S. and back.
Duffles are also great for road trips,
mainly because they're very easy
to stack up in the trunk of your car
and you could just easily toss them in.
Plus, depending on the duffle,
you can squish them into random nooks
and crannies leftover from your other stuff.
Duffles are also easy, simple, and just generally no-frills.
They can usually hold a lot of stuff.
If you have a lot of stuff,
but zero patience to organize it, you'll love a duffle.
Just toss everything in and you're good to go.
Additionally, a duffle can look more professional
than other bags out there.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule,
but it stands true the majority of the time.
Finally, you may just be a big fan of duffle bags
and you want to make one work
for any use case that you have.
And that's great.
You can usually find quality duffles
at affordable price points.
Duffles are tremendously popular bags,
and we don't see that changing any time soon.
So we broke them out into categories
and we want to take you through each one.
So the categories include classic, hybrid,
digital, roller, and alternates.
Let's jump into these categories
and see what each has to offer.
The classic duffle is a duffle bag in its simplest form.
It's usually a long, horizontal bag
with a zipper down the middle lengthwise,
two grab handles, and usually a shoulder strap.
The organization is minimal.
You might find a couple of pockets inside
or at the end of the bag.
But that simplicity is what makes
the classic duffle so versatile.
That being said, if you want to add some organization,
we recommend using packing cubes
or compression sacks to compartmentalize your gear inside.
Make sure to check out our guide on
how to choose the best packing cubes for you,
link in the description below.
If you're interested in two-bag travel,
the classic duffle is a solid option.
Your tech and in-flight essentials are organized
in your smaller backpack,
and then you can just throw your clothes
and bulkier items in the duffle and you're good to go.
Peak Design's 32 liter duffle blends that simplistic style,
along with a couple of Peak Design's modernized features
as well, like magnets on the handles and such.
There's a bit more organization here
than you typically see in classic duffles,
but we found ourselves being able
to use the space really well.
It's also a great looking bag.
So we hold aesthetic polls over on our Instagram channel
and this is one of the highest rated bags in terms of look.
The Topo Designs Classic Duffel is a simple bag
that can fit plenty of stuff.
About as classic as a duffle can be, it's even in the name.
It's made in the U.S.A. and built to last
with some super durable hardware.
It's available in a few different colors,
but we've really been digging the all black
on black color way.
If you're after a more heritage vibe,
the NutSac Duffel is a solid option.
Made with wax canvas and leather accents,
this bag not only looks good, but it's durable too.
The downside to a duffle bag like this is the weight.
It's pretty heavy, weighing in at about three pounds, empty.
But if you can get past that,
it is a solid bag that won't let you down,
and, yes, there is a version
that doesn't have the NutSac logo right on it,
just the acorn.
A hybrid duffle is a bag that can be carried
both as a duffle and a backpack.
We like the idea of a hybrid duffle,
or buffle, as we sometimes call them,
because they tend to be versatile.
You get the benefits of a duffle:
simplicity, durability, and space,
with the option to carry it as a backpack
when you find yourself covering long distances.
However, we usually find these things being mediocre
as a backpack and a duffle combined,
and they don't really excel at being one or the other.
In general, we prefer to have either an exceptional backpack
or an exceptional duffle.
That said, these packs are very popular,
and if you have the right use case,
there's a ton to choose from.
A slimmer profile is better for hybrids,
not only because the handles are closer together
for an easier carry in duffle mode,
but the bag will also sit tighter against your back
when converted to backpack mode.
The recurring theme of a lot of these bags is
that they lack the traditional structure
that a backpack would,
so it can create a saggy carrying experience
while in backpack mode, compared to a travel backpack.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel is one
of the most popular hybrid bags out there
and it is available in a ton of different color ways.
You have this funky purple and teal one here
that we reviewed over on the site.
It's surprisingly comfortable to carry as a backpack,
and the shoulder straps also act as duffle handles,
so they can be hard to grab ahold of
when you're in duffle carrying mode.
Another big hitter in the hybrid duffle market
is the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel.
This is the 40 liter version.
In contrast to the North Face Base Camp Duffel,
this thing has separate shoulder straps and duffle handles,
which makes for a better carry overall,
but those two modes of carry can interfere with one another.
We like the new recycled Black Hole fabric
that Patagonia uses and it's holding up really well
after some solid testing.
Again, we've reviewed this fully over at packhacker.com.
Finally, the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 is a maximum size
carryon bag that can be carried as a backpack,
a messenger bag, and of course, a duffle.
We like the clever design and the ability to integrate
with other Tom Bihn products.
Overall it's a versatile pack that performs well
when it comes to one-bag travel.
The digital duffle, as we've been calling it
over here at Pack Hacker is the new and exciting up
and comer to the duffle bag family.
It's designed to hold all of your travel gear
and your clothing, as well as all of your tech.
There's typically a ton of organization,
including a dedicated laptop compartment,
which is something you won't find on other duffle bags.
Again, we are huge fans of backpacks here at Pack Hacker,
but we do understand that they can come
off a little bit casual in a business meeting,
especially one that you have traveled halfway
across the country or world for.
The messenger bag may work even better
for business purposes,
but sometimes you're going to have to bring your travel bag
into a meeting because you're walking off a plane
and into the office.
If you're a digital nomad or a frequent business traveler
and want to travel with a duffle bag,
a digital duffle is a great option.
When it comes to organizing all of your accessories,
few do it better than the Aer Travel Duffel.
A sophisticated travel duffle with durable materials
and some great organization,
we think this is one of the sleeker of the digital duffles
that we have reviewed to date.
The laptop compartment does lack a false bottom,
so we'd recommend putting your laptop
in a sleeve for added protection.
If you want all the details about this bag
and several other of the duffles in this video,
make sure to check out the full reviews at packhacker.com,
link in the description below.
At 35 liters, the Pakt One is large enough to use
for one-bag travel.
Plus, its streamlined and minimal design allows it
to work well for trips for the coffee shop, too.
This thing opens up in a full clamshell style,
which makes it really easy to pack.
And the external pockets come in handy
to organize all your tech accessories and travel essentials.
The Tortuga Setout Duffle was designed in conjunction
with the Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack
to be used as a two-bag travel system.
That being said, with it's own laptop compartment
and plenty of organization, this thing can still work well
on its own for one-bag travel, too.
And it is a great option if you're looking
for a digital duffle.
This one's easy.
It has wheels.
Wheel duffles are good with you're traveling
with a ton of stuff and it's just not practical
to carry the weight.
And they usually have duffle-style handles
or a shoulder strap that make them easy to pick up,
and they're much easier to maneuver around rough terrain,
compared to something like roller luggage.
Almost all the well-known brands,
including Patagonia, Osprey, Eagle Creek, and The North Face
offer a roller version of their duffles,
which tend to have a larger capacity
than their non-roller counterparts.
Make sure to pay attention to the quality
and the size of the wheels.
Your intended use case matters a lot here.
If you're planning on using a roller duffle for camping
or outdoor adventures, the wheels need to be hardy enough
to go over mud, dirt, and trails.
If you're planning on wheeling your duffle
through the airport and from your Uber to your hotel,
the wheels don't need to be as robust.
The Thule Subterra Wheeled Duffel is part
of the Subterra series that we are big fans
of over here at Pack Hacker.
This thing has some big and chunky wheels on it,
which make it easy to roll.
The unique feature of this duffle is
that it can actually be split into
two independent carryon-compliant pieces.
You may or may not need this, depending on your use case,
but it's great to have the option.
Next up, we have the Arc'teryx V80 Rolling Duffle,
which is one of the easiest bags to pull
and glide around with.
This is largely thanks to its large sturdy aluminum frame,
big handles, and giant wheels.
The rounded square shape of the bag is designed
for maximum packing, but it can be a bit cumbersome,
due to the frame.
Finally, the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler.
This is a 110 liter beast of a bag.
It can be carried as a backpack,
which is a bit crazy at the size when it's fully packed out.
And believe it or not,
it can actually be compressed down
and packed away when not in use.
It's also available in a fair amount
of interesting color ways, so there's a ton to choose from.
There's not much structure or a solid handle,
so we found rolling this bag when not packed full
to be a little bit frustrating.
Those are the four main categories of duffle for travel,
and of course, there are a bunch of other duffles
for specific use cases, so we'll cover what we can
in this alternate section.
First of all, packable duffles, they can be packed
and compressed into themselves and put in a larger bag.
It's important to note that some of these
are more packable than others.
For instance, the North Face Base Camp Duffel
could be considered packable
because it has its own carrying case,
but it would be difficult to throw
into a one-bag travel bag,
therefore, we don't really consider it a packable duffle.
At just over six ounces, the Osprey Stuff Duffel is one
of the smallest and most packable duffles around.
We've tested a fair amount of Ultralight Osprey gear
and the 40D rip style nylon and YKK zippers they use
have all fared reasonably well, even after extended use.
If you're in search of a packable duffle,
this one from Osprey is a good choice.
A weather-resistant duffle is exactly what you'd imagine.
Basically a duffle that is resistant to moisture and water.
These are great for adventures that may involve
heavy precipitation, boats, rivers, and waterfalls.
Unlike most weather-resistant duffles that will just feature
highly weather-resistant zippers and materials,
the YETI Panga is actually fully submergable.
This is a great duffle to have if you are wading
through a river on an adventure vacation.
Like most YETI products, this thing is made
with durable materials, and despite how it looks,
this thing is relatively comfortable to carry,
both as a duffle and a backpack.
Next up we have gear haulers,
which are essentially huge duffles.
Most people won't need anything this big,
but if your use case needs it
then gear hauler is what you'll want
when you're lugging around a ton of stuff.
At 90 liters, the Mystery Ranch Mission Duffel
is a big bag and a great gear hauler.
It's built to last, and no matter
how you throw this thing around,
it should stand the test of time.
The Mystery Ranch Mission Duffel is also available
in 40 liters and 55 liter sizes too.
But when you have a ton of stuff,
the 90 liter is the way to go.
Finally, the weekender is a more
tote-adjacent style dufflebag.
They're typically a little bit more polished
and perfect if you take lots of weekends away
or short business trips.
They're also a handy bag to take to the gym.
The Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe is a great example
of a traditional weekender bag.
We like the aesthetic you get
with the organic cotton material
and it feels great to the touch.
But just note that it can make the bag
a bit floppy at times.
With smart organization and thoughtful features,
the Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe is a stylish
and versatile weekend bag.
So there you have it, we have taken you through how
to choose the best duffle bag for you,
as well as some examples of duffle bags that are out there
in the different types.
Be sure to let us know what you think of this video
in the comments below,
and if you haven't already, make sure to go check out
that guide at packhacker.com or bookmark it for later use.
And as always, we reviewed a lot of these bags
over on the website as well,
so if you're curious about any of them,
we likely have some content over there.
Thanks for keeping it here at Pack Hacker,
Your Guide to Smarter Travel.
We'll see you in the next video.