There’s your 45-liter carry-on duffel for longweekend trips, and then there are these guys: behemoths (all 90 liters or larger) that can swallow an expedition’sworth of gear. The best are insanely durable andhold more than you’dthink possible. So how to choose the right one for your purposes? Basically, it comes down to the little things.To help you decide, Itorture-testedmodels from seven top brands. Here’s what Ifound out.
The Test
I look for three things in a duffel:usability, weatherproofing, and durability. I tested usability by stuffing each bag to the gills and carrying it around my house.
I tested weatherproofing by loading all the bagswith bedding and towels,then spraying themfor 60 seconds with a power washer at my local carwash. (Two of the bags—the Grundéns and Fishpond—are fully waterproof, not just water-resistant, so I filled them with rocks and a cotton towel and submerged them in my hot tub for five minutes as well.)
For durability,I dragged each duffel behind my car on a dirt road for one mile at 15 miles per hour. Take that, TSA!
Patagonia Black Hole 90-LiterDuffel($153, Pictured Above)
Usability:packed down small (about the size of a football)when empty. It was also plenty easy to stuff and organize,thanks to the large U-shaped zipper andtwo mesh pockets on the top flap.
Weatherproofing:After the soaking, all the gear closest to thezipper was dampbut not saturated. The biggest issue was that afew drops ofwater had pooled in a couple spots onbottom.
Durability:The behind-the-car test resulted in just a few scratches. The bag really didn’t look too bad, and its performance wasn’t compromised.
Bottom Line:I’ve used a previous-generationBlack Hole for nearly a decadeand can attest to its long-term durability. Buy this bag for worldwide adventuring, and plan on it standing up to years of abuse and travel.
Tepui Expedition Series 110-LiterDuffel Bag ($131)
Usability: is easy to packwith everything from clothes to cookwear, but the external details really make it stand out. Several feetof strong webbing and heavy-duty handles allow you to strap this bagto the roof of your car for overland adventures.
Weatherproofing: Everything that came into contact with the zipper was oh-so-slightly damp. I also found four tiny drops of water at the bottom.
Durability: I only foundone deep scuff that removed material but didn't tear the bag.
Takeaway: These bags, likes Tepui’s tents, are made to live outside. Strap one to the top of your Tacomaor your Civicto keep your gear safe in extreme heat (it’s rated to 158 degrees) and in mild rainstorms.
The North Face Base Camp 95-Liter Duffel ($145)
Usability: hadthe best shoulder straps of any other duffel in our test, making iteasy to schlep through airports.
Weatherproofing: The Base Camp performed best of all the non-waterproof duffels. Only one tiny section of a sheet near the zipper was wet, and there was no water in the bottom.
Durability: I found just a singletwo-inch scuff,but no tears.
Takeaway: This was the best all-around bag of our test. It’s pretty much indestructible andnearly waterproof, and at $145, it’s among theleast-expensive options on this page.
Eddie Bauer 90-LiterMaximus($150)
Usability: was easy to carry by the handles, whichare reinforced with rigid plasticthat reduce hand fatigue.
Weatherproofing: Like the Patagonia Black Hole, the sheets inside were damp but not soaked along zipper, and there were a couple small puddlesat the bottom.
Durability: There was one short scuff and a dime-sizehole.
Takeaway: This was the least durable of the bags we tested, but it would do just fine as normal stow-in-a-planeluggage.
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 90-LiterDuffel ($110)
Usability:At just over two pounds,. Its six handles made it easy to grab, and the padded shoulder straps were among the most comfortable.
Weatherproofing:The Hauler absorbed the most water of any bagwe tested.Sheets that came in contact with the zipper were completely soaked, and waterpooled inthe bag’s corners.
Durability:It came back deeply scuffed after the drag test,but it didn’t tear.
Takeaway:This is a good option if you’re on a budget and looking for a lightweight bag to live in your trunk or the belly of a plane.
Grundéns GageShackleton Waterproof 105-LiterDuffel ($115)
Usability: , whichmade access to thegear very easy.
Weatherproofing: Everything stayeddry during the spray test,but a couple drops of water snuck in during the dunk test, leaving the sheets slightly damp.
Durability: Just a few superficial scratches.
Takeaway: At $115, the Shackleton is a smoking deal for a (nearly) waterproof duffel. I wouldn’t take it rafting, but I would trust iton top of my car in adownpour.
Fishpond ThunderheadLarge Submersible 100-Liter Duffel ($400)
Usability: Rope handles make this bag easy to carry, and the inside is absolutely cavernous. The only downside to all that volume: This duffeldoesn’t pack down very well when empty.
Weatherproofing: The waterproof design and zippers kept out every drop of water during both the car wash spray and hottub submersion tests.
Durability: I had to search for scratches.After a good wash, it looked pretty much new.
Takeaway: This is the most bomber duffel I’ve ever tested—and that’s saying something in this field. Who should buy it? Anyone who absolutely must keep their gear dry and safe in wet situations—and who is willing to pay a premium for that performance.