The Best Duffle Bags for All of Your Gear
1. FIlson Dry Duffel Bag - Editor's Pick
The Filson Dry Duffle Bag is a waterproof duffle with a dry-bag-style roll top to help keep water out as per its naming. The bag also features adjustable end and clinch straps to bring the edges of the roll top down to make doubly sure that no outside moisture can ingress into your bag and get all of your stuff wet.
The Filson Dry Duffle also features a removable nylon webbing shoulder strap in case you don’t have a need for it and would rather just use the carry handles. The single large compartment of the Filson Dry Duffel is a whopping 90 liters so it would be just as suitable for gym use as it would be for a trip out of town. The Filson Dry Duffel Bag retails for between $200 and $250 and comes in either an OD Green or a more Hunter styled orange color called “Flame.”
2. The North Face Base Camp Duffel
The North Face has some fantastic and high quality products that they are well known for and the Base Camp Duffel is one of them. The Base Camp line of duffle bags features many sizes and colors but all of them share the same features that make it one of the best duffel bags out there. The Main compartment on the Base Camp bags features an interior mesh sleeve for storing smaller items you don’t want to get lost while the end cap compartment is great for storing wet or soiled gear to keep the rest of your stuff dry.
The Base Camp Duffel is made from 1000D TPE Fabric making it extremely durable and the adjustable alpine-cut shoulder straps mean that you can use this duffel bag as a backpack when using it as a carry bag isn’t feasible. The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag in a Small Size (50 liters) goes for about $119 and comes in a variety of colors.
3. Osprey Transporter 40 Expedition Duffel Bag - Best Carry-On Duffle
Like The North Face Base Camp Duffel, the Osprey Transporter Expedition Duffel bag easily fits the role of backpack as easily as it does a duffel bag. Where the Osprey Transporter shines is in its weather-protected main compartment and dual-zipped end compartments for storing your smaller items.
The main compartment is also lockable and opens with a wide U-zip so you can get to all of your gear quickly. As a final added benefit, the Osprey Transporter Expedition can be compressed and zipped into one of its own pockets for easy storage so you can take it along with you for use as an extra bag. The Osprey Transporter 40 Expedition Duffel Bag retails for $110.00.
4. Samsonite Andante 2 Rolling Duffel Bag - Best Airport Duffle
For those of you that frequent airports and busy city streets while on your travels, there is nothing quite like having a rolling bag to keep you moving. The samsonite Andante Rolling Duffel bag fits just that role. The bag itself comes in three different sizes with the 22-inch one being the most friendly for plane travel as it can be used as a carry on.
The Andante features a large main compartment, two end pockets large enough to each store a pair of shoes or smaller items, and corner protectors to protect the bag from wear and tear from being picked up and tossed around frequently. The Samsonite Andante is available in 3 colors/patterns and is sold for an affordable $47.90 for the 22” version.
5. Moosejaw x Mystery Ranch Estevo Duffel Bag - Best Value
Mystery ranch makes some of the best travel gear on the market and they’ve teamed up with Moosejaw to create a special edition Duffel just for the do-it-all crowd. The Estevo Duffel bag features a spacious yet compact 43 Liters of space and comes complete with a padded shoulder strap, external compression straps, and leather grip handles and zipper pulls.
What I really like about the Estevo is that it features tried and true YKK Zippers which I consider to be the best on the market. The Estevo duffel bag is just $99 and is great for just about any task you set it to.
Origins of the duffle bag
The commonly accepted origin of the term “Duffle bag” comes from the town of Duffel which is a town in Flanders, Belgium where a thick cloth was used to make what is believed to be the first Duffel bag. Today the term simply refers to a mostly cylindrical top-entry style bag used for a variety of purposes.
A duffle bag as a carry on
Duffle bags can vary widely in size and sometimes even shape but most duffel bags 22” in length or smaller should be fine to take on a plane. Larger duffle bags can be taken given that they aren’t fully loaded out and this can be a great way to avoid paying baggage fees if you don’t plan on coming back with all of your stuff.
Duffle bag vs. suitcase
Suitcases are generally optimized for one thing and one thing only – clothing. If you have a bunch of bulky sports equipment or lots of shoes and other odd, shaped items to store, a duffle bag will be the better option for you as it gives you more flexibility with the storage space you have.
What holds more, a suit case or duffle bag?
If they are close in size, a duffle bag lets you stuff more things into it than a rigid suit case will. If you want to avoid wrinkles, though, go with the rigid option.
Can a duffle bag be my personal carry-on item?
As long as it fits under the seat in front of you, you should be fine. Just be sure to get the carry straps tucked in, too. The flight attendants frown upon that if you don’t. Trust me.
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