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Magnets in the straps snap together and hold them in the hand grip position, though we wish they were a bit stronger, as they come apart easily. Long paddling expeditions, snowy winter excursions, or a family fun day at the lake — these are the bags for the job. Though the selection is sparse, some brands have developed entirely waterproof duffels for trips where keeping your gear dry is paramount. Their higher weight, minimal features, and hefty price tag make them a pretty niche bag, so we wouldn’t recommend snagging one for everyday use. For most of your travel needs, a bomb-proof, fully submersible, waterproof travel duffel isn’t on the shortlist. But some adventures — like snowy winter expeditions, multi-day rafting trips, or tours through wet climates — may require such a burly bag.
The volume you decide to go with will obviously depends on the length and intensity of the trip you plan to bring it on. A 90L model is probably overkill for weekend getaways, and will be uncomfortably floppy with a few changes of clothes and an overnight kit inside. No matter the layout, lashing points need to be robust enough to hold serious weight while tied to unstable vehicles and animals. You don’t want your gear tumbling down a slope mid-adventure because the stitching popped out.
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Internal straps help keep things organized and compact while on the road. This means clothes stay folded, shoes stay together, and you won’t find a tossed salad of gear when you zip open your bag at the end of the day. Flying With Duffel Bags Charging through the Chattanooga airport baggage claim loaded down with bulging duffels; (photo/Honey McNaughton)
As you might suspect, some work better than others. Starting with the hand carry, this simply involves putting the two straps together and attaching them with a magnet. The magnets aren’t the strongest ever, but your hand will be holding the straps together most of the time so it’s not a huge deal. This is a pretty functional way to carry the bag, and the magnets do make the process of lashing those straps together a bit easier. Peak Design Travel Duffel Hand Carry Additionally, while previous Camp 4s had nice horizontal daisy chains running the entire length of the bag, this update eliminates lash loops entirely, leaving only the haul handles and shoulder straps as tie-down options for transport. Internal compression straps are a huge bonus though, and help keep everything cinched up tight.
These premium features and protection come at a hefty price point and a high weight for a dry bag. The Panga tips the scales at 5.2 pounds. It is also one of the more expensive duffel dry bags that we tested, but for peace of mind, sometimes that price is worth it. These downsides are probably tolerable if you're looking to protect valuable electronics and equipment in a wet environment, or if you need the versatility of one bag to meet any potential needs. The Watershed Colorado Duffel is another 100% waterproof dry bag we love to use, with a slightly more flexible design and a lower price tag, though it is a little more involved to seal against the elements. Vinyl or laminate finishes are common on outdoor duffels and will keep the bag’s contents dry in light to moderate rain, but water will eventually leak through zippers and seams that aren’t taped. Fully waterproof models obviously don’t have this weakness. A key feature of the Peak Design Travel Duffel is that it has four different carry styles to choose from. Yes, you read that right— four. It’s important to note that most duffel bags, including casual-use models, are already crafted with a high degree of water resistance. Some face fabrics may even be waterproof, but water will still be able to get through the unsealed seams or zippers. Editor’s Note: We refreshed this article on August 28, 2023, sprucing up our buyer’s guide section with additional information regarding value and pricing. We also added some photos and shuffled others around. The Best Duffel Bags of 2023
We’ve been putting this duffel to the test over the past two weeks, so let’s jump right in and see if it truly is the duffel of the future. Materials & Aesthetic
We divided our duffel bag testing across five metrics, weighted according to their overall importance: Regardless, this incredibly durable, reliable bag delivers expedition-ready quality at a surprisingly affordable price point. Its tough shell fabric, thoughtful features, and top-shelf carrying comfort make it a phenomenal choice for any adventure you could cook up. We found the North Face Voyager Roller to be one of our favorite rolling duffels for a diversity of environments and surfaces. Its sturdy wheels and chassis instill confidence over bumpy cobblestone or broken-up sidewalks, and the burly materials and lash points make it somewhat adventure-ready. Volume Selection The volume of the duffel bag you choose depends on the different demands and length of your trip; (photo/Honey McNaughton) Its recycled polyester shell fabric doesn’t have the same weatherproof durability as other fancy TPU-coated duffels, but it is still abrasion-resistant and somewhat water-resistant — and boasts greater sustainability than many in this list. Peak Design’s Travel Duffel also has a good deal of modularity and allows you to configure its straps in different ways depending on how you want to carry it throughout your trip.
While there are some great budget options out there, you do get what you pay for with duffel bags. In the midst of an adventure, duffel bags serve as the barrier between your valuable cargo and the unforgiving elements. Make sure you can travel with confidence. The 600-denier TPU-coated polyester shell with a reinforced base provides great weather resistance and durability, but is a bit thinner than other battle-ready duffels on our list, and showed more signs of wear after similar tests. This does help cut down on weight though, particularly with the massive 120L version. We also like that the shoulder strap offers a nice amount of padding and that the padding goes pretty far across the strap. This is a clear improvement over what we’ve seen in some other shoulder straps in the past. Peak Design Travel Duffel Side Folded Another unique feature of this bag are the internal grab handles that allow you to easily move the duffel around without zipping it up. We can’t say we’ve seen this on any other duffel and found ourselves using it way more than we thought we would.If you’re scoping out a bag for shorter trips, lugging around the gym, or flights home for Christmas, these are the duffels you want. While not as stalwart as their battle-ready cousins above, these often still boast excellent storage, weather resistance, and carrying capabilities. Travel and casual duffels focus on comfort and useability over rugged durability. At the time of this review, we’ve been testing the Peak Design 35-liter Travel Duffel over the course of two weeks in Detroit and Chicago. Overall, we’re digging the simplistic style and multiple carry options offered on this bag. Peak Design Travel Duffel In Detroit
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