What Size Duffel Bag Do I Need

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Perhaps one of the nearly versatile pieces of luggage, duffel bags come in all different sizes, shapes, designs, materials, and conveying options. This category includes everything from heavy-duty models built for months-long expeditions to the most remote corners of the earth, to ultralight and packable designs that tin can stuff down small plenty to fit within your pocket, and everything in between. Nearly all of the top outdoor production manufacturers have created their ain version of the classic travel slice. The results are undoubtedly impressive, but the differences between each model can be disruptive. That's where we come in to help. We break downward the category to help you better sympathise the nuances, decipher what you should be looking for, and find the right product for your needs.

Duffel bags are some of the most versatile pieces of luggage. They can be packed full, carried in a variety of means, stuffed into tight spaces, and compressed down small when y'all're finished.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Intended Use

As with any blazon of product, the starting time stride to finding the right duffel pocketbook begins with assessing your personal needs and how you intend to use it. Whether y'all need a high-capacity beast to take on a couple of big trips a year, a handy lightweight model for daily trips to the gym, or a more well-rounded model for general travel, there's definitely a product that will run into those demands. Go along in listen that as the design gets more specialized to optimize certain features, there are usually tradeoffs that may make information technology less well-rounded for other uses.

Full general Travel

Bags intended for general travel will usually accept well-rounded designs that residue weight and durability, comfortable carrying options, and user-friendly features like extra storage pockets or easily removable straps. These designs may exist synthetic from lighter weight nylon or polyester, or heavier natural materials like leather, canvas, or waxed cotton wool. A 90 to 100-liter storage volume is an ideal size for extended trips and provides plenty of storage space without too much adventure of hitting a typical 50-pound airline weight limit. Brand sure to consider your preferred conveying method, then that y'all tin comfortably and efficiently lug your pocketbook through the aerodrome or the hotel lobby.

Duffels in the ninety to 100-liter size range are bully for airline travel since they tin handle large loads while unremarkably staying well below most airline weight limits.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Weekend Trips

The perfect model for a weekend getaway will likely exist the aforementioned as a pattern intended for general travel, merely smaller. Most of the numberless that we tested come in a multifariousness of sizes, and smaller models in the 30-liter to 50-liter size range are platonic for almost 2-3 mean solar day trips. This size range also overlaps pretty well with the carry-on baggage size limits for most U.S. airlines, which usually ends upwards being near 40 to 45 liters, depending on the bag's dimensions. Since smaller models aren't able to behave as much weight, having a variety of comfortable carrying options in this size range isn't as critical, and many designs forgo haversack straps in favor of a single shoulder sling or more than simple carrying handles.

The 40-liter Bounding main to Summit Ultra-Sil packs downwards minor and makes an ideal carry-on or general utilize pocketbook.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Rugged Adventures

When you lot're preparing to travel into unforgiving environments or remote corners of the world, a heavy-duty duffel is mandatory to bear and protect your precious gear. Whether the locale you visit is hot and sandy, common cold and wet, or just plain frigid, rugged expedition-fashion designs are upwardly for the chore. These designs are ordinarily similar to those intended for general travel only add together in different features and actress durability. Many models are constructed from extremely robust 900 or thou-denier laminate materials with reinforced lesser panels, have heavy-duty catch handles and backpack straps, and include daisy chain attachment points to tie downwards onto a 4x4 vehicle, pack animal, or haul sled. In that location is certainly an overlap between these rugged models and those intended for general travel, but the more robust options will generally be heavier, have fewer storage pockets, and sometimes have a slightly less refined style, depending on your taste. Duffels intended for run a risk travel are usually also available in larger sizes, upward to 150 liters.

Both the Sea to Summit (front) and Gregory Alpaca (rear) are available in high-capacity sizes and offering plenty of features and durability for rugged adventures.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Normal Daily Use

When you're headed to piece of work, school, the gym, soccer exercise, or running around boondocks, a duffel handbag can be one of the most efficient daily luggage options. Designs best for regular everyday utilise will exist similar in size as weekend duffels, around thirty to 40 liters, but will typically be lighter and may take fewer features. These modelss are durable plenty for daily utilize, but will usually prioritize a simple, lightweight design and packability over fancier features and heavier-duty materials. Models in this category could range from more archetype leather or waxed cotton designs to more mod ultralight nylon designs that can pack down to the size of a lawn tennis brawl.

The Ultralight Black Hole is not bad for daily errands or trips to the gym.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Duffel Bags vs. Other Types of Baggage

There is an affluence of baggage options on today's market, with everything from backpacks to suitcases, duffels to wheeled carry-on luggage, and even purses, briefcases, and fanny packs. Choosing the correct type of luggage depends on your personal needs and preferences, such as your preferred carrying method, how much storage volume you demand, whether you prefer a rigid or soft-sided design, and how much empty luggage weight y'all can tolerate. Duffels provide a not bad residual of storage volume at a reasonable weight and ordinarily have a variety of conveying methods that are more than comfortable than always before.

Near duffel bags provide versatile conveying systems and are available in a variety of sizes to conform your needs.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Backpacks volition exist more comfortable to deport but usually won't provide as much storage space. Rigid suitcases or wheeled luggage will be more than protective and more convenient to haul on smoothen surfaces, but volition be heavier, won't be able to squeeze and mold to tight spaces, and won't be as mobile over longer distances or uneven terrain. Duffel numberless provide a versatile alloy of some of the best features of every other blazon of baggage.

Selection Tips

Now that y'all take a better understanding of your needs, preferences, and the versatility of these numberless, it'due south time to dig a little deeper into the dissimilar blueprint variables to help y'all select the product that suits you lot best.

Storage Volume

A handbag's storage volume is easily the most personal and virtually subjective variable among dissimilar types of travelers. Climbers, skiers, divers, or other adventures with extensive equipment needs volition often require more storage space than general travelers headed on a family unit vacation or a holiday trip dorsum home, or concern travelers, daily gym-goers, or weekend warriors.

The largest volume available for well-nigh of the duffels in our lineup is in the 125 to 150-liter range. Ideal for hauling climbing or skiing equipment, scuba diving gear, odd-shaped tools, or just a bunch of dress and shoes, these bags are enormous and tin can exist cumbersome to lug effectually, and will often surpass the 50-pound airline luggage limit when fully loaded. Bags in this size range need to have heavy-duty haversack straps, grab handles, and daisy chain attachments for wrestling them around yourself or tieing them down to your transportation.

Many models are bachelor in larger volumes to haul all your gear for long and remote expeditions.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

For longer elapsing general travel, a 90 to 100-liter bag is an platonic volume, as we mentioned earlier. It provides enough of space for over a week's worth of apparel and gear, and usually will all the same stay comfortably nether the 50-pound baggage weight limit. On the smaller end of the spectrum, a bag in the 70-liter range will fill upward more apace but can be a fiddling more convenient for hauling around, especially when you don't need to pack very heavy, or you're traveling light to a warmer climate.

The 90 to 100-liter size range is a versatile size for all-around travel.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Finally, duffel numberless for daily use, weekend getaways, or for airline carry-ons volition generally fall in the 30 to fifty-liter size range. These duffels have plenty of space for a few changes of clothes and shoes, are lighter and more than comfy to haul around, and usually fit in an airplane overhead baggage bin. Many options present are in the ultralight/packable category, synthetic from impressively durable and light materials with the ability to pack into a tiny stuff sack. This size range provides the most versatility for shorter travel durations and different types of use.

The Sea to Superlative Ultra-Sil packs down to the size of a lawn tennis brawl.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Organization Features

In full general, most duffel bags have merely ane main storage compartment that is accessed past a large I-shaped or D-shaped attachment, and volition only accept an boosted one or ii total zippered storage pockets. In general, D-shaped zippered openings are more useful than straight zippers because they allow you to come across and access more of the storage space.

Larger D-shaped zippers provide the best access to the internal storage compartments.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Most packs accept at least 1 internal zippered storage pocket, usually underneath the peak lid or at ane end of the handbag. Pockets under the top lid are generally larger and more than accessible, providing the nearly convenience and utility. Pockets at the end of the bag can be harder to reach when the bag is fully loaded. The location and orientation of a pocket or pockets can help tremendously with organization. They can save time and frustration by helping y'all keep track of like shooting fish in a barrel to lose smaller items.

Internal storage pockets are ideal for keeping smaller accessories handy. Pockets located underneath the top lid are near convenient.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Similarly, an external pocket or two can exist a huge added convenience. Pockets located on the broader side of the duffel are commonly smaller sleeve-style openings that are ideal for a wallet, phone, or a volume. In contrast, pockets on the stop are often a bit deeper and make an excellent spot for stashing wet or dirty clothes or shoes.

The Long Hauler features ii external pockets (one on each terminate) and 2 internal pockets.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

If y'all have longer items to carry, such as trekking poles, camera tripods, or other lengthy sport-specific equipment, pay extra attending to a model'due south dimensions to ensure that there is plenty length to adapt your gear.

Carrying Options

This category focuses explicitly on duffel bags without wheels. Wheeled options certainly have their place and are more user-friendly for rolling through an airport or beyond paved surfaces, merely they also oft double or triple a bag'due south weight and aren't very applied for apply across uneven terrain. Traditional duffel bags are normally more versatile, can be carried across more rugged terrain, can be contorted to fit in tight spaces, and can be tied downwardly to sleds, snowmobiles, pack animals, or other non-traditional modes of transportation.

Nevertheless, not all duffels can exist transported as efficiently as 1 some other. Most products accept some combination of handles and straps that you can bear in your mitt, slung over your shoulder, or on your back in similar a backpack. Each of these applications has its place, and may be the nigh comfortable and convenient carry method depending on the weight of the pack and the distance and elapsing of conveying.

The Sea to Summit has easily adjustable straps to help you apace catechumen betwixt the different carrying options.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Traditional Duffel Handles

Near duffel bags include a set of traditional carrying handles for a briefcase-style carry past your side. These handles are usually permanently attached to the bag and typically have a velcro clasp to join the two handles together and provide a more comfortable grip. They are generally reasonably lightweight, are convenient to grab, and stay out of the way when not in utilise, merely can make for uncomfortable and awkward hauling with larger bags and or heavier loads.

Traditional duffel handles are convenient for conveying across shorter distances only are less comfy than backpack straps for longer hauls.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Shoulder Straps

The second traditional conveying method is a long shoulder strap. This single strap attaches to both ends of the bag, is usually adaptable in length, and often has some sort of padding for your shoulder. It is also typically removable to keep it out of the way during the airline luggage cheque process or when you merely don't want to utilize it. Although this conveying method is typically not as comfortable or balanced as dual backpack straps over longer distances, it is very efficient for hauling heavier loads across shorter distances, or when you lot may repeatedly be setting it down and picking it dorsum up.

Unmarried shoulder slings make it convenient to speedily throw a pocketbook over our shoulder simply are less balanced and commonly less comfortable than backpack straps.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Backpack Straps

Dual haversack straps are typically the most useful and comfortable carrying pick for larger and heavier loads over almost distances. Beingness able to balance the load evenly beyond your back is much easier than carrying a purse on one side of your trunk, and leaves your hands free to hail a taxi, grab other luggage, or wrangle stray kiddos. Nigh of the options in our review lineup include some kind of backpack straps with varying degrees of padding and ergonomic design. Straps with thicker padding, contoured shapes, and adjustability on both ends tend to perform the best. Also, go on in mind how like shooting fish in a barrel it is to remove or stow away the shoulder straps. Many airlines asking that you lot remove all loose straps during the baggage check process. Removing some straps is a boring process involving weaving thick pieces of webbing through modest buckle slots, while others have quick-release buckles or clips or even their own congenital-in stowaway compartment.

The Base Camp duffel has supportive straps and more rigid material that make it easier to support a heavier load.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Other Features

Additional features like daisy bondage or other attachment points are useful for tieing your bag down on a 4x4 vehicle, pack animal, or motorcycle, and compression straps help secure and rest your less than fully packed load. Heavy-duty grab handles are peachy for pulling bags out cars or buses or off luggage claim belts, are even merely dragging them around when yous accept too much stuff. Also, some models take more robust grab handles that can comfortably office equally your main carrying handle.

The Transporter's heavy-duty grab handles are a surprisingly comfortable choice for shorter hauls.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Durability and Weather Resistance

Protecting your precious gear from the elements is essential, whether you're hauling climbing gear into remote alpine environments, or a new outfit to the annual family reunion. Thicker and more than rugged materials are more resistant to punctures or chafe and provide a better bulwark to protect against moisture, and reinforced seams, extra torso panels, and robust zippers and hardware assist complete the package.

Across the entire market, duffels are constructed from all kinds of different materials ranging from nylon to polyester to canvass to leather, only most models in our review lineup are fabricated from nylon or polyurethane laminates. Many bags are made from 900 to 1000-denier materials with waterproof coatings and include additional reinforced bottom panels for extra protection. A fabric'south denier is generally a measure of its thread thickness and density, where a higher number equates to a thicker and usually more durable material. Duffels in our lineup range from yard-denier waterproof laminates down to 30-denier silky-smoothen ultralight nylons.

The Base of operations Camp duffel has an extra lesser reinforcement panel in addition to its already burly 1000-denier construction.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Conditions resistance is frequently closely correlated with durability, although certain features aid provide atmospheric condition protection regardless of a model'due south durability. While many products nosotros reviewed have waterproof body materials, nigh of them remain vulnerable to moisture penetration at their zippers and seams. Nearly duffel numberless have a robust principal access zipper that isn't waterproof, merely likewise includes a 1 to 2-inch weather flap that extends from the top lid to add extra protection. Other commonly smaller zipper designs may too have a congenital-in water repellant cover. Most body seams are reinforced and covered with an additional layer of fabric, but aren't fully taped to provide a complete seal against moisture. While none of the bags we tested are 100% waterproof for complete submersion, most will provide excellent protection in all but the harshest weather condition from rain, snow, clay, and dust.

Most models like the Gregory Alpaca shown here feature a weather flap to protect the main zipper from the elements.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Weight

While weight is an of import cistron to consider because of airline baggage restrictions (50 pounds per bag for well-nigh U.S. airlines) and your ain personal carrying capabilities, near duffels in our test lineup are inside a pretty pocket-sized weight range. Virtually exam models in the 90 to 100-liter size range weigh betwixt 3.five and 4.5 pounds, leaving you plenty of capacity to pack that extra outfit. Likewise, keep in mind that y'all're saving approximately iv to 7 pounds of weight compared to similarly-sized wheeled duffels or suitcases.

On the other stop of the spectrum are some newer ultralight and packable duffel numberless. Many of these smaller-chapters models weigh in at less than one-half a pound and pack down to the size of a water bottle, or less. While not every bit burly as the larger and more robust designs, these duffles make an first-class pick for everyday use to the gym or effectually boondocks, or to pack along in your larger luggage for a secondary lightweight carrying option for mean solar day trips on your vacation.

While the duffel on the left weighs approximately three pounds less than the one on the right, the difference is inappreciably noticeable when they're both fully loaded.

Credit: Nick Bruckbauer

Conclusion

Duffel bags come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, materials, and designs. Ideal for everything from remote expeditions to family vacations to weekend getaways to daily employ, these are some of the near durable and versatile pieces of luggage out there. With so many options to choose from, nosotros promise that this guide helps you meliorate sympathize the marketplace and hone in on your needs and priorities.