Indeed there were some bags I didn't include here, like the The North Face Base Camp and Marmot Long Hauler. They are both similar to these 4 duffels. Because there are more duffels than I can fit in one video, in the end I decided to limit the comparison to 4 bags. But I would like to get my hands on those bags in the future because I think they would be worth comparing to these duffels. 😀
I can't stand that companies plaster their name all over the bags and they use lame colors. Black is good but boring and over used. The other options are annoying bright colors that make you look like your on an "outdoor adventure". I don't want to walk through an airport looking like I'm going camping or rock climbing.
This was a terric and thorough review. It is ironic I chose these same 4 bags when I was looking for a 40L bag. Your analysis was spot on and easy to listen to. You helped me to choose the Osprey. You hit on every area of the bag to elaborate on. THanks again.
I love duffle bags but can't stand the bright colors or companies that print their name all giant across the bag. It's either black or some ugly color with a big name plastered on the side.
I suspect the reason they don't put padding on the "backs" is that doing so would prevent you from folding the bag into a compact size for storage. I got the Patagonia, and they cite foldability-for-storage as one of the benefits. HA! What a joke. It comes folded up in a pouch that, when the bag is opened, becomes an inside pocket. It took me forever to get the bag out of that stupid pouch. There is no way it could ever fold up to go back in. And that's without the padding!
I have the original Osprey Transporter 40. In short the shoulder strap is thinner as well as doubling as top grab handle. It does have a side pocket as well as a top pocket and one end pocket. On the top pocket it is padded. I also like the bright interior and inside mesh pocket I don't use. Overall it is my favourite carry bag. It is quite big so can't use it as under seat carry . However the grab handles make it super easy to pull out of the overhead bins. I do have a few options for under seat carry and I found the max is about 28L. It isn't very comfortable as you'll have not many places to put you feet however it will squeeze into some especially tight seat spaces such as the aisle where some spots can be smaller.
Mind if I ask what international airline(s) you fly? I’m flying Emirates, which has a pretty inconvenient 1-carry on (no personal item) policy not weighing more than 7kg. I’m still going to make it work, though.
I've flown a variety of airlines, I have a ticket for Italy on Norwegian right now. They have a strict under seat bag only policy (30 x 20 x 38cm), but have a higher 10kg weight allowance. You can definitely do under 7kg, but you'll have to make some changes. Focus on a smaller bag, 35L or less, don't bring many heavy electronics, get a few items of merino wool so you can wear multiple times, clothes are layering items that you can mix and match. When you board, wear your heavy/bulky items on the plane and put heavy items in your pockets, these don't count against your weight. I'm not an expert on lightweight clothes for women, but Reddit /r/HerOneBag/ is a great resource. Good luck 😀
Red OXX Made in Montana, USA ... you should review the Tres Hombres. Lifetime "NO BULL" Warranty. There is NO perfect duffel, but lots of really great options.
This is great, I negleced the US brands in this review. I want to do another comparison of "Made in the US" duffels with this one, the BAD duffel you mentioned, as well as Tom Bihn.
You really don't need back padding on this type of bag - if you want back padding you're looking at the wrong style of bag. It's OBVIOUS that with a highly versatile hybrid duffle/backpack you have to pack it for optimum comfort in backpack mode, but if backpack mode is your 100% preference, then buy a backpack. Having tried the Patagonia Black Hole in person I just don't agree with much of the negatives you raise against it - my only misgiving is the lack of a dedicated shoulder strap, instead of having to utilise one of the backpack straps for that purpose. My buying decision is also influenced by the Patagonia brand - the quality is there and they're doing more good for the planet than many other companies.
Late to the party but I have the black hole 60L and it fits perfectly as carry on for North American travel. It easily compresses into the size necessary as long as you don't fill it to the max.
I went with the REI Big Haul 40L. Love it!. Love your reviews. Those thumbs though. 😉 Why do you say there is no padding on the REI . The top lid has padding.
Great video! Keep at it my friend Ordered the REI. Seemed the most durable, looks great and has the features. No brainer to me. Was close to getting the patagucci before I saw your videos tho
Hi OBT and thank you for great reviews, especially the comparisons... I liked your review of standard luggage carry-on and thinking of ordering one.... I would highly appreciate if u could do a comparison video with the topo designs travel bag (40L) and standard luggage co carry-on (35-45L). I think that would be and interesting and justified battle, given that these have similar characteristics, appearance and size/capacity.
Thanks, I especially like the comparisons too =) I'm always looking for similar bags to compare, great idea with the Standard vs. Topo, I hadn't thought of those!
It'd be great to do a video on warranty information of various companies. I just learned ospreys repairs bags for life while REI doesn't. Things like that are huge when making a purchase decision
For sure. In fact, REI doesn't have a warranty, they just have a 1-year return policy. I think this is what you are looking for, I did a blog post about all the major brands warranty, repair and return policies, pretty covers everything: onebagtravels.com/buy-it-for-life-travel-bag-buyers-guide/
Indeed there were some bags I didn't include here, like the The North Face Base Camp and Marmot Long Hauler. They are both similar to these 4 duffels. Because there are more duffels than I can fit in one video, in the end I decided to limit the comparison to 4 bags. But I would like to get my hands on those bags in the future because I think they would be worth comparing to these duffels. 😀
Good question. When I did this video the smallest Base Camp duffel was the Small size at 50 liters, which is very big for carry on travel. They have since come out with a XS version at 31 liters which is a much better size. I haven't gotten around to testing it yet though.
This one popped up in my feed.. I guess I never saw it. Funny thing... I've started using duffels more and more in my travels. I haven't pulled anything with wheels on it and over a decade but the simple open chasm of a duffle just really appeals to me. Currently I guess my go-to's are Peak Design and REI. But I also have the Patagonia and even an old barrel shaped North Face that I've actually kicked down the stairs on the Amalfi coast. I've abused my duffels and they've sat out in rain and been kicked around... But my laptop and/or tablet are always fine. I choose to have a padded laptop sleeve that is precisely the shape and size of the laptop and then I just bury it between packing cubes of clothes. Never had an issue. Beats trying to squeeze things into travel bags that have a lot of pockets but they're just not right for what you travel with. *#TeamDuffle* !! Happy one bag travels everyone!
I like a good duffel too. I don't always travel with a laptop too, so I get frustrated with bags with huge thick padded laptop compartments. Just a waste of space/weight if you don't have a laptop. Your duffel with padded laptop sleeve is a much better solution that works with almost any type of bag.
I had to narrow my selection down and didn't end up with the North face, a lot of people have asked about it though, so I think I'll have to do another video 👍😃
OneBagTravels I just checked some reviews and remember now why I passed on it as well, just a bit too basic for me although built super tough. I think I have seen climbers toss the north face bag “back down to base camp” while on a steep climb, and I bet it survived. I have been considering getting one of these now as I saw several in the airport recently (mostly Patagonia). I think it would be best as a “go bag” that gets tossed around and sits on the ground more often then on one’s back.
@@bthemedia Yeah, it's a pretty simple bag. Good for gym duffel or weekend camping, but not sure about it's comfort as a travel bag. All of the duffels in this review aren't super great for backpack carry. Osprey was the best as far as duffels, but still doesn't compare to a backpack designed for travel. Another reason I hesitated on the North Face was this bag I saw for sale on Alibaba. It's not labeled as "North Face" but you can see the branding, and it looks identical. It sells bulk for $6-15, imported. It made me think twice about the quality of this bag. m.alibaba.com/product/60511962234/Wholesale-Weekend-Camping-Travel-Backpack-Sports.html?spm=a2706.7843299.1998817009.52.475d5afdlTAuiF
Good question MP, what are your requirements in a bag? Capacity, comfort, material, durability, price? What style are you looking for, duffel or backpack?
I haven't tried the new one, but I agree it looks like a big improvement. Design looks cleaner, added interior divider pocket, now has compression straps, packable shoulder straps instead of removable, price is still reasonable. I'm going to test it at some point probably this summer, just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Thanks Man. Great. It help me a lot. I am reviewing the Osprey, Patagonia, mammut and the North face duffel bag. I will buy 1 duffel, not sure yet which one. With your video I will drop the patagonia of the table. Can you give me your opinion between the Northface, que mammut and the Osprey duffel bags??. THANKS
They didn't have the XS version of the North face Base Camp duffel when I did this video, so I didn't compare it. But to me the Base Camp Duffel looks a lot like the REI Big Haul: small, inexpensive lightweight duffel, not many features but solidly built. Good if you just want a simple duffel without a lot of extras. My favorite of these is the Osprey, it's easy to pack, totally solid, and more comfortable to carry than the others. I haven't tested the Mammut.
Just found your channel and binge watching!!! Love your videos! I’m super curious your thoughts on the Peak Design duffel bag if you ever get a chance!
I personally think you did an excellent review on the bags you definitely showed the pros versus the cons on all the bags the pros versus the con convert bag versus bag very well done I can honestly say I am a backpack shoulder bag etc addict I love bags cuz after all you need bags to put your stuff in and being former military and moving around at least 60 times in my life most of the time you live out of a bag thank you for the video very well done bravo
Great overall review. I've only seen the REI + Patagonia duffels in person, but I think you're right picking the Osprey first. I love the design of the REI, but wish it had a more durable construction like the Patagonia. How would you rank the zipper quality on each of these 4 bags?
Thanks! The REI, Osprey and Patagonia zippers are basically the same. They all use the largest #10 YKK zippers, the only difference is the Patagonia doesn't have locking zippers. The Eagle Creek skimps on zippers, they are generic Eagle Creek brand zippers. Not awful, but noticeably lower quality than the other 3 bags. And while I agree the REI could have stronger fabric, the 1680 denier combined with the ripstop makes it a pretty solid bag, especially considering the price.
I was excited about this video as I'm deciding between the REI Big Haul and the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 60L bags, but it appears that the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler has been completely redesigned since this video, with some completely different features like compression straps and dual-purpose backpack/shoulder straps. But thanks for your channel. I hope you'll do some updated comparisons!
@@OneBagTravels Ah sorry I asked twice and see your reply here. Thank you for the quick replies. The new bags looks like a formidable competitor to the REI Big Haul with a top carry strap, interior organization, better handles and handle placement, better zippers/pulls, and a top that opens the long way. Plus it's 5% bigger (63L, despite the name), which appeals to me. Unfortunately no stores around me carry it. One question I have is whether the 2 side pockets take away too much main compartment space and result in less flexibility -- not more.
@@quakerwildcat It's probably a competitor to the Big Haul, but I still think the Big Haul will be better quality. It's hard to tell just from the pics, but usually side pockets like that will flex in or out depending on where you put the gear. So if you pack the main compartment more, it will push the fabric divider into the side pocket, and vice versa. It's on sale now, I may have to buy one to test 😣😣
@@OneBagTravels thanks again for the reply! There are no stores in my area that carry the Eagle Creek and I hesitate to order something without free returns when I haven't seen it, but the actual capacity is 63L so theoretically it's 5% bigger but as you've pointed out you have to see them to see how much they'll really hold. (My ideal size for safari is 65-70L, but none of the 70L bags I've seen have the 4 grab handles, and frankly that seems like a huge thing to me. ) I went to REI and examined several bags and surprisingly fell in love with the design of the Thule Chasm 70. The strap system, the compression straps, the material, the zippers, the quality, the compactability... all amazing BUT no front/back grab handles! And I love the weight and many features of the REI Big Haul but as you pointed out the straps aren't placed correctly on the back. I loaded it up with 40 pounds and it was top heavy! Also you have to unbuckle stuff to open the flap. But mainly it just feels small and I'm hoping for a little more capacity. Oh and the Black Hole. It really is a black hole. The 55K holds as much as the REI 60L. But I hated that bag. Very hard to use.
@@quakerwildcat I'm a big fan of the Thule Chasm, one of the best made duffels out there. But if the handles aren't where you want them then maybe it's not a good choice.
You think I could buy 3rd party shoulder strap for most of these bags and make it work? they all seem to have something to clip on to, Im interested on the REI specifically.
Yes on the REI, I just tested it and you can attach a shoulder strap to the fabric loops on the corners, it works great. The Patagonia doesn't work quite as nicely, but you can attach a shoulder strap to the daisy chains on the front and back of the duffel. The Eagle Creek isn't going to work well. The only thing to attach a shoulder strap to is the large side handles. You could probably get it to work, but I'm not sure how easy or comfortable that is going to be.
I really appreciate this series! I'd love your opinion on the Eagle Creek Migrate duffel, too, and how it compares to these four. I know Eagle Creek has updated the Cargo Hauler a bit for 2019, but I'm not sure what's actually changed. I'm pretty sure the fabric has been upgraded to something more durable, though.
They are changing bags faster than I can review them! Haha. Well, you're right, they did change the Cargo Hauler. It actually looks better now. Here's my blog review with pics of the old version: onebagtravels.com/eagle-creek-cargo-hauler-duffel-review/ Changes on the new one, from what I can tell: - Upgraded coating on fabric, looks slightly more durable - They reduced those giant side handles - Added buckles to help secure the lid and act as compression straps - Added a hide-away pocket for the backpack straps - Backpack straps look more contoured - Added zippered mesh pockets inside the side pockets - Added a simple mesh separator inside the main compartment - Changed the orientation of the lid from front opening, to side opening - Added a carry handle to the backpack straps I'm going to have to do another duffel bag review of all the updated versions, I want to see how the Migrate duffel compares too, plus they discontinued the Patagonia Black Hole duffel :/
Nicceee. Yet another duffel bag I haven't looked at yet, I'm testing a bunch of duffels this year, that's on my list. What's the difference in the new model other than the color/material? Looks like they have a waxed canvas and TPU version now. I saw the old models are cheap on Backcountry.com, good deal.
@@OneBagTravels Exactly, decent prices now. With the new ones they moved backpacking straps from the bottom to the top flap and added detachable load lifting straps to support them ... i.a.
@@evolv76 Good additions, load lifters are nice on larger packs like that. Like the Tortuga Setout first edition didn't have them and the bag was floppy, second edition they put them on, much better carry. The Mission Duffel looks stiffer than the Setout though, so maybe not as needed.
I looked at that one, but I don't think it would make a good travel bag. I'm trying to focus my reviews on bags I think will work well as carry-on for international travel. Those tiny straps don't look very comfortable to carry around a bag of that size.
@@OneBagTravels True, but the reviews seem to suggest it actually works pretty decently for a carry on. I know it looks small, but it might be worth a look. A review would be great.
Which one? I've tested the Allpa travel backpack but not any of their duffels. The Allpa 50L Overland Duffel looks cool but it wasn't out yet when I did this video.
