When you’re looking to find the best luggage duffle bag, there are several considerations that come into play. These include size, opening type, organization features, and durability.
For easy access, we recommend a duffle that has a large U-shaped opening. This design, popularized by Patagonia’s Black Hole line, makes for a quick and easy unpacking experience on the go. Other duffels open in a more traditional fashion, and that requires more rummaging to get to your stuff.
Other important features of a travel duffle are pockets for smaller items, such as toiletries, books, and gadgets. These are easy to lose if they’re floating around in the main compartment, so having a dedicated pocket for them helps keep everything organized. Many duffel bags also feature an outer zipper pocket that’s ideal for storing documents like passports, boarding passes, and notebooks.
If you plan on carrying your duffle for extended periods of time, it’s crucial to pick one that has padded shoulder straps. This makes the load feel lighter and more comfortable on your shoulders. And while there are a ton of shoulder strap options out there, we’re partial to ones that have thick padding across the entire length of the strap.
Finally, if you’re a frequent flyer and don’t want to pay for baggage fees, look for a duffle that packs down small enough to fit inside your carry on. For that, we recommend REI’s aptly named Stuff travel duffle, which packs down to the size of a 1-liter water bottle.
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