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Good cheap duffle bag

Original Post
Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252

Hey everyone,

So one of my favorite pieces of gear is an REI XXL duffle bag.  I've had it for 5 or 6 years, paid maybe $40 for it, and can fit everything I've ever owned.  The problem, however, is it's really fing big, too big for most of the weekender trips I tend to do, and I feel like an asshole shoving this huge 100L+ bag into a packed trunk with 4 other people's things.  I'll usually pack all of my climbing gear into a backpack, so I need a duffle bag that can carry...everything else, namely my camping gear.

So I headed over to REI hoping to pick up this thing's smaller cousin during the anniversary sale,  The small was too small, large was too big, medium...out of stock worldwide.  The salesmen tried to sell me the Patagonia Black Hole bags, which are I'm sure worth every penny if that's what you need, but way too much of a bag for my tastes (and $100 after a 25% sale for a 45L).  So I'm looking for recommendations for a duffle bag that:

1) Is simple, cheap, but durable.  I don't need a waterproof bag or even one that's comfortable to carry for long distances (not what I will be using it for), but I don't want a cheap POS that will fall apart. Not interested in anything over $50.

2) Can fit a tent (REI 2p Half Dome), sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and not much else.  I'm estimating between 45-60L.

3)Ideally, something that could serve as a carry on.  I believe 45L is the limit, but a 60 might do if it's not full.  Still, I'm trying to get the smallest possible bag that will fit all of my camping stuff.

Any recommendations?

Pete Spri · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 347

https://www.wildthingsgear.com/products/goat-duffel?variant=1653970243

I have heard good things about the above, but it is just as expensive as the Patagonia one...

KathyS · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 125
baldclimber · · Ottawa, Ontario, Canada · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 6

MEC Duffle https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5044-007/Duffle-Bag

Really good bags.  Weak C$ means you're getting a 25% discount off the listed prices when converting to USD.  I'm guessing ~US$50 w/shipping.

MEC is our REI.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

eBay has a ton of those things that are both cheap and huge. I'd look there.

Noah Yetter · · Lakewood, CO · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 105
Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252

Cool, thanks guys!

Jake wander · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 195

this is the newer version of the one ive used to carry my rock/mountain gear on many planes:

http://mountainsmith.com/products/duffels/travel-trunk-large.html

i have the largest size but others are offered. you can usually fine them on sale.

mine has held up better than the mountain hardwear duffle that cost three times the non-sale price of the mountain smith.

edit:just took a look on google and there are some good sale prices on these right now.

Eric H. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

L.L. Bean "adventure duffel" is pretty good value and comes in a bunch of sizes and colors. I've had the largest, wheeled one for 15 years.

FWIW I got a 60L Patagonia Black Hole duffel for under $100 online. For my purposes, it was worth the bit of extra $$ -- removable backpack straps are a great feature that I wouldn't do without.

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

Like Eric says, detachable shoulder/backpack straps are great. I prefer them to the wheeled bags.  REI currently has the 45L Black Hole for just under $75, and the 60L Black Hole for just under $100.

https://www.rei.com/product/884915/patagonia-black-hole-duffel-60l

https://www.rei.com/product/102061/patagonia-black-hole-duffel-45l

Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252
Jake wander wrote:

this is the newer version of the one ive used to carry my rock/mountain gear on many planes:

http://mountainsmith.com/products/duffels/travel-trunk-large.html

i have the largest size but others are offered. you can usually fine them on sale.

mine has held up better than the mountain hardwear duffle that cost three times the non-sale price of the mountain smith.

edit:just took a look on google and there are some good sale prices on these right now.

Sweet, that'll do!  $20 fits my budget perfectly, lol.

dave custer · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 2,411

army surplus duffle bag

Eric H. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

Dave's got a point. I picked up a great army surplus duffel for about $30 that has shoulder straps and can fit all my camp stuff (tent, sleeping bag, pad, cookset) and clothes and climbing gear minus rope. It may be a bit large for your purposes.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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