Canvas Duffle Bags

Few bags are as straightforward, functional, and enjoyable as a duffle. Its practical design—a soft, rectangular bag with one zipped opening, two handles, and/or a shoulder strap—is appropriate for various occasions, including a weekend getaway, a fishing excursion, and everyday errands. Even if that fundamental design is effective in multiple settings, no one duffle bag—the phrase is sometimes written duffel—can satisfy every person’s preferences or requirements. A compact, barrel-shaped duffel might be ideal for carrying a few towels and a picnic lunch to the beach. Still, it lacks the structure and space needed to prepare for a three-day work trip. The seven bags we suggest (plus two stand-ins) are well-made, comfortable to carry, and designed to serve a variety of purposes, such as a versatile adventure bag, a weekender duffle, a daily bag, a light convertible backpack, an ultra-packable duffle, a rolling duffle for checking, and a waterproof gear haulier.

1. Most versatile duffle: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L

True to its name, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L is a master of all trades. The thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is laminated with a polyester ripstop on the exterior to provide abrasion resistance and a water-resistant finish. These Patagonia bags have endured years of being pulled, kicked, hurled, and carried across most of the nation. The Black Hole has two handles that you may use to hold it by your side, a strap that you can use to sling it over your shoulder, or two cushioned straps that you can use to wear it as a backpack. Additionally, there are three other sizes of Black Holes: 40 litres, 55 litres, and 100 litres. The only real difference between the bags is their growing size. However, the lower ones have a more excellent selection of colours—up to 13—than the bigger sizes do. When you unfold the duffle, the Black Hole expands into its own stuff sack, which becomes a storage pocket. We repeatedly put Patagonia’s well-known replacement and repair guarantee to the test and never had an issue.

2. Forclaz Duffel 500 Extend by Decathlon

When we initially contrasted the Decathlon Forclaz Duffel 500 Extend’s quality with its quoted price, we assumed there must have been a typo. Rarely can we find a bag of this calibre with coated polyester and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), both of which provide water resistance and durability, for less than $100? I was surprised to see it advertised at $50 because it usually sells for $70 at the time of our investigation. The Forclaz Duffel shares many similarities with the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L in terms of material quality but costs less than one-third as much. However, we have a few minor issues that require more testing, notably the stitching at crucial areas.

Forclaz Duffel 500 Extend by Decathlon

When we initially contrasted the Decathlon Forclaz Duffel 500 Extend’s quality with its quoted price, we assumed there must have been a typo. Rarely can we find a bag of this calibre with coated polyester and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), both of which provide water resistance and durability, for less than $100? I was surprised to see it advertised at $50 because it usually sells for $70 at the time of our investigation. The Forclaz Duffel shares many similarities with the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L in terms of material quality but costs less than one-third as much. However, we have a few minor issues that require more testing, notably the stitching at crucial areas.

3. Herschel Supply Co. Sutton Duffle Mid-Volume

Asking a stranger on the street to visualize a compact, short duffle conjures up images of a bag similar to the Herschel Supply Co. Sutton Mid-Volume Duffle. It has the traditional barrel-duffle shape, appearance, and texture. It has a detachable shoulder strap, like most of the duffles we looked at, but you can also carry it easily by its top handles. This reasonably well-made polyester bag, which has a centre zipper that runs the length of it, is small enough that you can use it for daily tasks without having to overpack it or make it too heavy. There is a limited lifetime warranty for Herschel bags.

4. 32-liter Cotopaxi Mariveles duffel bag.

Among duffle styles, this 30-litre barrel-shaped bag is the pinnacle. The Cotopaxi Mariveles 32L Duffel Bag Del Da offers a barrel duffel’s traditional look and feels, just like the Herschel bag. However, it’s made of recycled ripstop nylon, which is better quality than the polyester used in the Herschel bag. It’s more affordable (even though it doesn’t have the shoulder strap that the Herschel bag does). Additionally, Cotopaxi’s general openness and social goal continue to astound us. It is a B Corp that is publicly traded, and it makes an effort to manufacture its bags as sustainably as possible, paying particular attention to labour issues. The Mariveles duffle is manufactured from leftover fabric from other firms’ more extensive production runs, much like many of the company’s bags (marked by the Del DJI name). The Mariveles’ precise colours fluctuate based on what is available, which is why each run is unique.

Packable Matador Freefly Duffle

The 30-litre Matador Freefly Packable Duffle maintains its shape whether empty, half full, or crammed to the gills, in contrast to many packable or ultralight bags that tend to act like unruly sacks unless they are entirely filled. It doesn’t collapse nearly as compactly as some of the bags we’ve previously tried. Still, it gets close—shrinking to approximately a mango’s size—and is far more comfortable to carry as a bag once it’s on your shoulder. However, the excellent calibre of the materials used to make this Matador duffle is where it truly shines. The Freefly is durable, lightweight, and packable thanks to strengthened, treated nylon and sealed zippers.