Whether you are driving or flying, reaching your adventure destination often involves transporting around tons of gear. Monster duffel bags make great haulers but they aren’t always easy to lug around airports, on and off trains, or up a dirt trail. Numerous pack and luggage brands are answering the call to make our gear hauling process a whole lot easier.
The new Wheeled Packable Duffels from Granite Gear are lighter than air, made from a lightweight yet durable Taurpalite fabric. Wheels on one end of the duffel mean no more dragging through airports–the duffels are also built to be carried by hand with the reinforced padded handles, over-the-shoulder, or as a backpack with load-stabilizing and adjustable sternum straps.
The carrying case, which the full duffle can pack inside, can be attached to the bag via MOLLE Loops as an extra compartment. The Wheeled Packable Duffels are available in two sizes–Large ($89.99): 30″ long, weighs 3.38 lbs, and carries 100 liters. Extra Large ($99.99): 36″ long, weighs 3.93 lbs, and carries 145 liters. The Granite Gear wheeled duffels will hit shelves in May, just in time for your summer adventures.
The Fall 2015 Shuttle Series from Osprey answers our call to adventure with two different sized rolling duffels. These monster gear haulers use a combination of padded sidewalls and Osprey’s StraightJacket system with front panel compression straps to to secure loads and add stability.
The duffels are built into Osprey’s 16″ HighRoad Chassis with extra large sealed bearing wheels for durability over rough terrain. Plenty of zippered pockets will keep your gear organized–a collapsible lower compartment is great for storing dirty and wet clothes or shoes, boots, and hardware.
The low profile padded carry handles on top and sides help with throwing your duffel in and out of trucks, while a tuck away attachment buckle secures your day pack as you roll through the airport.
The 36″ long Shuttle 130L retails for $320, while the 30″ long Shuttle 100L retails for $290.
Gregory redesigned their duffel lines for 2015. The Alpaca expedition duffels are now lighter thanks to a new TPU-coated, diamond-weave-reinforced body fabric, which is far more abrasion-resistant and tear-resistant than its predecessor. Lockable zippers add security while traveling and double bar-tacked daisy chains provide secure attachments when attaching the bags to a yak or rack. The Alpaca is available in 115L ($169), 95L ($149), 65L ($129), and 45L ($115) versions in four different colors.
The new Stash duffels are more durable and portable than their predecessors. A large opening with full-length zipper provides a massive entry to the bag, a removable sling strap allows the bag to be carried in multiple ways, and each stash duffel comes with a mesh stuff sack that is perfect for carrying the bag when empty or separating out dirty laundry. The duffels are available in three colors in 115L ($99), 95L ($89), 65L ($79), and 45L ($69) sizes.
Pivotal takes an interesting approach to the wheeled duffel with a Pivot-Grip handle that rotates 360-degrees to reduce arm and wrist strain during transport. Two large all-terrain wheels provide smooth rolling action in any situation, while the main compartment offers a divider support system that easily snaps into place to create separate packing sections. The Pivotal Soft Case retails for $250.
