Massive padded haul handles on each side of the bag are some of the largest we’ve seen, and a few sturdy lash points allow you to strap it down with confidence. We wish there was a longer daisy chain for a more even tie-down, but we made do just fine. We also like that the shoulder strap offers a nice amount of padding and that the padding goes pretty far across the strap. This is a clear improvement over what we’ve seen in some other shoulder straps in the past. Peak Design Travel Duffel Side Folded

The duffel bags in our lineup span across a variety of types and are available in many different sizes. During testing, we directly compared feature-to-feature for each bag to avoid biases that might arise from testing different types and sizes of bags. Remember, the best duffel for you is the one that meets your needs the best. The shoulder carry is basically the same thing as the sling carry, but you’re just popping the strap onto one shoulder instead of over your body. You’ll probably want to tighten the strap a bit more than you would in sling mode, so the bag carries higher on your body. We’ve been putting this duffel to the test over the past two weeks, so let’s jump right in and see if it truly is the duffel of the future. Materials & Aesthetic While we like several elements of this update, we wish they had retained some key features of previous models — namely the lid and daisy chain setup. The large U-shaped opening of old has been replaced with a single center zipper. This shaves some weight and simplifies the opening, but we just can’t get over the ease of accessing tons of gear at once that the old lid offered. A key feature of the Peak Design Travel Duffel is that it has four different carry styles to choose from. Yes, you read that right— four.Cotopaxi is known for its wild color schemes and fun, funky designs — which translates beautifully with this bag. Muted and flashy colorways abound for whatever your vibe might be. As you might suspect, some work better than others. Starting with the hand carry, this simply involves putting the two straps together and attaching them with a magnet. The magnets aren’t the strongest ever, but your hand will be holding the straps together most of the time so it’s not a huge deal. This is a pretty functional way to carry the bag, and the magnets do make the process of lashing those straps together a bit easier. Peak Design Travel Duffel Hand Carry The 600-denier TPU-coated polyester shell with a reinforced base provides great weather resistance and durability, but is a bit thinner than other battle-ready duffels on our list, and showed more signs of wear after similar tests. This does help cut down on weight though, particularly with the massive 120L version.

We divided our duffel bag testing across five metrics, weighted according to their overall importance:We took over 20 of the finest duffel bags money can buy, and pitted them against each other for over six months on dusty overland trips in Africa, climbing expeditions through Mexico, and weekend cabin getaways, to bring you the crème de la crème of these brawny bags. We tested each duffel with a mind for a variety of different performance metrics, including durability, ease of transport, organizational features, and weather resistance. Peak Design’s Travel Duffel also has a good deal of modularity and allows you to configure its straps in different ways depending on how you want to carry it throughout your trip. These premium features and protection come at a hefty price point and a high weight for a dry bag. The Panga tips the scales at 5.2 pounds. It is also one of the more expensive duffel dry bags that we tested, but for peace of mind, sometimes that price is worth it. These downsides are probably tolerable if you're looking to protect valuable electronics and equipment in a wet environment, or if you need the versatility of one bag to meet any potential needs. The Watershed Colorado Duffel is another 100% waterproof dry bag we love to use, with a slightly more flexible design and a lower price tag, though it is a little more involved to seal against the elements.

At the time of this review, we’ve been testing the Peak Design 35-liter Travel Duffel over the course of two weeks in Detroit and Chicago. Overall, we’re digging the simplistic style and multiple carry options offered on this bag. Peak Design Travel Duffel In Detroit If you’re scoping out a bag for shorter trips, lugging around the gym, or flights home for Christmas, these are the duffels you want. While not as stalwart as their battle-ready cousins above, these often still boast excellent storage, weather resistance, and carrying capabilities. Travel and casual duffels focus on comfort and useability over rugged durability.It takes a good deal of prolonged rain to breach the beefy TPU-coated fabric of Gregory’s Alpaca or Osprey’s Transporter. For most of what you’ll encounter on your travels, this will suffice. From a branding perspective, there are several Peak Design and “PD” logos found on the duffel, and we think they’re all quite tasteful—nothing too loud. Peak Design Travel Duffel Logos Regardless, this incredibly durable, reliable bag delivers expedition-ready quality at a surprisingly affordable price point. Its tough shell fabric, thoughtful features, and top-shelf carrying comfort make it a phenomenal choice for any adventure you could cook up.