Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

Patagonia's Black Hole Duffel line has 4 sizes, 45L, 60L, 90L and 120L. All are made from a durable water resistant fabric which can take a beating. I have the 60L size which is perfect for hauling around a ton of gear while still being carry-on size.

Likes

• Size/Shape: The 60L duffel is just within carry-on size limits. With a little coaxing, I've gotten it to fit into even the smaller overhead compartments. For carrying gear on a plane, a duffel bag has advantages over a backpack in that it doesn't have any hard panels that can't be compressed. Also, a rectangular shape can hold more volume than a backpack which is generally taller and skinner with a rounded top. Finally, the rectangular shape is easily stacked versus a cylindrical shape like the North Face Base Camp Duffel.

• Fabric: Like everything in the Black Hole line, the duffel material is highly water-resistant and extremely durable. My model uses 14.7-oz 1,200 Denier Polyester with a TPU laminate and a DWR finish. The current model uses 15-oz 900-denier polyester ripstop. After a year of use, both my Black Hole Duffel and Black Hole 25L pack clean up easily and still look shiny and new.

• Shoulder Straps: There are a bunch of expedition duffels on the market made of burly materials and that have shoulder straps for backpack carry. Shoulder straps make it much easier to carry a duffel compared an over-the-shoulder strap. With that said, don't expect carrying a fully packed duffel to be as comfortable as a pack made for backpacking. This is still a duffel bag, just with the convenience of backpack carry.
  
  All Black Hole Duffels except the 45L have Patagonia's standard padded shoulder straps with a quick release buckle on the bottom end. The ability to quickly remove one end of the shoulder strap is handy to get the straps out of the way when accessing the main compartment. Also, the top of the shoulder strap can be unthreaded to completely remove the shoulder straps. I'd do this if I was checking the bag to eliminate the chance of something getting snagged on the baggage carousel. The latest version has a D ring buckle on the top making it even easier to remove.

• Pockets: There is one exterior pocket that is sized well for a small tablet or travel documents. On the interior, there are two mesh pockets on the lid flap. One thing to note, be careful what you pack in that region because pointy items will be digging into your back when you wear the duffel as a backpack

• Handles: There are two thick haul handles on each end of the duffle for easy handling. There are also side webbing handles with a snap closure. You'll notice I did something unorthodox and cut off my side handles. In my experience with duffel bags in general, the side handles tend to get in the way; always getting in the way of the main opening or accidentally getting zipped into the main compartment. So after a few uses, I cut off the side handles and have been happy with using just the end handles and shoulder straps. The shoulder straps in particular function like side handles.

• Padded Bottom: The duffel has a padded bottom which protects your gear. With my unpadded duffel bags, I used to strategically pack the delicate items on the top with my clothing on the bottom for padding. With this duffle bag, I don't have to worry about items on the bottom.
• Capacity: I'm been impressed with how much gear I can get into this duffel. I have used it to carry trad climbing gear for two people as well as used it to carry equipment for a 3-day camping trip. In both cases, I was able to carry on.

Recommended uses

•  Any kind of travel, especially if you need to maximize your carry-on capability. With my duffel and 25L pack, I can carry a lot with a carry-on bag and personal bag.

This bag surpassed my expectations. It is now my go-to travel bag that can be used for many different occasions.

This duffel backpack bag quickly became my favorite multi-purpose travel bag. I can use it for the gym, I use for week-long trips, and I've used it on multi-day kayaking trips.

I recorded a video because I wanted to show people that you can actually fit 7+ days worth of clothes in it (I have the 60L duffel), with some room to spare, which still amazes me a bit. Here's the link if you're curious about that:

The only con I was considering leaving was the price, because I realize it's relatively a lot to spend on a bag. However, the overall quality and design of this bag definitely keeps the price point on par IMHO. I've had the bag a little over a year now, I've been somewhat rough on it (shoving it through a tiny kayak storage compartment where I was sure I'd rip something while pulling it out) and the thing still looks as if it were new.

The 60L is the perfect size for me. They do make a 45L (which I think would work better for the kayaking trips), a 90L, and a 120L. I've seen others say the 90L and 120L gets a bit uncomfortable with the backpack straps because of the weight that's in them, and I think the 60L is the biggest size that fits comfortably in the overhead on an airplane.

If you have any reservations on this bag, send your worries to Seattle because this bag will last you many years.

Background

Owned it over a year, use it for normal travel (visiting family and such), and I've used it on kayaking trips.

This bag is water resistant and has a big capacity. It is a heavy duty bag and I would recommend.

This bag is great for specific things, such as traveling or carrying equipment.

It is too big for hiking though, but is a seriously good bag.