Best Duffel Bags (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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Duffel bags are practically a way of life for athletes and the military alike. The large capacity and convenience of duffel bags are what made them popular in the first place. Originally named for the specific type of fabric they were made from, duffel bags were adopted by the military during the World Wars and enhanced thereafter to become the standard issue sea bag. Just for fun: Show any Marine a picture of a mountain of sea bags and watch them cringe.

Traditionally, duffel bags were shapeless woolen bags with rope drawstrings that held a lot of gear, but were difficult to carry. Today you can buy duffels with wheels and shoulder straps to make using them easier. We’ve done the research and have found the best duffel bags just for you.

Methodology

First and foremost, in any buying guide I assemble is what you’re going to need to get the job done in all areas of your life. This shapes the categories and gives me a heading when I begin searching the internet.

We’ve got a great team here at Task & Purpose, and for duffel bags, I started with my fellow writers for recommendations and experiences. These added context to my own experiences, which is where I gain a larger perspective. Armed with perspective and categories, I began searching websites like Amazon, Cabelas, Walmart, and even specific manufacturer websites.

To select the right duffel bags, I relied heavily on industry knowledge and experience around designs and materials. Each duffel was evaluated on its ability to function in the selected category and other performance criteria indicated in the reviews below. I also looked at the brand’s reputation and history as an indicator of trustworthiness. Your voice matters, too, and if you’ve got some experience you’d like to share, please leave a comment below.

Best Overall

Eberlestock Hercules Rolling Duffel

Best Value

Rothco G.I. Canvas Duffel Bag

Editor’s Choice

Stone Glacier STOL 4000

Best Rolling

Protege 32-Inch Rolling Duffel

Best Carry-on

Gonex Canvas Duffel Bag

Best Waterproof

Aqua Quest White Water Duffel

Best Gym

Adidas Defender 4 Duffel Bag

Best Leather

KPL 32-inch Leather Duffel

Best Camping

The North Face Base Camp Duffel

Best Tactical

5.11 Tactical Patrol Ready Bag

Our verdict on the best duffel bags

The aptly named Eberlestock Hercules duffel is unbeatable in capacity and functionality. It’s a big step up from the Rothco Sea Bag. The Stone Glacier STOL series, The North Face Base Camp duffel, and AquaQuest White Water duffel are meant for outdoor recreation from bodies of water to mountain tops and everything in between. Modern travel is also made convenient with the Protege 32 rolling duffel, Gonex Canvas duffel, and KPL Leather duffel. Sports get simpler with the ADIDAS Defender duffel, the same as tactical missions with the 5.11 Patrol Ready duffel.

What to consider when buying a duffel bag

Not just any duffel will accomplish your mission. It is important to understand what you’re going to need from your duffel in order to know what to look for. Let’s take a look at the different types and features of duffel bags so you can make the most informed purchase.

Types of duffel bags

Travel

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll most likely need to keep things organized. Many duffels in this category are smaller in size to accommodate one- to two-day trips while fitting in airplane compartments. These duffels should have pockets/compartments on the outside for convenience.

Sports

Football, baseball, soccer, tennis, bodybuilding, and any other sport you can think of require equipment or specialized clothing or gear. Duffel bags are perfectly suited for athletes because of the size and capacity they offer. Sport duffel bags should have a large main compartment and multiple smaller compartments to keep messy gear from clean clothes. These duffels will often have weather-resistant material and other features for outdoor use.

Tactical/hunting

Easily the most specialized type of duffel, bags made for tactical and hunting purposes are easy to spot. The materials used will be rugged and durable with camo patterns or earth tone colors. Pockets will be abundant because everything needs a place. They’ll also be larger to accommodate firearms, bows, or other tools. Because they’re specialized, these duffels will also be in the higher price range.

Key features of duffle bags

Straps

Not all straps are equal. Cheap duffel bags will have cheap straps that will be uncomfortable to use for any length of time due to width or material. Good duffel bags have heavy-duty hardware with webbed straps that have adjustable or built-in padding.

Pockets

My worst nightmare is losing gear or personal items because I wasn’t organized and left them behind. Duffel bags that have internal or external pockets allow us the ability to give order to the chaos and keep track of our stuff. Mesh pockets are great for seeing what’s inside or avoiding smells, but regular material works great, too. Make sure the duffel you’re buying has enough pockets for your gear.

Rolling system

A large duffel bag with tiny wheels is like a weightlifter who always skips leg day: top-heavy and difficult to handle. If you’re looking for a rolling duffel, you’ll want wheels that are proportionate to the bag. These will make rolling the duffel a lot easier. Having an extendable handle is another nice feature of rolling duffels, but since the design of these bags is rather long, it’s not necessary.

Duffel bags pricing

When you’re looking at the price of duffel bags, you want to evaluate the price based on how much the duffel will do for you. Budget duffels can be found for under $50 and often consist of one compartment or are very small. I recommend stepping up to the moderately priced duffels between $50 to $120. This range allows you to find better materials and features that can compete with premium equivalents without having to spend as much. That being said, premium duffel bags are well worth the price tag above $120. These bags will have the best designs, materials, and features which are complemented by great customer service.

Tips and tricks

As with something you do for decades upon decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way in terms of selecting the right product, and/or using it. That’s the case with us and duffel bags. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what we’ve learned along the way.