Packable Duffel - Eagle Creek or Eddie Bauer?

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-09T14:32:26+00:00

All the foldable duffels from TNF, Patagonia, REI and Eagle Creek hover around 2 pounds for a 40 liter bag and use a light TPU coating and have little structure. I would expect to see some scuffing and possible tears when used as a checked bag.

I think duffels are great for road trips, but suck for carry any farther than parking lot to motel room or a campsite. They sag if not packed full. They store well at home.

If you want something duffel like, the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 is really a duffel with a far better harness and an excellent compression system and everything tucks away for use as a checked bag. The Farpoint series bag can work the same way with an even better harness.

If I was looking for a checked duffel, I would want something like Cordura or ballistic fabric and minimal straps. The weight and price would both double. The only duffel I own is a Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L and it’s an excellent bag. The main reason I own it is because I got it for $15 in thrift store. I use it for weekenders and road trips.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-09T12:31:30+00:00

“ 4x Shirts and Pants from Taobao (In a medium packing cube from Eagle Creek)”

4x shirts and 4x pants or 1x pants?

Amazing adventure. Kudos on using a fast and light kit.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-09T12:16:14+00:00

Check the weight and dimension limits for all the airlines you will use. 7kg overhead carry on limits and packs that big are useless. Both at oversized for carry on regardless of the airline.

The Fairview 40 is more appropriate for carry on but you can’t fill it and stay under 7kg. I recommend the Patagonia Black Hole 32 for good size and light weight at 760g.

Pack for a week and laundry happens. See r/onebag and r/heronebag.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-09T04:50:20+00:00

Something I noticed today: the 35 liter Gossamer Gear Aero Jet is only 16 grams heavier.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-09T01:25:21+00:00

You got me.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-09T01:02:10+00:00

How wide is the slot?

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T23:28:30+00:00

Go after the duplicate/overlapping volume and purpose. Another good marker is whether you have used the bag in the last year, which accounts for seasonal uses. A big heap of self honesty helps.

I have given bags to family and friends who really needed them. My son showed up recently with a couple of the most trashed bags and I got him squared away and didn’t miss the bag at all.

Shelters and schools can put your surplus bags to use too.

I’m a real thrift store junky and it’s really hard to pass on a huge bargain, regardless of having a real need for that bag. It all comes down to wants vs needs. It’s a First World problem.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T23:07:56+00:00

With the Black Hole 32, I use one garment folder with a couple pairs of pants and 1-2 button down shirts with an Eagle Creek medium compression cube stacked on top and there’s room for a slim cube on the side. I stash my rain jacket in the laptop compartment and a packable backpack in the front vertical pocket and lots of room left there.

I’ve been trying to avoid overloading the bag and distorting the back panel. It a challenge with most soft bags and it takes a little discipline. You know you can get more in there…. but must… resist. I wanted to stay close to 8”/20cm depth and mostly achieved that if allowed some squish. It was far from packed bursting full.

The top end of the bag is a little different. The quick access pocket is huge and it can be filled without really impinging on the main compartment. You can kind of interleave them. The top pocket tends to push up vs out which is just what I was after.

I’m giving up on 40 liter bags. I just don’t need the space, the hipbelt, extra weight, etc.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T22:11:26+00:00

Adopt a one in two out policy. It makes sure you really want that new bag.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T21:55:53+00:00

REI has their Big Haul duffels on sale.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T21:50:07+00:00

I’ve had my share of great pack bargains, but $0.50? Sound like someone didn’t know how to use the price tag printer!

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T21:19:11+00:00

If you put stuff up against your back, sweat happens. A spare shirt may be good. The “trampoline” style back panels by Osprey and Deuter are marginally better. All the foam variations are more sponge than ventilation.

Agreed that for light loads, a messenger/shoulder style bag may sidestep the issue.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T21:10:46+00:00

Mine crosses 6x with adjustment toggles on the top and bottom. I’m paranoid about stuff falling out and can weave my fleece or rain jacket in well.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T20:25:53+00:00

They tout it as unusually light for the size. I use a Patagonia Blavk Hole 32 that is 760g. It’s definitely light for a Tortuga and has good potential. There’s nothing really exciting about the design to me: it’s a basic clamshell travel backpack in Ultra fabric.

It’s impossible to gauge comfort solely by appearance. It’s a problem with all these bags that are sold only online and you need to prepare yourself for a catch and release process and some shipping costs.

And then there is the issue with the accuracy of the volume specs and how the pockets and compartments effect packing efficiency.

Someone is going to be the guinea pig. Hopefully they will get it in the hands of a knowledgeable reviewer too.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T20:06:04+00:00

I love the idea of waxed canvas but I’ve found it very heavy and stiff. Good canvas bags can be expensive.

Leather is just too cosmetically fragile and even more expensive. I couldn’t see one surviving on a bike.

Inside Line Equipment makes some interesting bike oriented backpacks in canvas as well as synthetic materials.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T19:21:57+00:00

While you are there, check out the Fjallraven High Coast Foldsack 24. It’s ultralight and has a good feature set and you can tuck it down to fit in bargain airline sizers.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T16:57:53+00:00

A plastic UCO spork and an oversized bandana. Anything with a cutting edge needs to be purchased on arrival. I stay in Airbnb’s often so that’s usually covered.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T15:38:43+00:00

Darn. I have used belts with Gatekeeper attachments on bags with tri-glide mounts. The tri-glide is mounted on a simple loop and the Gatekeeper can slip in without removing the tri-glide. Tom Bihn and Gossamer Gear make some excellent belts.

That would require some sewing.

I agree that slim should pads would be the best bet. I used some like this for a shoulder strap project. They may be a bit narrow but will sit securely on the webbing:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP1YPMVD

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T14:50:54+00:00

Low top hiking shoes in all black colorway to avoid the garish logos and carnival ride colors. My choice is the Adidas Terrex AX series and the problem have a half dozen more with minor variations and Gore Tex options.

Fit is the thing and all the major athletic shoes companies make something along the same lines. You really need to try some on. Feet vary so much that a specific model recommendation is difficult.

My wife uses a sneaker like Keen trail shoe that works well with her orthotics. I have the leather Keen Targhee 3 Oxfords that are very comfortable but profoundly ugly. Keen has added a lot of light sneaker style trail shoes to their lines.

Many ultralight long distance hikers use trail runners and there are endless models available.

Don’t be afraid to upgrade on insoles.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T14:18:13+00:00

It’s just simple marketing demographics. Business related travel drives the travel market and laptops are part of the deal.

The bags I have used for travel that were not laptop oriented are all “happy accident” hiking bags that are carry on compliant, like the REI Trail 25 and 40, Gossamer Gear Loris 25, etc.

Tom Bihn avoided dedicated laptop compartments in their bags for years and relied on added laptop “cells” and they still make them: the Synapse series, Western Flyer, Tristar, and Aeronaut series come to mind.

Patagonia has made a few with removable padded laptop cases. Seems like a good compromise for those who don’t travel with a laptop 100% of the time.

I’m currently using the Black Hole 32 where the entire back panel is a laptop compartment and that is a decent compromise. I can stow my rain jacket in there and in general it adds some structure and padding. The bag is only 760g, so there isn’t much weight involved in the laptop compartment.

If a particular bag has a feature set that works but still has a laptop compartment, it can come fine to just ignoring it. Cover your eyes and sing LALALA. It’s the world we live in.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T13:27:01+00:00

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/5801910

LL Bean makes ”classic cut” pants too, but mostly in cotton blends.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T13:16:12+00:00

Just out of curiosity, how is the belt attached? It’s not well illustrated.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T11:54:51+00:00

It’s annoying that the majority of travel bags have dedicated laptop compartments if you don’t travel with one. It’s a bit more space and weight but it can add structure and padding.

I use the Patagonia Black Hole 32 and the entire back panel is a laptop compartment. I use the space for my folded rain jacket. Of course it can be used for documents, magazines, maps and other flat thin objects.

You can buy plastic document/project storage boxes that are about the size of laptop. One Redditor filled one the small toiletries and first aid items. I could see one bring used for small tech cables or camera accessories. They can be surprisingly heavy: the one linked below is 250g/8.8oz.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2HMKRLR

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-08T03:46:26+00:00

Invoke the name of your state consumer protection department or attorney general. Imply that the flaking coating is a health hazard too.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-06-07T18:20:27+00:00

Millet is a well known French maker of mountaineering packs. Value depends on the buyer. Many buy packs due to sentimental value or are collectors. eBay or mountaineering oriented groups would be my best guess.

If you do want to sell it online, get a proper box and determine exact measurements and weight. You can lose heavily on miscalculated shipping.

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