Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Overview

Backside Line

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler’s star function is that it retains your soiled or cumbersome gear separate out of your good clear sleeping bag or seaside attire. It is available in a number of capacities, however all have spacious climate resistant exterior pockets that make for a wonderful place to stash gear like soiled boots or a cumbersome puffer jacket. The bigger of the 2 even expands into the primary compartment of the duffel relying on whether or not you want extra cupboard space outdoors or in. 

A collapsible inside divider retains gear separate in the primary compartment so that you keep organized. Pack straps don’t get in the way in which whereas packing and are simple to take away and stash within the lid. The outside is sturdy however not waterproof.

We examined this duffel on a multi-day bikepacking journey by the desert and never solely loaded it with heat clothes and cooking instruments, however tenting gear and provides. It commonly acquired piled at the back of a truck with different duffels we examined, crammed right into a rooftop cargo service, and tossed into the grime. Whereas it’s not waterproof, it stood as much as all our abuse and stored our gear protected and sound.

Carry Consolation

There are two methods to hold this duffel (three in a pinch): backpack straps and seize handles, that are fashioned by securing the strap wrap round a slender part of the pack straps. This configuration can be used as an impromptu over-the-shoulder strap.

The 2 major choices are each snug methods to hold the bag. That stated, because the pack straps primarily operate as all carry choices mixed, should you unclip and stow them within the designated pocket on the skin of the lid, you primarily lose all carry performance apart from the seize handles on the tops of the ends and alongside the lengthy sides, so preserve that in thoughts.

Compressibility & Packability

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is straightforward to pack. Its giant, extensive mouth opening, which hinges on one of many brief ends, affords expansive entry to the inside. On a latest journey, it was lots massive for all our sleeping and bike gear.

We particularly liked the divider inside the primary compartment that you might safe in place with toggles and loops or collapse onto the underside of the bag. It meant we might choose to make use of a combo of packing cubes or not or just preserve cookware separate from sleepwear. There are not any inner compression straps to assist cinch issues down inside, however there are straps on the skin of the bag so you may compact it a bit should you don’t fill it to the brim.

Whereas the duffel does pack into its personal sizable finish pocket, it was tough to cram in, making us want to simply fold it up and stuff it onto a backside shelf as a substitute.

Sturdiness

After tossing this duffel out and in of rooftop carriers, rolling it across the desert, and tossing it down stairs, it remained largely unscathed. The powerful materials solely acquired minimally scuffed by all of it, and any grime or mud splatter was simple to wash off the coated recycled material.

The principle zipper is massive and burly and works superbly. The zips on the skin pockets are extra delicate, however we had no points with them throughout testing.

Climate Resistance

Whereas the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler has many optimistic qualities, water resistance shouldn’t be certainly one of them. Once we left the bag out within the rain for an hour, the within, together with the underside, was pretty damp by the point we dragged it inside. Which means if we plan to enterprise out into lower than truthful climate, we’d be inclined to maintain it below cowl or pack delicate clothes and kit in additional waterproof packing cubes contained in the bag.

Group

If this bag has a powerful level, it’s group. It not solely has a collapsible divider in the course of the primary compartment so you may preserve gear organized, however two giant pockets on the outside ends. Each are giant sufficient for a mean sized pair of climbing boots after which some. We liked these aspect pockets when it got here time to toss in extremely dusty footwear, which we didn’t need to contaminate our good, clear sleeping bag. 

One pocket has a set depth and the opposite has a comfortable wall between it and the primary compartment. That one can both develop into the primary compartment if you would like extra gear within the outer pockets or into the outer pocket should you’d want to cram extra in the primary compartment.

Ought to You Purchase the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler?

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is a good choice for many who love macro group (giant pockets) and the flexibility to separate gear and clothes to maintain clear from soiled. It additionally excels in sturdiness and is snug to hold, making it a strong choice for these planning to haul loads of stuff and need to do it comfortably. Assume street journeys, air journey, even metropolis hopping in Europe. And anybody hauling gear to and from frontcountry campsites frequently.

What Different DuffelS Ought to You Contemplate?

Should you’re undecided the  Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel is best for you in any of the obtainable sizes, chances are you’ll need to think about one of many different stand-out duffels we’ve examined.

Cotopaxi Allpa Duo Overview: One giant major compartment and detachable shoulder straps, plus a separate compartment for soiled garments make this duffel comparable, however might enchantment extra to these not as eager on having giant exterior pockets.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Overview: This duffel options a number of much less outsized pockets, however does have a laptop computer sleeve within the lid and a repositionable divider in the primary compartment to assist preserve gear organized.

Osprey Transporter Duffel Overview:  Equally burly and sturdy, this duffel is straightforward to pack and unpack and extra snug to hold for lengthy intervals because of expertly designed shoulder straps.