The REI Big Haul 90 Duffle Bag is a robust high-capacity duffle with hidden backpack shoulder straps and organizational pockets that’s great for adventure travel when you need to transport and protect a backpack, trekking poles, or a lot of clothing on an airplane. When I went to Montana this summer, it swallowed three backpacks, two fishing poles, my trekking poles, a half dozen books, and 10 days’ worth of clothing without blinking an eye.
- Capacity: 5,492 cubic inches (90L)
- Weight: 2lb 15 oz
- Dimensions: 29.7 x 12.6 x 11.8 inches
- Backpack Straps: Yes
- Pockets: 3 (2 internal, 1 external)
- Water-Resistant: Yes
- Materials: Main: 400-denier recycled ripstop TPU nylon; bottom/ends: 1,680-denier recycled ballistic nylon with PU coating; lining: 200-denier recycled polyester with PU coating
- Pros: High-capacity, easy-to-pack, backpack shoulder straps
- Cons: No wheels, no luggage tag provided
When choosing a duffle for travel you want a bag that’s tough and water-resistant and the Big Haul scores highly there. The bottom and sides of the duffel are made of 1,680-denier recycled nylon with a PU coating. That is a heavy-duty fabric that you can slide along on the linoleum floors in airports when you have to drag the bag off the baggage claim carousel or drag it along in a check-in line. The rest of the exterior is water-resistant, though not waterproof because it has zippers.
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The duffle’s shoulder straps make it very convenient when commuting to and from the airport via public transportation.
The duffle has a big main compartment that opens with a 270-degree zippered flap which makes it easy to pack. There are two zippered mesh pockets on the underside of the zip for smaller items and an external zippered pocket on the outside. The zipper on the main compartment has holes drilled into it to accept a TSA compatible lock, if only to prevent it from accidentally opening in transit.
The shoulder straps are sewn to the top of the bag but have dowels at the bottom that let you attach them to the base of the duffle when you want to carry it. When detached the shoulder straps stuff into an external sleeve out of the way. There’s also a single carry strap option that attaches in a similar fashion, but you have to tuck it into an external zippered pocket to stow it.
The duffle has a reinforced webbing handle, horizontal compression straps, and a wrap-around daisy chain that you can use to secure additional items, as well as luggage tags. There are also 4 heavy-duty haul loops at the ends and on the sides to pull it off the carousel at baggage claim.
The REI Big Haul 90 is a good size for hauling a 60-75 liter backpack or trekking poles if you want to protect them during air, train, or boat travel. Its shoulder straps make it very easy to carry around the airport and in transit, to and from, via public transportation via bus or subway, in a way that’s even more convenient than using wheeled luggage. It’s also tough as hell which is a bonus when traveling off the grid into the backcountry or less developed areas. Highly Recommended.
Disclosure: REI donated a duffle for review.
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