Patagonia Black Gap 55L Evaluate

Bottom Line

If there’s one perennial favorite duffel among outdoorists, and one you’ll often find high on our list of favorite duffels, it’s the Patagonia Black Hole. And for good reason. While it may not boast a lot of the bells and whistles like other duffels, it’s a classic choice for everything from gym runs to air travel to road trips to packing up camping gear. We tested it across the country, doing all of the above and more.

During testing, we found packing and unpacking easy, We appreciate that the bag comes in a slew of colors and sizes to suit just about everyone and every trip. Fans of the bag will notice it got an upgrade this year: a new matte TPU coating made out of recycled materials to make it even more sustainable and durable. It’s also Fair Trade Certified, meets the bluesign® criteria, and contains mostly recycled materials.

If we could change anything, it would be to add more pockets and maybe an over-the-shoulder strap, but we might be nit-picking. After all, given the popularity and durability of this bag, it offers some serious value when compared to other bags in its class. It’s an excellent option for just about any type of traveler save for the organization-obsessed or those who prefer to keep grubby gear separate but in the same duffel.

Carry Comfort

There are only two ways to carry the Patagonia Black Hole: via top grab handles outfitted with a snappable hand wrap and removable backpack straps. There’s no over-the-shoulder strap. Both were comfortable enough to carry moderately heavy camping gear and clothing..

We appreciated how easily removable the pack straps were when we were traveling by air. They allowed us to cart the bag up to the counter comfortably on our backs, drop it on the scale, and quickly unbuckle and untoggle the tops and bottoms of the straps so we could stash them safely away inside the duffel. There is no dedicated external pocket for the straps though, like in the lid, so you will have to open up the bag to stow them.

Compressibility + Packability

Packing the Patagonia Black Hole couldn’t be easier. In fact, the wide mouth opening and top flap that easily folds back and out of the way make it easy to stuff in packing cubes or oddly-shaped gear. The pack straps, when attached, do tend to get in the way a bit, but since they’re so easy to remove, it’s not an issue for long. There aren’t any options inside the bag to help you compress the goods inside, though, so over-packers beware.

When you’re home and ready to store the empty bag until your next trip, it packs down to a pleasantly small size. The Black Hole stuffs into its own pocket. We found doing so an exercise in patience and required a bit of manhandling to wrestle it into the pocket and back out again.

Durability

Perhaps not surprisingly, coming from a bag from such a well-regarded brand, durability is top notch. From the hardware to the outer materials to the grab handles and exterior webbing, this bag was made to last. In fact, during testing, even after tossing it down a flight of stairs full of stuff, it was barely scuffed.

The exterior fabric is coated in a new matte TPU for durability, waterproofing, and sustainability, and the grab handles, external lash points, and burly zippers are all above average in robustness. In short, we’re not concerned about needing to replace our Black Hole for years to come.

Weather Resistance

Although this duffel bag doesn’t feature waterproof zippers, we found it to be remarkably waterproof. We set it out in the rain for an hour, and when all was said and done, the interior was almost entirely dry. That’s likely thanks to robust storm flaps that extend beyond the zippers on the lid, keeping them protected from the elements.

When exposed to the elements for longer periods of time, a bit more liquid may leak in, but we were surprised and impressed by how well the contents stayed dry.

Organization

When it comes to organization, the Patagonia Black Hole has less to get excited about, but its simplicity is what makes it beautiful for many. There’s just one main compartment and one pocket, which is accessible from the inside and outside of the bag and expands into the main compartment so you can stash slightly bulkier gear.

There’s also a mesh zippered pocket on the underside of the lid for stashing low-profile items. However, the bag offers less organization than other bags in its class.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Black Hole?

The Patagonia Black Hole is a classic for a reason, and it’s no surprise it’s been our number one pick in the past. It’s highly water resistant, simple and functional, comfortable to carry, comes in a slew of sizes and colors, and is highly sustainable.

It’s a great option for those who don’t want a lot of bells and whistles in their duffel bag but do want something functional, durable, and reliable. On the other hand, you may want to look elsewhere if you’re obsessed with pockets and organization.

What Other Duffels Should You Consider?

If you’re not sure the Patagonia Black Hole is right for you in any of the available sizes, you may want to consider one of the other stand-out duffels we’ve tested.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Review: Similar in style and functionality, this duffel features a few more pockets, a laptop sleeve in the lid, and a repositionable divider in the main compartment to help keep gear more organized.

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Review: Made of highly durable materials and with larger pockets for bulky gear like boots or helmets, this bag is still easy to pack, plenty spacious, and comfortable to carry.

Cotopaxi Allpa Duo Review: One large main compartment and removable shoulder straps make it similar to the Black Hole but with the addition of a bottom zippered compartment for dirty clothing.