Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Evaluation

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 seashore attire. It is available in a number of capacities, however all have spacious climate resistant exterior pockets that make for a superb 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 space for storing 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 straightforward 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 frequently received piled behind a truck with different duffels we examined, crammed right into a rooftop cargo provider, and tossed into the grime. Whereas it’s not waterproof, it stood as much as all our abuse and saved our gear secure and sound.

Carry Consolation

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

The 2 principal choices are each comfy methods to hold the bag. That mentioned, because the pack straps primarily operate as all carry choices mixed, if you happen to unclip and stow them within the designated pocket on the surface 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 maintain that in thoughts.

Compressibility & Packability

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

We particularly beloved the divider inside the primary compartment that you would safe in place with toggles and loops or collapse onto the underside of the bag. It meant we may decide to make use of a combo of packing cubes or not or just maintain cookware separate from sleepwear. There are not any inside compression straps to assist cinch issues down inside, however there are straps on the surface of the bag so you’ll be able to compact it a bit if you happen to 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 choose 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 received minimally scuffed by all of it, and any grime or mud splatter was straightforward to wash off the coated recycled cloth.

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

Climate Resistance

Whereas the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler has many constructive qualities, water resistance will not be certainly one of them. After 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. That means if we plan to enterprise out into lower than truthful climate, we’d be inclined to maintain it beneath cowl or pack delicate clothes and kit in additional water-proof packing cubes contained in the bag.

Group

If this bag has a robust level, it’s group. It not solely has a collapsible divider in the course of the primary compartment so you’ll be able to maintain gear organized, however two massive pockets on the outside ends. Each are massive sufficient for a mean sized pair of mountaineering boots after which some. We beloved 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 increase into the primary compartment in order for you extra gear within the outer pockets or into the outer pocket if you happen to’d choose to cram extra in the primary compartment.

Ought to You Purchase the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler?

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

What Different DuffelS Ought to You Think about?

For those who’re undecided the  Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel is best for you in any of the out there sizes, it’s possible you’ll need to think about one of many different stand-out duffels we’ve examined.

Cotopaxi Allpa Duo Evaluation: One massive principal compartment and detachable shoulder straps, plus a separate compartment for soiled garments make this duffel related, however could enchantment extra to these not as eager on having massive exterior pockets.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Evaluation: 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 maintain gear organized.

Osprey Transporter Duffel Evaluation:  Equally burly and sturdy, this duffel is simple to pack and unpack and extra comfy to hold for lengthy durations because of expertly designed shoulder straps.