Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Evaluate

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 wonderful place to stash gear like soiled boots or a cumbersome puffer jacket. The bigger of the 2 even expands into the principle 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 principle compartment so that you keep organized. Pack straps don’t get in the best way 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 means of the desert and never solely loaded it with heat clothes and cooking instruments, however tenting gear and provides. It often received piled at the back of a truck with different duffels we examined, crammed right into a rooftop cargo service, and tossed into the dust. 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 shaped by securing the strap wrap round a slim part of the pack straps. This configuration can be used as an impromptu over-the-shoulder strap.

The 2 foremost choices are each snug methods to hold the bag. That mentioned, because the pack straps primarily operate as all carry choices mixed, when you unclip and stow them within the designated pocket on the skin of the lid, you primarily lose all carry performance aside 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 massive, extensive mouth opening, which hinges on one of many brief ends, presents 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 principle compartment that you can 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’ll be able to compact it a bit when you don’t fill it to the brim.

Whereas the duffel does pack into its personal sizable finish pocket, it was difficult to cram in, making us choose to only fold it up and stuff it onto a backside shelf as an alternative.

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 robust materials solely received minimally scuffed by means of all of it, and any dust or mud splatter was straightforward to scrub off the coated recycled material.

The primary 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 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 honest climate, we’d be inclined to maintain it beneath cowl or pack delicate clothes and kit in additional water-resistant 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 midst of the principle compartment so you’ll be able to preserve gear organized, however two massive pockets on the outside ends. Each are massive sufficient for a median sized pair of mountaineering 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 gentle wall between it and the principle compartment. That one can both increase into the principle compartment if you would like extra gear within the outer pockets or into the outer pocket when you’d choose to cram extra in the principle 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 power to separate gear and clothes to maintain clear from soiled. It additionally excels in sturdiness and is snug to hold, making it a stable possibility for these planning to haul loads of stuff and need to do it comfortably. Suppose highway journeys, air journey, even metropolis hopping in Europe. And anybody hauling gear to and from frontcountry campsites regularly.

What Different DuffelS Ought to You Think about?

In the event you’re unsure the  Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel is best for you in any of the out there sizes, you could need to take into account one of many different stand-out duffels we’ve examined.

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

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

Osprey Transporter Duffel Evaluate:  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.