This duffel was absolutely perfect for our extended safari, where size, weight, and structure restrictions for the small planes are extremely tight, and structured bags with big wheels and handles are not permitted. Based on those restrictions, I determined that you can "cheat" a little with a soft bag, even going up to the 90 liter range if you want to push the size (but not the weight) limits. However, unless you are an extremely light and efficient traveler, I think 60-70 liters is the optimal size.
There are very simple duffels that could work (like Eagle Creek's simple "No Matter What" duffel), but I decided to invest in something with more features like extra-durable fabric, u-shaped opening, weather-resistance, compression straps, locking zippers with pulls, and more ways to carry other than the traditional "sling" strap, given that this is still a fairly big bag that could be stuffed with 30+ lbs. and knocked around quite a bit in the bush.
With that in mind, I compared MANY bags including the Patagonia Black Hole 70L, REI Big Haul 60, The North Face Base Camp Voyager 62L, Thule Chasm 70, Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 60, Black Diamond Stonehauler 60L, Marmot Long Hauler Large, Backcountry All Around Trekker 60L, Gregory Alpaca 60, Sea to Summit Momaed 65L, Eddie Bauer Maximus 1.0 70L, Columbia On the Go 75L, Cotapaxi Allpa Duo 70L, plus some cheaper, simpler bags from Gonex, REI, and Eagle Creek (I told you I was obsessive).
Many of these bags are excellent, but the bags that stood out were the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler and this Osprey Transporter 65. Here's why:
STRAPS and CARRY HANDLES: 4 comfortable grab handles on all sides (a must-have in my opinion), and backpack straps that attach at the right place (near the top of the bag, just below the exterior pocket) and hide away for transport. I'd prefer detachable straps like the Thule system, .but the Osprey's hide away neatly. For carrying, a separate handle isn't needed because it's comfortable carried over one shoulder with just one of the straps.
WEIGHT vs QUALITY: The Osprey and the Eagle Creek are the lightest among the quality, durable bags in this category (nearly 2 pounds less than some of them!). It's not as waterproof or quite as heavy-duty as some of the bags on this list, but I'm not taking it white water rafting. The tough, high-quality TPU-coated shell won't easily rip or look beaten up, and is solid enough to help the bag stand up when packing -- a benefit over thinner bags like the REI. The zippers are #10 zippers with big sturdy pull-rings (really handy).
COMPRESSION STRAPS: For versatility in packing for this kind of travel, compression straps really help you pack a lot into a small bag. The duffels from Thule, Eagle Creek, Sea to Summit, and REI have external compression straps, which serve a different purpose -- external straps can make a partially-full bag more compact, but dangling external straps can get snagged on things, for example when checking luggage. The Osprey, with its internal straps, has an incredibly clean profile that won't snag on anything.
CAPACITY: The Osprey 65 pushes the limits for long carrying. It would be too big for most hiking. But for traveling on safari, it's awesome - roomier than comparable 60L bags, but still light and compact. And the "flatter" dimensions of the Osprey make it easier to pack than smaller 60L bags. This bag techincally exceeds airline carry-on limits, but you can likely get away with it anyway because it's soft and you can still wear it onto the plane as a backpack.
PACKABILITY: These bags all advertise as "packable." Some (like the Eagle Creek) fold into self-contained pouches, and others come with carry bags; but the "packable" claim is mostly a joke. I tried folding up all of them, and some, like the Patagonia, require 10 minutes of sweat and struggle and can never be folded neatly, while others like the Thule are still pretty massive when packed away. The Eagle Creek and the Osprey were by far the easiest to fold. The Osprey bag is cleverly designed to double as a medium-sized packing cube.
THE LITTLE THINGS: A bright colored, durable interior makes it easy to see your stuff. A sternum strap on the backpack straps makes it actually functional as a backpack. It has big YKK locking zippers with big loop pulls, comfortable grab handles mounted on the top and sides, daisy chain loops, a huge wide opening for packing, and an EXCELLENT true lifetime warranty that they will honor even after the product is discontinued.
If you're considering other popular duffels, I'll share these other observations:
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler: Excellent high-quality value duffel, super lightweight and relatively inexpensive, but a step down in construction quality. The interior lining is thin, and the compression straps are external so they have to be clipped/unclipped every time you open/close the bag. There's a great external pocket and the duffel folds up more compactly than any other on the market. Warranty is the only one as good as Osprey's.
Patagonia Black Hole: Very popular but super-stiff, impossible to fold, no compression straps, and backpack straps that are difficult to remove and install.
Sea to Summit 65L Duffel: Similar to the Osprey but extra weatherproof -- also extra heavy at nearly 4 pounds. Nice external compression strap system, like Thule's, that doesn't involve a lot of dangling straps. Would be an outstanding choice if you want to pay a premium for a more weatherproof bag and don't might the weight (It's expensive). Bad choice if you want to compress/pack the bag (this one's complicated to fold up).
Thule Chasm 70: Good duffel but it's big and on the heavy side (twice as heavy as the Eagle Creek), and has no side grab handles (which was a deal killer), and didn't love that the carry handle can't be removed (it can be snapped down but it's still a lot of stuff to get snagged in transport). Super high quality bag. Doesn't fold up very neatly.
REI Big Haul 60: Very similar to the Eagle Creek but lightweight nylon instead of polyester. I like the removable carry handle, but the hooks that attach the carry handle and backpack straps are thin-looking plastic (they used to be metal). The bigger fail is that the backpack straps are mounted too low for some reason, so the bag sits well above your shoulders which isn't comfortable when it's loaded down. Also no zipper loops and inferior warranty support vs the Eagle Creek or Osprey.
The North Face Base Camp Voyager 62L: Also similar to the Eagle Creek and REI bags, but no compression straps, and the polyester fabric looks like it'll show more wear than the others.
Black Diamond Stonehauler 60: Honestly never got my hands on one of these but it looks like it checks all the boxes. They are hard to find and I didn't order one because it's padded and the capacity is a bit smaller for a much higher price, and reviews say the grab handles aren't comfortable. But if you need something super heavy duty for hauling things like climbing gear, I'd consider this bag.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 15.27 x 11.77 x 4.69 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.15 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 21.5 x 14 x 9 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.51 Pounds |
| Brand Name | Osprey |
| Warranty Description | All Mighty Guarantee |
| Model Name | Transporter 40 |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Polyester |
| Suggested Users | Unisex-Adult |
| Manufacturer | Osprey |
| Part Number | 10003344 |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Style | Transporter Travel Duffel Bag |
| Included Components | Transporter 40 |
| Size | 40L |
