Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Assessment

Backside Line

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler’s star characteristic 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 exterior 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 means of the desert and never solely loaded it with heat clothes and cooking instruments, however tenting gear and provides. It usually obtained piled behind a truck with different duffels we examined, crammed right into a rooftop cargo service, and tossed into the grime. Whereas it’s not waterproof, it stood as much as all our abuse and stored 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 fashioned 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 primary choices are each snug methods to hold the bag. That stated, for the reason that pack straps primarily perform as all carry choices mixed, should you unclip and stow them within the designated pocket on the surface 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 hold that in thoughts.

Compressibility & Packability

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is simple to pack. Its massive, broad mouth opening, which hinges on one of many quick ends, affords 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 possibly 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 hold 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 may compact it a bit should 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 desire 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 obtained minimally scuffed by means of all of it, and any grime or mud splatter was straightforward to wash off the coated recycled cloth.

The principle 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 isn’t one in every of them. Once 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. Which means if we plan to enterprise out into lower than honest climate, we’d be inclined to maintain it underneath 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 course of the primary compartment so you may hold gear organized, however two massive pockets on the outside ends. Each are massive sufficient for a median sized pair of climbing boots after which some. We beloved these facet pockets when it got here time to toss in extremely dusty footwear, which we didn’t wish to contaminate our good, clear sleeping bag. 

One pocket has a set depth and the opposite has a delicate wall between it and the primary compartment. That one can both increase into the primary compartment if you need extra gear within the outer pockets or into the outer pocket should you’d desire to cram extra in the primary compartment.

Ought to You Purchase the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler?

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is a good 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 snug to hold, making it a stable possibility for these planning to haul loads of stuff and wish to do it comfortably. Suppose 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 Contemplate?

In case you’re unsure the  Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel is best for you in any of the obtainable sizes, you might wish to contemplate one of many different stand-out duffels we’ve examined.

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

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Assessment: This duffel options just a few much less outsized pockets, however does have a laptop computer sleeve within the lid and a repositionable divider in the primary compartment to assist hold gear organized.

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