A superbly strong and resilient travel bag that resists all elements and serious wear & tear/travel abuse. The bags I have used for trips have maintained both their external and internal fabric despite being tied on yaks & other animals, thrown around on the dirt and on and off airplanes, and subjected to intense weather- snow, sun, and rain. The compression straps combined with the malleable tarapaulin fabric allow you to adjust the bag to your load- whether long and lean, or fat and bulky- very helpful component. It has all the basics, and no extra frills that just add unnecessary weight- just enough to carry it anywhere and tie it down to anything.

this is a seriously sweet duffel, I really like all the sizes. the bag is simple, bombproof, and nearly waterproof. There are no bells and whistles that add unnecessary weight to the bag while empty, and can be carried by shoulder strap, single handed handle, or backpack straps,(my favorite).

If you are like me and constantly pushing the baggage limits, why use luggage that weighs more than it has too. Not only does the lightweight nature of this bag mean you can bring more before the dreaded overage fee is reached, but these are uber bomber durable and water resistant. When it's time to shuttle loads, you can even wear this thing as a backpack. This is the best expedition duffle money can buy, and trust me it will last forever.

This bag is well made with a heavy duty build. I got the small so I could use it as a carry-on when traveling and it is a perfect fit for the overhead bin in the plane. The backpack straps work very well too and carried 20 lbs of gear easily and in comfort. So after one trip I give it two thumbs up.

I've had one of these for 5 years - the thing is bombproof, and a great value for the money. Just bought one for the girlfriend.

Only criticism - through heavy use, the tassel-thingies placed on the end of zippers for a better grip during opening _will_ break off.

Supper bag.

this is a great durable bag , but the xl size has no viable purchase unless you taking a LOT of stuff and your 350 pound body builder. i returned it. i might get a small or medium. however the fact that there are only one and half compartments, is making me think not too.

I have the M and I lived out of it for 3 months while traveling in Asia. Backpack straps are handy, it's a durable bag, and easy to spot. Can be carry on if not full.

The bag is made from waterproof PVC, but unfortunately the seams are not waterproof. If used as a base camp duffel, one would however expect that the bag is more or less water proof, no?
Unfortunately, due to the poor water resistance of the seams - also the seams on the bottom of the bag!- the bag does not seem suited as flight luggage (luggage often does get a little wet), and do not even think of using it in a bike trailer when it is wet....

Great carry on bag. I can pack for a full 7 days in this thing. Love it!

I bought my Base Camp Duffle in 2003 and headed off to Asia. The back has backpack straps so it's easy to carry around. after a couple of years in Asia on boat trips and drilling rigs, the bag headed off to Australia and hauled dive gear arounf for another year. The bag came back state side and hauled my stuff around Mexico. It's been on more baggage-go-rounds in more airports than any other bag I've met, and it's still going strong. I've got the bag down here in patagonia keep my stuff safe and dry. A couple of tips. The bag has one pocket inside the flap. Don't put anything heavy in here, or it flops around annoyingly. Also, becasue there are not pockets, and I don;t miss any pockets, I;ve learning to pack in little bags. Toileties in one bag, little gear in another, electronics cords and such in a crown royal bag. Poof- Organization without pockets. Another key to this bag, is that it is just a glorifed duffle bag, theives generally looking for backpacks full of first world goodies, they duffle bag tends not to attract attention. I've been living out of the M for years not, it's all you need. I met someone with a XL, and it was way too big, in my humble opinion.

I have dragged this bag across more terrain than I can describe. It is my expedition bag and has come climbing with me to Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Chile. I own the medium size and can stuff my peak bag, all my climbing gear, cold weather clothes, snacks, and sleeping bag into this bag. It is tough, water resistant, and practical. I love the interchangeable and adjustable shoulder straps/handles. I usually line it, like my my backpacks, with large plastic bags to protect the contents from water.

This is my go-to bag for any travel. I love sizes S-L. The XL is sweet but I'd be worried about going over the 50lb airline limit. I tend to pack light and the medium is enough for me. If you're only going to have one, the large is the best size (big enough for a long trip or packed for two people).

The North Face Base Camp Duffel is the perfect bag for traveling. Fill it up with clothes or gear and you're good to go. The bag consists of one large main compartment with an internal mesh pocket. It has four compression straps to make your load smaller. It has handles on either end making it easy to throw around and backpack straps for easy transport. It also has daisy-chain straps to tie down any accessories. It's extremely durable and water resistant.

I have the large sized duffel (28 x 16 x 16 inches). Not too big, not too small. I haven't found any downsides to the bag yet...except the airlines losing it during travel.

Definitely a lot bigger than I had imagined. I can't imagine how any one could ever need the extra large. Looking forward to using this bag on my frequent trips back and forth to Africa. Its nice cause I can just strap it on my back. A roller doesn't work all so well when it comes to climbing up and down stairs and ladders on an offshore platform.

If you are looking for a simple "haul all your crap" duffel, then this is it. I traveled non-stop for 11 months living out of the XL size. A year later I found other sizes on sale I snatched them up. Now I own a couple of these bags in different sizes and I am certain when I find more on sale I will buy them.

Pro: Bomber construction, backpack straps.
Con: Not waterproof, but hey its only a duffel, what do you expect.

Great duffles. Heavier material than I thought so they should be durable. Just took them to Europe and it was great to be able to sling them on our backs to negotiate the Metro.

Just brought this bag on a recent ski trip,and managed to get two pairs of ski boots,multiple shirts clothing,and medium back pack and various gear into this huge pack!
Awesome that you can also wear as a back pack once fully loaded!
Good to go!

How can you have enough of these? I use them for everything - organization in the back of the truck to travel. Never have gotten into the wheeled variety, these things save weight, and I figure I can always use the exercise right? They last forever, and all sizes see frequent use. Never blown out a zipper in 12 years.

I wish more people would write down what size they have in their reviews.

On a recent 10 day trip to CO I packed a 42 liter pack inside my Large base camp duffel, and all my backpacking essentials– sleeping bag, filter, hiking shoes, nalgene, stove, camelbak, etc; 5 days of clothes including two warm layers, climbing shoes, harness, some draws and belay devices; and even threw in a couple of books in the internal mesh pocket.

Everything fit fine, airport weighed it in at 40.5 lbs. The straps work wonderful going down flights of stairs to the car. And going from curbside to check-in. Handy little tip: when you are about to check it in cinch the backpack straps all the way down and use the velcro tabs (under the TNF logos) on the straps to hold the excess strap material. You don't need to remove them!

Look forward to using this bag for a very long time.

My wife and I both purchased medium duffels. Initially we found the bags to be good size and with what appeared to be quality construction. We just returned from our first major trip and experienced two problems. One minor one a little more serious. Minor: the bags zipper closed with a generous large YKK zipper (thank you TNF). The zipper has a cord that runs through it with a plastic tab holding the cord ends together. This makes the zipper easier to grab and provides a longer grip point when pulling the zipper. On the second day of travel the plastic tab broke and the cord fell out of the zipper. I'd suggest TNF use a longer piece of corded material or a flat stitched piece of cloth (like narrow gauge climbing webbing) and do away with the plastic tab that failed. Major: during a layover my wife and I shouldered our bags as backpacks and headed for the next terminal to continue our trip. Within minutes we both started to notice neck fatigue. Within 30 minutes we both had to stop and put our bags down every few minutes thereafter despite making multiple strap adjustments. Our packs were not too heavy by our standards (23lbs and 28lbs).We both examined our packs and came to the same conclusion - the upper attachment points for the shoulder straps are placed very close together on the bag and pinched our necks severely. This is a shame as there is plenty of room along the top of the bag and this problem could have been solved by moving the shoulder strap attachment point out a couple of inches. Otherwise, we agree with all the positive posts for this bag.
We really want to love this bag. However our experience was painful enough that, unless my wife can remove and resow the shoulder straps, we'll return them.

Fantastic bags... straps in the right places as you can use a single shoulder strap to carry the bag over one shoulder or don the whole thing like a backpack. Construction seems to be very sturdy and the bright yellow color makes the bag easy to find on the luggage carousel. I'm in the Middle East right now and it was super easy to spot my bright yellow bag in a sea of green duffels! I filled up the Large with clothes and it weighed in under 50 lbs... something you would have trouble doing in a roller-bag or regular suitcase. I also got the XL, but it was so HUGE that I decided to bring a second, smaller bag instead of filling up the XL. If you get the XL, expect to pay the airline's extra fees... and if your plan is to get the XL and not stuff it full, you might as well just get the Large... trust me, it's plenty big for a 2-3 week trip (or 6 months in my case)! I'm keeping the XL for road trips though... great for tons of gear!

We have 3 of these in the XL. You can pack this thing full, it is rugged & durable. The backpack straps are fantastic for traveling solo as they allow for other luggage to be carried or rolled behind you. You have to watch though, I can easily stuff this to be over 50 lbs, especially when filled with winter clothing, which is more than most air carriers allow, unless you are willing to pay extra.

Very tough bag. Water-resistant, can handle airports, camping or being strapped to the roof of a car. I use the small for overnight trips, the medium for multi-day, and I have a large but rarely use it because once it's filled it's often too bulky to carry comfortably. I'd recommend an Eagle Creek roller bag if you need something bigger than a medium. My one problem with these bags is that if you use the shoulder/backpack straps as shoulder straps one strap will always slip off. An easy fix, use a double sided Velcro strap to tie the two straps together. With that fix this bag's worth every penny.

Over the years have purchased 8 duffles in all different sizes. Traveled to Europe, S America, Carribean and most of N America. Never had a failure or puncture...although many airlines have tried. Each family member has their own. Top notch! How many travel bags do you have that have lasted 10 years?

I own this duffel in a medium, and it holds a lot. The bag is very durable, having held up quite well throughout several years of constant use (Not only do I take it traveling, I usually use it to store stuff even when it is not in use) As a previous reviewer noted it is nearly waterproof, the material of the bag itself withstands water very well but the seams are not sealed, so water will eventually get in through the seams. That said, it is more than water resistant enough for any normal use. The zipper is also very well built and easily zips and unzips (even when the bag is overstuffed) The backpack straps do serve well for moderate distances. To top it off most of the colors are very easily distinguishable at the baggage claim.

I have two of these: the large, which I use for carrying things on trips, and the extra large, which I really just use to store stuff at home. Eventually, maybe I'll go on some epic trip that requires the XL. Or I'll use it as a tent.

I like the bag because it's frameless (many large bags have frames), has handy shoulder straps, and uses that weird rubberized fabric so I don't worry if something spills on it. The "lid" is good and bad - it lets you quickly get into all parts of the back better than a straight zipper, and it has a handy pouch for small items, but it can be hard to zip up if the bag's super full. Finally, the bag has some external loops and is very easy to tie down.

This is a very well made product, but of course, it is North Face. It is just the right size (Large not extra large) for many things, and a beautiful red. It looks as "cool" as you want to look, and that is why you are investing in North Face anyway, isn't it? But, the best part, is buying from Backcountry.com. This is not the first time I purchased from them, and won't be the last. They have excellent service and fast delivery time. I highly recommend buying all your gear, especially North Face, from them...L from Wisconsin

I bought the XLG, as I will be living in Africa for the next two years. I wanted something that would hold a lot but not be too cumbersome, and still be durable. This is exactly what I hoped it would be!!

this duffel is the way to go--super durable construction, nearly waterproof, lightweight, utterly cavernous. if you are looking for a bottomless hole of a duffel to swallow all the gear and clothing you can throw in it, look no further. i ordered the Large and it works perfectly for me.Oh and i ordered the oxidant orange--the color looks much cooler in real life than it does in the pic above.

The small is the perfect size to fit in any overhead bin or under a seat when flying. I've lost multiple checked bags and I'm way too impatient to wait for baggage claim so this bag is perfect for me. Love the backpack straps and overall durability. Highly recommended.

perfect for long mountaineering trips. light, durable.. not sure about waterproof didnt test it, and hopefully i wont have too.

If you spend time living out of duffel bags in all types of weather, this bag is for you. I love not having to be worried about weather and wet clothes when I travel. This is great reassurance. I set it down in the snow and never look back. The pack pack straps help to keep your hands free.

From South America to Ghana to the Philippines, this is the best duffel that I've owned--even better than a standard issue military duffel bag. They are soo good that I own several of them in various sizes and I won't buy anything else. Best features are the d-rings and loops on the sides, which are good in tying them down on you car; backpack like straps to easily transport; bright colored for those annoying luggage carousels; durable zippers that can take a beating; and a simple main compartment to stuff to the limit. Just be careful that you don't go over the weight limit for check-in baggage.

Even with all the brilliant reviews, I still need to add my own. These bags are as bomber as it gets. Strap it to the top of a bus, the back of a mule, check it on Delta airlines, etc. etc. I have done it all with this bag for years. The size M works great for expedition gear on non technical trips and for just visiting the rents. Size up for bigger adventures! Just dont let your mule keeper put the leaking jug of kerosene next to it on the saddle! In multi-day downpours, stuff will get wet near the zips so dont expect a dry bag - this is a gorilla tough home for your goods though.

This bag was a great addition to my luggage. Its waterproof and has ample room (I went with a Medium to pack 4 days of winter storm and wildland fire gear) for everything you need to pack. I've had mine for about six months and its held up fairly well. The ID window has a tear at the stitching but its not a big deal. Otherwise, its a good bag.

Bomb proof bag. Picked up a large a year ago and when not restricted by size il just throw everything i could possibly use in it. california? fits wetsuit, rope, rack, clothes, skateboard. colorado? fits boots, backpack, climbing gear, tent, whatever. on the road? just throw it in. couldnt imagine lugging around my week long pack anymore when doing city traveling too. everyone should have this bag.

This is a pretty simple duffel. Not alot of bells and whistles here. Holds alot of stuff, not alot of compartments so stuff gets moved around inside and you have to go looking for it. The bag itself is tough and pretty waterproof my only complaint really is I wish you could hide the backpack straps inside the bag. Otherwise this bag is pretty sweet.

Is pretty good. I wish there was a better shoulder strap and I wish that you could hide the back pack strap in side the bag. Otherwise pretty good bag. Seems pretty sturdy.

I have the large and the extra large. I packed the large with clothes and an extra pair of shoes and it didnt come near to the weight allowed per bag on the airlines. I just got the X-large and it is huge, i can fit the large bag fully packed inside it with plenty of room to spare. I plan to take the x-large on my trip around asia so i have the extra room for souvenirs. I also drag these bags around afghanistan with me and they are great!

I have this bag in multiple size and it is the best thing in the world to travel with. In the colors they offer they are very easy to find in baggage claim. You also don't have to worry about them being ripped open because they are so tough

I know it's a little weird but I LOVE this bag. I call this heirloom quality. I fully expect my children's children to use this bag. I have the Large and XL. The XL is really absurdly large (i use it for car camping gear) but the large is perfect. I use these in the back of a truck and they have been in 2 down pours with no leakage. Not a huge fan of the backpack straps, I just keep them in the pocket in the lid just in case. Love the handles though for tying down in the truck when gate is down. You could not regret this bag. I'd definitely buy another if I needed it.

Used this for a 7 day Kilimanjaro trip. Worked like a charm. Held my sleeping bag, clothes, parka, fleece, trekking poles (on the flight to Kilimanjaro) and pretty much anything else that I could think of. The bag was durable and water resistant.I also bought the XL which ended up being too large for my needs. The Large was the right size, though I wished (on occasion) that it could have been a little bigger. I highly recommend it.

Everyone should have at least one of these bags, as I have not seen a better duffel bag with higher quality on the market. The bag is extremely well constructed - bomb proof. I opted for the XL. It is a very large bag, but I would recommend this size if you are into out-door activates and tend to haul around gear. The bag is not “waterproof”, but it is highly water resistant. We used this bag on a recent car camping trip and kept all perishable foods in it during a major rainstorm. All items in the bag stayed dry, but I would not recommend this bag for a river trip.

this bag is sitting in the corner waiting patiently to head to Kashmir India for a week of snowboarding.. It contains boots, avi gear and clothes for the week.. Including some nice clothes for going out in Dubai... I'm amazed at how much this thing fits..

The zippers are a little tough to zip but they look pretty bombproof once zipped..

This cavernous bag really does do it all. You can pack everything you want in here and if you can't fit it, you should not bring it. The compression straps make it manageable, the shoulder straps make your massive load carry-able and the construction makes it last forever.

I am so glad I went with this!

This thing is airline indestructable. I've flown with this thing a dozen times without a hitch.

I have the large size. Even when not packed full it compresses well. Found it to be very durable and water-resistent. Its gone through the airport a number of times and cam out just fine. Drag it, drop it, 4 years and still no signs of wear. Backpack straps are very nice, but take a bit of fidgeting to remove. Only real complaint is that it does not come with a shoulder stap - even though there are clips/rings for one.

I've had a yellow/black XL for 2 years now, used mainly for flying. Standing up well so far (it's been on 20+ flights and a couple of road trips). No tears, punctures or anything, just dirt on the outside). The compression straps mean it'll keep your stuff nice and organized when it's only half full (or less).

The only issue: it's sheer size! :-) It's way too easy to load this thing to over 50lb (where airlines start charging you money), or even over 70lb/32kg where they'll refuse it as luggage altogether. (I did manage to get it checked in loaded with 88lbs/40kg once - very full, but no signs of stress on the seems or the zipper).

Overall very happy so far.

Just took this bag on a Mexico climbing expedition and it is very durable and easy to carry on your back. One major issue I have with it is the absolutely horrible zippers. You would think for that price and durability the zippers would be bombproof...

I bought this bag (large size) to toss in the back of the car for weekend trips, or to use as a carry-on for flights.

When it arrived, it displayed the quality you'd expect from North Face for a durable bag: Thick Material, Beefy Stitching, Large Zippers. Inside, there is a zippered mesh pouch on the back of the lid, which has a plastic clip in it (perfect for keys).

I've taken it on a few flights as my carry-on, and it fits in the overhead bins pretty well. If it's more than 3/4 full, there could be some issues.

Large size was perfect for me: you can stash a pair of shoes, a couple changes of clothes and maybe a sweatshirt with room to spare.

I got the bag with the intention of using it outside in crummy weather and to hall a lot around and it's met all my expectations! The price is a little much, but it seems like it's going to last long into the future and take a lot of ware.

We're cave divers, so we have to lug our gear to other countries, and this means packing so we avoid the extra $$ that we normally pay the airline for our checked bags over 50 pounds. Our new NF bags rock, they can protect our expensive gear, yet don't weigh much so we can take all our gear and not worry about having to pay the extra $$ to the airlines!!

Dirty Laundry, Random Gear, Binders of Literature for the Ford Fiesta... the list goes on and this Duffel holds it all!

Have the medium version. Once I got it, I was unsure of how much it would hold. However, this bag holds much more than you would think to look at it. I used it for a week long business trip to the Middle East and had extra space to bring back souvenirs.

Good tough durable bag. Hard to fault, does exactly what you would expect and more. Recommended.

I love this bag! I have the extra large, and I took it on a month long trip to India... It was able to fit my (very full) pack, my outerwear, sleeping bag, a weeks worth of clothes, and everything else I needed with enough space to bring back all the items I purchased while abroad. Also, the back straps made my load very easy to hull around, despite it's heavy weight. I highly recommend this bag, as it is tough enough to withstand being strapped to the top of jeeps for a couple days, make it through countless bus rides, and through Newark airport unharmed!!

I am a bag-aholic, having owned many duffels over the years. I have the S, M, L and XL and I find these bags to be both very functional and super durable, and worth every cent. I even own the big TNF Rolling Thunder duffel(which is nearly as large as the XL duffel, but has wheels). In terms of ultimate quality, these bags are, perhaps, just ahead of the duffels from Bad Bags, but not nearly up to the standard set by the Redoxx bags (which are without a doubt the best bags I have ever seen, but are WAY more expensive).

I bought one of these 8 years ago and I have been traveling everywhere with it changing countries about every 2-3 months. It carried all my possessions for a very long time and the bag is still in fantastic condition. This things lasts forever, now I have a family so I'm getting another one so all our stuff will go into 2 bags, but only for vacations.... I recommend this over anything.

I bought two of these, one medium and one large. On our first canoe outing, we got about two inches of rain. Not wind-driven stuff, but nearly vertical rain. When we opened the duffels at the end of the day, we were disappointed to find wet gear and water pooled in the bottom of both bags.

The duffels were sitting on top of other gear, out of the standing water in the bottom of the canoe. I conclude that the trim on these bags wicks a substantial amount of water into them.

Have the XL for mountaineering and treks and the small for business---no wimpy suit bags or fall apart rollers here! Waterproof even after days of rain/slush/snow--and the small fits in the overhead compartment. Plus, I'll never lose my yellow bags in any terminal, airport or on the tarmac (or glacier!) Love 'em!

If you're going to buy a duffel, why not get the best? No, there are no wheels, but if you need wheels on your bag, then maybe you don't need a duffel of this quality. The bag is very durable, and the backpack straps can be very useful (but you can tighten them down when necessary if you don't need them). For being so bomb-proof, the bag is surprisingly light. I have a small (which works great as a carry-on), a medium (which I use the most), and a large. I can't imagine ever needing an XL, and with how these bags are built, I doubt I will ever need to replace them. This bag is a time-tested winner, and more than worth the price.

This is a great bag. The price is average (found it for the same price at several local stores after tax). It is a simple duffle but looks durable. The large fully filled with your average gear/clothes for a couple weeks weighs around 55 pounds.

I bought the XL. It's big, but not unmanageble when full, some comments below is that you can't carry it when full. I am 6'1" 190lb male so carrying when full is not a problem. If you are on the shorter side or small female, the xl bag is going to be bigger than you are. The back pack straps work great and are designed well. To give you an idea of what it holds: I used the bag to take everything for a week long climbing trip to EPC, it easely held: helmut, rope, sport rack, climbing pack, sleeping bag, clothes, food and misc gear. The shoulder straps made it easy to carry the bag backpack style through the customs and out of the airport. Also, used it for a skiing trip, held boots and clothes and misc gear no prob, with plenty of room that made packing easy. If you like to travel with just one bag and have a good amount of gear, this is the money. Also, it is built like a brick house, the thing is indestructable and looks bad assed too.

I love this bag. I have an older model (7+ years old), and it is as good today as the day I bought it (maybe even better!). The material is awesome, the zippers are sturdy, the backpack straps are sturdy (even when fully packed). I've had this bag all over the US, to Africa strapped on top of a landrover, and in a canoe going up and down the amazon in South America...awesome bag!

After much research and trying to decide between the L and XL bag I went with the Large. Bought in prep for trip to Jackson Hole and turned out to be perfect. The "backpack" straps are designed to carry the bag with ease. I think if you filled the XL bag it would be too heavy for the airlines. We stuffed 3 of these bags and they weighed 41-45 pounds each... perfect for airlines... not to heavy to carry. Enjoy!

I own three of these, the medium, large, and extra large. I bring one of them on most every car or plane trip I take. The medium works well for a weekend winter trip, and holds plenty of clothing, jackets, etc. I've used the large for several trips abroad where I need a durable bag that I can abuse. For the extra large, I've used it on trips to Denali and Aconcagua, and it has held up great while riding on mules or strapped to a sled. Even with plenty of sharp things inside (ice axe, crampons, poles) it shows minimal damage. Some times for airport travel I wish it had an easier way to carry it, but I girth hitch the side strap with a sling and pull it across the slippery airport floors. It has backpack straps, but I'm usually wearing a backpack too.

I also like the construction. The top and sides are made of a durable water resistant material. This helps for leaving it outside in the snow or rain, when it can't fit in the tent. The bottom is a heavy duty cordura, which holds up well.

Super durable yet lightweight, this bag it. I've used the TNF Large duffel on many skiing & climbing trips and it has proved perfect for hauling whatever gear needed. The backpack straps are key, they carry the load reasonably well and enable easy travel around airports, busy subways, in and out of cabs, or wherever your trip takes you. Love the simplicity of the single compartment.

I got the L and had room leftover for a week long trip that required a bunch of excess stuff. The shoulder straps are awesome, even if your bag is heavy you can handle it. If you use it like a backpack I would just be sure to pack heavy stuff accordingly. Super durable too.

I've had the large Base Camp Duffel for a few years now and love it. I've used it for everything from weeklong trips to New York City to hauling gear all around the western US. When its fully packed, its too big for overhead carry on regulations. It carries a ton of gear and is sturdy enough that I don't think the baggage handlers can damage it.

I hauled this thing across South America for 3 months and it stood the test. It held enough clothing for me for the entire trip, plus room to spare for items picked up along the way. The material is super resistant and withstood a couple falls off of a moving vehicle (Ecuadorian bus system!) and all it did was scuff. It's also very water repellent (NOT WATERPROOF) and the couple times that I had it out in the rain my clothes and goods stayed mega dry. Overall it's the perfect duffel for the rough and tough adventurer/average trans South American visitor.

I have the XL and probably should have gone with a L. I fit two sleeping bags & sleeping pads, a tent and most of my camping & bike gear into this with space to spare. I would have packed more, but that would have put me over the 50lb per bag airline restriction. If there were wheels on the bag, I definitely would have used them, but the shoulder straps worked out fine. I haven't mastered the art of getting the packed XL bag onto my back gracefully yet, but once it was on, I was able to easily get around with it using the shoulder straps. Overall, the bag is big enough to let you bring piles of clothes and gear, but the fact that it doesn't have wheels and has to be carried around on your back, makes you reevaluate how much you really need to bring with you.

I haven't used the bag much yet, but so far it's held up some airline flights and being strapped to the roof of my car.

I just thought, well, here is another duffel, but I've used it way more than I expected. I actually have a medium and a large and the medium is perfect for those weekend trips or a quick bag for an activity. The large is great for longer trips. It is really stout and takes a pretty good beating whenever I use it. It seems pretty waterproof too. I love that there are backpack straps too. Good purchase, I think almost anyone can use this bag.