Our Travel Expert Recommends These Rolling Duffel Bags for All Your Travel Needs

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Duffel bags are great for throwing over your shoulder and stuffing into overhead bins on planes, but it doesn’t take long for your shoulder to hurt if you’re lugging a full bag. That’s why we love rolling duffels—bags that give you all the portability of a duffel bag with the option of rolling it across smooth surfaces.

Some have pull-up handles like a piece of spinner luggage, while others just have lightweight wheels with no handle for easy foldability and storage. Really, the only downside of a rolling duffel bag is that they almost always have two wheels, rather than the traditional four. They also slouch more than your average hardside suitcase, which can make it a bit harder to stack a bag on top but far easier to squeeze into an over-the-head airplane bin.

We’ve tested and vetted all of the best rolling duffle bags on the market to help you find your next travel companion.

What to Consider

Size

The most obvious decision regarding which rolling duffel bag to get is its size, particularly whether or not you want checked luggage or a carry-on bag (which is typically up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches). Aside from that, consider how much clothing and gear you usually travel with.

For some duffels with a more fixed shape, how full the bag is doesn’t really matter. But for duffels with more flexible designs and those without telescoping handles, the bag’s maneuverability might change if it’s overpacked.

To fit the most clothes in your rolling duffle bag, think strategically. Start with the big items first (snowboard jackets, pants, etc.). Roll these up and put them on one side of the bag. Then, work your way through the rest of the bag in sections with socks, underwear, shirts, pajamas, and any other gear you need. If you have some spare room left, you may fit a few toiletries in there, too.

Shape

Most rolling duffels have a similar shape akin to an average carry-on bag. However, rolling duffel bags with more of a square shape are usually easier to fit in overhead bins and, often, easier to wear as a backpack, for those that come with double straps. Bags with a rounded, circular shape—the traditional shape for a duffel bag—have more of a vintage look but can be harder to pack or find small items in in a pinch.

Materials

Most buyers probably don’t pay too much attention to materials, but you should if you’re an active traveler. Look for outer materials that are made with tear-proof and water-resistant details like ripstop, reinforced nylon, and watertight zippers. Last but not least, if you regularly overpack, zoom in on online photos to make sure the zippers look strong and durable before you purchase.

Portability

While there’s something to be said for simplicity, holding all the weight of a packed duffle on one shoulder will probably result in a sore neck after about 20 minutes and some unwanted aggravation. That’s why we love modern-day rolling duffel bags, which have wheels in addition to handles and straps, so you can roll through airports but sling it on your back to go up stairs.

Most of the options we recommend have pull-up handles. A few even have backpack straps to free your hands for extended travel over uneven surfaces. Just remember that a pull-up handle and built-in backpack straps may eat into your storage space inside the duffel.

How We Selected

As a freelance adventure travel writer, Suzie Dundas, who originally authored this piece, has used various rolling duffels for years. She’s broken duffel bag straps in the Japanese Alps and dropped her carry-on in the Indian Ocean during ferry transfers, so she’s real-world tested plenty of duffel bag features. She has tested travel and outdoor gear for brands like TripSavvy, Insider, Backpackers, and Forbes. Dundas tested many of these bags while traveling, and if she hasn’t used it, she’s tried other luggage from the same brand.

To narrow down the list, we relied on our knowledge of useful features gained through years of frequent travel through various airports and countries. We looked at materials and projected durability, whether bags had clever features (like hide-away straps), and whether reviews mentioned any ongoing problems or issues. We also took into consideration things like sustainability, price, guarantees, warranties, and whether a brand’s other products are generally reliable and well-received.

Big Haul Recycled 34-Inch Rolling Duffel Bag

If you’re hitting the road for a multi-week trip and need one bag capable of holding it all, pick up the REI Co-op Big Haul roller duffel. The 34-inch version has one huge main compartment with built-in straps to keep your gear in place (though packing cubes wouldn’t hurt).

Small, secure external pockets and mesh inside pockets provide enough space for smaller items, and two small pegs on the front allow the bag to stand upright on its own, rather than slowly tipping forward like many flexible roller bags.

Andante 2 Wheeled Duffle Bag

This is a larger rolling duffle bag that airlines will consider a checked bag because of its size. With that said, you can fit a lot in this bag with its drop-bottom compartment that allows you to keep your belongings organized and separate when packing. And since you’re spending a pretty penny to travel, you’ll want to make sure your belongings (and bag) stay in pristine condition.

This duffle has corner protectors to prevent the unwanted wear and tear that typically accompanies travel—extra bonus points right there. Lastly, there are multiple grab handles so in the case you don’t want to or can’t roll the bag, you can easily grab and carry it without hassle.

Black Hole Rolling Duffel Bag

Patagonia’s Black Hole duffels are simple, smart, and useful for travel where you’ll be strapping your bag on the back of a motorbike or unloading from small planes in pouring rain. It has one main pocket, plus some smaller internal pockets as well as several carrying handles. It comes one size which is made with the brand’s rip- and impact-resistant recycled materials. It’s a 300D ripstop fabric, and while Patagonia claims the Black Hole bags as weather-resistant, in our experience, they’re more like waterproof, unless you completely submerge them. Plus, they have a great guarantee. They’ve kept our clothing and gear dry in extremely heavy tropical rains.

Medium Upright Rolling Duffel Bag

At close to $500 with tax, the Medium Upright duffel from Briggs & Riley certainly isn’t cheap. But over a lifetime, spending just $500 on a bag may be a net savings. The Medium Upright Duffel comes with an ironclad guarantee: The brand will replace or repair the bag for basically any reason, including “airline damage” or “any reason whatsoever.” And this particular duffel is quite useful, too.

One of our travel pet peeves is a roller bag whose pull-up handle takes up storage space—but this one doesn’t, helping you make full use of the bag’s ample space. We also think the complimentary monogramming is a nice touch.

Crossover Wheeled Rolling Duffel Bag

Thule may be relatively new to the luggage game, but it’s not surprising that one of its first introductions is already a top contender. After all, you may trust Thule cases with your expensive ski, bike, and outdoor sport gear, so why not trust them with your clothing and dirty shoes, too?

The Crossover wheeled duffel has useful features like exterior compression straps and a clamshell-style design, plus a huge top zipper so you can get to your gear without fully unpacking. While it is a bit pricey, it’s definitely worth the investment if you’re in need of a good, durable duffel back that will last a long time.

Eagle Creek Gear Warrior Convertible Carry-On

Key Specs

• Material: 100% Recycled Poly Neo Diamond

• Size: 25 x 40 x 15 in.

• Volume: 55 L

• Weight: 6 lb., 15 oz.

Roller luggage is great—until it comes to cobblestone streets or long staircases. But it’s not easy to carry a heavy bag slung over your shoulder for very long. The Eagle Creek Gear Warrior Convertible Carry-on has two padded backpack straps so you can go from sidewalks to off-roading without missing a step. It’s also waterproof and abrasion-resistant, and the front panel detaches for use as a daypack or under-the-seat bag. By the way: You can get a similar version for half the price—and without the removable backpack—in the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior Wheeled duffel.

RedCamp Foldable Rolling Duffel Bag

The Deuter Aviant duffel has a lot of competition, but it scores high marks on all the categories that matter for a carry-on rolling duffel bag. With just under 40 liters of space, it’s as large as it can be while still meeting official carry-on requirements.

The short-and-squat shape, combined with a generous amount of compression straps, makes it easy to shove into overhead bins. And like the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior, it also has tuck-away backpack straps, though the lack of a hip belt may make it slightly less comfortable for long-distance wear.

Spinner Carry On Underseat Luggage with USB Port

If you need a rolling duffel but live in a studio apartment, you may not be willing to give up the limited real estate in your closet to accommodate a new bag. Fortunately, the Verage duffel rolls into a relatively small 17-inch package and comes with a useful storage sack—and a USB port to charge your phone.

It’s also ultralight, which makes it a good bag to throw into your luggage if you plan on bringing home more than you packed. It has the feel of a hardside bag without the limitations.

Underseat Carry-On Rolling Luggage Bag

If you need a rolling duffel but live in a studio apartment, you may not be willing to give up the limited real estate in your closet to accommodate a new bag. Fortunately, the Verage duffel rolls into a relatively small 17-inch package and comes with a useful storage sack. It’s also ultralight, which makes it a good bag to throw into your luggage if you plan on bringing home more than you packed. However, the brand sacrifices a telescoping handle in exchange for weight and space savings, so it’s not as easy to pull through airports as more rigid bags on this list.

Sigma 6.0 Medium Rolling Duffel Bag

While you probably want to keep your valuables on you while you travel as a personal item, in the case that you need to put them in your carry-on or checked bag, you’ll want to make sure they are as secure as possible. This rolling duffle bag has lockable zippers so you can rest assured your items aren’t going anywhere.

Aside from having a spacious interior, there’s roomy side pockets, protective skid rails, and a hideaway telescoping handle for easy navigation. It’s only available in one color so if you’re looking for one that isn’t black, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Andante 2 Wheeled Rolling Duffel Bag

This is a larger rolling duffle bag that airlines will consider a checked bag because of its size. With that said, you can fit a lot in this bag with its drop-bottom compartment that allows you to keep your belongings organized and separate when packing. And since you’re spending a pretty penny to travel, you’ll want to make sure your belongings (and bag) stay in pristine condition.

This duffle has corner protectors to prevent the unwanted wear and tear that typically accompanies travel—extra bonus points right there. Lastly, there are multiple grab handles so in the case you don’t want to or can’t roll the bag, you can easily grab and carry it without hassle.

Stevyn Rolling Duffel Bag

This lightweight rolling duffel bag is ideal for those shorter trips where you don’t need to pack as much, but still need a bag large enough to carry your belongings.

It’s a great bag to bring in addition to a checked bag with its luggage trolley sleeve, bottom shoe compartment, and rolling wheels. It’s available in a few neutral colors from pink to black making it easy to spot whether up above on the plane or at the baggage claim.

Duffel Bag Packing Tips and Must-Have Features, According to Our Expert Suzie Dundas

What makes a bag a duffel?

If you give it a quick online search, you’ll see that the word duffel comes from the town of Duffle, Belgium, where a factory started making burlap-type bags in the 1800s. But they didn’t catch on in the United States in a big way until World War I, when the rugged, over-the-shoulder bags were standard issue for soldiers.

Today, duffel is a pretty broad term, but it generally means any durable, soft-sided bag with a shoulder strap and carry handles. They’re popular for situations where bags may get scratched or tossed around, like on safaris or on trips with lots of train or bus travel.

What features are most useful in a rolling duffel?

Aside from the obvious—wheels—I strongly recommend choosing a rolling duffel with a pull-up handle. It makes the bag slightly heavier and more rigid, and the frame may eat a bit into the interior storage space.

But without a handle, you’ll have to pull your roller duffel by one of the bag’s handles. It may work if your bag is packed enough to maintain its shape, but if it’s not full, your items will shift to the bottom and cause the bag to slouch over. It’s fine for car trips but rather annoying if you’re traveling through airports.

I’m a big fan of packing cubes, so I don’t care too much about pockets or interior organization. But if you don’t use packing cubes, you may want to choose a bag with some smaller pockets to make it easier to stay organized while traveling.

Any packing tips when using soft-sided suitcases?

While soft-sided suitcases offer plenty of protection for the vast majority of buyers, you may want to pay extra attention to how you pack if you have fragile items, like any coffee mugs or art you picked up while traveling.

I usually use a few pieces of clothing as a buffer, wrapping them around the delicate items. If your bag is full, your items should stay secure and not bounce around. I brought home a ceramic sake set and a tea set from Japan, with two international connections, and nothing was damaged.

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