There are two methods to rig up the carry deal with. You possibly can join it to the slim ends of the bag, which makes accessing the storage compartment simpler, or in an X form throughout the broader sides of the bag for elevated stability whereas carrying. There are no buckles, carabiners, or D-rings for the deal with. As a substitute, there are nylon cloth loops, with vaguely fish-hook-shaped plastic items on the ends of the deal with that slip into the loops. It is one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. The backpack straps use the identical hook-and-loop system after they’re not stowed behind the padded panel.
They work a lot better than I assumed they might. I by no means had one slip free, but it wasn’t troublesome to safe or take away the plastic hooks. The one buckles on the bag are 4 compression straps that you just fasten after every thing is zipped up so that you could cinch down the bag into its most compact type. There are mounted seize handles on all 4 sides of the duffel too.
On the draw back, there is no shoulder strap as on the Purple Oxx. Given the selection between the 2, I might a lot somewhat have the backpack straps, however generally it is handy to only throw a bag on my shoulder for a second to release my palms. However I get it. Too many straps would litter up the bag.
The hook-and-loop system works securely, nevertheless it’s not the quickest method so as to add and take away straps. On the airport baggage drop counter, I really feel like I am in a rush to get all of them free so I can stow the deal with with out holding up the entire line. In distinction, with baggage that use carabiners or buckles it takes about as a lot time to take away them because it does to learn this sentence.
A Materials World
The fabric simply feels very nice too. It is supple but robust. The mesh underneath the lid, the place two zippered inside pockets reside, is delicate sufficient to make underwear out of. The pockets—one small, one massive—are useful and be part of a single exterior pocket for any little objects you wish to maintain separated from the primary inside storage compartment.
The underside and sides of the duffel are product of 1,680-denier recycled nylon. That is thick, robust stuff to withstand put on and tear from being picked up, put down, and slid round. The remainder of the outside is waterproof, although not waterproof. (Bear in mind, there are nonetheless zippers.) However I carried each baggage by damp, drizzly Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Hanoi, and the skies splashed each baggage repeatedly with no drop soaking by.
Most baggage is black or navy blue. It is basic, however boring, boring, boring. The Huge Haul is accessible in all-black, for traditionalists, nevertheless it additionally is available in a number of eye-catching colorways that pair a principal shade with a well-chosen secondary shade on zipper pulls and strap loops. There’s Mountain Moss, which is extra of a mustard shade than any moss I’ve ever seen; Twilight Purple, which is accented with electrical pink; and my favourite, the teal Stone Blue that is accented with boring orange. Solely Patagonia’s Black Gap duffel baggage provide such a Skittles-like selection of colours.
I’ve come to count on loads from REI Co-Op gear over the previous few years. Even so, I used to be shocked at how nicely the Huge Haul hit the mark. There are a number of quibbles right here and there with the shortage of a shoulder strap and the time it takes to make use of the hook-and-loop attachments, however the Huge Haul will serve you nicely on each city treks and open air adventurers.
