Can we take a brief moment to show some appreciation for the duffel bag? These essential carry-alls somehow manage to fit a week’s worth of clothes and gear without breaking a sweat, making them truly versatile pieces of luggage for all manners of adventure. Even when they’re jam-packed, they’re fairly easy to transport thanks to the multiple straps and carrying configurations. But a well-packed bag makes all the difference, so today we’re covering the best way to pack durable duffel bags so you get the most out of every single liter.
But first, a fact. Did you know that the name duffel bag comes from the town of Duffel, Belgium, the town where the bags’ coarse fabric was originally sold? Since the beginning, duffel bags were made for ruggedness and durability, and they really gained prominence after they were used as the soldier’s go-to pack in World War II. If military-tough performance and hold-it-all versatility are what you’re all about, then you’re going to want to invest in one of these bags.
Efficiency, compartmentalization and visibility are duffle bags’ key uses. The thing is, many of the best travel duffel bags have massive capacities (100 liters for the MPD100, for example). This means wide-open interiors that require a little bit of careful organizational thought. If you don’t use the interior wisely, you will wind up with a huge, disorganized pile of laundry rather than carefully packed cargo. Here’s how.
As with any packing endeavor, preparation is crucial when it comes to loading up your duffel bag. Spend some time pre-planning and configuring so you’ll be able to make use of every cubic inch of your duffel bag space. When properly packed, these vessels can store a surprisingly large amount of gear, so never underestimate a good packing strategy.