This guide is for adventurers and serious travelers seeking a rugged, versatile gear hauler. The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag offers exceptional durability and a massive 95-liter capacity for all your essentials, adapting easily from a duffel to a backpack. While its robust construction ensures longevity, its large size might be excessive for shorter trips or those who prefer lighter packing.
Massive 95-Liter Capacity: Provides ample space for extended trips, expeditions, or bulky gear.
Durable Water-Resistant Construction: Made from 1000D phthalate-free TPE fabric laminate and 840D Jr. ballistic nylon with double stitching, offering legendary ruggedness and protection against the elements.
Versatile Carrying Options: Features padded side handles for traditional duffel carry and detachable, adjustable, alpine-cut shoulder straps to wear it as a comfortable backpack.
Smart Internal Organization: Includes a main compartment zippered mesh pocket and a mesh sleeve pocket in the end-cap compartment for separating smaller items.
Dedicated Wet/Dirty Storage: An end-cap zippered pocket allows you to keep dirty shoes or wet clothes isolated from the main compartment.
Compression Straps: Four external compression straps help to cinch down your load, keeping contents stable and reducing bulk.
Weather-Resistant D-Zip Opening: A D-shaped opening with a weather-resistant zipper flap provides wide, easy access to the main compartment while protecting against moisture.
ID Pocket: A water-resistant ID pocket on top ensures your bag can be easily identified.
Extremely durable and water-resistant construction built to withstand harsh conditions.
Versatile carrying options (duffel or backpack) for different travel scenarios.
Generous 95-liter capacity ideal for extended adventures and bulky gear.
Excellent internal and external organization pockets, including a separate compartment for wet/dirty items.
Compression straps help stabilize and reduce the volume of packed gear.
Large size (95L) may be too bulky or heavy when fully packed for some users or shorter trips.
The robust material can make the bag slightly heavier even when empty (1840g).
No external quick-access pockets beyond the ID window and end-cap pocket.
The backpack straps, while functional, are not designed for long-term comfortable trekking like a dedicated backpack.
Extremely durable and water-resistant construction built to withstand harsh conditions.
Versatile carrying options (duffel or backpack) for different travel scenarios.
Generous 95-liter capacity ideal for extended adventures and bulky gear.
Excellent internal and external organization pockets, including a separate compartment for wet/dirty items.
Compression straps help stabilize and reduce the volume of packed gear.
Large size (95L) may be too bulky or heavy when fully packed for some users or shorter trips.
The robust material can make the bag slightly heavier even when empty (1840g).
No external quick-access pockets beyond the ID window and end-cap pocket.
The backpack straps, while functional, are not designed for long-term comfortable trekking like a dedicated backpack.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel in large size is engineered for reliable performance in demanding environments. Its 95-liter capacity makes it suitable for extended camping trips, international travel requiring significant gear, or carrying sports equipment like climbing ropes or ski boots.
The 1000D phthalate-free TPE fabric laminate and 840D Jr. ballistic nylon construction provides exceptional resistance to abrasions, tears, and water, protecting your belongings whether it's tossed into a cargo hold or exposed to light rain at a campsite.
Carrying Versatility:
Duffel Mode: The two padded side handles are perfect for quick grabs, loading into vehicles, or carrying short distances.
Backpack Mode: The detachable, adjustable, alpine-cut shoulder straps transform the duffel into a backpack. This is particularly useful for navigating airports, walking through train stations, or carrying over uneven terrain where wheels are impractical. While not a full-fledged trekking pack, it offers comfortable hands-free transport for reasonable distances.
Organization and Access:
The D-zip opening with a weather-resistant flap provides a wide mouth for easy packing and unpacking, even for bulky items. You won't struggle to find what you need.
The end-cap zippered pocket is a standout feature for hygiene and organization. Use it to isolate dirty hiking boots, wet swimsuits, or laundry, keeping the main compartment clean and dry.
Internal mesh pockets in both the main compartment and end-cap pocket are ideal for small essentials like toiletries, chargers, or documents, preventing them from getting lost at the bottom of the bag.
The four compression straps are crucial for securing your load, preventing items from shifting during transit, and allowing you to reduce the bag's volume when it's not fully packed. This can be particularly useful for fitting into overhead bins on some aircraft (though a large duffel may exceed carry-on limits) or compacting it for storage.
This duffel excels as a primary piece of luggage for extended travel, an expedition gear bag, or a robust sports bag, providing peace of mind that your contents are well-protected and organized.
Attach Shoulder Straps: Locate the alpine-cut shoulder straps inside the bag. Clip them securely to the D-rings located at the top and bottom corners of the bag's main face. Adjust the strap length for a comfortable fit when wearing it as a backpack.
Packing Cube: The included zip mesh storage bag can be used as a packing cube inside the main compartment for additional organization or to store the duffel itself when empty.
Capacity: With 95 liters volume, this bag is suitable for multi-week trips, expeditions, or carrying substantial sports/adventure gear.
Airline Travel: As a large bag, it will almost certainly need to be checked when flying. Always check airline baggage size and weight restrictions before departure.
Other Gear: Compatible with various packing cubes and organizational pouches to further compartmentalize your belongings.
Cleaning: Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth and mild soap. For tougher dirt, a soft brush can be used. Rinse thoroughly with water, avoiding harsh detergents or bleach.
Drying: Air dry completely in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or heat, to prevent mildew and preserve material integrity. Ensure zippers are open to allow air circulation.
Storage: When not in use, store the duffel in a cool, dry place. It can be folded or rolled and stored in its included zip mesh storage bag to save space.
Zipper Maintenance: Periodically clean zippers and apply a silicone-based lubricant to ensure smooth operation and maintain their weather resistance.
Avoid Overloading: While durable, consistently overloading the bag beyond its capacity can stress seams and zippers over time.