Large capacity gear bag with a wide mouth access to easily load helmets, boots, gloves, jackets and other travel essentials.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I agree with the other reviewers.
Highlights:
- Durability - The overall construction is very tough. I've used this bag on skiing and diving trips in rain, snow, and worst of all, international luggage handlers :-) and it's survived them all.
- The dual-compartment design is AWESOME. I use the bottom compartment for hardware (ski boots, fins, gloves, etc) and the top compartment for clothes. Keep in mind that: (a) the top/bottom compartment divider is mesh, so that has pros and cons...on the one hand it means there is good breathability for damp stuff you put in the bottom compartment, but on the other hand if you put your muddy boots into the bottom compartment the mud is going to leech into the top compartment...you'll want to wrap your dirty stuff; (b) the bottom compartment is fairly shallow, about 5 inches (lay a ski boot on its side and it's about that height) but because the compartment divider is mesh there is some stretch to the compartment space.
- Looks - It's a really cool looking bag.
- The big wheels are GREAT for lugging over tarmac, on boats, up stairs, etc, and the pull handle is SOLID. It also snaps/locks into the bag nicely so there is no danger of the pull handle slipping out while in a cargo hold and snapping.
- The goggle compartment is excellent, although it does obviously take up some internal space in the bag that you have to learn to pack around.
- The semi-hard back and bottom plates help the bag stay upright (this is a problem with a lot of other rolling duffels)
- There are handles on the side, top and bottom of the bag which is GREAT since you will be pulling this bag out of trunk spaces, train overhead compartments, etc and a lot of duffel bags just don't provide enough convenient handles. The handles are well designed and pretty flush with the bag so still looks minimalist.
- Other design elements: the adjustable straps on the outside are more form than function...they don't do much; all the zippers have lock holes so you can put a TSA-compliant combination lock on them which is good for check-in luggage
Cons:
- Note that the outside fabric of the bag is black with small white dots. It doesn't come through in the product photos so don't expect the bag to be jet black. It actually looks very cool (it still looks manly and serious), but the white dots do get abraded over time so the bag will probably look worn faster than, say, a ballistic nylon Tumi or Victorinox bag.
- The Thule logo is matt silver and looks very cool. However, it's like some kind of decal applied onto the bag...it looks pretty well bonded but you can take a look at it and know that it will start flaking off over time as the bag gets abraded.
Other notes:
- The inside fabric is pale blue...it isn't cheesy but I think it will tend to show dirt more than a black or gray material.
- The outside fabric is not as tough as the ballistic nylon that Tumi or Victorinox uses, but it's still pretty tough and the bag is WAY lighter than others as a result. I had it sit out in the rain for a while and my clothes stuff stayed dry. The fabric does absorb a bit more water than the Tumi/Victorinox though, because the fabric is thinner and lighter.
