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Complete BIFL Carry On Buyers Guide

For this Buy It For Life (BIFL) Buyers Guide, I compiled a comprehensive list of all the exceptional One Bag companies on the market. This list emphasizes brands that strive to produce packs with the highest quality, use only the best materials, craftsmanship, all while offering suburb customer service.

Skip To A List Skip To B List

Who Makes The List

To make this list, companies must have a full lifetime warranty against defects in materials and manufacturing; stand by the guarantee for the entire duration of the product, or the owners lifetime (hence BIFL); use only the highest quality fabrics and materials; have an excellent reputation for warranty repairs; and offer superb customer service.

Materials and Craftsmanship

Materials include the fabric, zippers, buckles and other hardware. Quality fabrics include high denier ballistic or ripstop nylon, or materials such as Dyneema®, and X-Pac™. Straps, buckles, and zippers are sturdy, robust, and designed to last for life. Craftsmanship is top notch, with reinforced seams, no loose or fraying fabrics, and stitching that won’t fall apart with a heavy load.

Determining Who Made The List

I have experience with many, but not all, of the companies on this list. Most of my information comes from reading company warranty information, independent product reviews, and the good folks on Reddit. Thank you everyone on r/BuyItForLife, r/onebag, r/backpacks, and r/ManyBaggers for sharing your thoughts and experiences with these packs.

Types of Warranties

Lifetime Warranty

This means exactly what it says. The product is guaranteed against defects in materials and craftsmanship for the life of the product. However, even for lifetime warranties, the manufacturer can determine how long the warranty will apply, and to whom.

Duration of Warranty

Lifetime can mean two things, the lifetime of the owner, or the lifetime of the product. Often the product lifetime is defined as the “practical lifetime of the product,” which is determined by the manufacturer. If a bag is too old or worn out, they may decide the natural lifetime of the product has been reached, and deny the warranty.

Who Is Covered

Great companies will guarantee their pack forever, regardless of who owns it or when they bought it. However many companies will only issue a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser of the product. This means the warranty does not transfer when you sell or buy a used bag. As the original owner, you are responsible for keeping the record of purchase with a receipt, or email confirmation.

Wear & Tear

As a general rule, most companies do not cover damage due to regular use of their product. This may include scratches, rips or tears in the fabric, damage due to accidents, and improper care. The manufacturer will determine how excessive the damage is, and repair or replace the product at their discretion. The best companies have a liberal policy, and will do everything in their power to return your pack to you in good working order, either free, or for a small charge.

Shipping

The cost of shipping can greatly influence if it’s worth the hassle to return a product for a warranty repair. Most companies require you to pay to ship the product to them for a warranty repair, and most companies will pay to ship it back to you. However some companies will require you to send them the pack with pre-paid shipping.

BIFL Ratings

Because of the wide range of warranty policies, materials used, and customer service experiences, I broke companies into two categories:

A Rating

These companies offer true BIFL full lifetime warranties for any owner, not just the original owner. They stand by their products to the very end, offering a guarantee that is over and above the industry standard. They have exceptional customer service, and will generally cover any problem, for any reason, forever. They use only the highest quality sources materials, fabrics, and accessories on their products. Their customer service is fantastic, and they will bend over backwards to ensure you are satisfied.

B Rating

Runners up. These companies offer full lifetime warranties, covering all defects in materials or manufacturing. They have caveats however. For example, the warranty might only apply to the original owner, or only offer a warranty on the “practical lifetime of the product,” which is determined by the company. The materials used are generally good, but may not be the highest quality available. With some exceptions, customers are generally happy with these companies and their products.

BIFL Travel Brands In alphabetical order:

Cotopaxi

Type of warranty: 61 year full warranty, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: 61 years
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: They pay
Policy Information: https://www.cotopaxi.com/pages/contact
One Bags: Allpa 35

The 61 year warranty is a tongue-in-cheek way of saying lifetime, as 61 years is the average lifespan of a person in the developing world. For practical purposes, I consider this to be a full lifetime warranty.

Cotopaxi uses 1000D TPU-coated polyester, and 1680D ballistic nylon in the Allpa 35, as well as reinforced handles and lockable YKK zippers. They also have great customer service, the “llama” team is both fun and helpful.

Eagle Creek

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship, also covers product failure regardless of cause
Duration: Practical life of product
Who: Any owner
Shipping: They pay
Policy Information: https://www.eaglecreek.com/warranty.html
One Bags: Eagle Creek offers a large line of One Bags, check out their Amazon Store for the latest models and prices.

Eagle Creek offers a robust No Matter What™ warranty, which covers defects in craftsmanship and materials for the entire life of the product. They will repair or replace your bag due to product failure for regardless of reason, even if it’s your fault. They will even pay for shipping.

Evergoods

A true connoisseur of the manufacturing process will appreciate the level of detail that goes into Evergoods products. From 500D high tenacity nylon, Zote EV50 foams, to lightweight aluminum paneling, their products are built to last. If you want to geek out on materials, watch their YouTube video on the foams used in their packs, it’s strangely fascinating.

Filson

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical life of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: They pay
Policy Information: https://www.filson.com/guarantee
One Bags: Small Rugged Twill Pullman Suitcase, Ballistic Nylon Duffel Pack

Filson bags are constructed using sturdy materials built to last a lifetime, including solid brass zippers and hardware, bridle leather straps, durable waxed cotton twill fabric, and high denier nylon. Filson backs up their materials and craftsmanship with a full lifetime guarantee that covers any owner, for the life of the product.

GoRuck

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or manufacturing, including reasonable wear and tear
Duration: Forever
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: Yes
Shipping: You pay
Policy Information: https://www.goruck.com/scars-lifetime-guarantee/
One Bags: Both the GR2 (34 and 40 liter versions) and the GR3 (45 liters) are great One Bags

GoRuck offers arguably one of best products in the industry, and is considered to be the “gold standard” in quality by many minimalist travelers. Goruck uses the best materials, including 1000D Cordura® nylon, beefy YKK zippers, and their double stitched seams are tested at over 400 lbs.

As like most companies, the guarantee does not cover excessive use, or unusual circumstances, and they will not fix your pack forever for any reason. But their liberal use of the guarantee means that unlike most companies, they will fix your bag for almost any reason, either for free, or for a reasonable price.

Jansport

Type of warranty: Full lifetime
Duration: As long as you own it
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: Yes
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.jansport.com/customer-service/lifetime-warranty.html
One Bags: Jansport Duffel

Another true lifetime warranty. Jansport will basically cover any repair your bags needs, for life. They will charge you for non-warranty repairs, if the damage is something obviously unrelated to the bag’s use. But in most cases, they will just repair your bag, or send you a new one. Known for their school backpacks, Jansport doesn’t make a standard panel loading (clamshell) travel backpack, but the Jansport Duffel is a 35 liter carry on friendly bag.

LL. Bean

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: As long as you own it
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/513705?page=null
One Bags: Continental Travel Pack, Carryall Travel Pack

In February 2018, L.L. Bean discontinued their famous lifetime guarantee, to guard against fraud and abuse. However they still have one of the best warranties in the business. They stand behind everything they sell, and will cover defects for life. You still have one year to return any product for any reason, with proof of the original purchase.

Mission Workshop

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays to send it, they pay return shipping
Policy Information: https://missionworkshop.com/pages/lifetime-warranty
One Bags: The Fitzroy is a top loading 40L travel backpack, or check out the modular version The Explorer with more bells and whistles (and a larger price tag).

Designed with the biker in mind, Mission Workshop bags also work well as One Bags because they are designed to be both robust, and waterproof. Constructed with the highest quality materials, bags like The Fitzroy utilize 100D nylon, urethane coated zippers, and a sturdy internal frame sheet. They back up their products with a full lifetime warranty that covers any owner.

Mystery Ranch

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical life of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.mysteryranch.com/guarantee-warranty-repair
One Bags: For a panel loading style backpack check out the 43 liter Mission Rover, for a duffel bag that converts to a backpack, check out the Mission Duffel.

The founder Dana Gleason has been making some of the best packs on the market since the 1970’s, and some of the original packs are still in use. He started Mystery Ranch in 2000 and began focusing on packs for the military and wildland firefighters. Their travel packs use a 500D nylon Cordura® similar to the material in their military and fire packs. To say these packs are great is an understatement.

Osprey

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, any reason, any product, any era*
Duration: Life of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: Yes, but cosmetic wear and tear not covered
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.osprey.com/us/en/customer-support/all-mighty-guarantee
One Bags: One of the most recommended packs on r/onebag, check out my Osprey Farpoint 40 review

Another favorite among onebaggers, Osprey makes great products, and backs them up with a fantastic warranty. The All Mighty Guarantee, covers rips, tears, and broken parts, for any reason. Their packs use materials focusing on being strong and lightweight, the Farpoint for example uses 210D ripstop nylon combined with 600D packcloth.

*One point worth mentioning is their guarantee isn’t the same in every country. It doesn’t necessarily cover the bag if damage occurred outside of the native country. This could be important for international travelers, as damage in SE Asia won’t be covered if the pack was purchased in the US (see international service center).

Patagonia

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, for any reason
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.patagonia.com/ironclad-guarantee.html
One Bags: Headway MLC 45L, Black Hole MLC 45L, Black Hole Duffel Bag 45L

The Patagonia warranty is purposefully short, only 3 sentences. They guarantee everything they make, period. They use two main materials for their travel bags, ballistic nylon, and polyester ripstop. The Headway MLC 45L uses heavy 940D Cordura® ballistic nylon, where the Black Hole version of this bag and the duffel use weather-resistant TPU laminated 900D ripstop polyester.

Red Oxx

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, unconditional, no questions asked
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: Yes
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://help.redoxx.com/article/6-our-warranty
One Bags: Lil Hombre is a 40 liter duffel bag, Sky Train is a 38 liter panel loading backpack, Air Boss is a trifold bag with a shoulder strap

I have never owned a Red Oxx product, but everything I read about them is overwhelmingly positive. Their bags are all hand made in Montana, they use 1000D Cordura® nylon, large #10 YKK self locking zippers, and stainless steel snaps. They back up their products with a “No Bull” warranty, covering any issue, for any owner, for life.

Tom Bihn

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical lifetime of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.tombihn.com/pages/contact-us#faq47
One Bags: The Tristar is a 33 liter trifold bag with shoulder strap and stowable backpack straps, the Aeronaut 45 is a 45 liter duffel bag, with convertible backpack straps

Tom Bihn is probably the most recommended brand on r/onebag, a subreddit specializing in minimalist and one bag travel. I have owned the Tristar for about 3 years now, it’s been all over the world, including a camel ride through the desert of Morocco, and it still looks brand new.

Their bags are built to last, with 1050D ballistic nylon (Tristar and Aeronaut), ripstop nylon lining, large YKK water repellent zippers, and beefy buckles and handles. Tom Bihn backs up their quality with a full lifetime warranty, covering any owner of their products.

Runners Up

These companies all offer full lifetime warranties that cover defects in material or craftsmanship, but there is some caveat. Many of these companies will only cover the original owner of the pack, they might be a newer company with an unproven track record, or they might have mixed reviews from independent customers.

Aer

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in material or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical lifetime of product
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.aersf.com/warranty/
One Bags: OBT review of the Travel Pack 2, and outbound link to Travel Pack 2

Aer Travel Pack 2 Buy It For Life Travel Bag Buyers Guide

Aer makes great products and has a great warranty, however they have only been around since 2014, not long enough to cement their BIFL status. Their lifetime warranty also only covers the original owner. Their bags are built to last though, the Aer Travel Pack 2 is constructed with ultra-durable 1680D ballistic nylon, large YKK zippers, and Duraflex hardware.

Boundary Supply

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in material or craftsmanship
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Implied any owner in FAQ*
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.boundarysupply.com/pages/faq2
One Bags: The Prima System with Kodra nylon, and the same bag with waterproof X-Pac material

Boundary Suppy Prima System Buy It For Life Travel Bag Buyers Guide

The Boundary Supply line is pretty exciting, with their modular Prima System, and new X-Pac bag line. But again, they have only been in existence since 2016. Not long enough to determine their BIFL status.

*Note: The Boundary Supply policy does not address who is covered under the lifetime warranty, the original owner, or any owner. I did not receive an answer after emailing the company for clarification. This reflects poorly on their customer service rating.

Chrome Industries

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy information: https://www.chromeindustries.com/warranty/
One Bags: The boxy, yet well-constructed Macheto Travel Pack

This one was debatable, Chrome almost made the A-List, but a few small points made me put them down here. Chrome bags definitely use highly durable materials, but some sources on r/BuyItForLife have mixed thoughts on the quality. The fact that their warranty only covers the original owner is the clincher. I believe a company should stand by their product, no matter who owns it.

eBags

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical lifetime of product
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.ebags.com/help/warrantyebags
One Bags: Their most popular bag is the TLS Mother Lode Weekend Convertible, the slightly smaller TLS Mother Lode Junior, and the pocket-heavy Professional Weekender

Many owners consider eBags to be a BIFL brand, they make great bags popular with many one baggers. They do have a full lifetime warranty, but it only applies to the original owner. Their bags are durable and well made, but the materials they use are vague, the TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible has YKK zippers, but is constructed with a “poly fabric” material.

Greenroom136

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials and craftsmanship
Duration: Life of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.greenroom136.com/tnc
One Bags: The Rainmaker (22 or 27 liters) is good for minimalists, the 35 liter Mission 35 will be out soon

Greenroom136 is a small company out of Malaysia. They use 1000D Cordura nylon (same denier as GoRuck), and durable YKK zippers and hardware. For all practical purposes it appears they should be a BIFL brand, but because I don’t own one of their bags, and there are fewer mentions of them on r/BuyItForLife, it is hard to assess their reputation.

While the warranty states it does not cover wear and tear, most repairs are done free of charge. They will charge you if they need to replace a product. The one downside is they are headquartered in Malaysia, and shipping for warranty repairs can be expensive. https://www.greenroom136.com/faq

Gregory

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials and craftsmanship
Duration: As long as you own it
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.gregorypacks.com/Warranty.html
One Bags: Praxus 45, and the Border 35

Gregory appears to be another great brand for travel, although I have yet to try one of their packs. Most reviewers and comments on subreddits seem to be positive. However Gregory is a little vague about the materials they use, for example the Praxus 45 and the Border 35 both use a “durable nylon fabric” and have “zipper closures.” I’m not sure if this is a result of them being a large company, that is required to outsource material from several different manufacturers or if they don’t want to disclose the material for another reason.

High Sierra

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials and craftsmanship
Duration: As long as you own it
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://shop.highsierra.com/WarrantyRepairs.html
One Bags: AT8 Convertible Carry On, and the Vulna Travel Pack

For the price, High Sierra makes great packs and uses (mostly) good materials. They are well known for their school style backpacks, outdoor packs, and rolling luggage, but they do make a few bags I would consider as good for One Bag travel. The AT8 Convertible Carry On is made out of 840 denier nylon, but the Vulna Travel Pack doesn’t disclose the material. They have a full lifetime warranty, but it only covers the original owner.

MEI (Mountain Equipment Inc.)

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: As long as you own it
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://meipacks.myshopify.com/pages/warranty-return-policy
One Bags: The panel loading 44 liter Convertible and 45 liter Voyageur, and the trifold Executive Overnighter

MEI Executive Overnighter Buy It For Life Travel Bag Buyers Guide

MEI has been producing hand-made travel backpacks since the 1980’s. They use high quality materials, including 1000D Cordura® nylon, EVA foam, and durable rubber handles. Because they are made by hand MEI bags are customizable, you can add a water bottle pocket, padded laptop sleeve, or a different color. These bags are BIFL with the excpetion of the “Original Owner” clause.

Peak Design

Type of warranty: Full lifetime warranty
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Any owner
Wear and tear: Yes, but does not cover cosmetic wear and tear
Shipping: They pay
Policy Information: https://support.peakdesign.com/hc/en-us/articles/201695743-Lifetime-Product-Warranty
One Bags: The 45 liter Travel Backpack

One Bags: The 45 liter Travel Backpack

Peak Designs Travel Backpack Buy It For Life Travel Bag Buyers Guide

For all practical purposes, Peak Design should be a BIFL company, they use quality materials and have an outstanding warranty that covers any owner for the lifetime of the pack. Their Travel Backpack is made with weatherproof 400D nylon, EVA foam padding, and stainless steel components, a solid pack. Peak design does have some mixed reviews though on the quality of their materials and craftsmanship. However warranty claims for these issues seem to be mostly positive. The company has also only been in existence since 2010, which makes me want to hold off on an A rating.

Standard Luggage

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Lifetime of product
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.standardluggage.com/pages/warranty-satisfaction-guarantee
One Bags: Carry On Travel Backpack

A Canadian company based in Toronto, Standard Luggage has only been around since 2015. As a newer company I am tentative to give them a higher BIFL rating. Standard only makes one travel bag, but it looks solid. The Carry On Travel Backpack is constructed from 1680 denier ballistic nylon, YKK zippers, buckles and straps. They back their packs up with a full lifetime warranty for the original owner.

The North Face

North Face Overhaul 40 Buy It For Life Travel Bag Buyers Guide

I have owned several camping related North Face products over the years and have been mostly pleased with them. One warranty issue with a zipper on a tent I’ve owned for 20 years was repaired for free with no problem. The North Face makes mostly climbing, backpacking, and camping gear, but they do offer one One Bag travel backpack, the Overhaul 40. I would consider it generally a BIFL product because of the full lifetime warranty, but the materials used are not disclosed on the website. Saying the bag is made out of “nylon” is not good enough.

Timbuk2

Type of warranty: Full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical lifetime of product
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://www.timbuk2.com/pages/warranty-repairs
One Bags: The clamshell styleNever Check Backpack Duffel, and Wander Backpack Duffel

Timbuktu bags look solid, I’ve never owned one so I can’t attest to the quality. They don’t disclose the material used for their two main One Bag packs, the Never Check Backpack Duffel (which isn’t a duffel), and the Wander Backpack Duffel. I find this to be disconcerting. Some customers have also have issues with their customer service, as related in this Reddit thread.

Topo Designs

Type of warranty: full lifetime, covers defects in materials or craftsmanship
Duration: Practical lifetime of product
Who: Original owner
Wear and tear: No
Shipping: Customer pays
Policy Information: https://topodesigns.com/pages/warranty-and-repairs
One Bags: 40L Travel Bag

I really wanted to give Topo Designs an A rating. They have great packs and use great materials, the iconic 40L Travel Bag uses 1000D nylon, 400D nylon pack cloth, and heavy duty YKK zippers. With mostly positive thoughts, they do have some mixed reviews on the r/BuyItForLife SubReddit. Also the fact that the warranty only applies to the original owner also made me relegate them to the B list.

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Buy It For Life Travel Bag Buyers Guide