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Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel 45L
Cost: $80.60 (On Amazon)
Capacity: 45 liters
Dimensions: 22.8 x 12.5 x 8.8” (58 x 32 x 22 cm)
Style: (Clamshell, top load, duffel bag)
Weight: 1.5 lbs (0.7 kg)
Laptop: No
Materials: Polyurethane coated 600 denier polyester
Origin: Manufactured in Indonesia
The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag is a lightweight, bare bones travel duffel bag. It will appeal to travelers looking for an inexpensive, minimalist duffel, who don’t need a lot of features. Like most bags in this price range, it adopts a compromise between price, durability, weight, and features. This duffel does a great job with price and weight, and durability, but lacks some of the features of similarly priced duffels.
Materials, Colors, and Size
Material and Aesthetics
To achieve a mix of high durability, lightweight, and low cost, the Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag is constructed from a water-resistant PU coated 600 denier polyester. This is a moderately durable, water-resistant (not water-proof) fabric. Keep in mind that this is an inexpensive duffel, which utilizes tradeoffs between durable, lightweight, yet inexpensive materials.
Eagle Creek uses a material call Bi-Tech™ Armor Lite, advertised as an ultra-light fabric with high abrasion resistance. This is a proprietary material, but from the best of my knowledge it’s a 600 denier polyester fabric, treated with a water-resistant polyurethane (PU) coating. There is a hexagon pattern embossed (ie. printed) on the exterior, presumably to make it look like rip-stop nylon.
Eagle Creek uses their own branded zippers, as opposed to YKK zips. I don’t think you need to worry about this, as they offer a full lifetime warranty on all materials. This duffel only has 3 zippers. The main compartment uses a large #10 locking zipper, and both side compartments use equivalent sized #8 non-locking zips. To keep with the water-resistance theme of this travel duffel bag, they use a storm flap to repel water over the main zipper.
Size and Color
This is a review of the small 45 liter version of the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag. If you want to step out of the carry on travel duffel size, they also make this same bag in larger 60, 90, and 120 liter versions. If you’re contemplating one of the larger sizes, I would consider an Eagle Creek wheeled duffel bag. The 90 or 120 liter duffel is going to be REALLY HEAVY as a backpack.
Each version of the Cargo Hauler is available in 5 color options. For this review I am demonstrating the Flame color version. All the bags have the same black colored middle, but with varying trim colors such as Blue, Fern (green), Condord (purple), and an all-black version are also available
External Components
External Organization
Many of the best travel duffel bags don’t offer much in the way of external organization. That’s why I was pleased to see the two large side compartments on the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler. They are large enough to store most, if not all, of your smaller easy to access items. This bag however is missing a small external zippered key pouch, which is unfortunate.
Compression Straps / Buckles
The Cargo Hauler is a pretty bare-bones travel duffel. You won’t find any external (or internal) compression straps on this bag. This gives the bag a clean, minimalist asthetic that I like, however if the bag isn’t full, it’s going to be a little floppy on your back. They do offer you 6 daisy chain straps though, if you like to attach items to the outside of your pack.
Water Bottle Pocket
You won’t get such luxuries on most travel duffel bags. There are a few options for carrying a water bottle with the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel though. If you’re looking at ultralight duffels like this one, a collapsible water bottle might be a good option. I’ve had a great experience with Vapur Water Bottles, they collapse down super tiny, and have a carabiner to clip to external daisy chains.
Waterproofness
The Polyurethane coating on the fabric is water-proof, however the bag as a whole is only water-resistant. To make this a truly water-proof duffel bag, they would have needed to use waterproof zippers (ie YKK aquaguard), and seal the seams against leaks. These additions add a lot of extra weight, material cost, and manufacturing cost. Not conducive to travel duffle bag under $100.
Carry Options
Backpack straps
The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag is a minimalist duffel with simple backpack straps. They are moderately padded, but lack a sternum strap, or hip belt. The straps remove completely and store inside the duffel, but they don’t have a dedicated hide-away pocket. They attach to the top of the pack with a slide-through plastic D-ring which could twist or come loose from the pack.
The strap padding is comfortable for short duration trips, but this isn’t a bag you are going to want carry around on your back all day. The back completely lacks foam padding, so be sure to put soft items towards the top. There also no mesh, or air ventilation to keep your back dry.
Shoulder Strap
There is no shoulder strap included with this duffel bag, and there are no dedicated attachment points for one. The bag however does have 6 daisy chains on the front and back, as well as plastic D-rings you could use. So you can always buy a simple strap, or use one from another bag if you have one. Top and Side Handles
Unlike the REI Big Haul Duffel, the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag does not have a top carry strap. I consider this to be a major shortcoming, because if you remove the backpack straps, your only carry options are the side handles. The side handles are padded and comfortable, they can be used to pull it out over overhead bins, but aren’t in a good location for carrying the pack. You could carry the duffel bag with the front facing carry handle, but it’s not very thick, and won’t be comfortable for long durations.
Interior Components and Design
Interior Organization
The interior of the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag is one large duffel compartment, without further interior pockets or organization. No zippered mesh pockets, key pouch, or dedicated laptop compartment. The two external side pockets are about the only organization you are going to get with this pack.
Packing The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag
As with most duffels, I would recommend using packing cubes with this travel duffel bag. Eagle Creek has a great line of packing cubes that will fit any size luggage, I use two of their medium cubes, and a compression cube. This duffel also has the bare minimum of padding on the bottom, and none on the top or sides. If you are carrying a laptop, or fragile electronics, be sure to use a padded sleeve, or wrap your items in your clothes (or inside the packing cubes.)
Summary
The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Bag is a bare bones travel duffel bag. Like most bags in this price range, it adopts a compromise between price, durability, and weight, and features. This duffel wins with price and weight, offers adequate durability, but lacks some features of similarly priced duffels. The exterior pockets are a good feature, but this duffel doesn’t offer any internal organization, and without top handles, your carry options are limited.
Best Features
- Lightweight
- Durable, water-resistant fabric
- Large capacity
Worst Features
- Lack of top carry handles or shoulder strap
- No interior organization
- No padding on back of backpack
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