Patagonia Black Gap Duffel Luggage 2024: Examined and Reviewed
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Patagonia Black Gap duffel luggage are the stuff of legend: vaunted by seasoned outdoorsmen, really useful by us many occasions over for his or her sensible bona fides, and beloved by this very author for his or her dependability. For years I used a shiny Black Gap duffel as my go-to weekender bag within the city wilds. And like a pair of leather-based boots, mine developed its personal patina over time, with put on and tear solely including to its general attraction. I’ve since moved on to different duffels, however you always remember your first Patagonia.
So, when the corporate introduced a shock improve to the Black Gap line late final 12 months—an all-new look that strips the shiny laminate materials of the unique fashions for a matte, eco-friendly end—I used to be keen to take a look at how the brand new launches held up towards their hardy predecessors. Over a one-month testing interval, I hauled a pair of them, one 40L and one 70L mannequin, between New York to South Carolina (and again once more) on a winter trek stymied by rain, sleet, and snow. Here is how they stack up, spec for spec, towards the originals.
Are the Specs Any Totally different?
First, let’s begin with the excellent news. Every thing you’ve got admired concerning the unique line continues to be current: The value level, the general silhouette and options, the versatile straps that allow you to carry it by the hooked up handles or together with your arms looped via them like a backpack—examine, examine, examine.
Even when stuffed to the gills with gear, every bag feels simply as snug to sling in your again. The straps distribute weight evenly for longer treks and simply slide on and off while you’re dashing via safety. And I discovered that the hooked up handles had been simply the correct top to stop the underside from dragging on the bottom.
Patagonia’s unique mannequin trimmed all of the fats so there was no extraneous bulk, and the identical holds true for the skinny polyester materials right here. There isn’t any wasted area or filler options, and if you need much more add-ons, you’ll be able to nonetheless clip a carabiner onto the outside daisy chains on both sides of the bag to show this into a real carry-all. The zippers, handles, stitching, and {hardware} are nonetheless pretty much as good as ever, too.
Courtesy of Timothy Beck Werth
Courtesy of Timothy Beck Werth
In fact, the true take a look at of a Patagonia product is not the way it holds up over a four-week testing interval. It is the way it lasts through the years, if not a long time, particularly for a model that boasts a lifetime assure for this stuff. And as numerous Black Gap clients can attest, these duffels are nigh invincible. I used mine to move all of my prolonged household’s vacation presents house on a protracted highway journey, and the baggage did not let me down. Every one withstood rain and snow with out wetting the products inside, and it was satisfying to observe beads of water roll proper off the aspect with out breaching the inside. I even submitted every duffel to a simulated downpour in my bathe to get them as saturated as attainable. A small quantity of moisture did leak via to the within, however since they are not meant to be totally waterproof, I am unable to knock them for that. (For a real waterproof Patagonia bag, try the model’s Guidewater.)
The laminated polyester ripstop material can also be as robust as ever, and except you are planning to tough them up out within the wilderness, I am unable to think about that rips and tears will likely be an everyday downside. Even after being shoved into the again of a packed automobile, plus being attacked with a pair of scissors (for analysis functions, in fact), the baggage got here out largely unscathed—in addition to some wrinkling and a minor scratch. When Patagonia says “abrasion-resistant,” it means it.
Courtesy of Timothy Beck Werth
Courtesy of Timothy Beck Werth
One in every of my solely lingering gripes is the shortage of an over-the-shoulder strap. Look, I get it. Patagonia merchandise are designed for trekking via the outside, not simply sprinting via the terminal at LaGuardia, however an additional carrying strap by no means hurts. In the event you’re okay with a extra motley look, you could possibly at all times add your personal, however I want Patagonia had a faster repair for this.
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