Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Review: The Only Duffel You’ll Need

Let’s flash back to 2016 when I had only been to two countries and taken only a handful of flights in my life. I was about to leave for a year of traveling and working remotely around the world. I knew that I didn’t want to check a bag on any of the flights I’d be hopping in the next 12 months.

I did my research, and based on a friend’s recommendation, I bought the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel. I knew it would be okay to “carry on” for most flights. It would be big enough that it would hold everything that I needed for a year while traveling light.

This trusty duffel bag is one of my favorite travel bags of all time. In this review, I’ll touch on the features that make it a travel “must-have” for my trips.

The Score View detailed breakdown

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

4.24 / 5

The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel delivers exceptional durability and versatility for travel, with rugged recycled materials that have held up perfectly since 2016, though the backpack straps lack support for extended wear.

Check Prices

This review is not sponsored by any of our affiliate brands! I bought the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel for myself back in 2016, way before I started this website.

Key Takeaways from this review

• Quality: The materials used in the Patagonia Black Hole duffel reign supreme. I used it for a year to travel the world, and it still looks new, even having been thrown around buses, trains, planes and road trips.
• Capacity: I own it in the 55L size, and it also comes in four sizes, from 40L to 100L. Each size has its own benefits. My 55L duffel was perfect for long-term travel (it’s carry-on sized), and I also use it for weekend getaways.
• Compressibility: What’s cool about this duffel in particular is that it folds up for storage, whether you’re storing it at home, or on the road, in another piece of luggage or backpack. It’s a handy feature.
• Downfalls: I discuss the duffel’s downsides mostly in relation to the backpack straps that are stowable. Scroll down to see my thoughts.

Quality & Material

The quality of the materials is absolutely the stand-out feature of the Black Hole Duffel. If you’re into materials, you’ll appreciate that the body of the duffel is made from 14-oz 900D 100% post-consumer recycled polyester ripstop with a TPU-film laminate. Wow, that’s a mouthful. I found this info directly on Patagonia’s website (I don’t have it memorized).

This basically means that the bag is strong and probably won’t break on you. In my experience, it’s one of the best travel duffel bags I’ve owned.

The sturdy ripstop build

I can feel the sturdiness of the build of this duffel via the somewhat thicker, robust, waterproof body with ripstop polyester.

The ripstop is the checkered pattern, which means when you do get a tear, the stitching will stop the material from creating more of a big hole. This is crucial, because during world travel, my bag can get tossed around off of buses and onto train overhead bins. I never know if there will be an unexpected sharp hook jutting out from somewhere that could create a snag in my bag.

I’ve had this travel duffel bag since 2016, and I have used it consistently for an entire year while I was traveling around the world. My wife Becca can attest to the fact that this duffel bag barely shows any sign of wear. It’s like it’s still new. It’s mind-blowing.

To put it in perspective, I wore the same pair of jeans almost every day that year, and I don’t think they even lasted six months.

Capacity

The Black Hole Duffel comes in a few sizes. You can choose from 40L, 55L, 70L or 100L. For carry-on flights, I’d recommend 40L or 55L. You’ll need to check a duffel bag that comes bigger.

A 100L duffel bag is also really huge. I don’t even have a grasp of how big this really is. I’m looking at the product page for the 100L duffel and it makes the 40L one look like a toy!

How much can I fit inside?

For gauging how much you can fit inside of each size, you can use my 55L for reference. I was able to fit:

• 5 packing cubes: 2 Peak Design packing cubes and 3 Nomatic packing cubes
• 1 pair of shoes in a shoe bag
• 1 Cocoon travel pillow and 1 travel blanket, rolled-up.
• A few more accessories stuffed in.

Here’s what you can reasonably expect to fit for the additional sizes (these are approximations since I only own the 55L and tested it with that).

40L Black Hole Duffel

This compact size is ideal for weekend getaways, business trips or short city breaks where you want to travel light and carry-on only.

• 3-4 packing cubes (perfect for 3-5 day trips)
• 1 pair of shoes in a shoe bag
• 1 travel pillow or small blanket
• Toiletries and small accessories
• Great for weekend getaways or short business trips

70L Black Hole Duffel

This large duffel works great for longer vacations, adventure travel, or when you need to pack gear for outdoor activities like hiking or camping.

• 6-7 packing cubes (ideal for 1-2 week trips)
• 2 pairs of shoes in shoe bags
• 1-2 travel pillows and blankets
• Larger toiletries bag
• Camera gear or small electronics
• Perfect for longer vacations or adventure travel

100L Black Hole Duffel

This XL capacity duffel is perfect for extended travel, family trips, moving, or when you plan to bring back lots of souvenirs and gifts.

• 8-10 packing cubes (suitable for extended travel or family trips)
• 3-4 pairs of shoes
• Multiple pillows, blankets, or bulky items
• Large toiletries bag plus extras
• Camera gear, laptop, and other electronics
• Space for souvenirs and gifts
• Ideal for moving, long-term travel, or when you need to bring back lots of items

Additional storage

The Black Hole Duffel bag is pretty much only a duffel bag. You won’t find too many other pockets or places to stash things. You’re really getting your money’s worth out of the full 55L.

There is a front pocket, but that’s really only for the backpack straps when you’re not using them, or maybe for a granola bar or something if the straps are “packed out.”

Inside the duffel, there are some other pockets for organization that I have used for small items. Overall, this duffel does not offer much in terms of organizers, mesh pockets or sleeves like you’d find in travel backpacks, for example. There are two zipper mesh pockets in the top flap.

Backpack straps

The reason that I got this duffel bag was originally for the backpack straps. I didn’t really want a traditional hiking bag, because being able to carry a bag two ways seemed more appealing at the time.

In reality, a fully-stuffed 55L duffel bag is rather heavy to carry as a duffel bag. You’ll probably want to carry it as a backpack!

The straps are kind of “just OK,” because after all, this is a duffel first, and backpack second. There is little-to-no support or cushion on the straps, but they work. They’re not uncomfortable, but I’ve worn more comfortable bags that were designed to be a backpack.

The backpack straps come in handy, though. When we went to Latvia on a bus, we ended up walking all around town to get to our hotel for the night. Instead of rolling Becca’s Quince suitcase on bumpy roads or having to carry a duffel and switch arms every few feet, the convenience of the backpack straps did help, even if they lacked support.

I’d say the convenience factor and also peace of mind of having that versatility scored 10/10. You’ll also find that in comparable bags from other brands like the Cotopaxi travel duffel bag, the straps are very much the same thickness and weight.

Grab and haul handles

There are “haul handles” at both ends of the bag. This is meant for luggage handling, when you are pulling this duffel out from an overhead bin or a luggage shelf in a train or bus.

There’s also a snap handle that brings the duffel handles together. I use this when I’m in transit, to keep the handles from flailing.

Compressibility

Another feature that might be useful to you is the duffel’s ability to compress into itself. This works for me because when I’m not using it, I’ll usually keep it folded up in my closet until I want to use it again.

I can see a situation in which you may want to travel with this duffel bag INSIDE your other luggage. When you take it out, you can buy clothes, gifts or souvenirs during your travels, and you have a strong bag to bring them back with you. This would work if you carried-on the Black Hole Duffel, and checked a different suitcase, on your flight.

This isn’t my personal style of doing things, but it may work if you’re doing family travel or if you’re transporting some things from here to there. This duffel folds up so it can be packed away in a larger piece of luggage.

I found a video showing you how to fold up the Black Hole duffel, and it’s a great explainer. I used this video when I wanted to remember how to fold it back up in its folded-up state.

How I’ve used this duffel bag

In general, duffel bags are useful for weekend trips, flights or any time I want to transport something other than “myself” somewhere. They are one of my essentials for taking on road trips.

An especially durable duffel bag has other use cases that you may not have thought about! I’ll tell you those here.

Here’s a quick list of ideas for when you might want to use your Black Hole Duffel. If you’re not as big of a traveler, but you want a high-quality bag for times when you do want to travel, consider these.

• Sports Equipment: You could pack away things like balls, cleats, rackets, small cones or swimming gear in this duffel.
• Emergency gear: Maybe if you’re going to a big event where first aid will be needed on site, you can have a first aid box, bandages and braces in this type of bag.
• Moving: I’ve moved many times in NYC while living there, and each time, I pack the Black Hole Duffel with some valuables that I don’t want to be shoved in boxes.
• Camping: If I were into camping, I would be packing camping gear and maybe even fishing or hiking gear into a duffel like this one.
• Beach bag: The Black Hole Duffel makes a cool beach bag because it’s so versatile. You could load it up with towels, snacks and beach stuff like buckets.
• Music Equipment: You could fit some sizable speakers in here (maybe the 100L) if you’re headed out somewhere like a festival or picnic, or maybe you need it for guitar accessories.

How I pack the Black Hole Duffel

Some bags have a lot of pockets and compartments, which make it easier to figure out how to pack. The Black Hole Duffel is more or less a giant rectangle, and you’re on your own to configure the insides.

I like using travel packing cubes because they eliminate the amount of loose items and help to compress squishy stuff. The Black Hole Duffel also has some compression straps in the inside (see the photo below).

When I was on my year of travel with Remote Year, and I was in a hurry, I absolutely threw everything directly into the bag and hoped that it closed!

Another vote for packing cubes is that they make it easier to pull something out of my Black Hole Duffel, because everything is nice and organized.

Becca and I were passing through the Ukraine Airport in 2018, and we got stopped because we needed to empty our bags of any shoes, as a security requirement before boarding with carry-on luggage.

Well, I threw everything into my bag because I was feeling lazy and my shoes were all the way at the bottom! We were so rushed that we walked onto the flight in just our socks.

That would have been much easier if I could have pulled out a few packing cubes to reveal my shoes.

Downsides and criticisms of the Black Hole Duffel

I mentioned a few things that I didn’t like about the Black Hole Duffel. Let’s recap them below, to keep in mind during this review.

Backpack straps

The straps on this duffel are not the best for walking more than 20 minutes with it packed up and worn on my back. Then again, consider that this is a duffel that turns into a backpack, not a backpack that’s a duffel. It is what it is.

Storage

There’s no dedicated place for a water bottle, and there are very limited organizational storage pockets. There is a place for your keys, though. I think pockets might be where this duffel is lacking, but then again, it’s common to use packing cubes and other types of smart organization sleeves or bags when packing a duffel.

Generally wearing the bag

There are two top grab handles and whenever I reach for the backpack straps, I almost always try to loop the grab handle through my arm as if I’m trying to put on the backpack strap.

Every time!

The other thing about the general wear comfort is the bag has a tendency to sit low and look a little droopy. It especially looks droopy if you don’t have it filled. Everything will rest at the bottom and make the bag very bottom-heavy. I’d think that most duffels would be like that unless they’re rigidly structured.

Comparisons

A few other duffels that I’d compare to the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel are below, with little descriptions. A few of these “pack into” themselves like the Patagonia one does, but not all of them.

• REI Co-op Roadtripper 60 Duffel: it folds down to a “sack” that’s a bit larger than a big water bottle or thermos. This one is made from recycled polyester that is rugged, abrasion-resistant and water-resistant.
• Cotopaxi Allpa Duo 70 L Duffel Bag: Cotopaxi’s travel duffel has the same look and feel as the Patagonia one. It has a handy “dirty laundry compartment” at the bottom, with a zip-around closure.
• The North Face Base Camp Voyager Duffel - 50 L: The duffel from the North Face has a laptop sleeve, and an adjustable space divider. It folds up into a little package that looks like a lunch box.
• Osprey Transporter Duffel - 40 L: Osprey’s travel and adventure duffel is comparably very affordable. It’s carry-on sized, and zips into a rectangle to fold it up for stowing.

For more insight to travel duffels from various trusted brands, I’d recommend looking at REI’s duffels page or Backcountry’s duffels page.

Where to buy the Black Hole Duffel

Because Patagonia is a well-known outdoor and travel brand available at a lot of stores, here are a few of my picks. You can get free shipping on all three of these websites.

• Patagonia.com (you can explore all the sizes on this page)
• All 4 duffel sizes at Backcountry.com (get 15% off as a first-time customer! Don’t miss it)
• Shop the 55L at REI.com at REI as well.

This Patagonia duffel makes an excellent gift for a traveler in your life. Because of that, we’ve listed it in our travel gift guide where you can see a short summary.

Detailed score breakdown

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

4.24 / 5

The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel delivers exceptional durability and versatility for travel, with rugged recycled materials that have held up perfectly since 2016, though the backpack straps lack support for extended wear.

Carry comfort & fit

76%

The backpack straps work but lack cushion and support - fine for short distances but uncomfortable for extended wear. The grab handles are functional but the bag tends to sit low and look droopy when not fully packed.

Organization & access speed

70%

Minimal organization with just a front pocket for straps and two small mesh pockets in the top flap. You're on your own to organize the main compartment, though packing cubes help significantly.

Materials & build quality

98%

Exceptional 14-oz 900D recycled polyester ripstop with TPU laminate - incredibly durable. After a year of world travel and 7+ years of use, it still looks nearly new.

Weather resistance

94%

The TPU laminate provides excellent water resistance, and the ripstop construction prevents tears from spreading if the material gets snagged.

Laptop & tech protection

64%

No dedicated laptop protection or padding - this is a basic duffel bag without tech-specific features.

Carry options & adjustments

92%

Versatile carry options with removable backpack straps, grab handles at both ends, and a snap handle to keep handles together. The ability to carry two ways is the main selling point.

Packability inside luggage

96%

Excellent compressibility - folds into itself for storage at home or can be packed inside other luggage for additional capacity during trips.

Security & closure confidence

76%

Basic zipper closure without lockable features, though the sturdy construction provides some security through durability.

Versatility for work, gym & travel

94%

Incredibly versatile - works for travel, sports equipment, moving, camping, beach trips, and music equipment. The compressibility adds to its versatility.

Overall value for price

96%

Excellent value considering the durability and longevity. After 7+ years of heavy use, it's proven to be a worthwhile investment that will last many more years.

How we score gear