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The North Face Base Camp Duffel Review

If you’re looking for a duffle to haul your gear while traveling, The North Face Base Camp Duffel is a solid option—but it’s not ideal for one-bag travel.

Our Verdict

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• Available in a large variety of sizes and colorways
• Versatile carry (and it’s comfortable too!)
• Cavernous main compartment holds a lot of gear
• The laminate exterior doesn’t feel nice and crinkles easily
• Doesn’t wear comfortably as a backpack on smaller frames
• You’ll either love or hate the lack of internal organization

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

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Disclaimer: We take the measurements of the bag provided by the manufacturer and compare them to the allowance listed on airline websites. This should be used as a guideline rather than a rule. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different. Just because a bag is listed as carry-on compliant here doesn't mean that the airline will interpret it that way.

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Weight (lb)

2.8 lb (1.3 kg)

12.8 in x 20.87 in x 12.8 in (32.5 x 53 x 32.5 cm)

Notable Materials

Ballistic Nylon, Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)

Manufacturing Country

Warranty Information

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Full Review

If you’re planning to travel the world while living out of a single backpack then The North Face Base Camp Duffel—a backpack/duffle hybrid—is not the bag for you. But if you’re looking for a solid duffle to haul your stuff while traveling, then the North Face Camp Duffel may be your perfect bag.

That’s because this duffle is a gear-hauler. It doesn’t feature anything fancy—you won’t find a robust harness system or smart internal organization here. And, while you may be able to get away with using it as a carry-on bag—particularly if you’re charming or sneaky—you’re probably better off checking it. Especially if you opt for one of the larger sizes.

We’ve been testing the small, though with an internal capacity of 50L “small” is kind of a misnomer. It’s also available in sizes XS to XXL. We’ve taken it with us on trips to the U.K. and Miami (hence the retro art nouveau colorway we’ve been rocking) and have used it as checked luggage on a transatlantic flight.

Before we jump into the review, we want to reiterate that this duffle isn’t trying to be the perfect one-bag backpack, and we’re not going to judge it by those standards. So, how has it held up as a gear hauler? Read on to find out.

Materials & Aesthetic

We’ve already mentioned that the North Face Base Camp Duffel is available in a ton of different sizes, but it’s also available in a wide range of colorways. The colorways are updated regularly, so the groovy blue/purple colorway we’ve been testing is no longer available in the small size. But, no fear, you’ll likely be able to find a colorway that speaks to your soul. They even have a black-on-black colorway that’s more typical Pack Hacker (*collective sigh of relief*).

Beyond color, we’re pretty big fans of how the North Face Base Camp Duffel looks. It’s not our usual style but we’ve been digging it, especially when it’s fully packed. With this thing strapped to your back, or dangling from your hands, you look (and feel) like you’re about to embark on an adventure.

There’s no hiding that this duffle is from the world-renowned brand, The North Face. You’ll find their logo on the top and bottom of the bag, as well as on the backpack straps. We’re usually fans of minimal branding, but the team is split here at Pack Hack HQ—some of us are digging the massive logos, especially in this yellow color that pops against the electric blue exterior.

Looks aside, let’s check out the materials. The main material is a 1000D Phthalate-Free TPE Fabric Laminate (in human-speak: a blend of synthetic materials that combine to make one tough fabric). We’re not huge fans of how it feels—think crinkly plastic—but it’s both weather-resistant and durable to date, which are fair trade-offs.

The bottom is made of an 840D Jr. Ballistic Nylon. Ballistic Nylon is renowned for its strength—it was originally created for military body armor after all—but we’ve found a nick on the bottom that looks worrisome. It doesn’t bode well for the future, especially since the bottom gets roughed up the most.

Chunky YKK zippers are used throughout this bag. They’re durable and smooth to work with sleek pull cords. The buckles and attachment points all seem durable and solid too.

External Components

While The North Face Base Camp Duffel looks more duffle than backpack, it’s technically a hybrid of the two. Meaning you can carry it in multiple ways.

Let’s start with the backpack straps. As far as first impressions go, this one was an epic fail. At first glance, the straps looked too simple to be comfortable. Turns out, we were wrong (a first, right?) and this pack delivers a fairly comfortable carry. The straps are a thin, dense mesh and contour to the body.

Now, when we say comfortable we mean comfortable for what this bag is—essentially a 50L barrel hanging off of your back. It’s not going to compete with any proper harness system. There’s no hip belt or sternum strap. Because of this, and its overall size, backpack mode will jibe better with bigger frames.

Of course, you can also carry this thing as a duffle. Although, we should note there is no “messenger bag” or one shoulder style of carry on this bag. The backpack straps double as duffle-style handles, which work decently enough. At capacity this thing is heavy—trekking it around while holding these handles will only be so comfortable. (On the larger sizes, there are additional duffle-style carrying handles to help you manage the weight.)

If you want to go full-duffle-mode, you can remove the backpack straps and use one of the four quick-grab side handles to carry the bag. A word of warning: it’s time-consuming to take the straps off and put them back on. So don’t go trying to take them off while at the check-in counter…unless you want to hear increasingly aggressive sighs from those in line behind you.

The side handles are nothing special, but they’re great for lifting the bag, hauling it, tossing it into the trunk of your car, or into the overhead bin if you’re charismatic enough to convince airline staff to let you bring it aboard.

You’ll also find four compression straps around the sides to (you guessed it) compress this bag when you’re not carrying a lot of stuff. As there are no strap keepers, we’ve found the straps can dangle, looking too messy for our tastes. Strap keepers on the compression straps here would be a nice touch.

Lastly, there’s a water-resistant ID pocket on top. It’s a great spot to tuck a card with your phone number scrawled on it just in case your bag goes missing in transit.

Inside The Pack

As we mentioned at the beginning of this review, this duffle isn’t designed for one-bag travel . So it doesn’t have much organization—you won’t find a laptop compartment or any water bottle pockets.

When you unzip the large D-shape opening, you’ll be greeted with a cavernous bucket. Well, you’ll also find a mesh pocket on the lid, but that’s it as far as the organization goes. The mesh pocket contains a key clip, though we’re not exactly sure why it’s there. It’s definitely not a good spot for your keys unless you won’t need to access them frequently.

Anyway, the main space is quite versatile because it’s large. You can cram a good amount of gear inside. The North Face says this bag is ideal for weekend excursions, but we’ve found it has enough room to hold all the stuff you’ll need for a much longer trip.

The lack of internal organization works for us but could be annoying for some. If you like having a place for everything, this is not the bag for you. That said, you can create your own organizational system with packing cubes and accessory pouches, which works well for us.

There’s one external pocket that comes in handy for quick-grab items like phones, wallets, snacks, etc. And when you wear this duffle as a backpack, this pocket sits on top so it’s easy to access.

Durability & Testing

We’ve been testing The North Face Base Camp Duffel in the small size for two weeks in Detroit, Miami, the U.K., and on a transatlantic flight as checked luggage.

From a durability perspective, it’s holding up okay, but we’re not fans of the creases in the laminate or the nick in the ballistic nylon. That said, the Base Camp Duffel has a solid name and reputation so we’re hoping these small issues aren’t indicative for what’s to come. And, luckily, we don’t have any major issues to report at this point.

This duffle also comes with a stuff sack. We haven’t used it much, but it’s there if you want to pack the duffle inside an even larger bag or for storing it during long stints at Airbnbs or home.

As we mentioned earlier, this duffle excels at being a gear hauler or checked luggage. It’s not great for one-bag travel—which is fine since it’s not supposed to be—but we’ve found it works really well in conjunction with a packable daypack .

So, even though it’s not the type of bag we usually test—in style, use-case, or colorway—we’ve been enjoying our time with it.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Excellent

• This pack comes in some very snazzy color combinations
• Interested to see how comfortable this pack is to carry as a duffle (and as a backpack)
• There isn’t much internal organization or a laptop sleeve, so we are curious to find the right use case for this pack

Condition: Good

We’ve spotted a small nick in the ballistic nylon after a transatlantic flight.

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The North Face Base Camp Duffel S

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Purchase options and add-ons

Product details, about this item.

• ADVENTURE READY. Our iconic expedition duffel is now made with 100% recycled body and boot materials. The Base Camp Duffel — Small offers all the features you need, plus legendary durability for overnight trips or overhead bins.
• RUGGED CONSTRUCTION. Stride forward confidently, even in wet weather, thanks to this duffel's non-PFC Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish, plus recycled ballistic nylon material bulwarked with extra bartacks and double stitching.
• TOTAL ORGANIZATION. Easily access your expedition necessities through a large, weather-resistant D-zip opening. A mesh end-cap compartment and secure-zip mesh pockets guarantee convenient organization.
• OUTDOOR VERSATILITY. Never Stop Exploring with thoughtful features that help you go further — two padded side handles serve as both carry and haul handles, while the detachable and adjustable shoulder straps give an ergonomic fit with minimal twisting.
• TECH SPECS. Dimensions: 13" x 21" x 13" (33.03 cm x 53.34 cm x 33.02 cm); Volume: 50 L; Avg Weight: 2 lbs 10.2 oz.

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Product Description

Looking for specific info?

• Item model number ‏ : ‎ NF0A52ST
• Department ‏ : ‎ Men's
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2022
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ The North Face
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CCW4RPKZ
• #1,808 in Travel Duffel Bags

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The North Face Base Camp Duffel Is the Best Travel Bag

The North Face Base Camp duffel will fit everything you need, no matter the trip—and it's practically indestructible

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

I’ve spent much of my life obsessed with gear. Throughout high school and college, I worked at outdoor retail stores and gave almost all the money I earned back to my employers for the newest puffies and bike accessories. Since then, my professional career has revolved around testing the latest and greatest pieces of equipment. So I was a bit miffed when the first piece of gear I got to test for Outside six years ago was not a new mountain bike, ultralight tent, or hydrophobic down sleeping bag but a humble duffel. 

There’s nothing sexy about a duffel bag. Hell, there are hardly enough features to warrant a full review of one. Which is why I’m shocked to say that of all the travel gear I’ve been lucky enough to test over the years, my North Face Base Camp duffel is one of my most prized possessions.

The design is nothing fancy—the most recent version has one zippered mesh pocket and a sleeve for smaller items and extra organization—and that’s fine. It has one job: to hold a ton of stuff. I have the extra-large version, at 132 liters, which is downright cavernous. When I first laid eyes on it, I thought it was far too large to be a practical suitcase, but I was wrong. Thanks to its ability to swallow gear, the bag quickly became my go-to hauler for skiing, hunting, and mountain-biking trips. I’ve even used it to carry video-production equipment on work assignments; there’s enough space to store a tripod, LED lights, and an entire 32-liter F-Stop Lotus camera pack . 

During the winter, my wife and I leave our helmets, goggles, gloves, ski jackets, socks, and layers packed in it at all times, using it as a holding tank for all the stuff we need for hut trips. Having all that space allows me to keep my gear organized in one place. The ability to combine multiple bags into one helps me avoid extra baggage fees when flying (as long as I stay under the weight limit), and it carries well for such a large suitcase, thanks to detachable shoulder straps and side handles. It also has four compression straps, in case you don’t quite fill it up. 

The best part about this bag, though, is that it’s crazy durable. I’m not sure when the word  bombproof  became part of the outdoor-gear lingo, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it originated with this duffel. The ballistic-grade nylon fabric is highly water resistant—my bag has been snowed on for hours and kept its contents totally dry. With double-stitched and reinforced seams, it almost never tears, but if you do manage to break it, it’s covered by a lifetime warranty .

Mine certainly has some scuffs but otherwise looks and works just as well as it did the day I (begrudgingly) got it. To me there’s no better tool for schlepping a ton of gear, and the Base Camp duffel’s uncanny ability to adapt to any sport or type of trip makes it a must-have for adventure travelers. 

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The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

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Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

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