This bag is so spacious and perfect for any adventure
16.7.2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
One minute my bag’s in the rain, the next on a stony path – when I’m on the go, my bag has to put up with a lot. Not to mention the fact that I often overpack it so much that I push it to its limits. The Dr. Duffel Expedition Bag can withstand almost anything and has proven to be a good travel companion.
When I’m travelling, luggage plays an important role. Most of the time, I don’t go directly from a car or train to the hotel. My trips are usually a mishmash of bus, boat and train journeys, campsites and bed and breakfasts. I often have a sleeping bag, small tent and roll mat along with my sport and outdoor clothes. That’s why I’m always intrigued by bags that are suitable for this kind of travelling.
The Dr. Duffel Expedition Bag by outdoor manufacturer Bach stood out to me when it was awarded a prize at the sports fair ISPO 2023. I was also allowed to test the bag that you wear like a rucksack.
It comes in different volumes – 40, 60, 90 and 120 litres – and different colours. I went for the grey-blue colour with a 60 L capacity.
First impressions: robust and protected from downpours
Before I get anyone’s hopes up, I have to make it clear that the bag isn’t made for hikes or trekking holidays. It doesn’t have a waist strap nor a back-friendly support system. It’s also not for those who love super lightweight luggage. The robust design of the Expedition Bag also involves a certain amount of weight. The 60 L bag weighs around 1.7 kg.
As the name suggests, the bag is for more demanding trips. Like when it gets a ride in the back of a pick-up truck. Or spends the night on a damp floor in front of your mini tent and has to bear a bit of rain. Or when riding on the back of a motorbike. You know the kind of trips I mean.
As soon as I touch the bag, I realise just how strong the material is. It reminds me of robust tarpaulin. The manufacturer tells me that the material is a 900-denier polyester fabric. Denier is the measurement used to show how strong the threads used are. So it has a good strength-to-weight ratio. A resin consisting of up to 90 per cent recycled polyvinyl butyral is used for the laminate finish. This makes the fabric waterproof and at the same time ensures that it’s abrasion-resistant and easy to wash.
Source: Siri Schubert
The bag isn’t entirely waterproof because liquid can penetrate through the zip. It’s protected from a light spray and rain but you shouldn’t submerge in water. The fact that the contents remain largely dry during downpours is also due to the fact that the back is made from a single piece of fabric and therefore has no seams as potential weak points. This also protects it from tears.
It’s clear from the design how the bag works. With one big inside compartment with a zip going through the middle and foldable sides, it’s reminiscent of a doctor’s bag. That must be why «Dr. Duffel» is in the name. Duffel is the generic name for rectangle or cylindrical bags. It originates from a town in Belgium which produced a particularly strong material in the 17th century for various things such as the tarpaulin on sailing boats. And later on, bags too. That’s when the term we know today, «duffel bag», was born.
In practice: quick to pack and easy to store
My first trip with my Dr. Duffel Expedition Bag was a city break by train. The second trip was more of a mini adventure. I spent ten days in a tent on a campsite.
On both occasions, the bag was easy to pack because of its spacious main compartment and wide opening. I was surprised at everything I could fit in the bag. In addition to my sleeping bag and roll mat, I packed a jacket and outdoor clothes. So much, it could be a magicians hat!
Source: Siri Schubert
Inside the padded bag there’s also a mesh pocket for things you want to access quickly. In my case, that’s a headtorch, pocket knife and ear plugs should it get too noisy on the campsite at night. I pack smaller items of clothing like socks and underwear in other wash bags so that I don’t have to go searching for them amongst everything else. After closing the hard-wearing zip, the two folding ends of the bag can be attached to the sides with a clip. This keeps the zip closed and the bag maintains its compact shape.
Source: Siri Schubert
There’s a compartment at the top of the duffel bag, on the front, for your documents, headphones, phone and other small items that you need to access while travelling. And there’s a practical key clip.
Along the edges of the bag, there’s a daisy chain which allows you to clip on a carabiner for your water bottles or flip flops, for example. Or you can tie straps to them for attaching larger items like your roll mat. Of course, you can also pull tension straps through the loops to keep the bag more secure during transport.
Comfort and protection for my clothes
Thanks to the handles and shoulder straps, you can use the Dr. Duffel Expedition Bag as travel luggage or a rucksack. The rucksack straps are easy to adjust and padded. Plus, you can turn the bag around and you always have the right handle to haul it into the luggage space on trains. The seams are so well finished that even when it’s full to the brim, which is a regular occurrence for me, nothing rips. That’s why the bag is perfect for travelling on any form of transport. A drizzle of rain, damp grass and dust won’t harm the bag. My belongings stay nice and dry.
Source: Siri Schubert
In a nutshell
For sporty trips and outdoor travels
The bag scores points for its hard-wearing materials, robust finish and the space it provides. The Dr. Duffel Expedition Bag can withstand a lot. You can shove it under the seat on public transport or sit it in wet grass. That’s why it’s ideal for people who have lots of stops in their travels and need a spacious bag with a big inner compartment. I like that the bag keeps its shape when you wear it and doesn’t hang like a banana.
I’d like the bag even more if it had a waterproof zip. Then it’d be even more suitable for outdoor adventures.
Pro
- easy to transport thanks to the handles and straps
- spacious and easy to pack
- water-repellent
- well-made and robust
Contra
- no waterproof zip, so not entirely waterproof
Header image: Siri Schubert
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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