Osprey Transporter 65 Travel Duffel Bag

So, my last gear duffel died prematurely due to a seam blowing out and, after seeing the Patagonia Black Hole bags, I decided it was time for a backpack duffel. I didn't want the Patagonia because the straps look like an afterthought, it's darn pricey, and I don't like being a walking advertisement (logo is too big). So, I bought the Marmot Long Hauler (Large), Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler, North Face Base Camp Medium, and the Osprey Transporter 65. All of these bags are in the same size rane - 60L - 75L with the Marmot and North Face on the large end. I will say that many folks claimed they can use this size for weeklong (or even longer) trips but I'm skeptical. I think you can get away with 65L-75L for spring/summer travel to warmer places for a week but you are going to need a larger bag if you have gear or are going in fall/winter. That makes this an awkward size - it's a bit too big to carry-on (if packed out) but at the extreme small-end of checked baggage. But I still think this size has some merits for those that need a long-weekend bag so read-on.I wanted a gear duffel for my kayaking, hiking, skiing adventures that I could travel by plane with easily and on trips where a rolling bag would be a disadvantage. We have an upcoming trip to Switzerland where we will be travelling by plane and trains (no cars) so portability was desired.After unpacking all the bags, I immediately eliminated the Eagle Creek. I'm sure it is "fine" but I wanted a seriously durable bag and the fabric on this one just felt cheap. The straps didn't have clasp disconnects on both ends and the clasp on the bottom felt a little questionable. If I'm going to go for a cheap bag that I can toss in a few years, I'm going to go way cheaper than this. I will say it did have more pockets than most and would be better for organization.The North Face Base Camp had the thickest material of the bunch and felt absolutely bomb-proof. From a design standpoint, it felt like someone took your high school gym bag and put it on steroids. Same general design but hardened for travel. I liked the exterior compression straps and the fact that it had the separate wet clothes compartment on the end. I wasn't convinced that compartment was big enough to contain larger shoes though - maybe. My biggest gripe with this bag is that the straps would be a pain to disconnect for air travel if you were checking it and there's no chest strap.. You'd have to un-thread them (and then re-thread them on arrival) through the buckles. Given the round cross-section and stiff material, you'd likely NEVER get away with carrying this on even if you had it minimal gear packed and tightened the compression straps. It just looks too big. But if you are taking a long trip where you need maximum of durability and waterproofing, classic duffel dimensions, and will rarely be traveling by air, this is your bag. Furthermore, it was the highest price of them all and it didn't differentiate enough to justify that premium for me.The Marmot Long Hauler was a SUPER strong contender - particularly if you consider that you can find it for sale making it the best value of the lot. At 75L, it was the biggest and can hold a lot of gear but it does have exterior AND interior compression straps that you can tighten it down and make it a lot smaller. The material isn't as thick as the TNF but plenty rugged and I had no concerns there. Like the TNF, it looks like a classic duffel. And the concept of having the backpack straps be able to Velcro together and also serve as shoulder carry strap was nifty and almost made it win out. Furthermore, it had storage pocket on BOTH ends and a big interior pocket for storing dirty clothes separate from clean. My biggest issue with this bag is that all those straps on the outside made it feel busy and more like a backpacking bag than an everyday duffel / suitcase. You have to disconnect the Velcro closure on straps to load gear (not a big deal). And removing the straps for airtravel would require un-threading them from the buckles like the North Face. While this makes them more durable and rugged, it is a pain if you want to check the bag. In the end, it was the face that this bag (like the North Face) has a round cross-section and sits way off my back that made me decide to pass on it. I really wanted to keep this bag because of the price but the fact that it would be a problem for both checking and carrying on airlines ruled it out for me.Lastly, I come to the Osprey Transporter 65. First impression is that this has a VERY CLEAN exterior - and rectangular profile that looks as much like a suitcase as a duffel. The best feature is that the backpack straps have quick releases at the bottom and pack away in a zippered flap on the cover. That is awesome! It comes with a separate should strap that can also store away (at least in the 65L and smaller sizes). While the 65L is dimensionally slightly too large to meet the airline requirements for carry-on, I put this bag (filled) next to my carry-on and there's no way an airline would flag it unless you have it filled to full capacity. As reviewers have said online, they carry their 65L on board all the time. That's a huge win for this bag in terms of functionality. I do miss the exterior compression straps a bit but that's a worthwhile tradeoff for the clean exterior. And the backpack straps on this bag are super-comfy. You could really carry this long distances - it even comes with a chest harness! The stow-away pocket for the straps would make a great pocket stowing an iPad or maybe even laptop during air travel. There is a small end pocket for items you'll want to access quickly. While the material is not as thick, it means it is more supple and less stiff and I have no doubt of the waterproof quality based on reviewers. There is great weather protection for water over the zippers too. It has interior compression straps but no big interior storage pockets. That's okay as I'll be using packing cubes anyways and means that you can use the hole interior more efficiently. This bag really stands out as the one designed for people who will be travelling by air as well as other methods (it even has a place for your luggage tag). There is a notable downside: if you pack it out to the full 65L, it may be tough to carry-on but that's on the small-end of the spectrum for a weeklong trip - especially in fall or winter. I quickly concluded that this would not work for my Switzerland trip where we would be hiking for 4-5 days in possible snow conditions and then spending 2-3 days in Zurich with friends (and I would need dress clothes as well). Solution? I ordered the Transporter 95 as my "Go to" bag for trips where I want to check the luggage. It feels similarly streamlined as the 65 but the 6000 cu-in make it to be the same size as my typical checked luggage I use on long trips. Now, I have options for each kind of travel! Sweet!

Vey lite weight yet sturdy and large enough to carry a few days clothes and supplies.... looks great

When I first started looking for a small travel bag I read a lot of the reviews on here regarding this particular bag to get an idea of its quality.So right from the get go of receiving the package with this bag in it I have been impressed with the durability and quality of the bag. I have other osprey bags and have always been happy with the quality of them. I did take this bag on a long weekend trip and was able to pack 4 days of clothing and a toiletry bag with ease. Even with all that in there I still had more room. Bag is super comfortable to carry with a shoulder strap end it has a hand strap at each end of the bag so that you can carry it in the front of you like a bin. I wouldn’t use this as a backpack but it does have options to do so. The material is very heavy and feels like it’s water resistant, it also does not have a funky smell like plastic. The interior of the unit has straps just like a large travel bag you would take on an airline to support your items.My only issue with the bag was a slight difficulty in the retaining clips that hold the top access flap closed tightly after you sip it up. There is what I would call a rain flap that slightly covers the receiving end of the plastic retainers, they aren’t hard to snap together but they are a little difficult to get apart. Truly a minor issue since they secure the bag nicely. Excellent fit and finish. Others on here over analyze this bag big time. It’s a fantastic bag is definitely worth the money for what you get compared to other bags in this arena.

I had the prior version of this transporter 65 and the only thing I did not like was the backpack straps and shape. They have improved the straps, shape and material, but there is no separate sleeve to carry a laptop and they have limited the extra pockets from the prior version. The material is upgraded and you can carry on domestic flights if not fully loaded. Overall it has improved material and less functionality as a single carry on flight bag than the prior version. Could have been great. More comfortable straps than Patagonia black hole duffel and less obnoxious advertising. Much less expensive than Peak design .

I bought this for my 14 year old for our trip to Yellowstone last month. He thought it was very cool and made his brothers jealous. he was able to cram a lot of stuff in it. It is perfect for doing a lot of in and out of the car travel. It has stowaway backpack straps for plane travel as well. The material feels very sturdy and will work well for our wet Northwest weather. We love Osprey packs and this one does not disapoint.

I love this bag. Picked it up for offshore oil field work - handles my boots, hard hat, two sets of FR. And socks and jocks etc. Was limited on chopper weights so have to keep things light. Its very comfortable over the sholder also. A perfect bag if you need something a size down from a roller.I was going to get the next size up but glad I didn't. This is surprisingly spacious.

Quality construction. Good for carry on.I have been using this bag for travel every 12 days and it is great.There are 3 compartments. A very small one, the large main compartment, and the compartment where the backpack straps are stowed. The main compartment has 2 sets of straps that you can use to compress the contents-which assists in making the most of the carry on size.

I bought this duffel because it is made by a backpack maker and has the best straps of all duffels in this size range made by reputable makers. I have not been disappointed. Its comfortable on my back.I bought this as an alternative to a formal "crag pack" for outside climbing. Since I climb mainly with my kids, I need to pack more stuff than I normally would. (snacks, water, an extra rope for a rescue if necessary, etc). It is about 20 L larger than most crag packs and that does it for me.It carries very well on the back if you are used to a pack without a waist belt. Which I am.

Returned this bag after one use as the stitching started to pull apart where the handles are attached to the bag.The bag is made of strong material and is the perfect size for me Having rucksack straps meant carrying it on my back was really comfortable.However, the issue I had concerned the other handles. If you do not use the rucksack straps, you have to carry the bag using only one of the 4 handles. Having used the bag only once, the stitching where the handle attaches to the bag had started to come apart. I was not carrying a legs weight and was surprised this had happened, so I returned it for a refund.It’s a shame this happened, as had it not, I would have used this bag for years as it was otherwise perfect.

This bag is really useful for travelling to replace my usual duffel bag that I usually sling over one shoulder. Has a secure pocket for documents and laptop, all the while keeping the contents protected as the opening to the bag is against my back. The only downside is that once you fill the bag it's pretty hard to fit the bag back into the carry case. Added bonus is its water proof, my previous bag was not.

I have been looking for the 65l bag for a while. My local store had them on sale for about £110. Fortunately for me they were out of stock, looked on here and found this for a bargain price. I now have 3 of these. Fantastic durable bags.

Very durable and easy to carry. I used it for my 15-days travel and it's my best companion. The seller responded very promptly when I had questions about delivery. Good service.

A great bag, the only downside is that lack of pockets!!