There are two methods to rig up the carry deal with. You’ll be able to join it to the slim ends of the bag, which makes accessing the storage compartment simpler, or in an X form throughout the broader sides of the bag for elevated stability whereas carrying. There are no buckles, carabiners, or D-rings for the deal with. As an alternative, there are nylon cloth loops, with vaguely fish-hook-shaped plastic items on the ends of the deal with that slip into the loops. It is one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. The backpack straps use the identical hook-and-loop system after they’re not stowed behind the padded panel.
They work a lot better than I believed they might. I by no means had one slip free, but it wasn’t tough to safe or take away the plastic hooks. The one buckles on the bag are 4 compression straps that you simply fasten after the whole lot is zipped up so to cinch down the bag into its most compact type. There are fastened seize handles on all 4 sides of the duffel too.
On the draw back, there is not any shoulder strap as on the Crimson Oxx. Given the selection between the 2, I might a lot fairly have the backpack straps, however generally it is handy to only throw a bag on my shoulder for a second to liberate my fingers. However I get it. Too many straps would litter up the bag.
The hook-and-loop system works securely, however it’s not the quickest manner so as to add and take away straps. On the airport baggage drop counter, I really feel like I am in a rush to get all of them free so I can stow the deal with with out holding up the entire line. In distinction, with baggage that use carabiners or buckles it takes about as a lot time to take away them because it does to learn this sentence.
A Materials World
The fabric simply feels very nice too. It is supple but powerful. The mesh underneath the lid, the place two zippered inside pockets reside, is mushy sufficient to make underwear out of. The pockets—one small, one giant—are useful and be a part of a single exterior pocket for any little objects you wish to preserve separated from the principle inside storage compartment.
The underside and sides of the duffel are manufactured from 1,680-denier recycled nylon. That is thick, powerful stuff to withstand put on and tear from being picked up, put down, and slid round. The remainder of the outside is water resistant, although not waterproof. (Keep in mind, there are nonetheless zippers.) However I carried each baggage by damp, drizzly Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Hanoi, and the skies splashed each baggage repeatedly with out a drop soaking by.
Most baggage is black or navy blue. It is traditional, however boring, boring, boring. The Huge Haul is accessible in all-black, for traditionalists, however it additionally is available in just a few eye-catching colorways that pair a primary coloration with a well-chosen secondary coloration on zipper pulls and strap loops. There’s Mountain Moss, which is extra of a mustard coloration than any moss I’ve ever seen; Twilight Purple, which is accented with electrical pink; and my favourite, the teal Stone Blue that is accented with boring orange. Solely Patagonia’s Black Gap duffel baggage supply such a Skittles-like alternative of colours.
I’ve come to anticipate so much from REI Co-Op gear over the previous few years. Even so, I used to be shocked at how properly the Huge Haul hit the mark. There are just a few quibbles right here and there with the dearth of a shoulder strap and the time it takes to make use of the hook-and-loop attachments, however the Huge Haul will serve you properly on each city treks and outdoor adventurers.