The 15 Best rolling duffel bags of 2024
A rolling duffel bag has its own class. This bag is somewhere between a suitcase, and a duffel. It gives you the best of both. A rolling duffel bag is a great option when you have a lot of gear to transport. The majority of luggage and backpack brands do not make rolling duffels. Some companies are leading the way, such as Eagle Creek, Osprey, and Db. The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT is a tough, functional bag that comes in several sizes. There’s no “one-size-fits all” solution. I’ll walk you through my top 15 picks for duffel bags and help you choose the one that best suits your needs. ‘s team members are all avid travelers and adventurers. The bags we have tested are the most durable and the ones that have been through the most abuse. We’ve dragged the bags over miles of cobblestone, and even thrown them off the roofs of buses. We weren’t happy with the superficial, “seat-of-the pants” style of reviews you see on the internet. So we put together a team of gear enthusiasts and former product engineers to create the most comprehensive and in-depth test methodology for evaluating luggage and bags. We have now evaluated each bag using 29 metrics in eight categories, to give you an objective view of its performance. Every bag on this list earned our full vote of confidence for its intended use case.
1
Eagle Creek is one of my favorite brands for rugged, adventure-ready travel gear. Eagle Creek prioritizes durability and usability over travel brands who sacrifice quality for style. The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT is our pick for best rolling duffle bag. It’s rugged, simple, and well-designed.
The build quality alone makes this rolling duffle bag stand out from the crowd. The bag is made from a combination 800D nylon fabric and 1680D polyester ballistic fabric. Compared to most luggage wheels, these burly oversized wheels seem ready for all sorts of off-road adventures.
It also is backed by Eagle Creek’s awesome No Matter What Warranty. Eagle Creek will repair it if it breaks. This is all there is to it. Wheeling is the only way to move these bags. The grab handles are for lifting them into and out of cars. While the backpack mode may not be as comfortable as a hiking backpack, this is an alternative method of carrying the bag. It’s great for moving up and over stairs, or rougher terrain. This bag is okay but not great if you want multiple compartments to organize your things. I highly recommend using packing cubes to stay organized. I highly recommend using packing cubes to stay organized.
If you’re on the hunt for a wheeled duffel bag that combines rugged durability with smart features, the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is worth a look.
2
I’m like most people out there–when I’m on a tight budget, Amazon is the first place I shop. Amazon has a number of cheap and poorly-made items, but there are also some decent, cheap products that are well-made. Surprisingly, Amazon’s in-house brand, AmazonBasics, is a pretty solid choice.
The AmazonBasics Ripstop Wheeled Duffel is less than half the price of most duffel bags on this list, and it will work great for 90% of people.
Surprisingly, for a budget pick, this bag is loaded with features. Multiple exterior pockets are available to store items. There are both external and internal compression straps to keep things secure. Even separate compartments are provided for dirty laundry and shoes. The roller wheels are smooth, and they’re surprisingly durable. This AmazonBasics rolling bag may not be ideal for frequent travelers but I believe it is great for long-haul trips or occasional travel. It’s worth it to invest in a high-quality rolling duffle bag if you want one that will last for the rest of your days. But if you just need a cheap, capable, durable enough bag, this AmazonBasics duffel is more than adequate.
4
Db Hugger 90L: Best Rolling Duffel Bag for Checked Luggage
The Db Hugger 90L is unlike any other duffel bag we tested. Its unique construction and design make it an excellent choice for wheeled luggage that is checked in. Duffel bags tend to be unstructured, flexible and do not offer adequate protection for their contents. Hard-shell suitcases are better for protection but come with a host of problems. Using a unique rib cage design, Db created a rolling duffle bag that is stronger and more protective.
Essentially, the Hugger is a normal fabric bag with semi-rigid molded ABS “ribs” sewn in and plenty of foam padding in the spaces between the ribs. This design offers several advantages over the standard fabric duffle bags. The skeleton construction and ample padding means I won’t have to worry about my expensive sports equipment getting damaged during travel. And yes, those airport baggage handlers seem to have a mission to break anything fragile in my suitcase.
Second, the additional structure means this bag doesn’t collapse into itself when empty. That makes it much easier to pack and unpack.
Third, the bag holds its shape even when it isn’t fully packed. The bag will no longer droop behind you. The front panel is opened by a zipper that wraps around the bag. This reveals a large main compartment. The interior has a few mesh pocket for small items. That’s all. No compression straps. It’s a big, empty volume to pack your stuff. It’s just a big, empty volume to pack your stuff.
Honestly, that’s pretty refreshing when so many rolling duffels these days are loaded with unnecessary features. It would be nice to see a zippered pocket outside for small items. This is one of the more expensive rolling duffels we tested. Many people would be better off with a less expensive wheeled bag. It’s designed for serious travelers who want the best durability and protection available.
What We Considered
There’s a lot that goes into choosing a good rolling duffel bag. What is the material? Can the wheels withstand frequent travel? The wheels of the bag should be able to withstand the abuse that frequent travelers put them through. We base our selection of the best rolling bags on build quality. A bag may be stylish and feature-packed, but if it falls apart after a few trips, it isn’t worth spending your hard-earned money on it.
We’ve spent enough time traveling and testing duffel bags to know where they fail and what makes the difference for the ones that can handle abuse.
Zippers
are almost always the first thing to break in a duffel bag. The durability of the bag depends on its main material. Heavy-duty Cordura nylon or laminated fabrics like X-Pac are some of our favorites for backpacks.
Components
like buckles and adjusters are also easy to break. We look for big, heavy-duty buckles.
A durable duffel bag should have
reinforcements
in high-wear areas like the bottom.
Stitch quality
can make the difference between two bags that use the same materials. Look for bags with neatly finished seams and tight, even stitching. When rating bags for ease of usage, we consider the following features.
Organization and packing should be simple in a duffel. We like pockets and features, but too many can be overwhelming.
The
telescoping handle
should be sturdy, intuitive, and adjustable. The more adjustment positions the better.
Good
maneuverability
makes a bag easier to handle in airports or through city streets. Bags with easy-to-roll wheels
Grab handle
is essential to lifting and carrying duffel bags. In our experience, it’s hard to have too many.
Functionality
Ultimately, any duffel bag’s job is to carry stuff. It’s not complicated, but there are bags that do it better than others. A duffel bag designed for urban carry-on should include more compartments to organize devices and accessories, while one for adventure travel must be durable and simple. Does it keep the contents safe and protected? Does it keep the contents safe and protected?
Water Resistance
We’ve all been caught out in the rain on our travels, and having a water-resistant bag gives us confidence that we won’t end up with a pile of soaked clothes.
Here are the three aspects we look at to judge a bag’s water resistance.
Water-resistant fabric
ranges from thin DWR coatings that wear out quickly to laminated fabrics with completely waterproof layers.
Water-resistant zippers
stop water from penetrating through zippered openings.
Duffel bags with
- taped or sealed seams are the most waterproof on the market.
- Brand ImpactIt is important to us to support and recommend brands that have a positive impact on the world. We support brands who are committed to incorporating environmentally friendly policies, sustainability design, diversity, and inclusion. To avoid greenwashing, we look for rigorous and widely respected industry certifications.Here are some specific factors we look at to find brands that are working toward a positive impact on the world:
- Sustainable MaterialsEmission Reduction Programs
- Carbon Neutral CertificationB-Corp CertificationRegular Impact Reporting
- Fair Trade Certified ManufacturingBuying Experience
Shopping for and buying a new duffel bag should be a rewarding experience. We look for companies who have policies in place to minimize the risk and stress of purchasing a product. You can be a lot more confident in buying the right bag if you can test it first.
Warranty
- It gives us a lot of confidence when brands stand behind their products. We look for companies that offer reliable lifetime warranties that cover incidental damage.Price-to-Performance
- We believe in investing in high-quality gear that will last. You’re better off buying a more expensive, but higher quality product than buying a lower-quality one and having to replace it later. You don’t need to spend a fortune to buy a quality rolling duffel bag.
