Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Review
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel 60L
Disclaimer: I received an Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel 60L to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
I was so excited when I found out I was going to be testing the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler to add to my gear collection. I use an Eagle Creek backpack for hiking and love it. Especially with all of the weekend race trips, I was in desperate need of a large and durable pack. Before we jump into the review, let's check out some of the features.
From the Website
- ULTRA-LIGHT (You can’t tell by the picture, but the 60L weighs only 1 lb 12 oz!!)
- Made with an extra-durable, water-repellent coated Bi-Tech™ Armor Lite fabric: a fusion of technology that merges max abrasion-resistance with ultra-light carry
- Bartack reinforcement on all high-stress points for maximum schlepping
- Carry by its removable backpack straps, padded top haul handles, or side grab handle
- U-shaped lid for easy access to main compartment
- Sizeable easy-access zippered end pockets for gear organization
- Six heavy-duty lash points for attaching this bag to a roof rack
- #10 lockable zippers with storm flap shield zipper from rain
- Bottom is foam padded to help protect contents against impact
First Impressions
When the bag first arrived, I was mostly just surprised at how small the box it came in was. I'd seen the dimensions on their website and couldn't believe how compact it was. The whole duffel folds up inside of itself which has been amazing for storage. The first thing I did was to start filling it up for the obligatory Instagram photo and I actually had a hard time doing that. I have 2 smaller bags I use for all of my running gear and I was able to stuff both of those into the Eagle Creek bag and there was still space for more. This thing is a beast.
Having since tested the bag on a couple of trips, here are a few things I really enjoyed about it. First, the size. Not only is this thing big but it's super easy to pack. The whole top of the bag folds back giving you plenty of access to stuff your gear. This has especially been great post-race when I don't have the energy to meticulously pack the bag, I've been able to get away with just stuffing everything back in. I was a little worried about taking it on a plane because I wasn't sure it would fit in the overhead but I took it with me to Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas and had no issue. I didn't quite pack it full but it fit no problem.
Backpack or Duffel?
Probably my favorite feature of the duffel is the detachable backpack straps. 60L is a lot of gear and the bag can get heavy quick. The backpack straps are super comfortable and make the bag so much more convenient to carry. I actually barely used it as a duffel opting to carry it as a backpack whenever I was using it. The size of the bag was just a little too big for me to carry comfortably as a duffel so I opted to leave the backpack straps on.
Size
Honestly, the only real con is also the biggest pro of the bag, the size. I'm the kind of person who needs to fill a bag when I'm packing it. I often found myself throwing extra stuff I didn't really need for a trip into the bag just because I could. Eagle Creek does have a 45L option which I think might be a little better for shorter trips but it was also nice to be able to fit some excess gear like my foam roller.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a durable and versatile bag that can hold all of your running gear, and more, look no further. This is a great pack that can hold a TON and the backpack straps make it super easy to travel with.