I probably looked ridiculous testing the new聽聽from Tepui. That鈥檚 because the only way I could think to test its durability was to beat the crap out of it聽with various heavy objects.
For example, while camping on the Chama River in northern New Mexico,聽I deliberately and repeatedly dropped a large tree stump onto the聽packed bag to see if it would scuff or tear. I also dragged it through the dirt, and then sat down and scraped it聽with rocks, like a little kid might sit and draw with markers. Nary a mark showed up, so I took the bag back home and repeated the drop test with a 30-pound cinder聽block and whacked it repeatedly聽and forcefully聽with an elm branch. Still no marks deeper than a scratch.
Like many of our other favorite duffels, Tepui鈥檚 version is聽built to handle sadistic TSA handlers. Made from high-strength polyester canvas and coated with a synthetic resin that works as a final protective layer, this bag would do just fine on a yak making its way up to Everest Base Camp.
Because it鈥檚 made by Tepui, known for its bomber rooftop tents, the bag comes standard with plenty of D-rings for latching to the top of your truck. It鈥檚 heat resistant up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit鈥攎eaning the material won鈥檛 deform鈥攕o you can haul it through the Mojave in the middle of the summer. Shoulder straps and handles make it easy to schlep through airports, and the 110-liter storage capacity聽is plenty for several weeks on the road.
Your gear will stay pretty dry if you get caught in a rainstorm with the bag on your truck, but this bag is聽not submersible, which I found out after dunking it in the Chama River and then pulling out wet clothes.
Color choices are currently limited鈥攜our standard black聽and the splashier orange鈥攂ut both look clean strapped to a Tacoma.