There are two types of travelers in this world: those who need a specialized compartment for everything, and those who prefer to toss their belongings in a bag, zip it up, and go. Whichever you are, or if you鈥檙e somewhere in between, here are three of this year鈥檚 best outdoor luggage offerings to fit your travel style.

Norr酶na Trolley Bag ($329)

The problem with most giant rolling duffels is that the internal frame takes up almost as much room as the gear you鈥檙e packing. But Norr酶na鈥檚 Trolley duffel offers a cavernous 120 liters of storage space, thanks to a simple yet smart design feature that nixes the telescoping handle鈥攁nd therefore the internal frame鈥攊n favor of flat-lying handles sewn into the top. This keeps the bag鈥檚 weight low, making it easier to stay under an airline鈥檚 50-pound limit. Half-inch-thick, cushy trekking-style backpack straps make carrying this thick-skinned, 450-denier recycled nylon duffel over rough terrain more comfortable鈥攅ven when it鈥檚 fully loaded.

STM Goods Dux 30L Backpack ($250)

STM stands for 鈥渟marter than most,鈥� which sounds pretentious until you try the Australian brand鈥檚 Dux backpack. With 360 degrees of foam padding within the casing, our tester felt comfortable lugging around delicate cameras, lenses, and audio equipment. Flexible and adjustable polyethylene foam shelves form up to three protective compartments in the main body of the bag and are accessible through a zippered, butterfly-wing panel on each side. Plus, the laptop and tablet compartments are suspended above the bottom of the pack with a thick EVA foam cushion adding an extra buffer against dings and drops.

Gregory Quadro Pro Hardcase Carry-On ($230)

Many rolling carry-on bags now have a specific storage compartment for laundry or shoes. But Gregory ups the ante with a removable 22-inch sleeve that features an antimicrobial coating to prevent even the gnarliest items from permeating the luggage with their smell鈥攁 refinement that came in handy for our tester during a two-week trip without a way to do laundry. We also appreciated the external USB charging port (just zip your power bank into the interior pocket and plug it in) and compression straps with zippered storage for small items. The four wheels are buttery smooth rolling over all sorts of surfaces, from city streets to gravel.

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Wandrd Fernweh Backpacking ($349)

Hybrid bags are great in theory: they promise to combine the organizational features of a suitcase with the long-distance comfort of a backcountry pack, perfect for hostel hopping around Europe and hoofing it through foreign mountain ranges. But finding one that is truly good at both is a challenge. Enter the Fernweh. This 50-liter pack combines an ultra-cushy heat-molded foam suspension system with brilliant organizational features, like a fabric bucket that zips into the top and acts as a stuff sack for dividing your clothes. You can also pick from two sizes each for the frame, hipbelt, and straps to dial in the fit for your body shape. The result is total comfort under even the heaviest load. Four access points鈥攐n top, on the side, a front clamshell opening, and a zippered back panel鈥攎ake it easy to find what you need when you need it. A waterproof hydration-bladder pocket protects against leaks, while weatherproof zippers and 420-denier nylon fabric keep everything safe inside. Photographers will appreciate the ability to integrate with Wandrd鈥檚 full line of camera cubes, which sequester heavy tech equipment at the bottom of the pack while still allowing entry through a side pocket. On a three-day backcountry trip, our tester hauled a DSLR, two lenses, and a tripod. She reported that the Fernweh felt like air compared with similar loads in other packs. Four grab handles, a pass-through for a roller-bag handle, a secret passport pocket, and external cinch straps round out what might just be the most versatile adventure pack ever created.

Dakine Terminal Spinner 40L ($220)

Best Carry On

Dakine may have read our minds when it designed this smooth four-wheel roller, which addresses some of the biggest pain points of carry-on travel. Our favorite feature is the removable sleeve that holds a laptop, a tablet, headphones, and other accessories. When you board, free the sleeve from the Velcro mechanism that keeps it in place and slip it under the seat in front of you for easy in-flight access, then stow the rest of the bag in the overhead compartment. With a host of other niceties, like an internal dirty-clothes or shoe compartment and a molded cup rest beneath the handle to hold your layover coffee, you鈥檝e got all you need for an unruffled experience on your next air trip.

Matador Seg30 Segmented ($150)

Best Weekender听

A cross between a backpack, a duffel bag, and a set of packing cubes, the Seg30 will turn even the messiest traveler into an organization master. It鈥檚 horizontally divided into a stack of four zippered compartments ranging from four to twelve liters, so you can separate items by use or day. Matador also managed to squeeze in a padded laptop sleeve and an oversize bottom clamshell compartment for bulkier cargo like shoes. Our tester was initially skeptical of the seemingly small 30-liter volume but wound up fitting in everything she needed for a three-day socially distanced road trip, including two pairs of boots and myriad electronics. Waterproof 420-denier fabric and stormproof zippers kept everything protected in bad weather.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager 42L ($135)

Best Duffel听

The North Face took its beloved Base Camp duffel, shaved off some weight, and improved the layout. The resulting offspring, called the Voyager, retains its progenitor鈥檚 signature gear-swallowing capability and now features more backpack-like add-ons, such as a laptop sleeve in the lid and a water-bottle pocket on the outside. There鈥檚 also a shoe compartment, internal and external zippered pockets, and an adjustable, removable mesh divider for inside the main body, which helps you stay tidy even if you鈥檝e overpacked. The duffel also sports a new 300-denier tarpaulin polyester fabric coated in PFC-free DWR. The whole thing weighs just 2.2 pounds and packs into its own pocket for easy storage.

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Organization is my new obsession. These days I鈥檓 into storage bins,听label makers, and听color-coordinated folders.听Maybe it鈥檚 a sign of my advancing age, or maybe I just crave a bit of structure in a hectic world full of uncertainty. But even without the global pandemic and shifting social norms, my life is crazy. I have kids. There are shoes and glitter all over my house. I need stability in some form,听and the ($190) gives me a听little slice of order.

The SEG42 is a 42-liter backpack duffel where the space is divided between five built-in packing cubes accessed via exterior zippers,听and a full-bag clamshell opening to a large compartment for shoes, gear, and clothes that shouldn鈥檛 be rolled or folded. There鈥檚 also a dedicated laptop sleeve, so听in theory听the SEG42 presents itself as a single solution for all kinds of travel, from weekend camping to airline-based work trips when we鈥檙e flying again. I鈥檝e spent the past two months testing the pack on a handful of short camp-outs and a seven-day family surf excursion, and the SEG42 delivered the organization I desperately needed.

The integrated packing cubes are the obvious standout feature. Each section is听a different size, and when they鈥檙e loaded听they carve up the majority of the interior space. But even when the cubes are full听you have enough room in the main compartment for a pair of shoes and some bulkier items. If you need a single large compartment, you can also flatten the cubes and zip them away to use the whole space like a traditional pack.

On the surf trip, I put shoes, flip flops, and a rain jacket in the big clamshell compartment, and used cubes for underwear and socks, swim trunks, and sun shirts and rash guards. On camping trips that have a multi-sport agenda, I pack the cubes based on activity鈥攎y trail running kit in one cube, mountain biking clothes in another, and camp pajamas in another.听When it鈥檚 a shoe-intensive outing, I use more of the clamshell space and fewer cubes. You could pack听the cubes by day if you wanted, too. It鈥檚 the flexibility within the system that makes the SEG42 so appealing.

The fact that the SEG42 converts from a backpack to a duffel is nothing new; there are dozens of similar packs听on the market, and I鈥檝e tested my fair share.听But the Matador is the most comfortable of the lot to wear as a backpack, even when it鈥檚 fully stuffed. I鈥檇 have no problem lugging this pack听through an airport, thanks to the harness system: its wide straps don鈥檛 bunch up and pinch your shoulders. And one of the happy side effects of the cube system is that it keeps the load evenly distributed throughout the pack鈥攜our gear doesn鈥檛 sink to the bottom when you carry it.

The SEG42 will fit in most overhead bins and听has a top pocket for snacks and anything you need to access on the fly, and听its built-in laptop sleeve is great for (future) work trips. I typically travel with two bags鈥攐ne for clothes and gear and another to hold my laptop and various snacks (I must听have beef jerky with me at all times). The thought of being able to knock out a three-day excursion with just a single carry-on is tantalizing.

Matador is known for its ultralight听but durable and waterproof duffels and backpacks, and the SEG42 follows suit. I have no worries about slinging it around camp or strapping it to the roof rack if space is tight in the car.听It鈥檚 built from a mix of 840-denier and 420-denier nylon with UTS (ultra tear strength)听coating that the company bills听as weatherproof. (I took a hose to the pack for a few minutes, and some of my outer layers got wet through the zippers. The hose mimicked monsoon conditions, though, so I鈥檇 have no worries running through a typical storm.) The pack听is definitely not waterproof, which is an important distinction when you鈥檙e carrying a laptop.

My only real complaint so far is that there鈥檚 not enough padding in the laptop sleeve. I鈥檓 a nervous Nelly when it comes to my computer, and I want more structure around my baby. More padding would obviously add weight and take up space, but I think it would be a worthy upgrade. For now听I鈥檓 putting my laptop in a padded sleeve before packing it, but it would be nice to eliminate that step.

Overall, the SEG42 is a pack听designed to pull double duty鈥攊t鈥檚 rugged enough to handle the road-tripping and听car-camping lives we鈥檙e leading now, and svelte and thoughtfully designed enough to transition into the jet-setting future that we鈥檙e all so desperate to get back to. In both scenarios, it听offers an unrivaled level of organization. And that feature is always welcome鈥攇lobal pandemic or not.

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Eagle Creek Caldera Convertible International Carry-On ($469)

I鈥檝e tested dozens of rollers, duffels, and packs over the years, and this is the first time excellence announced itself so quickly and indisputably. The Convertible combines 颅functionality, sustainability, style, and tech in a convenient, reliable roller pack that works exactly how you need it to, whether at the airport or along rugged back roads.听

During a trip to a remote outpost in the Cascades that involved traveling by boat and then on foot, the Con颅vertible鈥檚 oversize wheels rolled smoothly across an uneven dock, and the two handles made for easy hoisting. The 颅100 percent recycled Cordura ripstop fabric, 颅fluorocarbon-free water-颅repellent coating, and storm-颅resistant zippers kept everything dry through sideways rain and lake water spraying into the luggage hold. The included NFC technology, which enables lost and found capabilities via a smartphone tracking app, gave me peace of mind in the event that my bag was misplaced during my travels.

On the one-mile, poorly paved road from the boat landing to the cabin, I transformed the Convertible from an airport roller to a pack. Padded shoulder straps, a hipbelt, and a back panel (complete with sternum buckles) unfurl from a zippered compartment hidden in the back panel. That afternoon, the bag offered 颅another bonus: a zip-off daypack with a secure mesh pocket, a laptop sleeve, attachment straps for a jacket or hat, and hydration-bladder compatibility.

Away Expandable Bigger Carry-On ($295)

Best Four-Wheel Roller

When Away launched its colorful rollers in 2016, our assessment was that they were stylish bags with merely average functionality. The newest collection justifies their popularity. The key feature is an outside zippered compartment with a padded laptop sleeve, pockets for emergency essentials like an extra T-shirt, and an expansion zipper at the bottom that nets you an extra 1.75 inches of storage. The bag鈥檚 颅water-resistant nylon is durable and looks good. Under the hood, a zippered mesh section on one side and an open compression system on the other maximize space. The 360-degree-swivel wheels feel smoother than those on other rollers.

Cotopaxi Allpa 42L ($220)

Best Travel Pack

This ultimate adventure carry-on works overtime as a pack, a messenger bag, and a suitcase, with TPU-coated polyester and 颅ballistic nylon that are tough, sleek, and water-repellent. It held enough gear to get through four sweaty days and three cold nights in Joshua Tree National Park, and the clamshell design granted easy access to the four interior zippered compartments, which are great for separating clothes, shoes, and accessories. A padded laptop pocket, an integrated rain cover, a water-bottle pocket, multiple reinforced handles, and external compression loops provide more versatility. The contoured pack straps and adjustable hipbelt make hiking into a campsite a breeze.

Patagonia Black Hole 70L ($329)

Best Rolling Duffel

Roller bags are unquestionably convenient, but cramped hotel rooms make opening 颅split-center luggage next to impossible. Meanwhile, duffel bags can be an organizational nightmare. This structured, wheeled duffel uses a zippered, U-shaped lid that stays propped open for unobstructed access even in tight spaces. Two mesh compartments isolate small items and accessories. This year the bag gets updated with 100 percent recycled-polyester face fabric, polyester lining, and nylon webbing. Add to that reinforced handles and seams, a water-颅repellent finish, and a two-position telescoping handle, and you get a great bag for weekends and weeklong treks alike.

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These are the tools you need to see more, do more, and have more fun.

Baggage

Patagonia 60L Black Hole Duffel Bag ($129)

Everyone should own this indestructible, water-resistant gear hauler, and the 60-liter size is perfect for just about any trip.

Eagle Creek Tarmac Carry-on ($299)

This roller has burly oversize wheels and integrated straps for attaching extra bags and outerwear, which makes navigating crowded airports a breeze.

Gregory Border 25 Day Pack ($120)

Access to this pack is easy, thanks to a clamshell opening, designated laptop and tablet sleeves, a hidden security pocket, and an internal mesh divider.

Fj盲llr盲ven Pocket Cross-body Bag听($40)

The Pocket is large enough for essentials like your phone, wallet, and passport but slim enough to be worn out of sight under your jacket.

Digital Tools

Ultimate Public Campgrounds App ($4; Android and iOS)

This app has over 39,000 campsites across the U.S. and Canada, so if you can鈥檛 find one you like, it probably doesn鈥檛 exist.

听

Guides by Lonely Planet App (Free; Android and iOS)

Classic Lonely Planet insider information combined with beautifully designed maps that you can download to your phone for offline use.

听

Booking.com

stands apart by letting you book bus and train rides with your accommodation in certain European cities, plus make reservations for restaurants and airport taxis. It also has dedicated sections for campgrounds, tiny homes, and farm stays.

Wardrobe

Rainbow Single Layer Premier with Arch Support Sandals ($54)

Flip-flops that actually stand up to abuse, with premium nubuck leather, triple-glued midsoles, and double-stitched straps.

听

Untuckit Millbrook Shirt ($98)

Meant to be worn untucked, this button-down wicks moisture and stays wrinkle-free even on lengthy plane rides.

Lululemon Vinyasa Rulu Scarf ($48)

A clever snap closure means the Vinyasa Rulu transforms easily from a shawl to an infinity scarf to a shrug, making it perfect for the plane, trail, or pub.

Olukai Pehuea Leather Women鈥檚 Slip-on Shoes ($100)

Smart looks, a breathable upper, and an incredibly comfortable washable footbed make this shoe perfect for the long haul.

Gadgets

Uncharted Supply Co. Zeus Portable Battery Jumper ($150)

A lightweight car-battery jumper that doubles as a USB charger and flashlight, so you鈥檙e always prepared.

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LifeProof Slam Phone Case ($50)

The company鈥檚 slimmest case protects your phone from drops of up to six and a half feet.

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Garmin Fenix 5 Plus Smartwatch ($650)

Color topographic mapping and navigation, 12 days of battery life, a heart-rate monitor, and Spotify built in make this the perfect smartwatch for traveling athletes.

Goal Zero Flip 30 Power Bank ($40)

Enough juice to recharge your GoPro five times means you鈥檒l never miss a shot.

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At the end of the day, duffel bags are just big sacks. But they鈥檙e really important big sacks, capable of carrying and protecting your stuff with a minimal weight penalty in situations that range from hauling climbing gear on a donkey to rolling up to a fancy hotel with your best flip-flops and a bunch of grooming supplies. A good duffel is worth its weight in gold. A bad duffel is little more than a pile of fabric with a zipper.

With all the potential end uses for duffels and so many sizes and features available on the market, I thought it would be difficult to pick a single best duffel. For the most part, that wasn鈥檛 true. While I selected a couple bags for specific uses, in this test of 21 duffels, the was clearly the best, getting top marks in all but one category I looked at. It鈥檚 the duffel I think people should buy. For more information on how we performed our test and for other duffel-buying advice, look below for our picks.

Winner: Sea to Summit 65-Liter

It is rare that a product is as dominant in a head-to-head test as the was in this one. At first glance, its semirigid removable shoulder straps, padded lid, 1,000-denier reinforced and padded bottom, and three-pound ten-ounce weight made it seem overbuilt. (It was a pound heavier than the runner-up bag, Patagonia鈥檚 Black Hole.) But it was the easiest to pack, absorbed zero water in the rainstorm, showed nearly no wear during the drag test, and was the most comfortable to carry.

The Sea to Summit 65-liter鈥檚 main zipper has two sets of teeth on the same track, giving it the smoothest closing and opening action during the overpack. The main opening is oversized and drops down to the side, which made cramming it full of towels easy to achieve. Those rigid, heavily padded shoulder straps sat at a comfortable, organic angle on my shoulders; in my notes, I wrote, 鈥淟egitimately carries like a backpacking pack.鈥� The combination of ease of packing, durability, water resistance, and comfort would make me feel safe using this duffel to carry something like camera equipment, even if I needed to lug it far. The Sea to Summit 65-liter would have won the test on those attributes alone, but it didn鈥檛 cut corners on small details either. Its minimalist zipper pull was long enough to really yard on, and the sturdy metal carabiner-style fasteners on the shoulder straps could not have been nicer to operate.

One area of potential concern: I found this bag鈥檚 four tie-downs adequate for tying a light load to the roof of my Camry, but I would be wary if I was carrying a heavier load (say, above 30 pounds) or tying the bag to an irregular surface like a motorbike or an animal. The tie-downs were well placed at the bag鈥檚 corners, but at the end of the day, more tie-downs are better, and other bags had more. My second favorite bag, Patagonia鈥檚 Black Hole, has 20 daisy-chained tie-downs, a number that at first seemed excessive but made a huge difference in stability on top of my car. (Another bag I liked, Gregory鈥檚 Alpaca 90, has 30 tie-down points.) In some situations, that extra peace of mind is pretty important.

Patagonia Black Hole 60-Liter

The Runner-Up

At two pounds six ounces, the was the lightest bag I tested by far, weighing in nearly a pound and a half lighter than the Sea to Summit. But that light weight didn鈥檛 compromise the bag鈥檚 durability. The 900-denier laminated exterior and reinforced bottom showed only minor scuffing during the drag test, just behind the Sea to Summit. But there was a deal breaker. The Black Hole let in about two ounces of water while sitting on my porch during the rainstorm, which put it out of running for first place.

Inside, the Black Hole has simple cinches that kept towels secure during the packing test, as well as two independent mesh pockets on the lid. It was about even with the Sea to Summit in terms of interior organization, although the zipper caught repeatedly when I overpacked the Black Hole with pillows and towels. It handled the load well during the walking test, and those pockets are really convenient for items I鈥檇 want to grab quickly, like a passport or spare toothbrush.

The Black Hole鈥檚 20 daisy-chained tie-downs come in four sets of five and made it the easiest to cinch down. Vertically oriented tie-downs secure the bag laterally as well as horizontally, and you rely less on brute force to hold your bag in place. I liked the Black Hole a lot, and on trips where I wasn鈥檛 concerned about perfect water resistance, or if my travel plans involved lashing a bag to the outside of a bus or a donkey, this would be the duffel I鈥檇 choose.

The North Face Base Camp

Best For: Traveling in Monsoon Season

was the only other bag besides the Sea to Summit to keep its contents completely dry. The 71-liter size medium I tested, which weighs听three pounds nine ounces, has a cavernous lid that helped it to a third-place finish in the pack test, and its wide shoulder straps made it the second most comfortable duffel to carry like a backpack.

I have a special place in my heart for the Base Camp鈥擨鈥檝e used a 50-liter size small for all of my work travel for several years. That bag has never leaked, and I find that its lid easily accommodates overpacking. But two things kept the Base Camp out of first place: Its shoulder straps are a pain to remove, and it developed a pencil-eraser-sized hole during the drag test鈥攖he only bag to wear through completely.

Thule Chasm 70

Best For: Hauling Gear Through a City

I didn鈥檛 think it was possible for the lowly duffel to look sexy until I took a close look at the . With a slim height of only 12.5 inches, it was the shortest of the bags to make the final cut, even though it has a carrying capacity that is a full ten liters bigger than the Black Hole and five liters bigger than the Sea to Summit. That thinness made it look like a sleek backpack during the walk test鈥攊t looked so stylish that I actually remarked, very dorkily, 鈥淒aaaaamn,鈥� when I saw my reflection in the side of my wife鈥檚 Honda Element.

The Chasm isn鈥檛 all looks, however: Simple metal T-style connectors on the shoulder were the easiest of any bag to get on and off, and I suspect they will add durability compared to the plastic fasteners used on the Patagonia and North Face duffels. The Chasm also has four big interior mesh pockets that would be helpful keeping toiletries and dirty clothes separate during long work trips. But it let in 2.5 ounces of water during the rainstorm, worse than the Black Hole and the most of any of the finalists. And whereas the Black Hole redeemed itself with its light weight, the Chasm isn鈥檛 especially light鈥攊t weighs 3 pounds 11 ounces, slightly more than the Sea to Summit.

What Should I Know Before Buying a Duffel Bag?

Before digging into the test, I spoke with half a dozen people who travel extensively, including an international outfitter and an industrial-tool salesman who has more than a million miles on his duffel. I also spoke with the most prolific travel writer I know, 国产吃瓜黑料 correspondent Tim Neville. If Neville is checking a bag or headed somewhere rugged, like Albania, he always takes a duffel. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 remember the last time I checked a large roller bag,鈥� he told me. If Neville is going anywhere with an uneven surface, like dirt paths or cobblestone streets, he finds carrying a duffel much easier than a rigid roller bag. For Neville, duffels must meet three criteria: They have to be rugged and weatherproof, capable of backpack-style carry, and outfitted with daisy chains for easy tie-down. Tie-down points are especially key when traveling internationally, because Neville never knows what he鈥檒l be strapping his bag to. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 on the top of a van or a donkey鈥檚 back, I know it鈥檚 going to get abused,鈥� he said. And while strapping a duffel to a donkey might not be in all of our futures, it pays to get a duffel that can handle anything you鈥攐r TSA鈥攖hrow at it.

Hundreds of different duffels are out there, so I set some parameters to help wade through the offerings and determine which ones were worth testing. These are the main features I considered.

Size

I focused this test on medium-sized duffels. If you travel frequently, it might make sense to own a few different sizes. I take on shorter trips. Elsewhere, I鈥檝e tested 100-liter mega-haulers, which are great for expeditions. But I believe that duffels in the 60- to 90-liter range offer the best tradeoff between carrying capacity and maneuverability.

Exterior

Based on Neville鈥檚 advice and the principle that a duffel should be able to withstand some serious abuse, for this test I excluded duffels that weren鈥檛 weatherproof. I also looked for bags with a heavyweight exterior, which is more durable, and limited the testing pool to bags with main bodies built from laminated fabrics in the 1,000-denier range. (Lamination means the material is coated in heavy-duty, weather-resistant plastic.) Denier, which measures fabric weight, is a rough stand-in for a fabric鈥檚 toughness. A thread of spiderweb is approximately one denier; 1,000-denier fabrics are common in work pants and heavy canvas gear. At about 1,000 denier, I start feeling comfortable that a fabric is burly and worthy of abuse, based on my past testing.

Tie-Down Points and Accessories

As criteria for my test, duffels had to have a minimum of four exterior tie-down points, not counting handles. While not a deal maker or breaker, I also rewarded bags that had intelligently integrated pockets or pouches for sorting gear in the duffel鈥檚 main cargo space.

Type of Carry

I decided to cut any bag that didn鈥檛 have a backpack-style carry. I agonized over this choice鈥擨 liked several bags (in particular, the Watershed Yukon) that did not have this option. But at the end of the day, you can鈥檛 comfortably cover a distance of more than a quarter-mile with a heavily packed duffel while carrying it like a suitcase or over one shoulder.

The Test

I鈥檝e tested drybags and duffels for more than a decade, first as a raft guide and more recently as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Gear Guy columnist. I usually travel with a daypack and a duffel. For this test, I pulled eight duffels out of my garage and selected another 13 bags that were well-reviewed by other outlets or came recommended from Neville or other gear reviewers I spoke to. (Check out the list at the bottom of this page to see all the bags I tested, most of which were provided free of charge by gear companies or their PR reps.) From there, I winnowed the list to four contenders based on the following criteria: ease of packing, carrying comfort, how they tied down, weatherproofness, and durability.

The test involved packing and unpacking the four finalists with two bed pillows and several bath towels, then loading them down with my and taking each on a half-mile walk around my house. Next, I used paracord to tie them to the roof of my 2000 Toyota Camry, noting how easily they cinched down and how well they stabilized under the load.

To test weather resistance and durability, I stuffed them听with a bath towel and left them out on my deck for 24 hours. Temperatures ranged from the low fifties to below freezing, and a rainstorm rolled through that produced about a half-inch of rain from a mix of scattered showers and heavy downpour. I weighed each bath towel before and after the deck test and did a hand check for dampness afterward.

Finally, I attached each of the four finalists to the trunk of my car using a cam strap and dragged each one a third of a mile on asphalt at five miles per hour. (I liked my neighborhood before conducting this test, but my heart was truly warmed when three different neighbors flagged me down to tell me I was dragging something behind my car.) It鈥檚 worth noting that the best way to test durability is over months of regular use. I鈥檒l update this article if my durability rankings change over time, but for this test, I focused on abrasion resistance and took note on places where the bags seemed well constructed and sturdy. After six weeks of abuse, I came away with the above favorites.

The Duffels听

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Chrome's recently launched听 combines tough functionality with the low-key, clean aesthetics we've come to expect from the Portland-based brand. The collection includes 10 duffels, backpacks, and organizers, all made from 1680 denier ballistic nylon with black leather trim, designed for urban travel. Here听are a few of our favorite products.

Surveyor Duffel Bag ($160)

is a bomber duffel that you won't have to worry about checking at an airport or tossing into the back of a cab. It features a 44-liter main compartment as well as two outer organization pockets and a separate space for shoes. A smart strap configuration allows the bag to be worn over the shoulder or like a backpack.听

Hightower Transit Backpack ($180)

Travel-oriented backpacks have become ubiquitous but nails the perfect blend of form and function. The top-loader has four interior organizational pockets, a heavily padded laptop sleeve, and a soft-lined听phone pocket. We appreciate the extra handles on the side and top which make it easy to grab and carry briefcase style.听

Kilo Dopp Kit ($25)

Dopp听kits may be one of the most underappreciated travel accessories but keeping your toiletries, or charging cords and spare batteries, organized is the sign of a seasoned traveler. is made from the same ballistic nylon as the rest of the Treadwell collection and can听be hung on a tree branch or towel rack via a small webbing strap that snaps closed.

Vega Transit Brief ($160)

mimics the Transit's design but has a slightly smaller size and more versatile carry options. It features an extra-padded laptop sleeve, a top-mounted handle like a standard brief bag, a removable cross-body shoulder strap, and hide-away backpack shoulder straps. A rear pass-thru slot lets it slip over roller bag handles making it an easy听carry-on option.

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This spring, Austin, Texas鈥揵ased Yeti continues its spread beyond coolers. In previous seasons, the company has introduced luggage and, um, buckets. This year, it continues its expansion.

Hondo Base Camp Chair ($300)

This week Yeti brought its overengineered fist down on another flimsy staple of outdoor play: the camp chair. The company believes that, like its coolers, consumers will be willing to fork over serious cash for one. The , available this spring only online or at Yeti鈥檚 flagship store in Austin, comes with a double-barrel frame of aluminum alloy that buckled only after engineers loaded it up with 3,000 pounds and whacked one of the legs with a stick. In short, if you can fit, you can sit.

The Hondo could very well be the most comfortable camp chair you鈥檒l ever kick back in, with a pressure-point-free mesh fabric that鈥檚 stretched and seamlessly molded around the frame in a way that鈥檚 reminiscent of those Aeron office chairs鈥攜ou know, the chair God sits in on The Simpsons. In fact, Yeti hired Hondo product manager Brian Langerak away from Aeron-maker Herman Miller specifically for the project. Of course, the mesh isn鈥檛 just mesh, but a souped-up, slightly rubbery-feeling weave that can withstand saltwater, ultraviolet rays, heat, cold, and maybe even a nuclear blast for all we know.

At 16.5 pounds, the Hondo is not light, and it doesn鈥檛 recline or collapse into a tube shape like your $15 Big Lots chair, which makes it harder to bring on long float trips. But the frame does have a more ergonomic crossbar that fits nicely in your hand for carrying when you fold it up like a lawn chair. Accessories鈥攊ncluding a satchel that hangs off the back鈥攁re sold separately.

Camino Carryall 35 ($150)

If you haven鈥檛 noticed, Yeti seems to use something of a sticker-shock-and-awe strategy when it comes to introducing new products. The company will come out with a high-dollar item, like the Tundra cooler, then fill in the price points (slightly) below it later on with items like some of the smaller, soft-sided Hoppers. Last fall, Yeti moved away from insulated gear with the release of its Panga, a waterproof duffel bag that you can literally throw out of a plane (though they won鈥檛 tell you that). Now comes the , available later this spring.

Made of the same laminated, high-density nylon as the Panga, the Camino looks like a tote Andre the Giant would use. It measures about 15 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 10 inches deep and can carry more weight than the joints in your fingers can handle. The EVA-molded bottom helps keep the tote upright and open, so you can set it down in a mud pit and not worry about the muck seeping through. Just hose it off when you鈥檙e done.

As for features, well, it鈥檚 a bag. But there is an inside zipper pocket for, say, a fishing license, since the tote seems perfect for hauling around muddy boots and waders, a wetsuit, or even climbing ropes. Daisy chains on the outside make it easy to attach a Sidekick (see below) or just about anything else with a 鈥檅iner. One idea that seems like a no-brainer: Use it as a soft, collapsible bucket for hauling loads of water back to camp for dishes鈥攖he handles, and everything else, will easily manage the weight.

Hopper BackFlip 24 ($300)

Cooler backpacks are now a thing, apparently, and Yeti jumps in with its , a soft-side cooler with shoulder straps, the same leakproof zipper you鈥檒l find on hazmat suits, and a closed-cell rubber foam wrapped inside a food-grade, puncture-resistant liner that will keep your wild foraged oysters cold all the way home. The exterior features the same burly shell used on other Hoppers, extra handles for easier lifting, and daisy chains for attaching gear. It鈥檒l only come in one size when it鈥檚 released this spring, with a volume of about 24 liters. That鈥檚 enough for roughly 20 cans of beer or 25 pounds of ice. Empty, it weighs about five pounds. A hipbelt and sternum strap help stabilize the load.

Sidekick ($50)

Simple, rugged, and waterproof, think of the as a smaller, lighter, soft-side ammo can that鈥檚 great for storing small items like phones, small cameras, or even books and journals you鈥檇 hate to get wet. A magnetic rubber-gasket enclosure combined with a Velcro flap opens along the entire width of the pouch and didn鈥檛 blow open when my 200-pound frame stood on it.

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Another year, another lofty fitness goal where you resolve to wake up at 5 a.m. and hit the gym every day before work. We salute your enthusiasm and want to help you achieve your new year鈥檚 fitness resolutions, so we鈥檝e curated some of the best-reviewed gym bags on the internet to help you get to and from your workout, no matter what your budget might be. Our advice: pack your bag the night before and don鈥檛 hit the snooze button.

Aurorae Yoga Sling Backpack ($35)

If downward dog is a regular part of your gym routine, consider which has a spot specifically for your yoga mat听as well as a main compartment big enough for clothes, a towel, and accessories. There鈥檚 even a built-in liner to hold dirty clothes.

Under Armour Storm Undeniable Backpack Duffel ($70)

works as both a backpack and a duffel, with 37-liters of space that's organized wisely, with large vented end pockets for sweaty clothes and shoes, interior pockets for earbuds and wallet, and a separate water bottle pocket.

Herschel Supply Novel Duffel ($70)

No gimmicks here, just a with plenty of room for all your gear and a separate shoe compartment.

Aer Fit Pack 2 ($135)

The 18-liter transitions seamlessly from the office to the gym, with an understated design that features a laptop sleeve, dedicated shoe compartment, and听duffel-bag style zippers for easy access.

Mission Workshop Waxed Canvas Transit Duffel ($225)

Sure it's expensive but if ever there was a heritage gym bag that you would pass down to your grandchildren, . We love the easy-access cube shape, the bomber waxed canvas outer, and the straps that let you mount the bag to the front of your bike.

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Arc鈥檛eryx swung by the听国产吃瓜黑料 HQ in Santa Fe, New Mexico,听to show us its upcoming gear for 2018. The stand-out item: the听new 110-liter rolling duffel. Watch听to see what our gear editor Jakob Schiller loves about the adventure-ready bag.听

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