Patagonia  Black Hole Duffel 40 L

Usage: I ordered the 40L Matte Nouveau Green for a 6 week international trip as an alternative to my carryon suitcase. Quality: The material is thick and zippers held up very well; very high quality. It claims to be weather resistant, and while I did not have the opportunity to test it in that capacity, I am confident it would hold up without issue based on the durability of the materials. Color: The color combo of the matte green/grey with neon yellow zipper accents is very appealing - looks exactly like it does online. The bright color gives it just enough pop to stand out if you're checking it and the two colors contrast each other nicely. The grey will also hide any dirt or scuffs. Size: Perfect for a carry-on. I initially wanted to purchase the 55 L but now that I have used it, I know the 55L would have been too big to meet the airline requirements based on the dimensions. I think you could likely get away with the 55L as a carryon with certain airlines that are less strict but not on others that have strict weight/measurement rules. I used the 40L with 4 airline carriers (United, Air New Zealand, Singapore, Virgin Australia) and without issue it fit perfectly in all overhead bins, but was too big to stow under the seat in front of me. Features: - I absolutely love the removable shoulder straps that turn it into a backpack. They are easily attachable, sturdy, and adjustable making it an easy fit a variety of body types. - I like the end or side handles, which made it easy to pull out of the overhead stow on the airplane. - The bag has one mesh pocket that extends the length of the top zipper lid/flap. This easily fits a computer and other items and can be cushioned based on the contents inside. - The bag has one side zipper pocket that can be accessed from both the outside and inside. I personally did not like that the same pocket could be accessed either way. While it can be convenient, if you're storing a passport or travel documents, I do not want it accessible from the outside for security purposes. The pocket is also very large without sectioning making it challenging to find what you're looking for if it's packed full. Reason for 4 Stars: - Overall, I do really like this bag, but don't anticipate that I'll use it as a carryon again. I was a bit disappointed there weren't additional pockets inside for organizing. The design is very minimal with one large mesh pocket on the top and the large side pocket that it was stored in. If I were using this for camping or did not have much to pack there would be no issue and I would rate it 5 stars. Having a type A personality, my preference is to have more organization and separation of contents, which you cannot do with this bag as-is. - When you receive the bag, it is packed inside of the side zipper pocket. It is INCREDIBLY difficult to get out when you receive it - I initially thought I was unpacking it wrong and had to watch a youtube video. I was doing it correctly, but it felt like I was close to ripping the zipper simply trying to get the duffel unpacked. I don't anticipate I'll be able to restore it the way it came. Design fail imo.

Decent bag; it is roomy (40 liters) and you can quickly search it for whatever you need. This is not a bag where access is restricted (it has a wide mouth). It seems to shed water well, so you won't need to shell out extra for a more water repellent feature offered by other brands. If you travel on RyanAir you are always conscious of a bag size. You never know when an agent is going to subject you to a size test; which if you fail, is costly. This bag is slightly larger than allowed for a PAID carry-on bag (on RyanAir), but if you pack well, it might pass muster. You do not want to overstuff this bag because you could end up having to pay for a checked bag at the counter. There is no shoulder strap. The most notable negative feature is its lack of a hip belt or a chest belt; this means all of the weight sits on your shoulders and these straps are not well padded. When you are waiting online at an airport or walking around a terminal with 20+ pounds sitting entirely on your shoulders, you will miss a true backpack. I like this bag if I don't have to use airports, or, I don't have to worry about walking around an airport. It is a great bag if you want to throw it in your car and drive somewhere, but if that's the case, you paid too much for shoulder straps you won't use. So, all in all, I think the hybrid idea fails. It's not a good backpack and the extras make it a pricey duffle; you should buy one or the other. For airports, I recommend a wide-mouthed backpack that allows you carry weight more efficiently/easily, but for a duffle, get a wide-mouthed bag and don't pay extra for shoulder straps.