The North Face  Base Camp Duffel - X-Large

If you never had the old North Face duffel you might like this one. Compared to the old one, (which I bought some 20 yrs., ago and still have) this new one is chintzy, and unworkable. The side handles on the new one are 6 inches long and it is impossible to carry with them when the bag is loaded. The old one had 20 inch side handles which were riveted on plus a heavy duty shoulder strap. The new one has removable backpack straps which cannot be used to carry the bag by hand. It is inferior in every way to the old bag. North Face you have made a bag that was the best on the market into an awkward big backpack. Such a disappointment.

Have to agree with NG's review from October 2016. I bought this bag in summer 2016 for camping specifically to keep my stuff dry in event of getting caught in the rain. It finally happened just this weekend coming back from a camping trip and had a 10 minute rain shower. Bag WAS completely and securely zipped. Was in the bed of my truck. Opened bag to clean out and found many articles of clothing damp and water droplets in the bottom. Items on the top of the bag were damp too. Will contact North Face customer service. Hopefully it was just bad batch.

This bag handled at list 10 international climb trips, expeditions, off-roads and you named it! The only holds in the bag happened in the bottom because I dragged inside the airports with no mercy! I do own 6 M, 4 XL and 4 XXL sizes, so I can tell with confidence these are the best bags I have owned, and I never had any bad experience about the size in the airports like in the previous review said, and the XXL it's a monster when it's full. TNF removed the center handle in the new ones (this is a big mistake) the side ones are very good when 2 people are available, but by your self it's hard to move around, please put back!

I never write reviews but this bag deserves it. This is the BEST Northface bag out there as far as duffel bags go! I personally own the XL and medium in red. I have put this bag through serious tests to check its durability; and it has passed with flying colors. I have checked it in the airport several times. I use it as my luggage because the bag weighs nothing and doesn't take away from the weight limit. I've even gone as far as throwing it down a mountain to see if it would break (it passed). i have owned the bag for three years now. sad to see they haven't come out with a newer version of this bag. Bottom line is if you are looking for a strong bag this is it!!!!

I love my duffel, specially for trips where I'm not in the mood to pack up my sleeping bag and everything always fits in there. The material is good and waterproof and this bag has spent countless nights outside my tent in the middle of Iceland. The only thing is that being an average woman (173 cm) I find it really hard to carry it on my back and if it's not stuffed full it's almost impossible (had to drag it through the streets of New York which the straps did NOT like) and that's why I'm considering getting a Large duffel. It should be easy to carry but still big enough if I pack everything neatly!

After I bought this bag, my wife liked it and bought a red one for herself. I bought this bag for trips to Lake Tahoe in the winter, camping, and road trips in California. Basically, anywhere that we don't need to travel through airports or carry luggage for long stretches. It's great that the bag can be carried on my back. I travel with my wife and daughter, and they are not able to carry this bag loaded with stuff. Worst case scenario, I can load and unload myself. When we are back from our trips the bags can be collapsed and don't take too much room. We're thinking of getting one for my daughter, but in a smaller size. For now, they can share, and I can carry anything extra in mine.

I ordered a XL bag however I felt it was a little too big for my needs, so I returned it for a small. I liked it so much I then ordered a medium. I have to tell you these duffel bags are made with the same durability as every other Northface item. I absolutely love them & know that they'll last a very long time!

I have owned several TNF duffels in different sizes. Family is growing so I purchased a new XL bag. Very disappointed with some of the changes. Why did you change the carry handles on the bag? The new handles are useless. It makes it very difficult to carry the bag around unless you plan to drag the bag or use the shoulder straps. Also, the new shoulder straps get in the way of the main compartment when open. Please bring back the old bag style carry handles, and add snap removable clips to the shoulder straps so they can easily be removed for airline travel when checking in the bag. In terms of durability and capacity the bag is still excellent. The main reason I am keeping mine instead of sending it back.

I can't say enough positive accolades about this duffle bag. I had previously bought the medium sized bag to store and carry my scuba gear. Evrything fit but packing was a challenge. I bought the XL size for more room. Packing is much easier. The adjustable compression shoulder straps are great for carrying my gear. Being compactable is a plus when on a dive boat with limited storage. The durable material is resistent to salt water and rinses well. I have filled it with fresh water with all my gear in it and drained it with no issues. The bag travels well on airplanes as well. The only improvements I suggest would be a non mesh internal pocket for paperwork or other valuables and additional smaller pockets.

Love this bag. Big, rugged, compression straps. Took it to Nepal last year for a month trek, survived the mule and a lot of tossing around. But...this year went back to Nepal and ran into a typhoon, several rainy days. I and many others on this trek had the bag. Universally, we had flooding into the bag. Small storm, big storm. Didn't matter. A day on the mule in a drizzle and everything that wasn't double bagged and independently waterproof was soaked. North Face-if you improved the zipper we would be good to go. Thus the 1 star rating. It is a great bag, until ...it is not. And when you are deep in the mountains and it is cold and rainy and everything is wet. well, we all wish you had paid more attention to the zipper....