There are two ways to mount the carry handle. You can attach it to the narrow ends of the bag for easy access to the storage compartment, or in an X shape to the wider sides of the bag for added stability during transport. There are no buckles, carabiners or D-rings for the handle. Instead, there are loops of nylon cloth, with vaguely fishhook-shaped pieces of plastic at the ends of the handle that slide into the loops. It’s something I’ve never seen before. The backpack straps use the same Velcro system when not stowed behind the padded panel.
They work much better than I thought they would. I never had a loose slip, but it wasn’t hard to secure or remove the plastic hooks. The only buckles on the bag are four compression straps that fasten after everything is closed so you can fit the bag into its most compact form. There are also fixed grab handles on all four sides of the duffel bag.
On the downside, there’s no shoulder strap like on the Red Oxx. Given the choice between the two, I’d rather have the backpack straps, but sometimes it’s convenient to throw a bag over my shoulder for a moment to free up my hands. But I understand it. Too many straps would clutter up the bag.
The Velcro system works securely, but it’s not the fastest way to add and remove straps. At the airport baggage drop counter, I feel like I’m in a rush to drop them all so I can stow the handle without holding up the entire line. Conversely, with bags that use carabiners or buckles, it takes as long to remove them as it takes to read this sentence.
a material world
The material also feels great. It is flexible but resistant. The mesh under the lid, where two interior zippered pockets reside, is soft enough to make undergarments. The pockets – one small, one large – are practical, joining a single exterior pocket for any small items you want to keep separate from the main interior storage compartment.
The bottom and sides of the duffel bag are made from 1680 denier recycled nylon. That’s thick, tough material to withstand the wear and tear of being picked up, put down, and slid around. The rest of the exterior is water resistant, though not waterproof. (Remember, there are still zippers.) But I carried both bags through wet and drizzly Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and the sky splashed both bags repeatedly without a drop getting soaked.
Most of the luggage is black or navy blue. It’s classic, but boring, boring, boring. The Big Haul is available in black, for the traditionalists, but it also comes in some bold color combinations that pair a primary color with a well-chosen secondary color on the zipper pulls and strap loops. There’s Mountain Moss, which is more of a mustard color than any moss I’ve seen; Twilight Purple, which is accented with electric pink; and my favourite, the teal Stone Blue which is accented with dull orange. Only Patagonia’s Black Hole duffels offer a similar color selection as the Skittles.
I have come to expect a lot from the REI Co-Op team in recent years. Still, I was surprised at how well Big Haul hit the mark. There are a few issues here and there with the lack of a shoulder strap and the time it takes to use the Velcro attachments, but the Big Haul will serve you well on urban hikes and outdoor adventurers alike.
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