Over the last year, I have become quite enamored with the 30-liter NEMO Equipment Double Haul, which is a duffel when you want it to be a duffel and a tote when you want it to be a tote. NEMO calls this two-fer design revolutionary; that’s a stretch, but it certainly is a clever rethinking of a time-tested bag.
The brand achieves this with two sets of handles and side straps that allow the Double Haul to expand or contract. The duffel handles are semi-rigid, low profile, and tucked nicely into the top. Compression straps at the long ends let you cinch the bag into a tidy package suitable for stowing in an overhead bin or carrying as a backpack.
To convert to tote mode, you unclip the compression straps and pull the tote handles from their nesting pockets. It takes all of five seconds and you have a tote easily carried on one shoulder. The coolest part is that expanding into tote mode increases capacity from 30 liters to 40.
Since getting the Double Haul, I’ve barely used any of my other duffels. It’s such a pleasure to stash and unstash your gear, as semi-flexible side stays keep the bag open when unloading or loading. There’s a single interior zippered pocket and one on the outside. It’s versatile and looks great, and owners seem to love it—last I checked the NEMO site, there were 172 reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars. It also comes in 55-liter ($180), 70-liter ($200), and 100-liter ($220). I wouldn’t ditch a perfectly serviceable duffel for the Double Haul, but if you’re in the market for a new one, I’d put this at the top of the list to consider.
