One other small downside is the storage. The duffel comes neatly folded into a circular mesh bag that you can use to store it when not in use. In theory, this is a great solution. In practice it’s a bit more complicated. The durable fabric never seems to fold up as nicely as it did when it was originally packaged, and I’ve struggled to get it back into the circular compartment a number of times. Often, I just do the best I can, tuck it under my bed and call it a day. Of course, if you don’t live in a space-cramped NYC apartment, this may matter less to you, but for those with limited storage, it’s something to consider.
At $149 for the M size Base Camp duffel, this bag provides incredible value. (Prices range from $99 for the XS to $185 for the XXL.) It’s a bag I know will last a lifetime and has come with me on so many trips already. In fact, as I write this, my North Face duffel is sitting right next to me, about to be packed for yet another adventure that I feel confident Hallie Parker would approve of.
