It's time to continue the fun of sorting the travel 'stuff', weeding out what hasn't worked and replacing it.

This year I'm sorry to say my old huge wheeled duffel bag has bitten the dust. It's a 36"-er from Cabelas years ago, and has lasted well on many trips. Unfortunately, the retractable handle came apart last year in Alaska and I doubt that it can be dependably repaired. Oh, well, I never really liked the way it let all the stuff inside wallow around; the bag was always lolling over to one side or the other, a real pain to stop and give it a shake or two when it just flopped over and was rubbing the ground. And besides, I'm thinking that since the new weight restrictions (not to mention after all the times of having to repack it to get the weight down to 70# while standing in line at the counter) it's probably time to get something a little smaller. I pack a lot of stuff into my Tuffpak now, anyway.

Ok, folks, here's the question ... Which wheeled duffles have you used (or researched)that you really like?? I'm thinking in the 30-34" size. I don't really care about a separate bottom compartment, but it's got to be by-golly bulletproof. You know exactly what I mean. Ain't no fun at all messing with a crappy bag while you're dealing with other wonderful things like figuring out which line to get in at the Harare airport, right?

I've looked at the Filson bags (like the #283 ... pricey but is it that good?) and at the new lines from Cabela's (like this one:
http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standar...=cat20128&hasJS=true .

How 'bout some input?

Just Prior to my first African Trip in 2004, my mother gave me an Orvis Wheeled Duffle for my birthday. I has a compartment in the bottom for a take down gun case, but since I also travel with a TuffPak, I use it for shoes, boots etc. I has a lot of room and is well made.

Yes, and it's got to stand up by itself when you need it to and not flop over as most of Cabela's wheeled hunting duffles do. I'd be interested too, in finding out what you all like and approve of.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Yes, and it's got to stand up by itself when you need it to and not flop over as most of Cabela's wheeled hunting duffles do.

Yes, that was a disappointment to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Yes, and it's got to stand up by itself when you need it to and not flop over as most of Cabela's wheeled hunting duffles do.

Yes, that was a disappointment to me.

Me three

Yeah, floppy duffles suk

Seem to have struck a nerve here. Let's find a solution! Maybe something like TravelPro uses in their carry-ons...kind of a flexible rigid plastic insert that could hold its shape???

Guys, take a look at www.luggageguru.com . Especially look at the Victorinox, Nautica (cool molded bottom), and Boyt bags.

Hmmm, I wonder if they'd let me have about six different bags for a field test . It looks like several bags now come with internal frames.

Please allow me to add this twist to the bag fiascos as an alternate system that I have used having it perform well.
With the 50# limit in each bag I use my SKB wheeled golfbag travel case as my gun transport. I place two rifles in soft cases inside. Add a few items such as jacket and sweater then purchase air pillows at any shipping company (or better yet save the ones I get in packages sent to me).
Then I pack the rest of my "stuff" into a non wheeled sport bag made for Ice Hockey players by Nikon. I slip the nylon webbing handles over the golf case and allow the bag to piggy back thru the airports.
A golf hard side travel case is made to carry a full set of clubs, thus it will not tip over while creeping along at checkin LIKE MY CABELAS WHEELED DUFFLE POS that I paid $200 for!

Something else to think about. I have a wheeled duffle that we use quite frequently, although I packed so light for my trip to Africa, I used a smaller duffle. It is tough to keep the weight in it below 50 lbs. On our trip to Grand Bahama earlier this year, I actually had a ticket agent measure the overall dimensions. There is no way this duffle will meet any of the airlines' overall maximum allowance. The only reason she did not assess us for the oversized bag is because it was only about 75% full.

Not only am I in the market for a new wheeled duffle, I will be paying particular attention to the overall diminsions.

I like wheeled duffels as they can contract and expand as is needed for the size of your load. They also are easy to handle in small planes when heading to the bush and such. There are some great bags on the market, but if you want a specific recommendation, here's a 32-inch model from High Sierra that has worked really well for me.
The kind of things I particularly like about it are its high quality zippers (you don't want these things to screw up on a trip), its big outside straps that allow you to compress the whole bag to a smaller size as needed, and the compartments on the end that allow you to organize different things such as your doc kit and other related items, or socks/underwear, ect that could get lost in the larger section. It also has other pockets inside and out that are nice.
I like the loden color in this duffel and its lifetime warranty.

PostDriver ----- I have two wheeled Duffles from Eagle Creek that have served me well. I took the larger one to Africa on Safari, the smaller I use for trips in country. The thing to look for is the larger Wheels. The Eagle Creek Duffles have four inch Wheels. I had other bags with smaller wheels in the past that did not withstand the test of time. I feel these two will last me the remainder of my life.

I have had wheeled duffles from Cabelas the first had the wheels broken by British Air and the second one was so heavy when packed full was over the 70 lbs limit it is just too heavy empty. I used a medium LL Bean with wheels last month to New Zealand and it worked ok, but I am thinking about adding another tuff pack. You could pack a rifle in each with it ammo (if allowed by the air line as some do) so if one is lost in transit you would still have a gun. Or else do as I do now two rifles in one and the ammo in the other. With the stuff sack you just pull it out and you have the same as a duffle to unpack or live out of in camp.

I think Filson makes the best on the market if you must have a rolling duffle. However, for the past 4 trips to Africa I have used a Stanley rolling tool chest. I think it is the "Tool Chest". It is black ABS, light weight, has great wheels, a retractilbe handle, good clasps, provisions for pad locks, a tray inside for small items and has survived baggage handlers on both continents. Home Depot carries them. They wheel easily through airports and over rough ground. It and a Tuffpak are a joy for international flights.

Perry

PWN375 which size. I went to the Stanley web site and they have many sizes.

My old wheeled duffle tended to get too much stuff in it and was awkward to handle so -

I am now using two Tuff-Paks and one carry-on back pack (no wheeled duffle).

I can get everything needed in this system for an African Safari but it may not be enough for an Alaskan trip due to thicker clothing, sleeping bag etc.

In 2000 we bought 2 new wheeled duffles. One an expensive Filson another a cheap LL Bean model.
As of right now the Filson looks beat to death with the bottom runners and snap on the top flap ripped off. The LL Bean bag that is a hideous yellow also looks bad but is really just dirty. It has straps that I like to compress and stabilize the load so a bulky or light load can be handled depending on what your carrying. Another thing is it just doesn't scream "There is expensive stuff in here to steal" like Orvis or Filson does.

I think I'm going to just buy another one of the Bean bags and save about $200.00.

Mark

Consider the Tuffpak Takedown case. I have used it more for luggage than for firearms. Works like a champ for me so far.
www.hunterheadquarters.net
Click on Hard Cases

The idea of simply using two Tuffpaks seems to be a good one, with the stuff sack 'duffle' inside the one that you pack most of your loose stuff in.

The only problems I see with it for non-guns are:
1. Weight. 17+ # before you even get started; and
2. Dimensions. If the airlines want to classify it as personal baggage you might be zonked for a size charge.

Hmmmm... taking this one step further, how 'bout a hard sided case for protection with a soft duffle inside it to use when you need to jump into a bush plane or whatever???? That way you'd have an extra bag if you needed one for all those 'must haves' . Say, one of those inexpensive SKB hard golf club bags and a decent but not expensive duffle.

The Patagonia Freightliner and Freightliner Max are good ones to look at.

The SKB travel case costs around $120 and along with 2 guns in soft cases I can pack a fleece jacket, wool sweater, my kangaroo upland boots, binos, range finder and a bunch of smaller items.
* Here's what I do. I cut strips of inner tube to fit around the case and over the locks.

I've looked at the Filson bags (like the #283 ... pricey but is it that good?)

How 'bout some input?[/QUOTE]

Filson is pricey but you get what you pay for. In this case a true lifetime warranty. I have even had customers send them items they damaged themselves and Filson repaired or replaced them free of charge. Your money is well invested with any Filson product.

Ditto what DC300 said.

Geronimo

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