There are two methods to rig up the carry deal with. You possibly can join it to the slim ends of the bag, which makes accessing the storage compartment simpler, or in an X form throughout the broader sides of the bag for elevated stability whereas carrying. There are no buckles, carabiners, or D-rings for the deal with. As a substitute, there are nylon material loops, with vaguely fish-hook-shaped plastic items on the ends of the deal with that slip into the loops. It is one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. The backpack straps use the identical hook-and-loop system once they’re not stowed behind the padded panel.
They work significantly better than I assumed they might. I by no means had one slip free, but it wasn’t tough to safe or take away the plastic hooks. The one buckles on the bag are 4 compression straps that you just fasten after all the things is zipped up so as to cinch down the bag into its most compact type. There are mounted seize handles on all 4 sides of the duffel too.
On the draw back, there isn’t any shoulder strap as on the Crimson Oxx. Given the selection between the 2, I might a lot quite have the backpack straps, however typically it is handy to simply throw a bag on my shoulder for a second to unencumber my fingers. However I get it. Too many straps would muddle up the bag.
The hook-and-loop system works securely, however it’s not the quickest method so as to add and take away straps. On the airport baggage drop counter, I really feel like I am in a rush to get all of them free so I can stow the deal with with out holding up the entire line. In distinction, with baggage that use carabiners or buckles it takes about as a lot time to take away them because it does to learn this sentence.
A Materials World
The fabric simply feels very nice too. It is supple but powerful. The mesh below the lid, the place two zippered inside pockets reside, is mushy sufficient to make underwear out of. The pockets—one small, one massive—are helpful and be a part of a single exterior pocket for any little gadgets you wish to preserve separated from the principle inside storage compartment.
The underside and sides of the duffel are made from 1,680-denier recycled nylon. That is thick, powerful stuff to withstand put on and tear from being picked up, put down, and slid round. The remainder of the outside is waterproof, although not waterproof. (Bear in mind, there are nonetheless zippers.) However I carried each baggage via damp, drizzly Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Hanoi, and the skies splashed each baggage repeatedly and not using a drop soaking via.
Most baggage is black or navy blue. It is basic, however boring, boring, boring. The Massive Haul is on the market in all-black, for traditionalists, however it additionally is available in a number of eye-catching colorways that pair a most important colour with a well-chosen secondary colour on zipper pulls and strap loops. There’s Mountain Moss, which is extra of a mustard colour than any moss I’ve ever seen; Twilight Purple, which is accented with electrical pink; and my favourite, the teal Stone Blue that is accented with uninteresting orange. Solely Patagonia’s Black Gap duffel baggage supply such a Skittles-like alternative of colours.
I’ve come to anticipate so much from REI Co-Op gear over the previous few years. Even so, I used to be shocked at how nicely the Massive Haul hit the mark. There are a number of quibbles right here and there with the dearth of a shoulder strap and the time it takes to make use of the hook-and-loop attachments, however the Massive Haul will serve you nicely on each city treks and outdoor adventurers.