What Is a Duffel Bag?
A duffel bag is a soft-sided, barrel-shaped bag with a wide-opening main compartment. Designed to be more flexible than a standard backpack, it is ideal for everyday life, travel and the gym.
What Is a Duffel Bag Used For?
A high-quality duffel bag is designed to squeeze into an overhead bin, fold flat in the bottom of a car trunk, or be thrown over your shoulder when you're running late. Here are a few of the most common ways to use one:
- Weekend and overnight trips: Pack a full change of clothes, toiletries, and shoes in minutes without worrying about capacity.
- Gym and exercise gear: Stash workout clothes, sneakers, and accessories in one convenient grab-and-go bag.
- Travel: Compress your luggage effortlessly into tight overhead bins and packed car trunks.
- Excursions: Carry heavy gear for hiking, ski trips, and adventures without losing track of your essentials.
Explore: How to wash a duffel bag.
What Is a Good Size Duffel Bag?
The right size comes down to how long you will be gone and how much you are bringing back.
- 25L: The 25L is the perfect size for the gym, a day trip, or as a compact everyday carry. The Roamer Duffel Backpack 25L is built for this range, featuring ergonomic backpack-style straps for everyday use.
- 40L to 60L: The Roamer Duffel 40L and Roamer Duffel 60L are both great options for a weekend bag, with more than enough room for a full change of clothes, an extra layer, and shoes.
- 50L to 90L: These larger sizes act as the suitcase of duffels. They are designed for longer trips and adventures where you need to stay organized rather than just packed. The Roamer Pro Split Duffel range (50L, 70L, and 90L) adds a split-shell design that opens up like a suitcase, keeping clean clothes and used gear separated.
Once you know your preferred volume, it’s important to consider specific travel rules and capacity limits before picking your bag.
Explore: How to choose the right backpack.
What Size Is a Carry-On Duffel Bag?
Standard airline carry-on dimensions are usually around 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) , or about 25L to 40L. Because duffel bags are soft and flexible, they're much easier to squeeze into tight overhead bins than hard shell suitcases. Just make sure to check your airline’s specific size limits before heading to the airport, as some airlines may have different limits.
Learn more on airline restrictions: How big can a carry-on suitcase be?
What Is the Largest Size Duffel Bag?
Within the Db range, the Roamer Duffel 100L is our largest duffel bag. Designed for journeys of two weeks or more, it features a main compartment big enough for a full wardrobe plus extra gear.
Your Questions Answered.
What's the difference between a duffel bag and a tote bag?
A tote bag is generally more lightweight, carried over the shoulder with two parallel handles designed for quick daily errands, work, or life at campus. In contrast, a duffel bag is a spacious, zippered trunk bag you can carry either with ergonomic shoulder straps or by the side handles, designed to hold heavy gear.
Where does the name duffel come from?
The name comes from Duffel, Belgium, where the durable wool fabric originally used to make these bags was produced in the 17th century.