Thank you so much, sir for your videos, I've been planning to buy a duffel bag but I'm hesitant because of the sizes. But now I decided to buy a small one for me and xs for my wife. Thank you so much
Thank you! Have watched several of your videos; they're engaging, practical and helpful. After researching for comparisons between both North Face and Patagonia brands, this helped me decide on a North Face S duffel. I'm still a bit nervous it might not fit in the overhead luggage rack on some budget airlines, but otherwise it looks perfect. I've already trashed several bags and looking forward to seeing what this one can withstand! The only thing that would be even more helpful would be to see how laptops fit in as they're an essential piece of kit for so many people working remotely. I've been looking everywhere for a video which shows this and haven't found one yet. A 13inch MacBook Pro would be a great example. Thanks again :)
Great video man, love your energy and passion! I'm tied between this and the Patagonia black hole 45L, just about to watch your review on it now actually. Keep 'em coming buddy! Love from Liverpool, UK.
Hey Jack! Thank you so much! Very tough decision between the 2 bags. Both are awesome bags and it may come down to personal preference and what you need the bag for. Both are great "do all" bags to use for travel, gym, camping, etc. TNF will give just a little more room than the Patagonia. Overall, I probably like TNF bag better, but there is something about the 45L Black Hole duffel I really like as well. Really can't go wrong with either : ) Would love to hear which back you decide on. Thanks again and take care!
@@ChrisU I think I prefer the design of the Patagonia especially with the quick access side pocket, however I just love that yellow/black colour way of the TNF. I'll be using it mostly for daily commutes to work/gym etc so I'm thinking the Patagonia would be more practical as it's that little bit smaller and cheaper.
Jack, TNF has some awesome colors, probably the best of any brand : ) I agree that the Patagonia would better suit your needs. To me, probably a better everyday bag. Never hurts to save some money either!
@@ChrisU Hey Chris, forgot to mention I decided on the Black hole 45L in marigold. It works great for me for my day to day and I also took it to Glastonbury festival last week as an extra front mount which worked a treat. I also installed a sternum strap just for that extra comfort. Thanks for the content buddy much appreciated, take it easy !!
G’day Chris. Mate you got a knack with these bag reviews. Another great job 👍🏼 Just wondering why you out chose to part with the Small size the first time around...noting you’ve persisted with the Extra Small? Thanks Aidan for taking the time to film and post your opinions. They’re of great value.
Hi Stills Hunter! Great question! Three basic reasons at the time. 1st, when I first ordered the bag I felt that the bag I was sent had a few marks, or imperfections on it. Really nothing too bad and really not enough in itself to return it. Second, I found a second Patagonia Black Hole 60L Duffel on sale and felt I could better utilize the space. And third, I was starting to accumulate a lot of duffels and the cost was starting to add up :). If I had it to do over again, I would have kept the North Face bag I originally ordered. It was a tough decision to return as it fits, size wise, between the XS North Face and 60 L Patagonia bags I currently have. In regards to the XS, for me it's been the perfect "small" travel duffel, great for overnight or short trips that you can throw on you back and go. One last thing about both sizes, if you don't fill the bag full, both are flexible enough to fit into smaller places, when/if necessary. Hope this help! Thanks again for your comments and questions!
Hey RosaBirke! Thank you!!! I would personally not hesitate to use this bag as my carry on. Most soft sided bags in this size range give some flexibility as long as they are not over packed. Take care!
Hey Chris I really enjoy your reviews. I bought a Base Camp Duffel in XS for my personal Item Choice on RyanAir. Do you think I could use the Base camp in Size S as well for a personal item? Or do you think it would be to large to fit under the seat. Not sure how strict the Staff might be :)
Thank you Patrick! That’s a great question. I don’t have any experience with RyanAir, but it seems most domestic US airlines are not usually very strict with personal items or carry on bags. In particular I’ve seen many carry on bags that are obviously over the size limit but nothing is said. But, since you never know for sure if/when the airline may not allow the larger size small , I would be hesitant to use the small for my personal item. Definitely a great option for your carry on. YMMV though. For me the XS is the perfect bag for a personal item, but I know it’s always nice to have that extra space. Take care!
Hey Chris, Got a couple questions for you? If you had to choose just one, TNF Small or the Patagonia Black Hole 60L, which one would you choose? Also, have to had an opportunity to test or get feedback on the Patagonia 45L capacity wise?
Hi Ken! Great question! That would be a very tough decision and you really can't go wrong with either. I feel both are excellent bags and are very similar in most aspects. But, if I had to choose, I would probably go with TNF Small. To me it's a great compromise between TNF XS and the Black Hole 60L. Again, I think it all boils down to how you plan on using the bag. But for a "do all" bag, I would go with TNF Small. I haven't had a chance to look at the Patagonia 45L yet but I hope to in the near future. I would be interested to see how it measures up to TNF bags and even the larger Black Hole 60L. Take Care!
Hi Kaleem S! Thanks for your comment! Love hearing from people who have the bag. I agree, the small is a great size. The color is SEDONA SAGE GREY / ASPHALT GREY. Take care!
Hello great video. Could you please let me know if the back will compress to 22 cms in height (form 32.5 cms) in order to meet British Airways carry-on limits? Weighing up between this bag and the Osprey transporter 40, which has some nice features, but is 10 liters smaller than TNF.
Hi C A! Thank you! I love this bag but unfortunately do not still own it. The main reason is that I wasn't using it and couldn't justify keeping it with the other bags I have. This was the second time I bought the bag and I definitely have some regrets of not keeping it. A great "do all" bag, as is the Transporter 40. Wish I could have been more help. Take care!
Hi breezer! It would probably be possible to extend the backpack straps all the way out to carry over the shoulder, but I would only recommend carrying as a "backpack". Extending the backpack straps out would not give you much room to carry and, in my opinion, would not be comfortable. Take care!
Hi Johnny! I'm not aware that The North Face added locking zippers on their updated bags. To be honest, I'm really not 100% sure what all has been updated : ) From what I've seen, the Small looks exactly like the bag I took a look at. It's interesting because other bag manufacturers include them on their smaller bags, but I believe The North Face starts offering locking zippers with their Medium Base Camp duffel. Not a deal breaker though, I love the Base Camp duffels! Take care!
Hi Eagle Eye! Great question and my short answer is yes. I personally would not hesitate to take this as my carry on to place in the overhead bin, with my disclaimer being as long as you don't over "stuff" the bag. Take care!
cool sounds good . i just got a sweet deal on the vans north face base camp duffel for 80 bucks , couldnt pass it up and i like buying things that last along time . Good review !
Wow, Egypt! I would love to visit! I'm a huge fan of TNF Base Camp Duffels and their Rolling Thunder bags, which I believe they have recently updated. I haven't had a chance to check out any of their other bags or backpacks but would like to one day. Patagonia makes some similar bags you may want to check out too, but they are usually a little more expensive. REI has their own line of travel duffels too that I'm interested in checking out. Have a safe trip and, if possible, report back on the bag. Thanks!
Hi Chris, great reviews! Btw: I just ordered this same exact bag and waiting for it. However, is the backpack straps hard to remove and to put back on? I take the greyhound a lot when I travel and I know this bag will be going in the bottom luggage cabin all the time.
Thanks Steven! Takes a little work to get the straps off and back on. I would probably compare it to taking the strap off of a school backpack. Awesome bag and about the perfect size!
Thank you for the response Chris! I really feel this bag should be considered a long weekend bag due to the size! 50 liters is plenty for a 3-6 day trip. And I love the water resistance for this bag! Can’t wait to get it! I’m just worried other suitcases or bags will get tangled up with the backpack straps under the bus cabin. Maybe I should just tighten them so the straps are flat?
Steven, you are correct. Easily a long weekend bag and then some. I’m guessing some could extend it even further 🙂. I think you’ll really like the bag. Would like to hear your thoughts when you get the bag. Good thoughts on the straps! May be easier in the long run.
Hi Lucas! Awesome, thanks! They are the Eagle Creek Pack-It Original Cubes size Medium. One is the clean dirty version. I almost always travel with them. Take care!
Hey haha! I usually don't think to show a laptop but I know it would help : ) This bag will easily hold a 13" MacBook Pro/Air and should have no problem with a 15.6 laptop. I would recommend some type of sleeve to protect your laptop because there is no true padding in the bag. Thanks!
@@ChrisU i was wondering if you could wriggle a 17 inch into it.... it would be good to see, no one does the laptop thing... it can just go into it's sleeve and be packed on top, not ideal maybe for travel but actual real world likely hood... even if you do not have the laptops, you could buy the sleeves for 13, 15, 17 inch laptops and put maybe plywood cut to size to show whether they would fit or not in the sleeves
haha, that's a good idea! You're right, hard to find reviews that use laptops. I have a 13" and old school bulky 15.6" that I'm going to try and incorporate more. The cutouts may work too. Thanks!
@@ChrisU sweet thank you, some of us have 17.3 ( and even extra usb monitors) and we get the raw end of the deal.. i have been watching your reviews, you do a great job.. think i will end up with the L Blackhole duffel, but then i want a weekend bag. i am going to Europe to see my girlfriend, who has a smalll unit in Paris, i usually take wheelie gear but it gets in the way in the unit, so i think a duffle will be a good idea so i can stash it away, but i also need a carry on (weekend away) , and would buy another blackhole smaller but then then Patagonia looks more rectangle, so this is where a laptop test will help for future videos... thanks
Thank you so much, sir for your videos, I've been planning to buy a duffel bag but I'm hesitant because of the sizes. But now I decided to buy a small one for me and xs for my wife. Thank you so much
This was the video that made my decision on size, thanks man!!
Hi Steve! Thanks for the comment! Hope you enjoy the bag!
I need to check out the Helly Hansen Classic Duffle in XS - I like that it has a bit more organization built in
I've been looking at some Helly Hansen bags recently but haven't clicked the buy button yet. Definitely on my wish list too!
Thank you! Have watched several of your videos; they're engaging, practical and helpful. After researching for comparisons between both North Face and Patagonia brands, this helped me decide on a North Face S duffel. I'm still a bit nervous it might not fit in the overhead luggage rack on some budget airlines, but otherwise it looks perfect. I've already trashed several bags and looking forward to seeing what this one can withstand!
The only thing that would be even more helpful would be to see how laptops fit in as they're an essential piece of kit for so many people working remotely. I've been looking everywhere for a video which shows this and haven't found one yet. A 13inch MacBook Pro would be a great example. Thanks again :)
Thank you Natasha! I appreciate your comment and feedback! If/when you buy, would love to hear what you think. Take care!
Great video man, love your energy and passion! I'm tied between this and the Patagonia black hole 45L, just about to watch your review on it now actually. Keep 'em coming buddy! Love from Liverpool, UK.
Hey Jack! Thank you so much! Very tough decision between the 2 bags. Both are awesome bags and it may come down to personal preference and what you need the bag for. Both are great "do all" bags to use for travel, gym, camping, etc. TNF will give just a little more room than the Patagonia. Overall, I probably like TNF bag better, but there is something about the 45L Black Hole duffel I really like as well. Really can't go wrong with either : ) Would love to hear which back you decide on. Thanks again and take care!
@@ChrisU I think I prefer the design of the Patagonia especially with the quick access side pocket, however I just love that yellow/black colour way of the TNF. I'll be using it mostly for daily commutes to work/gym etc so I'm thinking the Patagonia would be more practical as it's that little bit smaller and cheaper.
Jack, TNF has some awesome colors, probably the best of any brand : ) I agree that the Patagonia would better suit your needs. To me, probably a better everyday bag. Never hurts to save some money either!
@@ChrisU Hey Chris, forgot to mention I decided on the Black hole 45L in marigold. It works great for me for my day to day and I also took it to Glastonbury festival last week as an extra front mount which worked a treat. I also installed a sternum strap just for that extra comfort. Thanks for the content buddy much appreciated, take it easy !!
@@jackprezo thank you for the update! I'm glad to hear the Black Hole is working well for you. Great idea to add a sternum strap! Thanks again!
G’day Chris. Mate you got a knack with these bag reviews. Another great job 👍🏼 Just wondering why you out chose to part with the Small size the first time around...noting you’ve persisted with the Extra Small? Thanks Aidan for taking the time to film and post your opinions. They’re of great value.
Hi Stills Hunter! Great question! Three basic reasons at the time. 1st, when I first ordered the bag I felt that the bag I was sent had a few marks, or imperfections on it. Really nothing too bad and really not enough in itself to return it. Second, I found a second Patagonia Black Hole 60L Duffel on sale and felt I could better utilize the space. And third, I was starting to accumulate a lot of duffels and the cost was starting to add up :). If I had it to do over again, I would have kept the North Face bag I originally ordered. It was a tough decision to return as it fits, size wise, between the XS North Face and 60 L Patagonia bags I currently have. In regards to the XS, for me it's been the perfect "small" travel duffel, great for overnight or short trips that you can throw on you back and go. One last thing about both sizes, if you don't fill the bag full, both are flexible enough to fit into smaller places, when/if necessary. Hope this help! Thanks again for your comments and questions!
Thanks for your review. I have a question. Do you have any kind of back support? Or do you feel the contents of the bag on your back?
Thanks for the video. Are the side handles wide enough to slip over luggage handles to sit secure on a suitcase?
Hey Chris. Great, genuine reviews. I'm wondering if TNF base camp duffel small fits into to measures of a carry on?
Hey RosaBirke! Thank you!!! I would personally not hesitate to use this bag as my carry on. Most soft sided bags in this size range give some flexibility as long as they are not over packed. Take care!
Hey Chris I really enjoy your reviews. I bought a Base Camp Duffel in XS for my personal Item Choice on RyanAir. Do you think I could use the Base camp in Size S as well for a personal item? Or do you think it would be to large to fit under the seat. Not sure how strict the Staff might be :)
Thank you Patrick! That’s a great question. I don’t have any experience with RyanAir, but it seems most domestic US airlines are not usually very strict with personal items or carry on bags. In particular I’ve seen many carry on bags that are obviously over the size limit but nothing is said. But, since you never know for sure if/when the airline may not allow the larger size small , I would be hesitant to use the small for my personal item. Definitely a great option for your carry on. YMMV though. For me the XS is the perfect bag for a personal item, but I know it’s always nice to have that extra space. Take care!
Hey Chris, Got a couple questions for you? If you had to choose just one, TNF Small or the Patagonia Black Hole 60L, which one would you choose? Also, have to had an opportunity to test or get feedback on the Patagonia 45L capacity wise?
Hi Ken! Great question! That would be a very tough decision and you really can't go wrong with either. I feel both are excellent bags and are very similar in most aspects. But, if I had to choose, I would probably go with TNF Small. To me it's a great compromise between TNF XS and the Black Hole 60L. Again, I think it all boils down to how you plan on using the bag. But for a "do all" bag, I would go with TNF Small. I haven't had a chance to look at the Patagonia 45L yet but I hope to in the near future. I would be interested to see how it measures up to TNF bags and even the larger Black Hole 60L. Take Care!
Thanks for the input. Enjoy the reviews.
Heyya Chris. Amazing review. No regrets after buying mine in small. What colour is that one if I may ask? Looks really nice
Hi Kaleem S! Thanks for your comment! Love hearing from people who have the bag. I agree, the small is a great size. The color is SEDONA SAGE GREY / ASPHALT GREY. Take care!
Hello , has anyone travelled with this duffel (Small 50lt 32.5x53x32.5) with Ryanair ? I mean the priority bag 55x40x20 ? Thank you
I got the same question, please help us!
Hello great video. Could you please let me know if the back will compress to 22 cms in height (form 32.5 cms) in order to meet British Airways carry-on limits? Weighing up between this bag and the Osprey transporter 40, which has some nice features, but is 10 liters smaller than TNF.
Hi C A! Thank you! I love this bag but unfortunately do not still own it. The main reason is that I wasn't using it and couldn't justify keeping it with the other bags I have. This was the second time I bought the bag and I definitely have some regrets of not keeping it. A great "do all" bag, as is the Transporter 40. Wish I could have been more help. Take care!
can you carry this as a single over the shoulder strap or is it just the close handles and the backpack straps? thanks
Hi breezer! It would probably be possible to extend the backpack straps all the way out to carry over the shoulder, but I would only recommend carrying as a "backpack". Extending the backpack straps out would not give you much room to carry and, in my opinion, would not be comfortable. Take care!
Does the new version have locking zippers?
Hi Johnny! I'm not aware that The North Face added locking zippers on their updated bags. To be honest, I'm really not 100% sure what all has been updated : ) From what I've seen, the Small looks exactly like the bag I took a look at. It's interesting because other bag manufacturers include them on their smaller bags, but I believe The North Face starts offering locking zippers with their Medium Base Camp duffel. Not a deal breaker though, I love the Base Camp duffels! Take care!
Hey Chris, is it possible to unmount those backpack straps? I am curious if it is possible to wear it as a shoulder bag. Cheers!
Hi Ray! Yes, with a little work, you can take the backpack straps off of the bag. Take care!
Thank you for your reply!
Will this size small consider as carry on luggage and fit in the over head cabin ?
Hi Eagle Eye! Great question and my short answer is yes. I personally would not hesitate to take this as my carry on to place in the overhead bin, with my disclaimer being as long as you don't over "stuff" the bag. Take care!
cool sounds good . i just got a sweet deal on the vans north face base camp duffel for 80 bucks , couldnt pass it up and i like buying things that last along time . Good review !
Awesome! Sounds like a great deal! Enjoy!
Thanks , right timing I'm going to Egypt in a few weeks . Perfect for my needs .
What kind of North face backpacks do you like ?
Wow, Egypt! I would love to visit! I'm a huge fan of TNF Base Camp Duffels and their Rolling Thunder bags, which I believe they have recently updated. I haven't had a chance to check out any of their other bags or backpacks but would like to one day. Patagonia makes some similar bags you may want to check out too, but they are usually a little more expensive. REI has their own line of travel duffels too that I'm interested in checking out. Have a safe trip and, if possible, report back on the bag. Thanks!
Nice 👍👍👍
Thank you Mohamed!
Hi Chris, great reviews! Btw: I just ordered this same exact bag and waiting for it. However, is the backpack straps hard to remove and to put back on? I take the greyhound a lot when I travel and I know this bag will be going in the bottom luggage cabin all the time.
Thanks Steven! Takes a little work to get the straps off and back on. I would probably compare it to taking the strap off of a school backpack. Awesome bag and about the perfect size!
Thank you for the response Chris! I really feel this bag should be considered a long weekend bag due to the size! 50 liters is plenty for a 3-6 day trip. And I love the water resistance for this bag! Can’t wait to get it! I’m just worried other suitcases or bags will get tangled up with the backpack straps under the bus cabin. Maybe I should just tighten them so the straps are flat?
Steven, you are correct. Easily a long weekend bag and then some. I’m guessing some could extend it even further 🙂. I think you’ll really like the bag. Would like to hear your thoughts when you get the bag. Good thoughts on the straps! May be easier in the long run.
Hi! Can you tell me what is the name of the small blue packs??? The video was very useful for make my decision!!
Hi Lucas! Awesome, thanks! They are the Eagle Creek Pack-It Original Cubes size Medium. One is the clean dirty version. I almost always travel with them. Take care!
Chris U thanks for for answer and the information!! 🤙
How many liters for small?
50 liters in the small
it would be good to see him put a laptop in the bag
Hey haha! I usually don't think to show a laptop but I know it would help : ) This bag will easily hold a 13" MacBook Pro/Air and should have no problem with a 15.6 laptop. I would recommend some type of sleeve to protect your laptop because there is no true padding in the bag. Thanks!
@@ChrisU i was wondering if you could wriggle a 17 inch into it.... it would be good to see, no one does the laptop thing... it can just go into it's sleeve and be packed on top, not ideal maybe for travel but actual real world likely hood... even if you do not have the laptops, you could buy the sleeves for 13, 15, 17 inch laptops and put maybe plywood cut to size to show whether they would fit or not in the sleeves
haha, that's a good idea! You're right, hard to find reviews that use laptops. I have a 13" and old school bulky 15.6" that I'm going to try and incorporate more. The cutouts may work too. Thanks!
@@ChrisU sweet thank you, some of us have 17.3 ( and even extra usb monitors) and we get the raw end of the deal.. i have been watching your reviews, you do a great job.. think i will end up with the L Blackhole duffel, but then i want a weekend bag. i am going to Europe to see my girlfriend, who has a smalll unit in Paris, i usually take wheelie gear but it gets in the way in the unit, so i think a duffle will be a good idea so i can stash it away, but i also need a carry on (weekend away) , and would buy another blackhole smaller but then then Patagonia looks more rectangle, so this is where a laptop test will help for future videos... thanks