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Opinions needed: Traveling Duffel What to buy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 4:55 am
by waXology
Ok so i'm going to Elbrus this year and am about to purchase a duffel, the only thing is I don't know what to get. Brand and Size. im looking at the First Ascent 80L and the North Face Base Camp 90L. I know both are large but if I don't get something 70cm or longer then where do I put my ixe axe? (70cm).

So my qeustion is when yo uguys go on an expedition, where do you store your axe? In your duffel? In qhich case ill need to go a large of 70cm or longer. If not I can easily get the smaller ones.

To make matters worse im also doing this trip as a part of a 4 week vacation so ill have a normal 70L backpack as well + a day bag. So the duffel will be a third bag, obviously the smaller the better.. but the ixe axe situation is my only show stopper.

any thoughts? suggestions?

cheers guys
Cam

WT burro

PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:10 am
by Snowy

for the price

PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:08 am
by zeroforhire
For the price I am not sure it gets much better than these...

http://www.rei.com/product/748507

http://www.rei.com/product/748506

http://www.rei.com/product/748505

90 ish L, 145 ish L, 190 ish L respectively.

$25

Re: Opinions needed: Traveling Duffel What to buy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:05 pm
by Brad Marshall
Hey Cam:

I use duffles from Mountain Equipment Coop www.mec.ca here in Canada for expeditions. I take two of their larger ones which are 110L (76 cm long, $32) and 126L (87 cm long, $36). I lay my backpack in the bottom of one duffle with the straps and harness facing upward and lay all my sharps (axes, poles, pickets, etc.) on top of the pack and have had no problems. I also pad the axe with small foam pieces to prevent it from punching holes through the duffle.

Good luck on Elbrus.

Image

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:04 am
by waXology
awesome. Thansk for the replies, some good cheaper options now!

Cheers
Cam

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:56 pm
by climberslacker
for something that i have heard is bombproof, and huge enough that a 5' 7" guy can actually fit inside, you could try the fish behemoth bag. It's fabric is designed not to wear when straped to a beast of burden according to their website.

-CS

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:27 pm
by Haliku
I've used the NF Duffels for the last 8 years or so. They travel well with all forms of transport, are highly water resistant and very durable. Cheers!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:25 pm
by radson
Haliku wrote:I've used the NF Duffels for the last 8 years or so. They travel well with all forms of transport, are highly water resistant and very durable. Cheers!


I'm a fan of TNF duffles as well. Any duffle with 'backpack' style shoulder straps is bloody handy as well. I can put one duffle on my back and balance another on top and be fairly mobile.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:33 pm
by Brad Marshall
radson wrote:Any duffle with 'backpack' style shoulder straps is bloody handy as well. I can put one duffle on my back and balance another on top and be fairly mobile.


Wow, impressive and I never thought of that. I usually just put mine on those little carts at the airport :lol:

Re: for the price

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:22 pm
by HeyItsBen
zeroforhire wrote:For the price I am not sure it gets much better than these...

http://www.rei.com/product/748507

http://www.rei.com/product/748506

http://www.rei.com/product/748505

90 ish L, 145 ish L, 190 ish L respectively.

$25


Yep, these are what I use. Been through alot over the last 5 years and still holding up strong. I typically lay my ice axe or ice tools in the bottom, and I use packing tape and cardboard to cover the sharp points. Works like a charm.

Re: Opinions needed: Traveling Duffel What to buy

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:25 pm
by HeyItsBen
Brad Marshall wrote:Hey Cam:

I use duffles from Mountain Equipment Coop www.mec.ca here in Canada for expeditions. I take two of their larger ones which are 110L (76 cm long, $32) and 126L (87 cm long, $36). I lay my backpack in the bottom of one duffle with the straps and harness facing upward and lay all my sharps (axes, poles, pickets, etc.) on top of the pack and have had no problems. I also pad the axe with small foam pieces to prevent it from punching holes through the duffle.

Good luck on Elbrus.

Image


Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?

Re: for the price

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:20 pm
by Ammon Hatch
benjamingray wrote:
zeroforhire wrote:For the price I am not sure it gets much better than these...

http://www.rei.com/product/748507

http://www.rei.com/product/748506

http://www.rei.com/product/748505

90 ish L, 145 ish L, 190 ish L respectively.

$25


Yep, these are what I use. Been through alot over the last 5 years and still holding up strong. I typically lay my ice axe or ice tools in the bottom, and I use packing tape and cardboard to cover the sharp points. Works like a charm.


Worked great for me flying to Ecuador. I had my axe points covered but didn't protect the ends of my pickets and it held up to that just fine.

Re: Opinions needed: Traveling Duffel What to buy

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:09 pm
by Brad Marshall
benjamingray wrote:
Brad Marshall wrote:Image


Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?


Yes, I use the X-large on Denali. It's a long bag with a low center of gravity so the sleds don't tend to tip over as much. If you don't know this already another tip is don't tie your duffle to the sled very tight. Too tight and the tension in the cord torques the sled out of shape rounding off and twisting the bottom which leads to additional frustration (not sliding straight and tipping over more often). Instead, make sure your duffle is well secured to the climbing rope and only lightly tied to the sled.

I haven't found a need to waterproof them even when they get dumped on by heavy snowfall.

http://c0278592.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspac ... 601181.JPG

Re: Opinions needed: Traveling Duffel What to buy

PostPosted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:48 pm
by HeyItsBen
Brad Marshall wrote:
benjamingray wrote:
Brad Marshall wrote:Image


Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?


Yes, I use the X-large on Denali. It's a long bag with a low center of gravity so the sleds don't tend to tip over as much. If you don't know this already another tip is don't tie your duffle to the sled very tight. Too tight and the tension in the cord torques the sled out of shape rounding off and twisting the bottom which leads to additional frustration (not sliding straight and tipping over more often). Instead, make sure your duffle is well secured to the climbing rope and only lightly tied to the sled.

I haven't found a need to waterproof them even when they get dumped on by heavy snowfall.

http://c0278592.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspac ... 601181.JPG


That shape does look sled friendly. Thanks for the tips, cool picture :D

onsight

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:59 am
by attimount
I have 3 of this duffle bag, and I'm really satisfied with them. Waterproof, durable, and resiztent. You can buy them at mec.
http://www.onsightequipment.com/cgi-bin/gov/1790.html