Travel Packs
Winter is the time of year most Canadian rock climbers leave to warmer places. There is no better time of year to go clip bolts in Thailand, do multi-pitches in Spain or to go bouldering in South Africa. Here are some of the top duffel bags on the market to make your trip go smoothly. Base Camp Duffel Small The North Face Base Camp small provides 50 litres of storage, which is great for short trips. Constructed of a durable laminate that is water resistant in snow and rain. Good for trips to places where you will be heading into the backcountry and roughing the pack up. The shoulder straps fit well for long hauls and the compression straps help keep things tight. With a lifetime warranty, this 1,230 g duffel is a great all-rounder.
Black Hole Duffel 90 The Black Hole 90 is the ultimate workhorse duffel for those going to extreme places. It has big zippered pockets to access things quickly and a U-shaped lid. The bottom is padded to add structure and help cushion the contents. Some top features are the webbing handles, haul loops for linking bags and daisy chains to leash gear to. The material doesn’t pick up dirt or leaves easily and it keeps snow and weather out. Packs this size sometimes have wheels, but on this pack it wouldn’t make sense. Highly recommended. Outdry 75 Mountain Hardwear’s Outdry Duff le 75 uses the high-end OutDry waterproof technology to keep everything inside safe. One of our favourite features is that it can double as a cooler to keep your drinks cold. It has been rain-room tested for 24 hours and the main compartment is guaranteed waterproof. It has a simple strap system and lots of loops to lash gear to. At 826 g, it is one of the lightest 75- litre duffels on the market. Did we mention it will keep your drinks cold?
Stone 42 The Stone 42 is marketed as a crag pack but works just as well for travelling. Designed as a simple and lightweight bag, it has two internal pockets to keep things organized. The giveaway that it is meant for gear is the built-in rope tarp. The length makes it a comfortable carry. At the end of the day, this is our favourite pack for carrying equipment on a plane. You don’t have to repack your gear once you’re at the final destination. Just grab it and go.