The North Face Base Camp 71L Duffel

We’ve read the reviews across the web for the The North Face Base Camp 71L Duffel and summarize the results below:

Universal Ranking

PeakScore: 94 (out of 100)
User Rating: 4.8 stars 
Expert Rating: 4.5 stars

Number of Ratings Reviewed: 181

Pros & Cons

Reasons to buy:

User Reviews

  • Very versatile and useful for trips to the gym, the beach, camping, or say, hiking Kilamanjaro!
  • The backpack straps are useful in any setting.
  • Holds lots of stuff, even sets of bulky ski equipment.
  • Extremely weather resistant.
  • Very durable.
  • The compression straps on the side add to the packing capability.

Expert Reviews

  • Padded shoulder straps and daisy chains for versatile and easy travel.
  • Available in lots of color options.
  • The d-shaped zipper is easy to open and close, even when the bag is full.
  • The side pocket on the back end and the zippered pocket on the lid are very useful for increased organization in such a large bag.
  • Supremely durable all over, as the zippers are burly and the outer fabric is sturdy and abrasion-resistant.
  • Excellent water resistance.
  • A great value for the price.

Reasons NOT to buy:

User Reviews

  • The backpack straps do not have a sternum strap.
  • Can be a bit stiff at first.
  • The new version of the bag does not have grab loops on the ends.
  • Can be slow to remove the shoulder straps.

Expert Reviews

  • Not extremely packable because of the stiff fabric.

Summary:

The The North Face Base Camp 71L Duffel has been a favorite since it launched decades ago, and with the same durable construction and great water resistance, it has changed very little since then. People love the bag’s extreme durability, cavernous interior, well-designed zipper that accommodates a bit of overpacking, and its attachable backpack straps. Even people who love this bag, however, take some issue with its stiff fabric, and how annoying it can be to try to remove the shoulder straps, and miss the much-loved grab loops on the ends on the newest model of the bag. Even so, this bag offers a great deal of durability and space for the price.

Multimedia:

Note: User and expert rankings were reviewed across the web, including here: 1, 2, 3, 4.