For short, the easy way to refer to this discussion is, "The Bag Net." There are many products that fall within this category, and perhaps the one of greatest importance is your sleeping bag. A failure here can spell the end of an otherwise great trip, or at the least, make for a very miserable one. A bag failure elsewhere can be a great deal more than an inconvenience. Proper planning can avoid these results.
Like so many of the other types of camping gear we discuss, this is an area where is does not pay to cut corners or buy cheap. Quality matters, and while the initial cost may be more, in the long run it will not only perform better, it will, in fact, cost less. Quality also means that it will last longer and will usually come with a warranty from a company that has been around long enough to actually honor their promises. Customer service will be better too!!!
While it should go without saying, I will say it anyway. We offer what we believe is sound advice and recommendations for what works for us, but it is your job to do the research to determine what is right for you. For the net, we will focus primarily on "Made in the USA" products. But there are some quality exceptions, which we will mention.
Sleeping Bags
Butler All Season Sleeping Bags (Made in the USA)
There is no getting around the truth here, and that is that there are a whole lot of sleeping bags on the market today. While that is a very good thing from the consumer's standpoint, the down side is that it will require a bit more effort to determine what is right for you. We hope to offer some good food for thought during the net.
Over the 5+ decades that I have been camping, I have used just about every type of sleeping bag there is, from the cheap to the expensive and from down mummy bags to full size rectangular bags. I know what works best for me, and that is all that I will mention in this post. Hopefully, we will get others to join the net and share their choices.
For the type of travels that I enjoy, there are a few critical areas upon which I insist when it comes to sleeping bags. They are:
- Low temperature all season rating (below zero)
- Roomy enough for comfortable sleeping. This completely rules out mummy bags.
- Rugged construction, both inside and out
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA
Rugged Comfort! This model features three sleeping compartments to choose from, depending on outside temperatures. There is also a fourth pocket for easy storage of your ground pad or air mattress. The All Season Bag also features sewn in end ropes, two nylon chinch straps and double heavy duty carrying straps. Sold world wide to outfitters, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts who love style, comfort and quality.
Like all Butler Bags, this sleeping bag is constructed with a heavy duty, dual control brass zipper with an anti-draft water flap sewn to the outside. The exterior features the use of tough, long lasting marine grade canvas and the inside is lined with polyester/cotton flannel, designed for comfort, warmth, and durability. At the head of the bag is a flannel lined flap to cover you on extra cold nights.
Size: 41″X84″ (approx. sleeping area)
Comfort Zone: -20 to +65 degrees.
Weight: approx. 22 lbs.
Filler: Hollofil 808
Outer: 12.5 ounce marine grade, water repellent canvas
Lining: Polyester/Cotton Flannel
Zipper: Heavy duty brass zipper
Color: Desert Tan / Woodsman Plaid
All seams reinforced
Made in the USA
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Duffel Bags
The duffel bag is the Leatherman multi-tool of luggage and gear storage products. Among their many virtues are the huge variety of sizes, their ability to fit (or be made to fit) in all kinds of available spaces, their strength, and perhaps, most of all, their ability to always fit the few things you forgot to pack. And, there are some very well made, attractive, and very functional bags that are available for the well heeled traveler. For the price conscious, there are a (huge) number of "imported " duffels on the market from which to choose. For the rest of us, we have a huge selection of these bags which can match just about any need we have, are high quality, and which will not break the bank.
The duffel bag is the essence of simplicity, and this fact makes it impossible to discern the precise date of it's origin or the inventor. What perhaps began as a mere piece of canvas or cloth in which various items were carried, it eventually led to what we now know as the duffel bag. What is known however is that the name duffel is a town in Belgium where the canvas for these bags was made. The name is Duffel, and is spelled "Duffel, not duffle.
I suspect that most (all?) of us use a number of duffels on our camping trips. Their nature naturally leads to hard use, and even the best of the bunch will wear out in time. This fact, combined with the never ending improvement and selection of duffles, has contributed to my growing collection of duffels.
I've noticed in many years of camping that the parts of the duffle that receive the most stress are the zippers and the seams. A third area of stress, and often failure, is the contact point where the carry straps attach to the body of the bag. Cheaper bags usually fail in one or more ofthese three areas. When you are in the market for a sturdy, well made and long lasting bag, look to these three areas.
If there is one complaint about duffels, it is the difficulty in getting some contents out of the bag without taking it all apart. While this is partially true, it is not a problem without a solution. To be discussed below.
Butler Bag Duffels (Made in the USA)
These duffels are made with heavy duty brass zippers, heavy canvas exteriors, two outside pockets, reinforced seams, and a lifetime warranty. A perfect companion to their sleeping bags. From the Butler website ()https://butlerbags.us/product/base-camp-gear-bag/:
Our Base Camp Gear Bag is a great size and can hold everything you need for extended time out in the field. It has an extra roomy main compartment and two large front zippered pockets for your smaller items. This bag is for the serious outdoorsman or traveler requiring performance, comfort, and rugged durability.
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Filson Duffels (Made in the USA with imported materials)
This one comes with a 5 star rating and a lifetime guarantee, from a company that's been around since 1897. From the Filson Website (https://www.filson.com/bags-luggage/duf ... -012220011):
our Medium Duffle Bag is built tough enough for the most extreme excursions and sized for long weekends and multi-day trips. The lightly-waxed fabric keeps gear dry and closes with a solid brass YKK® zipper that’s protected by a snap-secured storm flap. We use Bridle Leather from Wickett & Craig for the removable shoulder strap and for the handles that wrap around the bag to securely cradle heavy loads. Interior end-cap pockets for organization. Meets airline carry-on size requirements.
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BAD Bags (Made in the USA)
The BAD name is an acronym for - Best American Duffels. This one is rugged, built to last, affordable, and comes with a lifetime warranty. From the BAD website: https://badbags.com/.
Materials
Rugged but soft 1,000-denier CORDURA® nylon fabric, urethane-coated for water resistance.
Double-stitching and taped seams throughout.
Nickel-plated, welded, no-rust hardware that will never let you down.
Two-inch, 6,000-pound break-strength seat-belt webbing encircling each bag to ensure longevity, strength, and uniform weight distribution.
Cross-stitched and box-stitched handles and stress points for extreme durability.
Beefy #10 YKK zippers: rugged enough to zip even when overstuffed.
This classic duffel bag is perfect for trips ranging from 5 to 10 days. It’s the original BAD BAG DUFFEL—our standard for over 30 years! The size is perfect for carrying everything you need for those extended journeys, without weighing you down. With durable materials and construction that’s been tested in the field for over three decades, you’ll be able to use this duffel bag on adventures and expeditions for years to come.
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Fire Force Duffle bags (Made in the USA)
The FireForce website sells only stuff made in the USA, and that includes an extensive line of bags (see: https://fireforceusa.com/bags/bags_0.htm), all of which come with a lifetime guarantee. Their duffel bags also come with an impressive set of specs that should pique the interest of any traveler. They are (https://fireforceusa.com):
Fire Force Tactical Gear is dedicated to using the highest quality materials made to the standards of the Armed Forces of the United States. Fire Force proudly manufactures all of our products in the U.S.A. with a full Lifetime warranty
Specs:
Made of 1000 denier DuPont Cordura Nylon with water-resistant urethane coating
Double stitched with taped seams
Heavy Weight Nylon Handles with Full support
Full grip Velcro Handle lock
Adjustable Removable Shoulder straps Included
2 side Zippered pockets on the sides
Small accessory pocket on the side between handles
Inside flap mesh zippered pocket
Main compartment accessible with easy load U-Shape flap with Heavy-duty YKK self-repairing nylon coil zippers with dual sliders
Made in U.S.A. with Full Berry Compliant
The Tactical Duffel
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J W Hulme Leather Duffel (Made in Mexico with American leather)
This Last one is built to give the owner a first class, ruggedly built, classy means to carry your clothes or gear. Given it good looks, it deserves to ride in the front seat so all can appreciate your good taste. With all kidding aside, this is one hell of a duffel that will probably be passed on to other family members when you finally sell the 4WD.
From the Hulme website (https://www.jwhulmeco.com/collections/m ... sic-duffle):
Made with 14 oz waxed canvas with full-grain USA leather hides. Easy access U- shaped zippered main entry is secured with a rain/dust flap and three buckles. All hardware comes in a rustic matte nickel finish. Water resistant lining. Exterior zippered end pocket. Carries comfortably on your shoulder via the detachable and adjustable webbing shoulder strap with sliding leather pad.
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Outdoor Products Duffle Bags (Now made in China)
This duffel bag company made this list merely to show how things change, and what you should know about the state of things when you buy. A little bit of history will help make this point. Over the years, our family spent a great deal of time in the outdoors camping, hunting, and exploring our great American southwest. Outfitting this group naturally required a means to carry our clothes and related camping and hunting gear, and duffel bags were the natural choice. Back when we started, and for quite a number of years thereafter, we became regular customers of an outdoor store which, sadly, is no more - Sport Chalet. To borrow, and alter just a bit, a phrase coined by them, I can honestly say that, "I'd rather be shopping at Sport Chalet" today.
So, during the many years that we shopped at Sport Chalet, we purchased well over 20 of the Outdoor duffels and used them often. As you can see from the pictures below, we had good reason to settle on these bags, including the fact that they were made in the USA and carried a lifetime warranty. While the "specs" for these bags were impressive, time and regular use eventually revealed their weaknesses - zippers and seams both failed rendering the bags useless. It was when we returned the broken bags for an identical or similar replacements that we discovered that Outdoor Products had apparently transferred their duffel bag manufacturing to China, and to our disappointment, we also discovered that no identical or reasonably similar bags were being made. To their credit however, they did send another bag, made in China and with less durable material.
The lesson here is that times change and you need to make sure of the country of origin. For all of the bags in this post, I have indicated where they were made, based on available current information.
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Duffle Bag Organizers
Eagle Creek Duffel Bag Organizers (Made in Vietnam)
For those who want the ultimate in organization for their duffels, there are several solutions. The most common are ones that allow duffel bag contents to be stored in a segregated section in your duffle, and which are commonly referred to as organizer bags. Eagle Creek offers several that will accommodate a large range of duffle bag sizes. Their "Pack-It Isolate Cube Set" is light weight, compresses clothes, and comes with a lifetime warranty. See: https://www.eaglecreek.com/shop/organiz ... tionId=340.
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Dry Bags
Watershed Colorado (Made in the USA)
Dry bags are normally associated with river or ocean trips where there is a risk of everything getting wet, including your duffle. For that purpose, they are a must have item if you expect to keep your gear dry and clean. For our off-road travels, these bags offer protection from dirt that even the dustiest road cannot penetrate. While you don't often see a clothes duffel riding on a roof rack, a good dry bag can keep the contents completely free of road dust.
We've been on enough Southern Utah dirt roads to know that the lucky guy at the end of the caravan eats a bunch of dust, even with the windows closed and the AC on recirc. While most fabric or leather duffels will keep out a lot of floating dust, there is no way for them to be completely effective. The solution is simple - an effective dry bag, at least for the stuff that you really want to keep clean, like cameras, medicine, food, electronics, and yes, your clothes and maybe your sleeping bag!
The Watershed website (drybags.com) sells a full line of dry bags, and their performance is impressive. These bags are water tight and tested to 300 feet, extremely rugged, come with a purge/inflate valve to accommodate changes in elevation, and a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser. They even note that the bags can be stored on top of a vehicle so as to make more room inside. If you are looking for a way to keep road dirt and dust out of your bags, this is the way to go. And, the recommended storage for river rafting.
From the Watershed Colorado website (https://www.drybags.com/product/colorado/)
The Watershed Colorado duffel is as popular for long-term river tripping as the river it is named after. Used by raft guides around the globe, the Colorado will carry enough gear for one person on a multi day expedition. This bag works equally well as a cartop or pickup bed waterproof bag to provide extra gear storage on road trips. It also works as a storage bag for wet, muddy gear such as waders or drysuits.
Rugged carrying handles
Several hard lash points
Multiple compression straps
Available Colors: Orange, Blue, Coyote, & Multicam **(MULTICAM IS A TRADEMARKED, MILITARY GRADE FABRIC AND HAS A 25% UP CHARGE; ITS AVAILABILITY CAN CHANGE)**
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Camping Bags by Storm Industries (Made in the USA)
Camping bags, according to our OAUSA definition, are soft sided covers, duffles or cases that are used to carry and protect any type of gear that we use on our camping and hunting trips. When purchased, much of our gear either comes with no protective carry bag or comes with a cardboard box that shreds to pieces after a few trips to the wilderness. It is for this gear that a sturdy, custom made bag is a great way to protect and carry these items.
I have been using Storm Industries custom made bags for several years for many of our household and camping needs. Brady Sturm (owner of Storm Industries), will make bags or covers for almost anything, from a huge variety of fabrics and colors. In the case of my camping gear, his bags have added a significant layer of protection and made it possible to keep the original container. A good example is the bag below, which has been on countless camping trips and has performed flawlessly and kept my Coleman oven safe and clean. Their website: http://www.stormind.net/
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(I hope to make it to at least half the places this bike has been)
