Over the last year, I’ve fallen quite in love with the NEMO Equipment Double Haul 30L, which is a duffel bag when you want it to be a duffel bag and a tote bag when you want it to be a tote bag. NEMO calls this two-fer design revolutionary; That’s a stretch, but it’s certainly a smart rethinking of a time-tested bag.
The brand achieves this with two sets of handles and side straps that allow the Double Haul to expand or contract. The canvas handles are semi-rigid, low profile, and tucked well into the top. Compression straps on the long ends allow you to adjust the bag into a neat package suitable for storing in an overhead compartment or carrying as a backpack.
To convert to tote mode, undo the compression straps and remove the tote handles from their snap-in pockets. It takes five seconds and you have a handbag that can easily be carried on one shoulder. The best thing is that expanding to totalizer mode increases the capacity from 30 liters to 40.
Since getting the Double Haul, I have barely used my other duffel bags. It’s a great pleasure to put your gear in and out, as the semi-flexible side supports keep the bag open when loading or unloading. There is a single interior pocket with a zipper and another exterior pocket. It’s versatile and looks great, and the owners seem to love it. The last time I checked the NEMO site, there were 172 reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars. It also comes in 55-liter ($180), 70-liter ($200), and 100-liter ($220) versions. I wouldn’t part with a perfectly functional duffel bag for the Double Haul, but if you’re looking for a new one, I’d put it at the top of the list to consider.
