Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel Review

Bottom Line

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler’s star feature is that it keeps your dirty or bulky gear separate from your nice clean sleeping bag or beach apparel. It comes in multiple capacities, but all have spacious weather resistant exterior pockets that make for an excellent place to stash gear like dirty boots or a bulky puffer jacket. The larger of the two even expands into the main compartment of the duffel depending on whether you need more storage space outside or in. 

A collapsible interior divider keeps gear separate in the main compartment so you stay organized. Pack straps don’t get in the way while packing and are easy to remove and stash in the lid. The exterior is durable but not waterproof.

We tested this duffel on a multi-day bikepacking trip through the desert and not only loaded it with warm clothing and cooking tools, but camping gear and supplies. It regularly got piled in the back of a truck with other duffels we tested, crammed into a rooftop cargo carrier, and tossed into the dirt. While it’s not waterproof, it stood up to all our abuse and kept our gear safe and sound.

Carry Comfort

There are two ways to carry this duffel (three in a pinch): backpack straps and grab handles, which are formed by securing the strap wrap around a narrow section of the pack straps. This configuration can also be used as an impromptu over-the-shoulder strap.

The two main options are both comfortable ways to carry the bag. That said, since the pack straps essentially function as all carry options combined, if you unclip and stow them in the designated pocket on the outside of the lid, you essentially lose all carry functionality except for the grab handles on the tops of the ends and along the long sides, so keep that in mind.

Compressibility & Packability

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is easy to pack. Its large, wide mouth opening, which hinges on one of the short ends, offers expansive access to the interior. On a recent trip, it was plenty big for all our sleeping and bike gear.

We especially loved the divider inside the main compartment that you could secure in place with toggles and loops or collapse onto the bottom of the bag. It meant we could opt to use a combo of packing cubes or not or simply keep cookware separate from sleepwear. There are no internal compression straps to help cinch things down inside, but there are straps on the outside of the bag so you can compact it a bit if you don’t fill it to the brim.

While the duffel does pack into its own sizable end pocket, it was tricky to cram in, making us prefer to just fold it up and stuff it onto a bottom shelf instead.

Durability

After tossing this duffel in and out of rooftop carriers, rolling it around the desert, and tossing it down stairs, it remained largely unscathed. The tough material only got minimally scuffed through it all, and any dirt or mud splatter was easy to clean off the coated recycled fabric.

The main zipper is big and burly and works beautifully. The zips on the outside pockets are more delicate, but we had no issues with them during testing.

Weather Resistance

While the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler has many positive qualities, water resistance is not one of them. When we left the bag out in the rain for an hour, the inside, including the bottom, was fairly damp by the time we dragged it inside. Meaning if we plan to venture out into less than fair weather, we’d be inclined to keep it under cover or pack sensitive clothing and gear in more water resistant packing cubes inside the bag.

Organization

If this bag has a strong point, it’s organization. It not only has a collapsible divider in the middle of the main compartment so you can keep gear organized, but two large pockets on the exterior ends. Both are large enough for an average sized pair of hiking boots and then some. We loved these side pockets when it came time to toss in ultra dusty footwear, which we didn’t want to contaminate our nice, clean sleeping bag. 

One pocket has a set depth and the other has a soft wall between it and the main compartment. That one can either expand into the main compartment if you want more gear in the outer pockets or into the outer pocket if you’d prefer to cram more in the main compartment.

Should You Buy the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler?

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is a great option for those who love macro organization (large pockets) and the ability to separate gear and clothing to keep clean from dirty. It also excels in durability and is comfortable to carry, making it a solid option for those planning to haul plenty of stuff and want to do it comfortably. Think road trips, air travel, even city hopping in Europe. And anyone hauling gear to and from frontcountry campsites on a regular basis.

What Other DuffelS Should You Consider?

If you’re not sure the  Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel is right for you in any of the available sizes, you may want to consider one of the other stand-out duffels we’ve tested.

Cotopaxi Allpa Duo Review: One large main compartment and removable shoulder straps, plus a separate compartment for dirty clothes make this duffel similar, but may appeal more to those not as keen on having large exterior pockets.

The North Face Base Camp Voyager Review: This duffel features a few less oversized pockets, but does have a laptop sleeve in the lid and a repositionable divider in the main compartment to help keep gear organized.

Osprey Transporter Duffel Review:  Similarly burly and durable, this duffel is easy to pack and unpack and more comfortable to carry for long periods thanks to expertly designed shoulder straps.