The North Face Rolling Thunder Duffel Review

Bottom Line

For some trips, a duffel that can haul more gear than you want to carry on your shoulders is called for. Like when you have a long airport walk ahead of you or more than a compact carry-on’s worth of gear. That’s when you reach for The North Face Rolling Thunder Wheeled Duffel 28”. 

More of a soft-sided suitcase than a duffel, it still has pliable but durable duffel-like material on the front and top, but it’s paired with a more rigid back and sides for easier packing. That feature, together with exterior compression straps, makes it easy to pack more than you might in a traditional duffel. For example, when testing the bag on a recent trip to Argentina and Antarctica, we could cram multiple parkas, camera gear, clothing, and plenty more in the spacious main compartment.

Add a slew of interior and exterior pockets, compartments, and dividers, and you’ve got a winning luggage combination. It’s one of our favorites among the many duffels we tested.

Carry Comfort

There is only one way to carry this rolling duffel-style luggage: roll it. It doesn’t have backpack straps or over-the-shoulder straps, but that’s OK because at this capacity, when we packed it full, it was too heavy to do so, anyway. But the rolling action was smooth. Our only nitpick: the handle requires pushing a button on the side of the handle to extend it instead of the top. A button on top is more common and feels more natural, so this took some getting used to.

It couldn’t be called a rolling duffel without a few grab handles on the sides, and it has several. They are nice and squishy and comfortable, so even when we had the bag fully loaded during a trip to Antarctica, loading it and unloading it from luggage carousels didn’t hurt our hands. As an added bonus, a sherpa strap tucks into the top pocket so you can strap another bag or pack onto the top or front of the bag for easier carry.

Compressibility + Packability

When packing this duffel, there’s very little not to like. After all, it’s a behemoth of a bag. It’s super easy to pack, thanks to several pockets and compartments (but more on that in a minute). As for packing, we filled it to the brim, and it held plenty, including two parkas on top of clothing for a nearly two-week trip. And it was all held in place in the main compartment thanks to an internal compression panel that you can secure over (or under) your clothing.

When not in use, the bag can’t be folded up and packed away like a traditional duffel, though. Alas, the hard back and partial side prevent that. But because the front is made of more typical duffel material, it does collapse a bit, meaning it takes up less space in a closet than a comparable hard-side piece of luggage. The webbing compression straps on the outside of the bag need to be uncliped to access the main compartment. We didn’t mind since it’s not the sort of bag you tend to require regular access to (like a carry-on duffel).

Durability

The recycled fabric the Rolling Thunder is made of is highly durable. During testing, we tossed it onto luggage carousels, loaded it onto planes, rolled it down stairs, and through the dirt. Through it all, it suffered a few minor scuffs and picked up some dirt, but was easy to clean.

Naturally, a rolling duffel means there are more parts to break, but the hardware seemed solid and like it was all repairable in case something did go wrong (which it shouldn’t for a good long while). 

Most of the zippers seem durable, especially the large and smooth main compartment zips.

Weather Resistance

Unfortunately, the duffel’s weather resistance performance was a bit below average. When we exposed it to steady rain for an hour, the paper placed inside was quite damp, and most of the zippers let in enough water to dampen the interior. The main zipper doesn’t have any storm flaps. But when the bag was just splashed with water or got caught in a quick shower, it fared fine.

If you want to make sure contents are protected, your best bet will be to pack any clothing or sensitive gear in their own protective weather resistant cubes or bags.

Organization

This duffel keeps things organized very well. One way is via several pockets. There are five in total: one fleece-lined pocket in the top, perfect for travel documents or sunglasses, one large front pocket with a side-access zipper, one large mesh pocket on the underside of the lid that’s more of a compartment than a pocket, and two mesh zippered pockets on the divider panel.

The ones in the divider panel are best for small items like gloves, hats, etc., since they’re flat and don’t expand much. The front pocket is convenient for items you need quick access to like snacks or travel documents. The compartment on the inside of the lid is plenty spacious for an insulated jacket or two and a couple of pairs of shoes. All in all, it was easy to find places to stash and secure items, though since the bag is so big, it still took time to open it up and locate everything. More so than in a traditional duffel.

Should You Buy The North Face Rolling Thunder Duffel?

If you’re in the market for a sturdy, reliable duffel with plenty of organizational opportunities and tons of space for all your clothing or gear, this bag is a solid choice. We weren’t worried about it getting damaged when it got knocked around and there was a place for everything, even small items. It’s an excellent choice for the sort of big trips and adventures that require more than a simple change of clothes.

It’s not a budget bag, and certainly not the least expensive we tested, but those open to making the investment will likely find a reliable companion for all their adventures for years to come. If you prefer to travel light, want a duffel you can more easily transport via various carry options, or prefer something with easier access to contents, you may want to look elsewhere.

What Other [Category] Should You Consider?

If you’re not sure The North Face Rolling Thunder 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.

Osprey Transporter Duffel Review: While it may not have wheels, this duffel is still easy to pack and unpack and can be carried as a backpack on excursions where rolling luggage is less suitable.

The North Face Base Camp Gear Box Review: Looking for more of a gear hauler than a traditional duffel? Check out The North Face Base Camp Gear Box. It comes in multiple sizes and offers an excellent way to store gear at busy base camps or in the back of a vehicle. It folds flat when empty and stacks easily when full.

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Review: Made of highly durable materials with nice large pockets for bulky gear like boots or helmets, this bag is easy to pack, plenty spacious, and comfortable to carry.