The humble duffel bag is the tireless hero of travel. These basic pieces of luggage are indispensable, versatile, and if made well can prove to be life-long travel companions. The Hatch Duffel from Back Trail Outfitters is such a bag, made to endure the hard knocks of travel with premium materials in an elegantly simple and attractive design.
The 18-ounce heavy duty water-resistant canvas is paired to high quality leather panels and reinforcements creating a bag with a clean and refined appearance but with all the brawn required for hard use. The reinforced dual handles are clad in the same rich black leather as the side panels for a comfortable carry, and brass fittings at either end retain the adjustable nylon shoulder strap. The large gauge all-metal zipper promises years of smooth service as does the double-layered bottom panel.
Having had the chance to test and use a number of duffel bags over the years, my first step is always to turn any bag inside out to inspect its construction. The Hatch Duffel is just as refined on the inside as it is on the outside. There are no unfinished edges, ugly seams or signs of sloppy construction. It has heirloom quality materials assembled with painstaking attention to detail.
Over the last several weeks, the Hatch Duffel has ferried my personal items on a number of quick trips, the volume sufficiently large enough to accommodate a long weekend’s worth of clothing. The semi-trapezoidal shape gives the bag a defined bottom with a wide stance so it stands upright, never rolling or flopping on its side in transit. The large aperture at the top of the bag permits effortless loading and unloading and the outside dimensions of the bag allow it to slide neatly underneath most airline seats. I found it also fits perfectly in the footwell behind the front seats of most vehicles. It’s just a perfect size for most travelers and their needs.
At $145, the Hatch Duffel is priced competitively with most bags of its size, but few others are made as well, and certainly not of such high quality materials. As an added bonus, it comes with a lifetime guarantee and is made right here in the U.S..
