My old reliable duffel bag finally gave out after 12 years

I was at the Denver airport last month and the zipper on my big duffel just split open mid walk. Clothes and shoes spilled all over the terminal floor near security. I had to shove everything into two flimsy plastic shopping bags from a newsstand and pray they held. That bag had been with me through like 40+ trips across the country and never let me down before. Now I'm stuck deciding between a new duffel or switching to a backpack setup. Anyone else have a favorite travel bag that fell apart after years of faithful service?

3 comments

3 Comments

caleb26227d ago

Man that story about your duffel blowing up at Denver airport hit me right in the feels. I had a similar thing happen with my old North Face bag at LaGuardia a few years back, the strap just snapped clean off while I was running for my gate. I ended up carrying it like a gimp the rest of the trip. Honestly what worked for me was switching to a simple army surplus duffel, the heavy canvas kind with the big zipper. Got it for like forty bucks and it's been through hell and back, still going strong after five years. For travel bags I learned that the heavier fabric and a beefier zipper are worth it even if the bag is a little more bulky to pack.

kelly38526d ago

Aw man that sucks big time! @caleb262 mentioned army surplus bags and honestly thats a solid move but heres something nobody talks about - check out goodwill or thrift stores for old LL Bean duffels. I found a vintage one from the 90s for like 8 bucks and that thing is built like a tank. The zippers are heavy duty and the canvas is way thicker than anything youll find new today. Also you dont cry when it gets dirty.

cooper.phoenix18d ago

Wait, are we all just out here having our bags explode in airports at the worst possible moment? My old duffel busted open at the Seattle airport too, except the seam split right down the bottom. I was carrying it by the straps and suddenly there went all my socks and underwear, just rolling across the floor like they were making a break for it. I shoved everything into a trash bag I found by a vending machine (classy, I know) and duct taped it shut for the connecting flight. Honestly, that LL Bean tip from kelly385 is gold - I found an old canvas duffel at a garage sale for five bucks once and it didn't even have a broken stitch after I beat it up for another few years.