The 15 Best Tactical Duffle Bags

Sometimes you need a bag just strong enough to carry your groceries, in which case a canvas tote will do the trick.  Maybe you need a lightweight kit to haul enough clothing and toiletries for a couple of days away with your honey, and your standard weekender will serve nicely.  Then there are outings that require a duffle with a little more strength, resilience, and durability.

Whether you’re skydiving into wild terrain, you’re hiking and camping off the grid, or you simply need something rugged enough to hold up to the daily urban slog, a tactical duffle bag should do the trick.  With tough materials, tons of pockets and pouches, and extras like external webbing for added storage, multiple carry options, and padded straps for comfort, among other things, these are the best tactical duffle bags to get you from here to there with nary a shredded strap, frayed seam, or sore shoulder.

GoRuck Kit Bag

Just because you’re not in Special Forces doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits associated with the aviator kit bags these talented professionals utilize.  At least, that’s what GoRuck is offering with their classic kit bag based on the sturdy duffles used for airborne operations.  The features start with an extra wide top opening large enough to fit body armor, or whatever gear you choose to pack inside.  Two external pockets and three interior zip pockets help to keep you organized during travel, and this bag is TSA compliant to accompany you on every adventure.

Filson Ballistic Nylon Hybrid Duffel Bag

While ballistic nylon won’t stop a bullet, it definitely resists tears and abrasions common to travel, which makes it a wise addition to any tactical duffle.  Even better are the many dedicated compartments in this bag, such as a 15” padded laptop pocket, as well as a lined mud pocket to keep your hiking boots from soiling your electronics.  Shoulder, hand, and backpack straps allow for versatile carry options, and straps are made from nylon webbing for superior resilience.  Bridle leather trim adds a touch of class to this totally manly duffle bag.

Maxpedition Operator Tactical Attache Duffle

Let’s be honest: this roomy messenger bag isn’t what you’d call slick.  It’s not pretty.  So, what is it?  Alarmingly functional, thanks to a large, fully padded main compartment, complete with removable hook-and-loop divider (for your laptop), along with tons of smaller pockets to compartmentalize every piece of gear.  Four smaller pockets adorn the front, plus an ID window flap, and there’s a larger pocket on the back that serves as an organizer, complete with dividers for docs.  Side pockets fit two bottles up to 32 oz. or a sat phone or radio, for example.

5.11 Rush LBD Lima Duffle Bag

This boxy duffle may not have dozens of pockets, but it’s built tough, as you can tell with little more than a glance.  1050 nylon, bartacking at critical seams and stress points, internal compression straps, and reinforced grab handles all make for one touch bag that’s built to haul heavy loads without splitting a seam and dumping the whole kit and caboodle on the tarmac.  Duraflex hardware, self-healing YKK zippers, and water-resistant finish add to durability and utility, and shoulder and backpack straps increase versatility.  Customizable storage options make this one heavy-duty duffle.

Condor Colossus Duffle Bag

If military duffle bags were designed to be debonair, they’d probably look a lot like this sleek, chic, rugged, rectangular tote from Condor, which marries utility and elegance.  Designed for SWAT to carry a full set of gear, this large duffle has two main compartments that can hold a lot of stuff, with wet/dry gear separation, as well as side pockets for organization.  There are drag handles on either side and hideaway padded backpack straps.  1000D nylon is paired with a reinforced, textured PVC bottom to keep your gear safe and dry.

Voodoo Tactical Mojo Load-Out Bag

Compartments galore outfit this busy bag, so if you like to have a place for everything so everything is in its place when you need it, this is definitely the duffle for you.  There are 11, yes 11, pockets and pouches of varying sizes on the exterior of this bag, along with a giant main compartment and plenty of PALS webbing to attach more pouches, if 12 pockets just ain’t enough for you.  39x18x15” holds a lotta gear, and you can haul it via secure, wraparound carry handles or an adjustable, removable shoulder strap.

Amabilis Dave Jr Tactical Duffel Bag

Is it a backpack, a tote, or a duffle?  It’s hard to tell at first glance, but it’s really all three, in a junior-sized package.  Dimensions of 18×10 inches are diminutive, to be sure, and offer just 25L storage capacity, but for those who like to travel light, there’s a lot to love in this little bag.  For starters, the 18-ounce waterproof tarpaulin body and armor-plated SuperFabric bottom are heavy-duty as hell, and sure to keep your crucial gear well-protected.  Ditto on the YKK Aqua Guard zipper and military grade metal hardware.  Haul by hand, or use the adjustable, padded shoulder strap for over-the-shoulder or cross-body carry.

Tactical Tailor Enhanced Duffle Bag

When you want something simple and streamlined, you can’t go wrong with this bag designed as an update to the G.I. duffles popularized during WWII.  At 32x12x12 inches, it’s the same size as a classic military duffle, but this one features strong and durable 1000D Cordura nylon with a zipper that runs the full length of the bag so you can butterfly it open to reveal all your gear, even the stuff at the bottom.  Padded shoulder straps can be stowed out of the way when not in use and carry handles are situated at the top and both ends.

Rothco Mossad Tactical Duffle Bag

Versatile carry comes by way of reinforced top-carry handles or dual adjustable shoulder straps that double as a backpack.  Heavyweight canvas is not ballistic nylon, but it’s rugged enough, especially with waterproofing on the bottom, in case you set it down in rain or snow.  Three zippered outside pockets, one deep side zippered pocket, and an inside security pouch offer organizational opportunities, and lashing gear rings and vinyl d-rings add to storage capability.  Plus, with a price tag just over 60 bucks, this bag is one of the most affordable duffle bags on the list.

5.11 Tactical CAMS 3.0 186L

5.11 Tactical took what users loved about the CAMS 2.0 model, and upgraded it to make the CAMS 3.0, a bigger, better, tougher tactical duffle bag. You get 186L of storage space in this eighteen-pound bag, with a PE support board to withstand impacts and even the most extreme of environments. The secure pockets and compartments give you plenty of space for all your ammo, documents, valuables, and tactical gear, with fiberglass rods to shore up the side panels and protect your essential EDC items. Made from a blend of water-resistant and ballistic nylon, it’s a bag as hardcore as you are.

Mystery Ranch Mission Duffel

The Mystery Ranch Mission Duffel is just what you’ll want when the time comes to head out on your next trek. Its interior is cleverly designed to separate all your items strategically, and the horseshoe-shaped zip makes it easy to instantly access everything you’re carrying. With multiple pockets, including side pockets and exterior-access boot compartment, it makes packing a breeze, and you’ll love the multi-configuration options.

L.L. Bean Mountain Classic Cordura Duffle

L.L. Bean somehow found a way to make rugged and tactical look classy. The Mountain Classic Cordura Duffle is stylish and sleek, but built with next-level-tough denier Cordura nylon fabric that will both resist abrasion and shrug off water to keep your gear nice and dry. You get as many pockets as you need—side pockets, internal mesh pockets, and a front zippered pocket—to make organization as easy as pie. Thanks to the padding built into both the handle wrap and shoulder strap, this bag will be comfortable any way you carry it.

The North Face Base Camp Duffel  

Mountaineers and military personnel, take note: this is the duffle bag you want to bring with you to base camp. The North Face Base Camp Duffel is built for cold-weather and harsh-environment extremes, with a super-tough exterior and padded interiors that will protect your gear from impact and drastic weather. Sized for 95 liters of storage space, the bag makes it easy to carry all your most valuable equipment, and the four compression straps will help you pack everything down as tight as possible to maximize space.

Eberlestock Hercules Duffel

You’ll never need another bag if you’ve got the Eberlestock Hercules Duffel at hand. This rolling duffle bag is extra-large to accommodate everything you’ll ever need to pack—from ammunition and weapons to mountaineering equipment to clothing and EDC items. Thanks to the modular hook-and-loop panels, you can easily partition the bag’s interior to organize everything at a glance, and you get a ton of additional storage space thanks to the six external pockets. When the weather turns nasty, take out the provided rain cover and use it to keep your gear dry in even the heaviest rain or snow.

RTIC Duffle Bag

You’ll never have to worry about the RTIC Duffle Bag breaking on you, that’s a guarantee. It’s made from a hyper-rugged fabric that has been welded together to prevent ripping or fraying at the seams, and the fabric itself is resistant to water, impact, and punctures. The 70 liter bag gives you enough storage space for a long weekend vacation or a trek out into the wilds, with detachable, adjustable alpine-cut shoulder straps that allow you to settle the bag into the most comfortable position possible. Though it’s slightly larger than carry-on size, it’s the perfect bag to pack with everything you need for any adventure trip.

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