Duffel Bags vs Backpacks: Which Is Best for Your Camping Trip?

Getting away from the city, escaping work pressures, ignoring emails, all of that goes hand in hand with enjoying the great outdoors. Some adventures last a week or more and take us deep into the backcountry. On others, we can still see the city lights while we get warm by a fire in an iron pit. In the end, though, that feeling of getting out and getting away cannot be matched or reproduced. The act of getting there, however, is constantly under scrutiny and refinement. Some people learned the “right” way to do things from their parents or grandparents, and that’s the only way to do it. Others are constantly innovating, trying out new fads and practices, exploring new gear. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter how you do it, as long as you’re getting out.

For expeditions that are deep into the wild and those close to home, there are different types of gear that are suited to help promote the best experience. Today we’re going to go over the differences of using a duffel bag vs a backpack. We’ll talk about the best fit for different experiences in different weather and ecosystems, and, most importantly, help others decide what the most comfortable and practical fit is for them.

Good for School, Good for the Trail 

For those who are unsure about the differences or benefits of a duffel bag versus a backpack, it might be because they haven’t used one or the other. Since most of us went to grade school, it stands to reason we’ve mostly all used backpacks. But a camping backpack is going to be much different than your average elementary school pack. But just for the fun of it, let’s look at some of the varying features. 

School Backpack: 

• One large compartment
• One computer compartment (these days) 
• Smaller front-access pocket 
• Even smaller interior pockets

The design here is to store many items of various sizes, ranging from a book and a laptop to pens, pencils, and other smaller items. So the range here is not very broad. It really is a large compartment with tiny pockets attached to the outside.

Consider other camping backpacks. There are numerous types with many functions. Single-compartment bags are good for carrying durable gear for long periods of time, like climbing gear. There’s no need to get in and out until you’ve reached your destination, so not a lot of pockets are needed. But a backpacking backpack for long hauls, those are their own design. Consider them: 

• Large compartment
• Sleeping bag pocket
• Multiple tie-down straps and bungee
• Side pockets for water bottles
• A top pocket for maps, headlamps, easy-to-grab stuff
• Outside pockets for snacks, etc. 

These are really designed for the single user trying to go far and/or go light. There may not be enough room for a tent, and much of the gear that is intended to be loaded in here is lightweight and of techno-driven design. 

Both of these bags are similar; one design begets the other, and the principle is simple enough. Now, let’s take a look at some different duffel bag designs, because they are not all created equally.

The Duffel Bag Dilemma

There are a few things to consider when selecting one or multiple duffel bags. The first thing is the material or fabric it’s made from. Gym bags usually come in polyester because they are resistant to smells and can be easily washed. But if the intent is to head out into the wild, canvas is the way to go. Canvas duffel bags are durable and built with reinforced seams. One feature you never want to skip on is the zipper. White Duck Outdoors makes an incredible canvas duffel bag in numerous sizes, and a key factor is their seemingly indestructible zippers. Keeping whoever or whatever out, and all your stuff in, is the central design of a duffel bag. So, make sure you go for quality.

I mentioned size above, and that is the next aspect to consider. White Duck Outdoors canvas duffel bags come in six different sizes, and this matters. Consider what needs to be hauled. Bedding and pillows, sleeping pads and clothes, other items that need to stay clean and dry but are relatively lightweight, then opt for a larger size like 42” x 20”. Considering the gear that needs to be packed, it’s also wise to keep different aspects of camp in different duffels. A kitchen duffel bag, a bedding duffel bag, a game duffel, a toiletries and supplies duffel, the list can go on. The real dilemma when considering a duffel is, “Which size do I need?” 

The Final Match-up

So, now it’s time we get down to the nitty-gritty: Which is best for your camping trip? The duffel bag or the backpack. As we’ve seen, it’s not that simple. They each are great for different purposes. If you are considering a backpacking trip where long miles are going to be spent on the trail, humping all the gear over difficult terrain, eating dehydrated meals, then clearly the backpack is the way to go. But here is the thing: backpacks also work well for simple overnighters. If a few friends are heading up to the local spot, it’s easy to just throw a few things in a backpack and go. This seems reasonable enough. But this is precisely where I think the backpack begins to falter. Here me out.

I am a huge advocate of safety, preparedness, and planning ahead. When it comes time to bury the fire, I’m the one who brought the entrenching tool (a small shovel). Didn’t someone know the temperatures drop so drastically in the desert? I’ve got an extra bag. I usually pack for myself, my family, and about three or four other imaginary people. This simply isn’t something that can happen when I pack one backpack. A series of specifically-assigned duffel bags works perfectly for my overnighters or my week-long adventures. The best part is that everything is stored on a shelf in my garage, all inside the duffel bag. 

It’s true, duffel bags are usually a single-compartment item. Sometimes there’s a small tool pocket on the outside, but for the most part, it’s just a big interior. I consider this ideal because, as camping gear goes, everything is usually wrapped in its own specific bag already. Sleeping bags, inflatable pads, Jet Boils, or stoves all come in their own specific bag. At that point, I just store everything in its own duffel bag assigned by use.

Lastly, the one key factor I consider to push duffel bags over the top is the price. Oftentimes, backpacking backpacks can be hundreds of dollars and, for the most part, have a very specific design. Duffel bags (especially White Duck Outdoors canvas duffel bags) are affordable enough to grab a few for less than the price of a backpack. So, gearing up your equipment with its own specific storage container is simple. Throw it all in a duffel. 

The Side-by-Side Pros/Cons

Here are just a few things to consider when deciding on a duffel bag or a backpack. I will say again, there is no right answer, there is only the right fit. 

Canvas Duffel Bag

Pros: 

• Lightweight and durable 
• Simple design  
• Multiple use cases 
• Great material and high quality
• Low pricetag 
• Numerous sizes 

Cons:

• Single shoulder strap (can be uncomfortable for long distances)
• Difficult entry points on hikes
• No smaller compartments 

Backpack

Pros:

• Good for long distances 
• Many compartments 
• Comfortable transport 
• Built for one
• Easy up and down 

Cons:

• Built for one 
• Single-use case
• Small compartments 
• Expensive 

You Do You

I have been on a few excursions where I underestimated how far we would be hiking, and I didn’t have the right bag to haul all my gear. I was uncomfortable, and the whole weekend, I dreaded the hike out. I needed a backpack. In other circumstances, I’ve frozen because I didn’t have a backup blanket and wish I had a duffel bag full of spare bedding and everything else I keep in there. As just a last thought, and any avid camper will recommend, just do what feels comfortable. With that in mind, I would also consider frequency. Before heading out to buy your next trekking backpack or series of duffel bags, ask yourself: What do I do most?