When you need to get through airport security quickly
Written: Jan 04 '07 (Updated Jan 08 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Used to protect your backpack or baby carriage when being transported through baggage claim
Cons: Only lasted through the one trip
The Bottom Line: Would not recommend since it only lasted one trip and it was very awkward to handle.
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| doglover's Full Review: Rei Pack-It Duffel Bag |
Sometimes I can be very unlucky when I travel. I had been planning for a year to take an aboriginal survival training course (ALSS) in Prescott, Arizona and thought I was all ready to go a week before. To my dismay, two days before my flight to Prescott for my class on August 19th, the airports went into an amazing new level of security where they would not let you carry water or liquids of any kind and restricted carry-ons accordingly. Well, this was just great. I needed to travel with a back pack, a gallon of water for the weekend survival class, a sleeping bag and assorted camping food for the weekend excursion and I could not carry it on.
Well, as usual, the wonderful REI people found an expedient solution for me. They recommended the REI Pack Duffel, which is large enough to fit my Osprey Atmos 50 backpack, my Coleman sleeping bag, and a gallon of water all in the one duffel. I stuffed all the food I needed into the backpack and I was ready to go. It cost $25 and was a cost effective solution to my problem.
Advertised Features
* Protects your backpack (or child carrier) during airline transport, allowing your pack to move smoothly and snag-free along airport conveyor belts
* Folds down small;entire duffel (75L/4,575 cu. in) stuffs into its interior pocket
* designed with a rugged 420-denier nylon plus a burly zipper
* easy to carry;use the top carry handle or the adjustable over-shoulder strap
How it Worked
Generally, I was able to tow everything I needed in this one pack. It is made of very light materials for both the straps and the bag itself. However, I had two problems with it that I feel I should relay.
1. It is not as robust as advertised. It made it through Southwest Air Lines baggage claim OK. But on the way back, I noticed that after I took my bag off the conveyor belt in baggage claim, that there was a small tear in the side of the bag, like something had cut into it. There was nothing sharp in my bag, so the airline baggage claim group must have caused the tear. Since the material of the duffel is very thin, I was not surprised.
2. It is awkward to carry around. It is extremely large when it is fully extended. I am 5'2" and when the bag is fully packed, it stands from end to end up to my chin. So, needless to say, I bumped into alot of people in the crowded airport. Also the handle and the shoulder strap are very thin. Both of these aspects of the bag made it very difficult to carry it around since it is difficult to balance such a large bag efficiently around my shoulder.
Conclusion
It did what it needed to do and lasted through the trip and back. However, it was difficult to handle and did not last through the round-trip without a tear. Therefore next time I will look for something a little smaller, with stronger material and easier to handle, with a thicker handle. I have a smaller duffel that I bought at REI after this trip from Eagle Creek called a cargo duffel with the Cordura tag and it is far more durable. I have recently bought this new bag for carrying smaller objects and I do remember that it does come in larger sizes that I would recommend instead.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
doglover
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Reviews written: 74
Trusted by: 121 members
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