Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel 40L Review

1. Introduction

We digital nomads are not a uniform species. Some of us are city slickers who relish the opportunity to immerse ourselves in another culture while still maintaining a digitally connected modern lifestyle. Others of us prefer a wilder expat experience that involves getting out in nature at every opportunity.

Wheeled duffels are an interesting alternative luggage option for the adventure-oriented digital nomad to consider. Compared to the more traditional hardshell and softshell suitcases, they don’t tend to have as many compartments or as much maneuverability. Instead, they offer a more robust bag that can endure rougher handling and uneven terrain.

There are now several brands that sell wheeled duffels, including outdoor specialists Patagonia. We often return to this 50-year-old brand to check out its new offerings, as the company is constantly tweaking and upgrading the materials it uses to manufacture its bags, making them more durable and more sustainable.

In this post, we’re going to look at the wheeled duffel from the Black Hole series, which is one of Patagonia’s flagship ranges.

2. Size, Capacity & First Impressions

The 40l is the smallest Black Hole wheeled duffel, compared to the checked options that get up to 70l or 100l.

It weighs just 7.7lbs (3.5kg) and has dimensions of around 21.5” H x 14.5” W x 11” L (55cm x 37cm x 28cm). While the depth is a couple of inches over what most airlines will allow, you’ll almost certainly get away with it on every flight. If you are worried about the limits though, you can always pack lighter, so that the bag bulges less – that’s the benefit of a fabric-based duffel as opposed to a hardshell carry-on.

There are a few different color options, including Dulse Mauve, Seabird Grey, and Tidal Green. We went with Pollinator Orange – which is so bright it’s basically the bag equivalent of a lighthouse!

Older versions of the Black Hole duffels had this slightly unpleasant (at least to our eyes) shiny surface, so we were very happy to see that the 40l we got has a matte finish. Most of the materials used to make the bag are 100% recycled, including the TPU-film laminate that makes it weather-resistant.

3. Features & Functionality

The Black Hole 40l doesn’t come with a ton of unique features, but it is the kind of sturdy duffel that we feel would get the Bear Grylls seal of approval.

Storage & Interior Design:

The storage setup is pretty simple, as is the case for most duffels. There’s a small pocket on the top for things that you might need to access quickly, like your passport, wallet, and so on.

Inside is just one big main compartment with a single, large mesh pocket that we used for dirty laundry. Like the larger Black Hole wheeled duffels, the frame is collapsible for easier storage.

There are two compression straps inside to cinch down your clothing and gear.

Wheels & Handling:

The two roller wheels are solid, and we had no qualms dragging the Black Hole over bumpy terrain. These wheels are not as maneuverable as the four spinner wheels you see on fancier luggage, but they do feel a lot more durable.

There’s just one stopping point on the telescopic handle, which wasn’t an issue for us but might be for taller people.

Security:

The Black Hole 40l doesn’t come with any special security features, although the rigid base and rubber rails do protect your items from getting banged up as you roll the duffel along.

Tech & Smart Add-ons:

Nada, zip, zilch. This bag is for outdoor enthusiasts, not smart-tech-loving cosmopolites.

Mobility & Ease of Use:

There are handles on the top, bottom, and side of the Black Hole 40l, which makes it a really easy bag to lift and carry, to the point that the wheels sometimes feel redundant – but that of course depends on how heavy your stuff is!

There are exterior lash points so you can tie on extra gear on two sides of the bag, which is useful for things like a water bottle or a sleeping bag.

4. Durability & Travel Performance

Everything about the Black Hole 40l looks and feels robust. The telescopic handle and the wheels aren’t as smooth as some other carry-ons we’ve tried, but that’s just down to the nature of the bag, rather than a design flaw. The main objective for Patagonia is durability rather than sleekness.

To really maximize the space, we used packing cubes. These are handy in most situations, but with duffels they are really indispensable if you want to pack in as much as possible, since the interior space isn’t really divided up as nicely as with a clamshell suitcase.

There are a couple of handy features that we particularly liked. First, the lid comes down over the zippers, reducing the chance of leakage through the zipper teeth. Second, there’s an axel replacement kit in case you need to perform a little bit of wheel maintenance on the road.

If there are more serious issues with the wheels – or, indeed, any other part of the bag – Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee covers repairs and replacements. This doesn’t extend to normal wear and tear, but the company does offer to provide fixes at a reasonable rate.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Robust exterior
• Lightweight body
• Collapsible frame

Cons:

• No exterior compression straps
• Pricey investment

6. Patagonia Black Hole 40l vs. Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 45l vs. July Carry-On Pro

To give you an idea of how the Patagonia Black Hole 40l stacks up against the competition, we’ve compared it with two other carry-ons we’ve tried recently. One is the Osprey Sojourn Shuttle 45l, which is also a wheeled duffel designed for outdoor adventures. The other is the July Carry-On Pro, which is sold at a similar price point and has a similar capacity but is more of a city-tripper option.

First up, the Black Hole’s 40l has a smaller capacity than the Sojourn Shuttle’s 45l and the Carry-On Pro’s 42l. That might seem like only a minor difference, but we’ve found that every bit of space counts!

It’s also the most expensive of the three at $359. While that’s only slightly more than the Sojourn Shuttle ($350), it’s considerably pricier than most hardshell carry-ons, including trendy options like the July Carry-On Pro ($325).

Of course, wheeled duffels like the Black Hole and the Sojourn Shuttle are less likely to get damaged than the Carry-On Pro. A hardshell may protect delicate items better, but it’s also more prone to cracking and scratching than a robust fabric bag.

Similarly, the wheels on the Patagonia and the Osprey are less likely to break than the ones on the July. The flipside of that is that the July’s four spinner wheels make it a lot more maneuverable than Patagonia or the Osprey, both of which have a pair of rollers.

If you’re going to be wheeling your suitcase over rocks and dirt tracks, the wheeled duffels might be better, but for general travel through airport terminals and along pavements, the July is going to be easier to handle

Zooming in on the wheeled duffels, one thing that the Black Hole lacks compared to the Sojourn Shuttle is an exterior compression system. This basically means that the Sojourn Shuttle can fit more AND be cinched down to take up a smaller space.

7. Who It’s For (And Who It’s Not)

Perfect for: adventurous travelers, nomads who go on camping breaks

Not ideal for: digital nomads with tech setups, people with delicate items

Some people we’ve spoken to have said that they’ve managed a week’s worth of clothing with their Black Hole 40l. While we have no doubt that this is possible, we would go a bit more conservative and say four to five days comfortably, including a change of shirt for each day, a couple of trousers/shorts, and a couple of jumpers.

8. Final Verdict & Rating

For what it does, the Patagonia Black Hole is an excellent carry-on. We particularly like its durability, which is backed up by a solid manufacturer’s guarantee.

The price is quite steep, although it’s no more expensive than similar bags from equivalent brands.

It’s not got the same fashion cachet that a brand like Away has, but it’s not really aimed at the same crowd. Instead, this is one for the digital nomads who often find themselves in places off the beaten track.

Rating: 4.5/5

9. FAQ Section

Does the Black Hole Wheeled Duffel 40l fit under airplane seats?

Yes, it is possible to fit the Black Hole 40l under an airplane seat. Of course, this does depend to a certain extent on how full the bag is, and you may need to collapse the internal frame, but we did manage to fit it under the seat in front. Just.

What’s the warranty policy?

Patagonia sells all its products with its Ironclad Guarantee. This is essentially a limited lifetime warranty that covers faulty or damaged items, replacing or repairing them for free. This doesn’t include normal wear and tear, but the company will still fix up broken luggage – for a fee.

Is the luggage waterproof?

The Black Hole 40l is made of weather-resistant material. This essentially means that Patagonia doesn’t guarantee its waterproof, but it should stand up to the average rain shower.