Some designs stand the test of time because they simply don’t need changing, and one such design that I rely on constantly is the humble duffel bag. At its core, it’s just a bag with a single big opening—simple, effective and largely unchanged since the mid-1700s. But Nemo, the Northeast-based outdoor brand, saw room for improvement and created the Double Haul, a two-in-one duffel that transforms into a tote and back again. The concept immediately caught my eye, so I packed it full of clothes and gear to find out if reinventing a duffel, even if only slightly, really makes sense.

My findings? The design is great but not perfect. It was easy to pack the 55-liter version I tested chock full of stuff, and the ability to transition from tote to duffel in seconds is surprisingly useful. That said, a few features miss the mark, and I wonder if picky travelers could look past these shortcomings or instead retreat to their preferred soft-sided luggage. Read on to learn more about my experience with the Double Haul, and to find out if it’s the right option for your storage and travel needs.

Nemo Double Haul

Price: $150 (30L); $170 (55L); $200 (70L); $220 (100L) | Capacity: 4 sizes available (30, 55, 70, 100 liters, all in duffel mode) | Materials: Bluesign-approved 420D recycled nylon | Number of pockets: 4 | Warranty: Lifetime

Pros:

  • Expandable capacity when converted from duffel to tote
  • Durable fabric and construction
  • Designed for easy repairability

Cons:

  • Doesn’t stay open on its own
  • Very few pockets for organization
  • Shoulder and tote straps complicate the design
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Nemo Double Haul Features

Loads Of Expandable Storage

Any duffel worth its salt will hold just about anything you want to pack, and I’m happy to report the Double Haul can truly haul a lot. Though it comes in four sizes, I tested the mid-range 55-liter bag—big enough for most scenarios yet small enough to classify as a carry-on—and didn’t struggle to pack a week’s worth of clothes alongside bulky equipment like a running vest and massage gun.

With that said, you have to pack conservatively if you’re filling the Double Haul as a tote before turning it into a duffel-style backpack. While it can carry 75 liters as a tote, it loses about 20 liters of storage once converted to a duffel. Beyond that, turning it into a duffel collapses the ends of the bag, and I found a few reviews from travelers who have “lost” smaller items in the dead space created by the folds at each end. Fortunately, Nemo ships the duffel in a small carrying case that doubles as a packing cube, so I suggest using that to organize socks, underwear and other smaller items.

Speaking of organization, there isn’t a whole lot of it. I really like small, zippered pockets in my duffels to store essentials like a wallet, keys and toiletries, but it takes a little work to dig down and find the single zippered internal pocket; while there are also two external pockets on the bag, keeping valuables in there is a slightly tougher sell, and they’re not quite big enough to house dirty clothes or shoes. While most every duffel is basically a black hole when it comes to organization, this one is especially pocket light, so just onsider that if you’re thinking about buying this one.

A Convertible And Comfortable Design

The Double Haul’s big selling point is how easily it transforms from tote to duffel and back again in seconds. I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years and so had no trouble figuring out the conversion process on my own, but Nemo doesn’t include any instructions or diagrams on the packaging, which could prove tough for newer users. This means you may need to spend some time problem solving on your own to get the process down.

Essentially, a buckle on each side lets you connect the top end of the tote to the bottom, folding the sides in like an origami bag. This rounds out both ends, transforming the tote into a pill-shaped bag, and just like that, you’ve got a duffel. To convert back into a tote, you’ll just need to unclip the buckles and unfold the flaps back up.

The design also includes a couple of small pockets along the top to stash the tote straps when you’re not using them. It’s a nice touch to clean up the profile, but the tote straps aren’t padded, and they dig into your shoulder when the bag is fully loaded. Honestly, I wish the backpack straps doubled as tote straps, because it would cut down on the sheer number of straps to manage and make the whole system feel more seamless.

Speaking of straps, the backpack straps are well padded and surprisingly comfortable. I took a fully loaded duffel on a few walks around the neighborhood to see how it carried, and it was noticeably more cushioned than the duffel I usually use in backpack mode. I wouldn’t think twice about throwing this on my back for a trek through the airport or a long walk to my hotel. While it’s not built for hiking and doesn’t offer the same level of comfort as a true backpack, the straps work in a pinch—and, incidentally, don’t pinch in the slightest.

Rugged Reliability

Duffels and totes take a beating, be it from careless baggage handlers, rough travel or the occasional run-in with kids and pets. To handle it all, the Double Haul is made from recycled 420D nylon that looks good, feels durable and has held up well so far; it’s also treated with urethane to make it water resistant. Beyond this, the bag is designed with repairability in mind, so if something breaks, you can swap out parts yourself if you’re handy, or send it in for professional repairs. Nemo offers a lifetime warranty on all of its gear, and the brand’s products are truly built to last.

Some Limitations To Consider

There are a few drawbacks worth mentioning, the biggest being the way the tote’s opening is constructed. Nemo added stiffened supports to help the bag stay open in tote mode for easier loading, but they don’t quite do the job. While it holds its shape once it’s packed, the sides tend to collapse inward when it’s empty, and constantly fussing with the supports to prop it open gets old fast.

Another quirk is the zipper placement. Most duffels I’ve tested have a lid that unzips and folds over, almost like you’re opening the lid to a box, but the Double Haul has a single zipper running the length of the top. Once it’s in duffel mode, the top is pulled tight and accessing your gear can be a hassle—it’s just one long, narrow opening. I found it easier to convert it back into a tote to grab what I needed before switching it back to a duffel for carrying.

I’ve also come to appreciate how most traditional duffels have grab handles on each side, making them easy to pick up no matter the angle. With the Double Haul, you can technically do the same by grabbing the buckles on either side, but they’re not as comfortable or convenient.

And then there’s the redundant tote straps I mentioned, which tuck into pockets along the top of the bag. Instead, I think Nemo would be better off designing the backpack straps to double as tote straps and swapping those stash pockets on top for zippered compartments to add some organized storage.

Final Verdict

These days, it’s not unusual to have a few duffels for different tasks, not to mention an ever-growing collection of tote bags you don’t remember acquiring (I’m currently staring at a pile of six random totes stashed in a corner). The Double Haul might not convince you to ditch all those extra totes, but it’ll probably replace them. And the fact that you can clip a few buckles and transform it into a duffel is as unique as it gets.

I talk a lot about multi-purpose products and how they rarely compare to the performance of a dedicated tool. The knife in your multi-tool, for example, will never be as good as a proper pocket knife, and the same logic applies to the Double Haul. As a duffel, the bag is not quite as functional as a traditional duffel, but it comes close. So close, in fact, that the few drawbacks I’ve mentioned aren’t really dealbreakers. On the contrary, this is a rugged, reliable and genuinely innovative design that I can see myself using for all kinds of trips. It’s not perfect, but Nemo is definitely onto something.