WaterField Designs X-Air Duffel Review

The WaterField Designs X-Air Duffel is the first release in the brand’s X-Air Collection, a series of bags designed to be lightweight but packed with features to help make traveling with tech as smooth as possible. Is this duffel a smart choice for your next trip with tech in tow? Let’s find out…

Design

Looks

There’s no denying looks are subjective but in my opinion, this bag looks fantastic. It does a great job of blending a sporty, tech feel with sleek lines, so you get a bag that looks professional in formal settings but still brings plenty of personality to the table. The combination of X-Pac and full-grain leather feels just right, offering a nice visual and textural contrast with high-end performance. Take it on a work trip, a last-minute weekend getaway, or even as your everyday bag and this duffel will slot effortlessly into a wide range of environments.

Construction, Materials & Hardware

Simply put, this duffel exudes quality. It’s made in San Francisco in WaterField’s own workshop and features X-Pac VX21 as the main fabric, with full-grain leather detailing on the pockets and carry handles. Note, there’s also a Waxed Canvas option if you prefer a more heritage aesthetic.

The X-Pac is available in a variety of colorways but I opted for the Deep Blue, which is exquisite. Something a little different in the sea of black travel bags, but still understated enough to suit a variety of environments. To be honest, I think all the colors are stylish and versatile, so you should be well catered for whatever your preferences might be.

The X-Pac delivers an excellent balance of durability, light weight, and protection from the elements, boosted by weatherproof YKK zippers. On the hardware front you’ve got metal swivel clips for the shoulder strap and Fidlock magnetic buckles on the front pockets (and yep, they do indeed deliver that sweet magnetic snap). 

Features

The duffel features two compartments, one designed to house tech while the second stores clothing and other personal items. My 15” laptop fitted in the tech compartment without any issues, though WaterField states it will accommodate up to a 16” MacBook Pro. 

The tech compartment has a padded, soft-lined laptop sleeve on one side, with a full-length drop pocket and two smaller drop pockets on the opposite side. These are well suited to smaller accessories or flatter items like documents, books, or magazines.

The main compartment is quite deep, with two drop pockets and a key clip for organization.

The organization continues externally with two front pockets secured by Fidlock magnetic buckles. These pockets have some independent volume, so you could store slightly bulkier items here along with quick-access EDC.

The rear of the bag offers additional quick-access storage in the form of a full-length drop pocket, as well as a luggage handle pass-through. On either side of the pass-through is a piece of fabric with an open top and bottom. Though these aren’t pockets, you could use them to quickly hook on items such as a pen or a pair of glasses.

Finally, you get dual side pockets each with some elastic webbing that helps secure the contents in place. These are handy options for items such as water bottles or small umbrellas.

Both compartments feature a light-colored lining (I’d describe it as mustardy-gold), which helps boost the visibility of the contents and contrasts nicely in texture and color with the X-Pac exterior.

Performance

Space & Access

In terms of the general design, the access is great. Both compartments feature clamshell openings, so you can easily pack and retrieve gear. The rectangular shape also plays well with items such as tech devices and packing cubes, so you can maximize use of the space.

I think it’s important to note however that this 27L duffel is designed to fit under most airline seats, so a certain degree of curated packing is required. WaterField states the main compartment fits up to two days’ worth of clothing and I’d say that’s pretty accurate. I’ve traveled on three-night (four-day) trips with this bag and felt that was pushing the limits. Of course, context is important. These trips were in winter with bulkier winter gear, so I think you could get away with longer trips in warmer conditions depending on how savvy your packing skills are. If you’re not a packing ninja, consider this bag as a two-night carry option, pack accordingly, and you’ll get on swimmingly.

It’s important to bear in mind that how you pack one compartment will affect the other, as well as the external pockets. With a very full main compartment, I wasn’t able to store my bulky laptop charging cable in the tech compartment, so I had to stash it elsewhere. Despite the elastic webbing, there’s not a lot of give in the side external pockets, so a full main compartment will make them harder to access depending on what’s in the main compartment. If you have squishy packing cubes full of clothing, you’ll probably still be able to squeeze bulkier bottles in the pockets. But any rigid items in the main compartment will restrict the side pockets.

As mentioned previously, the front pockets have their own volume so these accommodate changing loads in the main compartment quite well.

Comfort

The X-Air Duffel includes two built-in grab handles that can be carried by hand but are also long enough to slip over a shoulder. The full-grain leather handles nest comfortably in your hand and are more than adequate for carrying the bag over short distances.

Additionally, the bag also comes with a removable shoulder strap, which is great for covering longer distances. This strap is really well made, with a cushy textured neoprene pad on one side and a rubber grip on the other. The strap lets you alternate between shoulder (rubber side) and crossbody (neoprene side) carry, while optimizing grip and comfort. The Supreme Suspension Strap can also be purchased individually if you want to swap out the strap on an existing bag you currently own. 

Weatherability

As mentioned above, the duffel is made with X-Pac VX21, so you know you’re getting trusty protection from the elements. Add in the weatherproof YKK 8RC zippers and water-resistant lining and your gear will be safe and sound if you’re caught in unexpected showers.  

Verdict

If you’re seeking a long-lasting, practical, and elegantly sleek travel bag that can also work for larger daily loads too, the WaterField Designs X-Air Duffel should definitely be on your short list. The bag looks classy and professional while still exuding a touch of pizzazz, and the clamshell access makes packing and accessing gear very convenient. At $459, there’s no denying this bag is expensive and certainly in the “investment piece” category. But that premium price tag comes with premium construction in a San Francisco-based workshop, using premium materials that will stand the test of time and demanding travel use.