EVERGOODS Transit Duffel 35 Review

If you’ve been around Carryology, then you’re familiar with Jack and Kevin and their brand EVERGOODS – a small Bozeman design-led outfit always bringing new innovation and equipment built to last.

EVERGOODS are one of our favourite brands at Carry HQ. We’ve collaborated with them twice, and after a successful yet humble start with just two bags (the famous CPL24 and MPL30) their product catalogue is now home to 11 pieces (more if you include variations). Each product a reflection of their desire to create goods for a crossover lifestyle – gear that excels for both city and outdoors.

And now another new addition to their stable yet again adds to their reputation. And we’re honored to share our thoughts on their two newest products from the transit collection, the Transit Duffel 35 and the Transit Packing Cube 8.

Back in March, Taylor, Dave and I were visiting Montana and we swung by the EVERGOODS workshop, we met with Jack, Kevin and crew. We got the tour, saw the new machines they were working with, and got hands on some new products. My eyes widened when Kevin pulled out the Transit Duffel – it is a product I was immediately excited about.

I should caveat this by saying that duffels are one of my most used methods of carry. As a photographer, rugby coach, dad, and wannabe athlete I’m always using them. I estimate I probably have had my hands on 20 or 30 different duffels over the past few years, and I’m always hunting for the next innovation in this form factor. Why are duffels so useful? Simply, they put function first, and for how I use them, that’s the dream. Very rarely is a duffel pretentious or complicated, it’s a workhorse.

However, that’s not to say duffels are without fault, they can lack structure and be too floppy or saggy. The straps can be uncomfortable. They sometimes don’t have the organisation that you need. As with all carry, there are flaws and the duffel for me is the one area of carry where I’m still hunting for innovation regularly.

So when we were in Montana, and the prototype was sitting in front of me at EVERGOODS HQ, I was immediately hands on, prying and poking, looking at the details that Kevin and Jack had painstakingly revised over the past six months. I was excited for the possibilities, as you may know, EVERGOODS are famed for their R&D and they are not making products for the sake of it. Their take on the duffel was unique in an oversaturated market, and with just a few minutes of it in my hands, I couldn’t wait to test it out. I left Montana excited about the day when I’d get to put it through its paces and hope that it could be the duffel I’ve been hunting for.

Fast forward three months and I’ve been using the Transit Duffel for six weeks. It’s been on planes, trains, and automobiles with me around the country. So let’s dig in…

Materials and Construction

One area where EVERGOODS really excels is their textiles. From inception they’ve used quality high tenacity nylon 6,6 textiles. More recently, they’ve developed their own custom solution dyed 840D textile. Not only does this material have an incredible hand feel, it is environmentally conscious by removing the traditional dyeing process (you can hear Kevin talk about this in far more accurate detail here.)

In reality, what this 840D textile translates to is a supple yet robust material that is a blend of aesthetics and function. Aesthetically, it is smoother and more understated than traditional heavy duty nylon, and functionally it is a comparatively lightweight fabric that still can handle a lot of abuse. During my six weeks of use, this bag has been tossed around airplane overhead lockers, terminal floors, sat atop brick walls, rested on gravel trails, and with a quick wipe down you’d be none the wiser. I’ve also found that Evergoods 840D doesn’t have the aggressive rub that many heavier fabrics do. There isn’t much abrasion against your clothing (or even your arms/hands) when carrying, and that makes for an enjoyable experience when carrying. As someone who wears a lot of merino wool, I appreciate not having to de-pill as much.

The lining is a lighter weight 420D high tenacity nylon that you’ll likely recognise from other bags in their line up, this too is tough enough to take some abuse. For a duffel, that’s invaluable as it really adds to the versatility that you’d hope for. You can, and I have, use this duffel for a variety of situations without any concern about its durability.

Elsewhere on the duffel, it is the same thoughtful design and construction that we’ve come to expect from the Bozeman company. 3mm foam surrounds the sides and base of the bag and provides a wonderfully firm (but not rigid) structure to the duffel. This not only helps with packing, but also accessibility and comfortable carry. The Transit Duffel carries excellently whether empty or full, and maintains a handsome silhouette either way. 

Now to the real gem: the Doctor’s Bag opening. The top of the bag features two aluminium stays that are lightweight but provide ample support for your loadout. These stays provide enough structure along the zipperline (YKK® #10 and #8 RC zippers are finished in DWR to add some extra weather protection and glide smoothly around) so that the bag can stay open on its own, which makes packing/unpacking much easier.

For example when I’ve used this for camera carry with a camera cube in the duffel, the stay open nature of the doctor’s opening gives me full access to lenses and accessories, while maintaining a protective shield around the contents, no floppy sides falling down here!

This doctor’s style opening isn’t just useful for camera carry either, it allows quick access to your contents on the move. Thanks to the aforementioned structure, you can hold this duffel open from one handle and dig in to grab what you need. I found this to be particularly helpful when using it as a gym bag. With a Heroclip I could “hang” the bag from a locker and access my towel, change of clothes etc. This feature can’t be underestimated in my opinion, particularly as duffels are intended to be work horses and shape shifting ones at that. This ability to access the contents quickly in a multitude of fashions while maintaining structure is an enhancement I’ve not encountered on many duffels before.

The handles are also an intriguing and effective design, these two handles are precurved so that they meet towards the center of the duffel, without the need for a handle wrap or any other convoluted system. I’m happy to see this, as it’s one of my pet peeves with other duffels that there are few stages of closing the bag before you can really get moving. The handles on the Transit also feature the loops that you’ll recognise from EVERGOODS design language, which make a great spot for luggage tags, Heroclips and the like. I also like how the handles lay close to the main body of the bag when not in use. They aren’t completely flush, so they’re still easy to grab quickly, but they remain low profile when the bag is set down.

How did I use it?

How long do you have!? This duffel has been by my side for the last six weeks, pretty much daily. I’ve been travelling a bunch for our projects, this has been my go to companion for both work and pleasure. I’ve listed below my most common loadouts over this six week period.

Travel Bag/Weekender

This is how I imagine a lot of people use duffels – as a weekender. 35L can fit a lot of gear, and I’ve comfortably used this for 5-days on the road. 

Main Cavity: clothing (t-shirts x 3, sweater x 2, pants x 2, shorts x 2, underwear x 5) CAS2 Sling (underwear, tees, and shorts in TPC8)

End pockets: washkit, CAP1 with electronics

Interior zip pocket: sunglasses and eye glasses

Exterior large pocket: Pad Pro 12.9”

Exterior org pocket: EDC (wallet, knife, flashlight, pen, keys, altoids)

Gym Bag

The Transit Duffel works effectively as a gym bag thanks to its large opening, it’s a great organiser for the locker room.

Main cavity: change of clothes (sweatpants, tee, sweatshirt), towel, large 46oz water bottle, sneakers 

End pockets: washkit, slides

Interior zip pocket: sunglasses and eye glasses

Exterior large pocket: rain jacket

Exterior org pocket – EDC (wallet, knife, flashlight, pen, keys, altoids)

Camera Bag

My first trip with the Transit Duffel was to Oregon, it arrived the day before I left. My clothing etc were already packed. As I knew I was travelling by car, I decided to make the TD35 my front seat passenger and I used it as a mobile studio.

Main cavity: 1 x Large Camera Cube (4 Lenses, two bodies, ND Filters, Microphones), Tripod CAP2 with card readers, chargers, and batteries.

End pockets: Rocket dust blower, lens caps.

Interior zip pocket: microfibre cloths

Exterior large pocket: iPad Pro 12.9”

Exterior org pocket: EDC (wallet, flashlight, pen, keys, Altoids)

These are just quick examples of how I’ve used the bag, but I hope it provides an insight as to why I’m so smitten with it. I would have never considered using a duffel as a camera bag before (I’d rather take this with me on the road than a hardcase). However thanks to the structure and foam padding it actually excels in that arena (although it can get heavy quickly with all the gear). The 35L size is goldilocks size for a duffel in my eyes as you can carry it comfortably from your hand, or from the included shoulder strap. This works excellently as a carry on too, so you can grab and go at your destination.

The thing that kept coming to mind as I used this bag was how easy it was to use. As I mentioned, I had it for about 36 hours before I flew off on a 5-day work trip, and there was no learning curve. Very few brands achieve this instinctual interaction like EVERGOODS does, and it was immediately noticeable to me. Design features such as the end pockets in the main compartment that lay flat when not in use, an admin pocket that has just enough to keep your necessities in place but without 55 different slots (it’s a duffel!), and the ingenious use of the same buckle for the shoulder strap and the cinch down when not using it. These features are the refinements that make EVERGOODS products such a joy to use, thanks to their intentional design, you are guided in use without the stress of learning a new system.

Accessorize your bag!

As you’d expect, this integrates flawlessly with their accessories, the CAP1 fits like a glove in the end pockets of the main compartment (which lay flat and out of the way when not in use), and the CAP2 slots in with ease. If you’re like me and have 19,000 CAP2’s, you could house a whole bunch of them! There is now the new addition of the TPC8, which was designed in conjunction with the TD35.

The TPC8 is a well designed, capacious packing cube that compliments EVERGOODS whole line up as well as the TD35. At 8L it holds a good amount of clothing (or other goodies), and I have been using this daily as my “emergency throw up/poop kit”. With a 7-month-old, it’s not uncommon to have to change my clothes (or hers) on a moment’s notice. This comfortably fits a few t-shirts, a pair of pants, and some toiletries. When travelling, it can really swallow a lot of gear, particularly if you’re a ranger roller.

Just like the duffel, this is an elevation of the humble packing cube. Made from a 210d nylon, this is lightweight material, while still providing good structure and durability for all of your travels. An transparent internal mesh gives you eyes on the goods inside quickly so you can grab the clean underwear instead of the dirty pair! 

As you’d expect from Kevin, it’s the small details that make the big difference here. Namely, the internal zipper. This is cleverly set just above the external zipper so as to avoid the dreaded pinch or tangle as you rush for your flight. Until I used the TPC8, I didn’t realise quite how much that had annoyed me on even my favourite cubes, so thank you, Kevin! Hot Orange zipper pulls on the internal mesh openings mean you know you’re grabbing the right one.

Externally, there are two features which make your life just that little bit easier. Firstly, webbing handles. Nothing fancy here, just great to grab and go from the moment you open your bag. Secondly, the outside pocket. This is ideally sized for small slim items such as passports, e-readers, or extra laundry bags. This pocket is slim enough that if you don’t use it, it won’t hinder you in anyway. The TPC8 is a simple yet welcome addition to their growing range of accessories, a worthwhile partner to your adventures near and far!

Of course your mileage may vary. There isn’t a luggage passthrough here, nor does it pack down flat when not in use. However, I think those are personal preferences as opposed to “missing features”. This duffel is heavier than others on the market due to the structure and padding, but I consider that a positive, so I suppose it depends what you’re after from your next duffel. If you’re after a shapeshifter of a bag that can pretty much do it all for under $200? This is an excellent bet.

I think the Transit Duffel is an excellent addition to the EVERGOODS lineup, using one of their backpacks in tandem with this, the world is your oyster, whether that’s on the road travelling, or using as part of your EDC, the transit duffel will become a valued member of your carry team. At $199, I’d consider it a bargain, as you’re getting multiple bags in one. Not many duffels offer the true versatility that this does.