Softsided Duffels

So you’re headed on safari! In almost all cases, you’ll need to pack light, since the small planes and helicopters that get you to and from lodges only allow soft-sided bags that can squeeze into their luggage holds. Exact size and weight restrictions vary based on where you’re headed (so double check with your travel advisor or lodges), but the typical weight limit is around 30 lbs per person. If that sounds impossible, you can sometimes buy an extra seat to accommodate another bag, but even then, you’ll still need to be strategic with your bag choice. Here are a few we’d pull out for the occasion. 

1. Le Sportsac Extra Large Weekender – This weekender from Le Sportsac has one super-spacious main compartment with both interior and exterior zip pockets—and it weighs just 1lb! Perfect for maximizing volume while keeping weight to a minimum. 

2. Osprey Transporter 60 Wheeled Duffel – Some small planes allow rollable duffels, and if that appeals, this is a solid choice. It has a sturdy aluminum frame, but comes in just under 6lbs so it won’t eat too much into your weight allowance. It’s still malleable on three sides, with a top opening that makes it easy to grab what you need without showing everyone in the airport the entire contents of your bag. 

3. Herschel’s All Season Duffel – This is our deputy editor Alex Postman’s bag of choice for safari, for its all-weather coating and detachable backpack straps that easily tuck into the front zipper pocket. Plus, it’s part of their modular system, so it easily snaps onto their snow roller bags if you give it another life on ski trips. 

4. North Face Basecamp Duffel – Originally designed in the ‘80s as a practically indestructible bag for Himalayan expeditions, this is serious gear. The fabric is highly weather and tear resistant, and North Face backs it with a lifetime guarantee because they know it’ll last you decades.   

5. Eagle Creek No Matter What Bag – Brilliantly designed with a trolley sleeve (which surprisingly many duffels lack), built-in compression straps, lockable zippers, a quick-access exterior pocket for your passport, and a removable shoulder strap. Best of all, it weighs less than 1.5lbs and packs down into a pouch roughly the size of a Nalgene bottle. 

6. Filson Large Twill Duffel – The intrepid travel writer Sophy Roberts told us she likes these industrial-strength bags with a tear resistance exceeding 1,400 lbs—not that you’d ever pack that much, but they really are tough! The lightly waxed exterior wipes clean easily, and the bridle leather detailing elevates it to something you could use even on a non-rugged adventure. We also love that the handles wrap completely around the bag, so there’s no fear of them snapping. 

7. Patagonia Black Hole Duffel – I have this in a few sizes, and can confirm (after throwing it from one moving ferry to another in Indonesia) that the abrasion and weather resistant fabric really passes muster. It’s very lightweight at only 2 lbs and folds down into its own pocket, so it’s easy to stow, and the backpack straps detach quickly, so you can go from sport mode to classic duffel in about two seconds.   

8. Observer Collection’s Seebag – Designed by a Marine-turned Savile Row-trained tailor, the Seebag is incredibly functional without sacrificing form. The arc-shaped long handles make it easy to wear crossbody, on your shoulder, or in hand. It’s made in military duck cotton—a tightly-woven canvas used for tents—with a water-resistant lining and two-exterior pockets lined in suede. The three colorways all coincidentally sit perfectly within the safari palette. 

9. Ghurka Canvas Cavalier Bag – Our friend Chris Wallace has been on more safaris than practically anyone we know, and he swears by Ghurka. The leather is gorgeous and just gets better with patina, but to save a pound or two, opt for the water-repellent canvas version. Reinforced corners and brass feet keep it clean if it ends up on a dusty tarmac, and the adjustable shoulder strap plus detachable trolley strap (sold separately) make it a great carry-on when you’re traveling with a hard-shell suitcase, too.

10. Rains Hilo Weekend Bag – We like the simple, clean lines on Rains’ weekender in their signature waterproof fabric. There’s one capacious main compartment with a coated zip-closure, and compression straps on the sides, but otherwise this one is less about the bells and whistles and more about the volume you get (over 12 gallons) for minimal weight (less than 2lbs). 

11. Longchamp Boxford XL Bag – Similar in shape to their iconic Le Pliage, but better suited to safari thanks to a thicker canvas fabric, reinforced cowhide corners, and a detachable shoulder strap alongside the top handles. 

12. Sandstorm Canvas Duffel – Sandstorm started out making safari tents over two decades ago, then repurposed scrap canvas into bags. Today, bags are their whole focus, made in small quantities by a team of 120 artisans, with leather piping and handles, brass hardware, and that durable cotton canvas that they’ve become known for.