Osprey Transporter Duffel – Pack Review
Treated with calloused hands, thrown around the beds of trucks, hauled up cliff faces, stuffed into aeroplanes or onto yaks and taken into places where humans probably shouldn’t go. Whatever the adventure, the Duffel just keeps coming back for more.
You’ll more than likely have all your adventure essentials in these things and we know a lot of that gear is going to be expensive. So when opting for a duffel, it needs to be made of bombproof material so it doesn’t fall apart and lose its contents. It also has to be easy to carry around as it can be quite large and cumbersome when fully loaded.
There are a lot of choices when looking for adventure-ready duffels but very few can square up to what the Osprey Transporter Duffel can offer.
The Osprey Transporter Duffel comes in 40, 65, 95, and 130-litre versions. We opted for the 130-litre version in Ruffian red and Kingfisher blue. The colours are nice and bright which make them great for spotting at airport carousels.
We chose the 130-litre option because we need a lot of space, but as it turned out it was cavernous! On first impressions, the big takeaways were quality construction and toughness of the materials used, the durability of the straps and carry handles plus the surprisingly comfortable backpack harness.
The duffel comes folded in a tiny zippered pack, which we’ve never been able to get back in, but that’s OK, as the duffel crumples up small when empty, making them easy to stow away.
The Osprey transporter duffel is the perfect do-it-all bag to keep all your biking or hiking kit in one place.
The Osprey Transporter 130 litre in Kingfisher Blue and Ruffian Red.
Unbelievably, the duffel comes packed into this tiny mesh pack! This little zippered mesh bag turns out to be pretty handy, as it doubles up as a small stow bag, ideal for smaller items that you want to keep together.
Shared Features
All of the Transporter Duffels share the same features across all four sizes. We chose the 130 litre, which is the largest of the options available and to be honest, it was more than enough for us. We got all of our riding clothes, shoes, pads, helmets and bike tools, plus our hydration packs in here, with room to spare.
Feature List
- Dual-zippered 3-D end pockets with overlapping rain flaps for quick access to smaller items
- Four burly webbing grab handles
- Eight side panel web lashing points securing duffel or attaching gear
- Four lower web lashing points for securing duffels
- Large, lockable U-zip access to main compartment
- Weather-protected main compartment zip path with overlapping rain flaps
- Stowaway contoured harness and yoke for comfortable backpack carry
- D-ring attachments for adding a shoulder strap (sold separately)
- Internal zippered mesh side panel pocket
- ID pocket
Materials
- Main 800D Nylon TPU Double Coated.
- Accent – 360/400D Nylon TPU Double Coated
- Bottom -800D Nylon TPU Double Coated
The main material of the Osprey Transporter Duffel is made of 800D Nylon TPU Double Coated, inside and out. The body is stiffened with protective ribs and overlapping zipper flaps to protect the inside from wet weather. The stiffened fabric also helps prevent any sharp tools from poking through.
[easy-image-collage id=5316]Storage
The Transporter duffle features a single main compartment with other smaller side and internal storage options. The main compartment has a U- shaped zip access, which is also lockable. The compartment material is made from super-tough 800D Nylon TPU Double Coated fabric.
This is where the bulk of your gear is going to be stored and this super-tough fabric gives you peace of mind that your precious gear isn’t going to spill out of the bottom of the pack. It’s also tough enough to stop tools or pointy things from poking through.
There are two dual zippered pockets at each end of the duffel for smaller items, with overlapping rain flaps. Inside the main compartment at one end, there is a mesh zippered pocket. This is great for keeping smaller items and the mesh makes it easier to see what’s stored in there. There’s also a clear plastic ID pocket at one end.
We managed to get two full sets of riding kits in here. (Shoes, pads, clothing, helmets). Plus two hydration packs and tools, with space to spare!
Carrying Options
The Transporter Duffel comes with four burly handles on each side of the pack. This makes it very easy to just grab and haul no matter what side you access. The grab handles also make it easier to share the load with another person if the pack is very heavy.
The big key feature for us was the backpack harness straps. You can throw this monster and any of the other smaller ones, straight onto your back like a normal backpack!
Carry Information
- Stowaway spacer mesh harness
- Full yoke and contoured harness straps
- Soft, breathable contact surface for comfort
- Adjustable sternum strap with safety whistle
BackPack Mode
The big kicker for us was the stowaway harness feature. The harness straps are fully adjustable and tighten under the armpit as well as across the top of the shoulders to pull the pack closer to your back. There are two sets of clips that attach each harness strap to the main body of the pack for extra stability and support and there is also an adjustable sternum strap that pulls it all together and features an integrated emergency whistle.
Although we loaded our pack to over 20kgs, it didn’t feel too bad once it was on our back. However, it does feel a little like a big mattress and you do need to be mindful when packing it, as the contents can drop down to the bottom of the pack if it’s not packed well.
We packed all the heavy stuff at the bottom end so when it was tipped onto our backs, it all stayed in place. Once you’ve done this a couple of times it just becomes second nature each time you pack it.
[easy-image-collage id=5325]Conclusion
The sturdy duffel is no doubt the unsung hero of any adventure, and the Osprey Transporter Duffel caters to any adventure you could possibly throw at it.
Designed for the hard life on the road, thrown around in truck beds, or dragged across rocky floors, this is a true do-it-all duffle. What makes this duffle so versatile is the way it can be carried just like a backpack, freeing up your other hands. With some neat little storage solutions and tough materials to boot, this is one duffle you should consider for your next adventure.
Price / Where to Buy?
Osprey Transporter Duffel: $76.97 – $249.95 depending on size.
Available on the Paddy Pallin website or drop into your local Paddy Pallin shop and the very helpful staff will help you pick out the right one for your next adventure.
